1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE Complaints

LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON - SLIGHT ENGINE TAPPING AT STARTUP. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE IS SHOT. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER DOING OUR OWN RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT A GREAT NUMBER OF 1997-2000 VENTURE VANS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TAPPING AND ENGINE FAILURE. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN INVESTIGATION STARTED TO CONFIRM OF DENY THAT THE 3400 V6 ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE. CHEVROLET REP. QUICKLY AGREED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT SUSPICIOUS.*AK

NHTSA RECALL#01V067000/ MANFACTURER'S RECALL 01013. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO GET RECALL REPAIRS DONE, AND DID NOT HAVE PROBLEM UNTIL REPAIRS WERE DONE. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO GET RECHECKED TWICE AFTER RECALL. ALSO, DEALER DID SOME ADJUSTING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FELL OFF, A NEW UNIT WAS UNSTALLED, THREE MONTHS LATER THE COVER OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE FELL OFF, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM OR MANUFACTURING DEFFICIENCY. NLM

THE SPARE TIRE MECHANISM AT THE REAR OF THE VAN INCLUDES A CABLE THAT WITH A BOLT SECURES THE SPARE TIRE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VAN. THE CABLE BROKE AND THE TIRE FELL TO THE GROUND. THIS OCCURRED AS THE CAR WAS BEING BACKED FROM THE GARAGE ONTO THE STREET. AT NO TIME HAS THE SPARE TIRE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE VAN PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT.*AK

I BELIEVE THESE LENSES WILL FAIL VIRGINIA SAFETY INSPECTION. NO APPARENT CAUSE - PROBABLY DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING.*AK

I REPORTED THE HEADLIGHTS TO THE DEALER WHILE UNDER WARRANTY (UNDER 36000 MILES) (CONDENSATION ON INSIDE OF BOTH HEADLIGHT'S LENS). THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. AFTER THE 36000 MILE WARRANTY WAS UP (AT 43,200 MILES), THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF (EXPOSING THE INNER WORKINGS). THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $275 FOR A NEW SEALED BEAM HEADLIGHT. I THINK IT WASN'T SEALED UNDER WARRANTY AND IT FAILED (FELL OFF BECAUSE OF A BAD SEAL ON THE ASSEMBLY)*AK.

THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS COVER FELL OFF. BASED ON WEBSITE SEARCHS, THIS APPARENTLY HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE VENTURE, PONTIAC TRANSPORT, AND OLDSMOBILE SIHOUHETTE DUE TO A BREAKDOWN OF THE ADHESIVE MATERIAL THE RETAINS THE LENS COVER TO THE HOUSING. THIS CAN CAUSE THE HEADLIGHT TO BURN OUT IF EXPOSED TO RAIN. GM ISSUED A BULLETIN (#00-08-42-003) TO HELP REDUCE THE COST OF REPAIR BUT IT IS STILL SIGNIFICANT (APPROX. $150). DUE TO THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE, I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED IN TO FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL. THANK YOU.*AK

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 50MPH RIGHT REAR BRACKET BROKE WICH AFFECTED DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

WAS REAR-ENDED. I WAS NOT MOVING AT THE TIME, WAS HIT AT APPROX 35-40MPH. MY(DRIVER) SEAT FLEW BACK AND COLLAPSED, TWISTED. I WAS INJURED, RESULTING IN POSSIBLY PERMANENT NERVE DAMAGE. NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT CONTRIBUTED TO MY INJURY. TV NEWS PROGRAM INDICATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH GM SEATS AND JUST THIS TYPE OF COLLISION. I THOUGHT I SHOULD SPEAK UP! MY VAN WAS TOTALED, AS WAS THE VEHICLE OF THE PERSON WHO HIT ME. VERY LUCKY THAT MY PREGNANT PASSENGER'S SEAT DID NOT SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS MINE, OR HER BEAUTIFUL SON MIGHT NOT BE HERE.*AK

HEAD LAMP LENSE FELL OFF, EXPOSING WIRES AND BULBS. PARTS ARE BACKORDERED.*AK