1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE Complaints

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED CHEVROLET VENTURE MINIVAN. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES DRIVING, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AND I NOW HAVE COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE OIL. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND AFTER CONSIDERABLE INTERNET INVESTIGATION, I FOUND LITERALLY HUNDRED OF OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. IT APPEAR THAT GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME AND REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SO FAR, I HAVE NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE OF COST, BUT I THINK THAT GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO VENTURE OWNERS TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT COST FREE TO THE OWNER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHT LENS FELL FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS FORCED THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK *SC

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO BE EXAMINED, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON VACATION DRIVING FROM BUTLER, PA TO CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA. I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 NEAR SAVANNAH, GA ON JUNE 26TH WHEN I NOTICED MY TEMPERTURE GAUGE WAS MOVING UP AND DOWN. CAR NEVER BOILED OVER OR LOSS ANY ANTI-FREEZE. I STOPPED AT A PEP BOYS REPAIR SHOP AT WHICH TIME THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY THERMOSTAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. IT APPEARED THE DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE THAT GM REQUIRES TO BE USED TURNS INTO A SLUDGE AT HIGH TEMPERATURES. ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM WAS SLUDGED UP BY THE DEX-COOL. AFTER INSTALLING NEW THERMOSTAT AND ANIT-FREEZE ENGINE WAS IDLING ROUGH. CAR WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET DEALER NEARBY - CHEVROLET DEALER SAID ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. - ANTI-FREEZE WAS ENTERING CYLINDERS #1 AND #2. CHEVROLET DEALER CHARGED OVER $6,000. I FEEL CHEVROLET DEALER OVERCHARGED AS I WAS TRAVELING FROM OUT OF STATE - MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER QUOTED $3,700 FOR SAME WORK. MY LOCAL MECHANIC ADVISED ME IT'S COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT DEX-COOL IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT THAT HAS RUINED MANY ENGINES, RADIATORS, HEATER CORES AND THERMOSTATS - GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM WHILE THE DAMAGE CONTINUES. MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW BY ME - GARAGE KEPT - WELL MAINTAINED - 112,000 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. *AK

THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS WERE LEAKING COOLANT AND OIL ONTO THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTED IN VEHICLE OVERHEATING, AND BURNING UP THE ENGINE MOTOR. ALSO, FUEL INJECTORS HAD TO BE CLEANED NUMEROUS TIMES DUE TO THEM MISFIRING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CLIP WHICH HELD THE SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH THE VAN BROKE AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF ONTO THE ROAD. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOVLED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR BUMPS AND BRUSIES. *AK

CONSUMER STATED AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE AND PARKING IT, ABOUT 1/2 HOUR LATER, THE BACK WINDOW EXPLODED. GLASS FLEW EVERYWHERE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

ANTI-LOOK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. OTHER LIGHTS ARE NOW FLASHING WHEM BRAKES ARE USED. THE MAIN BRAKE, SIGNAL AND RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE STIPPED WORKING. THE ONLY BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING NOW ARE THE LED LIGHTS ON THE REAR DOOR. SYSTEM IS ACTING LIKE IT HAS A SHORT OR GROUNDING CONDITION. UNABLE TO USE THIS VEHICLE AND IS PARKED.*AK UNABLE TO REPAIR THIS DUE TO BEING ON A FIXED INCOME. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND PAST THE LAST PART OF APRIL 2004.

NHTSA RECALL 02V286000 CONCERNING LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. *AK