1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE Visibility Problems

I HAVE OWNED 3 CHEVY VENTURE MINIVANS OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS. ALL OF THEM HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, THE SIGNAL AND HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT, THE WINDOW SWITCH GOES OUT AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKET GOES. THEY RUN GREAT UNTIL THE DAY IT STARTS OVERHEATING, THEN YOUR OUT A VEHICLE. EVERYONE I KNOW WHO HAS A VENTURE HAS HAD AT LEAST ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 99,998

MY 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE VIN [XXX], WIPERS WOULD NOT PARK IN CORRECT POSITION. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME HE FOUND A CAMPAIGN LISTED (97005 FEB 97) FOR THE PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER CRANK ARM BECAUSE IT WAS BENT. THIS PARTICULAR PART WAS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN. IT COST ME $234.43 TO GET IT REPAIRED. THE WIPERS USED TO PARK WHEN IT FIRST STARTED IF YOU TURNED THEM ON AND OFF ENOUGH TIMES. FINALLY, THEY JUST STARTED STOPPING WHERE THEY WERE WHEN YOU TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THIS WAS OVER PROBABLY A YEARS TIME PERIOD. I JUST FOUND A REPAIR INVOICE FROM MAR 98 WHERE WE HAD TAKEN IN THE VAN BECAUSE WIPERS WOULD NOT PARK. I FEEL MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE CAMPAIGN AND SHOULD BE COVERED AND I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. *JB UDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 5,832

THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK, THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, BUT THEY WANTED CONSUMER TO PAY FOR IT. CONSUMER FELT THAT MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. ALSO, THE SLIDING DOOR MOTOR ON 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE IS DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER PAID FOR REPAIRS 3 DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT IT KEPT BREAKING.*AK PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH FAILED. WIPER MODULE SHORTED OUT. THE VEHICLE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER FOUND A BAD CONNECTION AT THE EBCM. ALSO FOUND BOTH TRACTION BULBS WERE MISSING. *NM

THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK, THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, BUT THEY WANTED CONSUMER TO PAY FOR IT. CONSUMER FELT THAT MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. ALSO, THE SLIDING DOOR MOTOR ON 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE IS DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER PAID FOR REPAIRS 3 DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT IT KEPT BREAKING.*AK PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH FAILED. WIPER MODULE SHORTED OUT. THE VEHICLE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER FOUND A BAD CONNECTION AT THE EBCM. ALSO FOUND BOTH TRACTION BULBS WERE MISSING. *NM

WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT SIDE VIEW MIRROR FELL COMPLETELY OFF. THE SEAT BELT WAS DAMAGED ON THE SECOND ROW PASSENGER SIDE. THE HEAD LIGHT COVERS CONTINUOUSLY FELL OFF. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS CONSTANTLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE THE TIRES CHANGED AND WAS TOLD THE TIRE ROD WAS BENT AND THAT IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS: 1. HEADLIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY; 2. WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD, HEADLIGHTS CAME ON; 3. ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO LEAKING RADIATOR , AND 4. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS IGNITION AND POWER DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED REGULARLY. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START. THE DOOR PANELS WERE LOOSE. THE WINDSHIELD LEAKED. THE ANTI THEFT ALARM MALFUNCTIONED. REAR WINDOW WASHER MALFUNCTIONED. *NM

Mileage: 74,000

TWO MONTHS AGO I TOOK MY CHEVROLET VENTURE(WITH 53,000 MILES)TO A CERTIFIED CHEVROLET REPAIR SHOP COMPLAING THAT THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT WAS ON, AND THAT MY VAN WAS EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF POWER. AFTER HAVING MY CAR IN THE SHOP FOR 8 DAYS I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I WAS CHARGED 153.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND AN OIL CHANGE. A WEEK AGO MY CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT. I AGAIN TOOK THE VAN TO THE SHOP. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED A BRAND NEW ENGINE AT A COST OF $5,000. I JUST FINISHED PAYING OFF THIS $27,000 VAN. NOW IT IS WORTHLESS. I DON,T UNDERSTAND. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY I CAN NOT ROLE UP MY WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, AS THE POWER SWITCH HAS FAILED

Mileage: 53,000

THE PAINT HAS PEELED OFF AND YET GM CANADA CLAIMS NO PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO HEAR OUR COMPLAINT LET ALONE ACKNOWLEDGE IT YET WE CAN SEE FOR OURSELVES ON THIS SITE THE U.S. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT! THE FLOORBOARD CRACKED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND IT'S BEEN A DAY AND WE HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM OUR LOCAL RETAILER!

THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING AND THE WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. *JB

Mileage: 148,000

PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. GEARS WERE MADE OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS. GEARS WHEN REPLACED WERE FOUND TO BE BROKEN AND CAUSED NEED FOR REPLACEMENT. WHEN REPLACEMENT WAS DONE AGAIN THE GEARS BROKE CAUSING ADDITIONAL REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE, RAIN DUST AND DEBRIS ACCUMULATE ON THE REAR WINDOW CAUSING THE NEED FOR REAR WINDOW WIPER TO FUNCTION PROPERLY TO ALLOW CLEAR VIEWING BY THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. THIRD REPLACEMENT PIECE HAS CONTINUED TO FUNCTION AT THIS TIME. AT TIME OF REPLACEMENT, WE WERE INFORMED BY TWO SEPARATE DEALERS THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM OF THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE, BUT NO RECALLS HAD BEEN MADE TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE, AND NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PRODUCT. I DID CONTACT THE CHEVROLET SITE TO ASK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE FROM THE COMPANY REGARDING THIS CONCERN. *JB *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*769761

Mileage: 79,000

WHEN TRYING TO PROCEED FORWARD AFTER STOPPING AT STOP SIGN VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION.*AK THE TRANSMISSION FAILED REPEATEDLY. THE TURN SIGNALS STOP FLASHING WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESSED DUE TO MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILURE. THE ENGINE LOOSES COOLANT AND OVERHEATED DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. REAR WIPER WAS INOPERATIVE. ABS LIGHT COMES ON DUE TO OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE. RIGHT FRONT TIRES FAILED AND WERE REPLACED. *YH

AFTEER OWNING THIS VEHICLE FOR BARELY A MONTH, WE BEGAN NOTICING A STENCH THAT NEAREST I COULD DESCRIBE IT WOULD BE THAT OF A DEAD MOUSE. HOWEVER, THE SMELL ONLY NOTICABLE IF YOU DID NOT HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONER ON. TO RUN THE HEATER, WE WOULD PUT IT ON AC AND THEN TURN THE HEAT UP TO AVOID THE SMELL. WHEN WE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER, WE WERE INFORMED IT WAS BECAUSE WE SMOKED IN THE VEHICLE. HOWVER, WE HAVE SMOKED FOR YEARS AND THERE IS A VERY DISTINCT STALE ODOUR FROM CIGARETTES WHICH IS IN NO WAY SIMILAR TO THE SMELL WE NOTICED. NOW WE ONLY REALLY NOTICE THIS SMELL AFTER WE HAVE THE CAR SERVICED.*AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT PARK CLOSED AND STAY OPEN ON THE GLASS, THE FRONT STRUTS HAVE ALSO WORN OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 61,000 MILES. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T STAY IN PROPER POSTION. MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE ENTIRE UNIT AT CONSUMER'S COST OF $400. UNIT WILL BE WARRANTIED UP TO 90 DAYS.*AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTIONING WAS INDENTICAL TO THAT DESCRIBED IN SB 97005 FOR THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR. *YH

REAR POWER SLIDE DOOR OPENS UP ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING UNEXPECTEDLY. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS TO BE STUCK WHEN OPENED MANUALLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED, DUE TO COLD WEATHER. CONDITION LISTED BY CONSUMER'S GUIDE AS PROBLEMATIC. I HAVE SEEN THE SAME COMMENT ON A NUMBER OF VARIOUS WEB SITES. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THER IS A SYTEMATIC PROBLEM WITH THE *AK

THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED.GM NOTICE C97005. THE RECALL FIXED WAS COMPLETED IN APRIL 1999. THE WIPERS FAILED AGAIN AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD THEY ONLY FIX A RECALL ISSUE ONCE. I THEN CALLED CHEVY ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. THIS REPAIR WS IN EXCESS OF $300. IF NOT FIXED THE WIPERS ARE IN MY DIRECT DRIVING VISION SO I HAD THE DEALERSHIP MAKE THE REPAIR. AS STATED IN THE REPORT THIS IS THE 5TH OR 6TH TIME THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. ADDITIONALLY, I THOUGHT RECALLS ARE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, LOOKS LIKE A BANDAID UNTIL THE VEHCILE IS OUT OF WARRANTY.

WHILE DRIVING SLIDING DOOR WINDOW EXPLODED,CAUSING SMALL GLASS FRAGMENTS TO FLY INTO THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT, FALING ON THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DRIVER'S POWER MIRROR HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT CAUSED THE WIRES TO BURN AND MELT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

#1. STEREO PANEL IS EXTREMELY HOT WITH LIGHTS ON & DRIVING A WHILE, THERE IS ALSO A BURING SMELL. IT HAS BEEN WORKED ON TWICE, REPLACED ONCE AND STILL YOU CAN BURN YOUR FINGERS. #2. DEFOGGER TAKES FOREVER TO DEFOG IN THE MORNING, SOMETIMES IT MAKES VISIBILITY WORSE. #3. INTERIOR ROOF HAS BEEN HANGING DOWN SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE VAN AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE. #4. MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF CONDENSATION(AT LEAST 4 TIMES). #5. BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED NEW BRAKES BUT NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO I HAD THEM CHECKED ELSEWHERE. I NEEDED NEW BRAKES (FRONT). IT COST ME OVER$700 TO REPLACE. THEY SAID THEY WERE GRINDED DOWN ALL THE WAY AND I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GRIND 2 TIMES BEFORE REPLACING. I HAVE THE PARTS. THEY SAID THE BRAKES SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THIS FAR DOWN SO SOON, TOO PREMATURELY. I HAVE THE BILL WITH THE MECHANICS COMMENTS AND II WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FROM GM. #6. SIDE CONTROL PANEL PLASTIC IS BROKEN AND CONTROLS NO LONGER ALL WORK. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. I WILL BE FILLING OUT ANOTHER FORM TO FILE THE REMAINDER OF THE PROBLEMS.

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *MJS

BACK WINDOW SPRAYER FAILED, INSTALLED NEW NOZZLE HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL DUE TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES THAT CAUSES NOZZEL TO FREEZE. MJS

WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM PARKS IN THE UP-RIGHT POSITION WHEN WIPER IS TURNED OFF. *AK

ALL POWER WINDOWS AND DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK, TRAPPING THE OCCUPANTS INSIDE VEHICLE. POWER WINDOWS OR DOORS CANNOT BE MANUALLY OPERATED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

PLASTIC CLIP THAT HOLDS 2 BRAKE LINES BROKE, CAUSING BRAKE LINE TO FALL AT LEAST FOUR INCHES FROM THE GROUND. ALSO, METAL CLIP THAT HOLDS VACUUM LINE SLIDES OUT, CAUSING THE LINE TO FALL DOWN AT LEAST 2 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. FINALLY, WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE STILL DEFECTIVE EVEN AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED. RECALL 98V072000. *AK

PLASTIC CLIP THAT HOLDS 2 BRAKE LINES BROKE, CAUSING ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES TO FALL AT LEAST FOUR INCHES FROM THE GROUND. ALSO, METAL CLIP THAT HOLDS VACUUM LINE SLIDES OUT, CAUSING THE LINE TO FALL AT LEAST 2 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. FINALLY, WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE STILL DEFECTIVE EVEN AFTER RECALLWAS PERFORMED. RECALL 98V072000. *AK

PLASTIC CLIP THAT HOLDS TWO BRAKE LINES BROKE, CAUSING ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES TO FALL AT LEAST 4 INCHES FROM THE GROUND, ALSO, METAL CLIP THE HOLDS VACUUM LINE SLIDES OUT, CAUSING THE LINE TO FALL AT LEAST TWO INCHES FROM THE GROUND. FINALLY, WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE STILL DEFECTIVE EVEN AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED. RECALL 98V072000. *AK

ELECTRIC WINDOW FAILED DUE TO LOOSE WIRE IN MOTOR.

POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

WHILE PARKED THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY DETAILS. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER FREEZES.

REAR WINDOW BROKE FOR NO REASON.

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED TWICE IN 2 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. DEALER IS REPLACING IT AGAIN. *AK