1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E005000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

Mileage: 122,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 20 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,000.

Mileage: 132,000

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

Mileage: 138,000

STEERING MAKES NOTICEABLE THUMPING WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN BACKING UP AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL.MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT'S THE PROBLEM..THE STEERING IS FAILING AT THIS TIME.... *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND STRAIGHTENING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE STEERING WHEEL RACK AND PINION FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. SOON AFTER, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO CONFIRMED THE STEERING RACK AND PINION FRACTURE. THE REPAIR SHOP ALSO DETERMINED DUE TO THE UNIQUE FRACTURE OF THE RACK AND PINION AND THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT, THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

Mileage: 140,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT 20 MPH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS FAILURE TO THE LOWER BEARING PLATE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 02V286000, REGARDING THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

Mileage: 130,153

I EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING FAILURE MAKING LEFT TURNS ONLY. DEALER TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE RECALL SCOPE EVEN THOU IT HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM AS THE RECALL VEHICLES OF 1998 (NHTSA ID # 02V28600). THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING GEAR AT MY COST. THEY KEPT THE CORE GEAR ASSEMBLY DN/26065144 - RV 26065041-78091. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT TELL WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE BECAUSE IT IS A SEALED UNIT. *JB

Mileage: 79,500

I EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING FAILURE MAKING LEFT TURNS ONLY. DEALER TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE RECALL SCOPE EVEN THOU IT HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM AS THE RECALL VEHICLES OF 1998 (NHTSA ID # 02V28600). THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING GEAR AT MY COST. THEY KEPT THE CORE GEAR ASSEMBLY DN/26065144 - RV 26065041-78091. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT TELL WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE BECAUSE IT IS A SEALED UNIT. *JB

Mileage: 79,500

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY VENTURE VAN THAT IS DISPLAYING THE SAME DEFECTS OF THE RACK AND PINION RECALL FOR THE SAME LISTED VEHICLE AND YEAR. CHEVY TELLS ME THAT MINE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS TOO MUCH COINCIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 76,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

Mileage: 74,000

MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE NOW ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE (2003 AND 2005). ALSO THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR TURNING LEFT.

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

Mileage: 90,000

SINCE PURCHASING THIS VAN I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, WITH THE MOST RECENT BEING AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THIS PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE BAD DESIGN OF GM'S INTAKE GASKET WHICH BREAKS DOWN AND CAUSES ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR AND/OR REPLACEMENT.

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. *AK *MR

HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE, IT HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT. DOING RESEARCH I SEE THAT MANY VANS OF THIS YEAR ARE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT GM INSISTS THAT MINE IS NOT ONE OF THEM. I THINK THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO GET OUT OF PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS FAULTY PART. POWER STEERING WOULD STOP WORKING WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS. AT TIMES I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP TURNING IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN/INTERSECTION.*AK

Mileage: 64,000

POWER STEERING IS FAILING IN MY 1998 CHEVY VENTURE. IT IS DISPLAYING THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER, CHEVROLET SAYS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL NOTICES I'VE READ INCLUDE 1998 CHEVY VENTURES. I AM UPSET THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS OUR OF POCKET AND THEN "WAIT" FOR MY VEHICLE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE IT ALREADY IS. *LA

Mileage: 64,500

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V286000 NOTICE CONCERNING POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED ON 12/19/2002, AND DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN AND STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS. *AK

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE. CONSUMER NOTICED THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE VIN DOES NOT COMPLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. *NLM *NLM

Mileage: 80,000

I OWN A 1998 CHEVY VENTURE VAN. I RECENTLY TOOK IT IN FOR A RECALL FOR A DEFECT ON THE STEERING RACK AND PINION (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V286000). THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT BECAUSE THE VAN HAS A SALVAGE TITLE. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT "THE BEARING IS ABOUT TO FALL OUT" AND THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE DEFECT AND HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $600. I CALLED GM AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THEIR POLICY NOT TO DO RECALLS ON VEHICLES WITH A SALVAGED TITLE. THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDLESS OF THE SALVAGED TITLE AND I THINK GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER SAFETY RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 98V131000) THAT IS A PROBLEM ON MY PARTICULAR VAN. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, A 5 YEAR OLD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY WAS PLAYING IN THE VAN (WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE). HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER ENOUGH TO DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION LOCK EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL IN PARK, AND THE VAN ROLLED DOWN THE HILL IN OUR BACK YARD. IT WAS STOPPED BY A SMALL TREE. NOBODY WAS HURT EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE TWO OTHER CHILDREN IN THE BACK YARD PLAYING AND THE VAN SUFFERED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE. I THOUGHT PERHAPS THIS WAS BECAUSE THE VAN HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SO I DIDN'T PURSUE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. THEN I DISCOVERED THE RECALL ON IT AND NOW I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THEM TO FIX MY VAN?. *JB

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING FAILURE. HE DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING THE STEERING. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE RECALL SCOPE, EVEN THOUGHT IT HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM.

RACK AND PINION REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. PH

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKE LEFT TURN. STEERING WHEEL, WILL LOSE THE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NOTHING THEY CAN DO. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP WITHOUT WARNING, UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL. CONTACTED DEALER. STEERING COLUMN HAS LOCKED UP.*AK

STEERING RACK AND PINION FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOST OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK THE COMPONENT FROM RACK AND PINION THAT FELL ON THE GROUND WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK, ALSO THE BRAKES FAILED. *YH

LOSE ABILITY TO STEER THE VAN WHEN IT RAINS OR PASSING THROUGH SMALL WATER DEPOSITS ON THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WIND BLEW VAN INTO A DITCH AND IT SLAMMED INTO A TREE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

FAILURE FOUND DURING YEARLY SAFETY INSPECTION. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. WHILE TURNING CORNERS STEERING WILL LOCK UP FOR SOME SECONDS, AND THEN IT WILL RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION. GMC HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN A MALL PARKING LOT, WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. VEHICLE HIT A POLE. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SUDDEN YET INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WHILE MAKING A WIDE TURN TO THE RIGHT RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. NLM

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SHALLOW PUDDLES BELT SLIPS AND LOOSES POWER STEERING.HAZZARD GOING AROUND CORNERS AND CAN'T STEER.

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK UP. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING. NOT ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR A FEW MINUTES. ALSO, BATTERY LIGHT WOULD COME ON. HAD BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN I DRIVE OVER WATER AFTER A RAIN, MY VAN STEERING LOCKS UP, AND THE BELT MAKES A NOISE. I THINK ALSO THE AC STOPS WORKING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION AS YOU CAN NOT STEER.

NOISY POWER STEERING.

AFTER GOING THROUGH PUDDLES EVERYTHING WOULD SHUT DOWN OR NOT WORK PROPERLY. POWER STEERING IS DIFFICULT/FAN BELT SLIPS AFTER GETTING WET/ ALTERNATOR WOULD QUIT WORKING. ALSO, NO PROTECTION COVER TO PREVENT WATER SPLASHING. TAKING TO DEALER TO CHECK OUT.*AK ABS LIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF. *MJS

POWER STEERING FAILS WHEN DRIVING ACROSS SMALL AMOUNTS OF WATER.

WHEN AUTOMOBILE GOES THROUGH ANY WATER IT LOSES POWER STEERING. CONSUMER HAS TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESET IT. *AK