1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE Air Bags Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD FLASH 7 TIMES THEN REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED A FAILURE CODE FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,500.

Mileage: 97,500

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 45 MPH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND COLLIDED WITH 3 OTHER VEHICLES CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHOLE FRONT END AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEG, SHOULDER, AND CHEST. THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN, AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND PICTURES WERE AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS DEEMED TOTALED. UPDATED 1/26/2007 - *NM

Mileage: 85,000

THIS WILL BE A LIST OF MOST OF THE PROBLEMS. I HAVE COMPLAINED OF SMELLING ANTI-FREEZE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VAN NEW. IT CURRENTLY HAS 94K ON IT AND I HAVE DONE ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON IT. I THINK THE CLOCK WORK OIL CHANGES IS THE ONLY REASON IT STILL RUNS. MANIFOLD GASKETS, INTAKE, HEAD...HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND NEED IT AGAIN, REALLY BAD. BUT I JUST DO NOT HAVE 5-800 BUCKS LAYING AROUND TO DO A GASKET JOB AGAIN SINCE I JUST DID IT A YEAR AGO. THE ANTI-FREEZE DILUTING THE OIL HAS MESSED UP A COUPLE PISTONS. THEY SLAP VERY BAD OK HERE IS MY LIST (I HAVE DEALER INVOICES FOR EVERYTHING FIXED THE FIRST TIME AND RECEIPTS FOR PARTS AND LABOR THE SECOND TIME, OR MY HUSBAND GOT SICK OF PAYING FOR THE SAME CRAP SO HE WOULD FIX THINGS) (HE IS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE TESTING AND DESIGN FIELD) *JB

Mileage: 20,000

I HAVE HAD 3 MAIN PROBLEMS TRANSMISSION, HEADLIGHT MOISTURE AND AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION MY 99 VENTURE HAS 79K MILES ON IT AND THAT TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD (DEALER SUGGEST A DRAIN AND FLUSH) AT 60K I HAD A VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR 800 DOLLARS. I AM AFRAID WE WILL BE REPLACING A TRANSMISSION AT 85000 MILES. I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE HAD IT IN 7-9 TIMES FIXES RANGED FROM CLEARING THE CODE TO TIGHTENING UP A PLUG. THE HEAD LIGHT UNITS HAVE BEEN TAKING ON WATER AND BURNING OUT LIGHTS FOR THE LAST 20K MILES. SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS AND I CANNOT BELIEVE GM WOULD PRODUCE A VEHICLE LIKE THIS AND NOT STAND BUY THERE PRODUCT. *JB

Mileage: 79,000

AIR-BAG WARNING LIGHT I JUST BOUGHT ANOTHER 1999 CHEVY VENTURE BECAUSE I REALLY LIKED MY OTHER ONE, BUT IT HAD TOO MANY PROBLEMS. MY OLD ONE WAS A LS AND THIS ONE IS A LT. NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON WITH THIS ONE TOO! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY SUCH AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT IS SUCH A PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 70,500

WHILE DRIVING TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS/ABS, AND SRS LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT BE DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT WILL FLASH OR NOT GO OFF ON A DAILY BASIS. HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR 3 YEARS. IN THE PAST, I HAD BEEN TOLD IT WAS JUST DIRTY CONTACTS.THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT. JUST HAD MY VAN FOR ALMOST A WEEK DID NOT EVEN MENTION THE LIGHT AS A CONCERN. WHILE LOOKING UP OTHER INFO. I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS COULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS VAN HAS A "POOR" FRONTAL CRASH RATING EVEN WITH AIR BAGS!*AK

PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON AT ALL. NOTHING HIT THE WINDOW AND IT JUST POPPED LOUDLY AND SHATTERED.

Mileage: 40,000

I NOTICED A SMELL OF HOT ANTIFREEZE. ALSO IT WOULD MAKE A LOT OF NOISE WHEN STARTING UP. THE THERMOSTAT NEVER SHOWED ANYTHING OVERHEATING. OIL DIDN'T SHOW ANYTHING ON THE DIPSTICK. WE CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 3000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP THAT TORE INTO IT HAD SAID WE DID NOT CHANGE THE OIL EVER BY THE LOOKS OF THE INTERNALS. WE BOUGHT THIS USED 1999 CHEVY VENTURE LT , AUGUST 2000 HAVING 34,000 MILES ON IT ALREADY. THE PREVIOUS OWNER BOUGHT THIS VAN IN OCTOBER 1998 BRAND NEW. HOW COULD A VEHICLE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTOR DROPPED IN WITH ONLY 57,000 ON IT AND HAVE HAD DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO KEEP EVERYTHING IN WORKING ORDER. THIS IS NOT OUR FIRST CHEVY, OUR WHOLE FAMILY BUYS CHEVYS. JUST TO BRAG WE HAVE 13, AND ALL OF THEM MAINTAINED WELL. ONE EVEN HAVING OVER 200,000 MILES ON IT,1995 CHEVY ASTRO. ANYWAY, I WATCH THE GAUGES VERY CLOSELY AND NEVER DID I SEE ANYTHING WRONG.

Mileage: 57,000

MY 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE MINIVAN HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE ONE I AM MOST CONCERNED WITH IS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION MAKES THE CAR JERK WHEN I EITHER SLOW DOWN OR STOP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GAIN SPEED AGAIN. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. THERE ARE ALSO TIMES WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT WHINES. ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WHAT I FIGURE IS ELECTRICAL. SOMETIMES THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND THEN EVENTUALLY GOES OFF. ALSO, THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *NLM

Mileage: 48,000

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WE BOUGHT IT AUGUST OF 2002. WITH IN THE FIRST MONTH MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. CALLED THE DEALER AND WE HAD TO HAVE THE SEAT BELT TENSION REPLACED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. ABOUT A YEAR LATER THE SAMETHING HAPPENS AGAIN THIS TIME ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. ABOUT A MONTH AGO OUR ANTIFREEZE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND SHUTTING OFF. WE NOTICE NO LEAKING ON THE GROUND HOWEVER THE ANTIFREEZE IS SLOWLY DISAPPEARING. WELL THIS WEEKEND MY HUSBAND TOOK THE VAN ON A TRIP AND COMES BACK THE NEXT DAY AND THE ENGINE IS MAKING A TICKING NOISE. WE FOUND OUT THAT THE ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING INTO THE OIL CAUSING THE GASKET TO BE REPLACED AND THE HYDRAULIC LIFTS TO BE REPLACED. THIS COULD OF RESULTED IN THE ENGINE FREEZING UP. THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY ANYTHING HAS NOT BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS. JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS NOT INJURED DOES NOT ALLOW THE COMPANY TO OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE A DEFECT WITH THIS YEAR OF VENTURES. *JB

FIRESTONE 2157015 AFINITY LH30 VW 97H SEPARATING ON THE INSIDE WITH 21591 MILES ON IT. DEALER TELLS ME THE SEPARATION WAS DUE TO A ROAD HAZARD. I THINK IT WAS DUE TO MANUFACTURING FLAW.*AK

SEAT BELT FRONT LEFT/RIGHT TENSIONER SHORTED. WILL NOT ACTIVATE THE FRONT AIRBAGS IN AN ACCIDENT ACCORDING TO CHRISTENSON CHEVROLET IN HIGHLAND, INDIANA ALSO, ABS BRAKE SWITCH AND TRACTION CONTROL(TCS) SWITCH WERE ALSO SHORTED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS IN A SEVERE DRIVER SIDE COLLISION, BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS, EVEN THE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT.*AK

Mileage: 95,000

INTERMITTENTLY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE RECALL FAILED. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. *JB

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON,VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT TIME.TOOK IN FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ACTUATER.THIS PART WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY!AND IN THE EVENT OF A ACCIDENT MY SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LOCK.

Mileage: 50,000

COOLANT LEVEL KEPT DROPPING AND THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER AND FOUND THAT MAINFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE REAR CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIR COST $1078.00 FOR BOTH. THIS VAN ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES. GOOD TO SEE THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THESE COMPONENTS, MAYBE THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX THESE PROBLEMS. A VEHICLE OWNER SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY(FOR THESE KIND OF REPAIRS) AND RISK THEIR FAMILY ON THE ROADSIDE ON VEHICLES WITH THIS FEW OF MILES AND AGE. I'VE ALSO HAD AN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON FOR MOST OF THE TIME THAT I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE. IT WAS WORKED ON A COUPLE OF TIMES DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS AN AIR BAG SENSOR PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS. I HOPE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN AIR BAG IS NOT DEPLOYED. ONCE THE LIGHT IS LIGHT, IT REMAINS LIGHT UNTIL VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THREE YEAR OLD VEHICLES SHOULD NOT EXPERIENCE INTERMITTANT RELIABILITY PROBLEMS.

Mileage: 80,000

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN AIR BAG IS NOT DEPLOYED. ONCE THE LIGHT IS LIGHT, IT REMAINS LIGHT UNTIL VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THREE YEAR OLD VEHICLES SHOULD NOT EXPERIENCE INTERMITTANT RELIABILITY PROBLEMS.

Mileage: 80,000

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AIR BAG SWITCH BUT THE PROBLEM HAS ROCURRED. *MR *NLM

WHILE THE VEHICLE STARTS THE AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. SOMETIMES IT STAYS ON AND SOMETIMES IT GOES OFF. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS SITUATION INDICATING A PROBLEM. *YH

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC

I WAS IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. CAR HIT ME AND BOUNCED MY VAN REAL HARD INTO CONCRETE WALL IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. I BOUNCED OFF WALL, AND GOT KNOCKED INTO IT AGAIN. THE INPACK WAS SO BAD, IT KNOCKED MY ENGINE OUT, BUT YET NOT NEITHER ONE OF MY AIRBAGS POPPED. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHY?*AK

NUMEROUS INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FEBRUARY 2000, THE AIR-BAG LIGHT INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD STAY ON AFTER STARTING, BUT ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE ON 2/22/00 AND THEY CLEANED CONNECTIONS TO DRIVER SIDE IMPACT AIR-BAG. PROBLEM WENT AWAY UNTIL JULY 2001. AGAIN INSTRUMENT PANEL AIR-BAG LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STAY ON. MAY 2000 - DOORS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK CONTINUALLY AND LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK WITH REMOTE OR KEY WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING. INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVY SERVICE CENTER ON 5/11/00 & 5/16/00 AND BOTH TIMES THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE ERROR / FAILURE AND NOTHING WAS DONE. AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE DOOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS PROBLEM STOPPED.JANUARY 2002  INSTRUMENT PANEL ABS & TCS (TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM) LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND STAY ON AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR 5 MINUTES OR SO, BUT NOT ON EVERY TRIP ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE EMERGENCY FLASHER / TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WILL COME ON. VEHICLE HAS 43K MILES AND IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, BUT PROBLEMS STARTED 1 YEAR (13,000 MILES) AFTER PURCHASE.

WHILE DRIVING, AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD STAY ILLUMINATED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK REPLACED PART UNDER DRIVERS SEAT, AIR BAG MAY NOT ENGAGE. *TT

THE AIR BAG FAILURE INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. DEALER REPRESENTATIVE STATES THAT IT IS "OK TO DRIVE, YOU JUST WON'T HAVE AN AIR BAG IN CASE OF A CRASH. JUST BE SURE TO DRIVE CAREFULLY."*AK

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG - EXTENDED OUT FROM SEAT - POTENTIAL PREDEPLOYMENT HAZARD, CHEVROLET STATES NO RECALL SO WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 50 MPH "T"BONED PASSENGER'S SIDE. WHEN IT HIT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER OF VENTURE SUFFERED BRUISES TO HIS HEART, SHOULDER, PELVIS & CHEST AND LACERATIONS TO KNEES.*AK

CONSUMER WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELLING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED, HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS FRONT IMPACT AND SIDE IMPACT EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT IN THE ACCIDENT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO SUSTAIN SERIOUS INJURIES. *SLC

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO VEHICLE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED MODULE. THEN IN JULY 2000, CONSUMER WAS BACK AT DEALER FOR SAME PROBLEM. IN AUGUST OF 2000, CONSUMER WAS BACK AGAIN. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS UNSAFE BECAUSE WHEN AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON, IT INDICATED THAT AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

ITEM 1, STEERING COLUMN; 55 REPORTS OF BOLT GIVING WAY CAUSING ADD'L BOLT TO SHEAR OFF AND STEERING COLUMN TO SEPARATE. INVESTIGATED BY INSURANCE, THIS APPARENTLY WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THIS CRASH. ITEM 2, AIR BAGS, NEITHER FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THIS 2.25 TIME ROLLOVER. THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. VEHICLE CAME TO REST ON PASSENGER SIDE. SEEMS SIDE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 25 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE CONSUMER WAS STOPPING WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, FRONT SEAT COLLASPED, AND FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE INJURIES THAT DRIVER SUSTAINED CAUSED A MISCARRAIGE OF PREGNANCY. CONSUMER FELT IF AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED,NJURIES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO SEVERE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THE CRASH. FRONT END WAS TOTALED. ALSO, EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED WHICH NOT SLOW VEHICLE DOWN IN THE CRASH. MANUFACTURER ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE CRASH, IMPACT ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FRONT FENDER, SPEED 45-55 MPH IN WHICH THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER SIDE OCCUPANT. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *ML

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE CRASH, IMPACT ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FRONT FENDER, SPEED 45-55 MPH IN WHICH THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER SIDE OCCUPANT. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *ML

JUST PULLED AWAY FROM STOP LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THE LIGHT & "T" BONED THE VENTURE. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE'S BEING TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED & REPAIRED. *AK

AIR BAG CHARGE WENT OFF WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT, SHORTED ELEC. SYSTEM. MY WIFE AND 7 YEAR OLD HAD LEAVE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC POLICE WOULD NOT LET HER REENTER CAR BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY.

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. HIT A DEER AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, ALL FOUR AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ( BOTH FRONTAL & SIDE ). DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.

THE AIRBAG WENT OFF WHEN I SLAMMED THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. HURT MY ARM AND MY KIDS' EARS. *AK