1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE Visibility Problems

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING IN THE UPWARD POSITION. *TR

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

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

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 OWN A 1999 CHEVY VENTURE. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS THE HEATER CORE HAS GONE OUT THREE TIMES, THE FIRST TIME BEING THE ORIGINAL THAT LASTED SIX YEARS. WHEN IT GOES OUT, IT FOGS THE WINDOW UP SO BAD THAT DRIVING IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. CHEVY HAS SENT OUT SERVICE BULLETINS THAT NOTE A PROBLEM WITH ELECTROLYSIS THAT RAPIDLY DETERIORATES THE HEATER CORE. THE HEATER CORES ARE CHEVY PARTS. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PERMANENT FIX AVAILABLE. THE LAST REPAIR MADE TODAY INCLUDED THE ADDITION OF A GROUNDING CABLE. *NM

Mileage: 13

AS I CLOSED THE TAIL GATE THE REAR WINDSCREEN EXPLDED OUTWARDS RESULTING IN MINOR CUTS AND ABRASIONS ON FACE,NECK AND ARMS. THE WHOLE WINDSCREEN JUST SHATTERED FOR NO REASON. WHEN SAFELITE CAME TO REPLACE THE GLASS THEIR TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH CHEVY VENTURES, I BELIEVE THAT GMC SHOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AND NOT THE CONSUMER, COSTING $184.

Mileage: 90,800

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER PAWL WILL CEASE TO FUNCTION AND BREAK WHILE USING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. OWNER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM DUE TO THIS SMALL PLASTIC PIECE BREAKING EVERY YEAR SINCE OWNERSHIP. *AK

Mileage: 4,000

WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER INDICATED THIS VEHICLE'S WIPERS WERE NOT RECALLED. *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

FUEL GAUGE HAS QUIT WORKING @ 80K. WE HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE @ 18K AND A PROBLEM WITH THE SLIDING DOOR @ 21K. WE WERE GIVEN AN ESTIMATE TO REPAIR FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM OF $700.00 TO $800.00 DOLLARS.

Mileage: 18,000

WATER PUMP FAILED -- FOG FILLED CAR WHEN PUMP FAILED. I WAS COMPLETELY FOGGED IN AND COULD NOT SEE. I HAD TO USE MY DAUGHTER'S SWEATSHIRT TO WIPE INSIDE OF WINDSHIELD. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED POWER WINDOW DRIVERS SIDE FAILED 2X SHATTERED WHEN IT FELL FROM TRACK THE SECOND TIME

Mileage: 65,000

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

6/99:AUTOMATIC,POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT STAY CLOSED. 2/00:AUTOMATIC,POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT STAY CLOSED. 5/01:AUTOMATIC,POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT STAY CLOSED. 9/01:REPLACE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS POWER WINDOW SWITCH. 12/01:AUTOMATIC,POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT STAY CLOSED. 6/02:AUTOMATIC,POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT STAY CLOSED. 10/02:REPLACE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS POWER WINDOW SWITCH. AFTER REPAIR THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER LOCK SWITCH STOPPED WORKING. 3/03:AUTOMATIC,POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT STAY CLOSED. 5/03:AUTOMATIC,POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT STAY CLOSED.

HEATER FAN DOES NOT OPERATE ON THE TWO LOWER SPEEDS. BOTTOM INSIDE OF TAILGATE IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE. POWER LOCKS WILL NOT OPERATE FROM DOOR SWITCHES, ONLY FROM THE REMOTE OR WHEN ACTIVATED BY PUTTING VEHICLE INTO GEAR.

Mileage: 90,000

REAR PASSENGER'S WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. FORTUNATELY SEAT WAS EMPTY AND NOBODY WAS HURT.*AK

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. RECALL NUMBER UNKNOWN. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS STOPPED WORKING. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

CONSUMER STATES WHILE STOPPED AT RED LIGHT WITH NO WARNING THE REAR WINDOW ON THE VAN EXPLODED. CONSUMER IS ASSUMING THAT EITHER THE WINDOW HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR THERE WAS FAULTY MATERIAL IN THE GLASS ITSELF. *YD

FRONT WIPER BLADES STOPPED WORKING TWICE.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY AND THE SIDE WINDOW NEXT TO THE DRIVERS SEAT EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SAFETY GLASS. IT SHADDERED INTO THOUSAND OF PIECES AND THEY FLEW ALL OVER THE VAN. IT IS MY UNDERSTAND THAT SAFETY GLASS IS SUPPOSED TO HOLD THE GLASS TOGETHER. THIS DID NOT HAPPENED. IT WAS LIKE IF THE GLASS HAD BEEN FROZEN AND THEN SHADDERED. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND ALMOST CAUSE ME TO CRASH. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER CHEVY VANS.*AK

BACK WINDOW SHATTERED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

DRIVER ENTERED VEHICLE AND SHUT DRIVER'S DOOR, AND REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED.*AK

WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH OUR "LEMON" AND WE HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM CHEVROLET ON OUR CONCERNS.*AK

THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR WILL NOT STAY AT THE FIXED POSITION, I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY ADJUST IT EVERY TIME I DRIVE. THIS CREATES DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. *AK

WHEN USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS THERE IS A SMEAR PRESENT THAT CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK WINDSHIELD PRESENTS A HAZAR D ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE GLARE FROM ON COMING LIGHTS AND IN THE DAY TIME WHEN IT RAINS. *YH

WHEN USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS THERE IS A SMEAR PRESENT THAT CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK WINDSHIELD PRESENTS A HAZAR D ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE GLARE FROM ON COMING LIGHTS AND IN THE DAY TIME WHEN IT RAINS. *YH

VAN FOGS UP ALL WINDOWS WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE OUT. DEFROST TAKES IT OFF THE WINDSHIELD, MOSTLY, BUT ALL OTHER WINDOWS STAY FOGGED OVER. AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY WHEN VAN WAS PURCHSED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT DID. I BELIEVE THE AIR CONDITIONER/DEFROST IS ALL RELATED. AS SUCH, THE VAN HAS HAD A PROBLEM SINCE THE PURCHSE DATE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM-HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE 8+ TIMES. ED BOZARTH CHEVROLET REFUSES TO SEE THE VAN FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

DRIVER IS UNABLE TO DEFOG THE WINDOWS DUE TO DEFOGGER MALFUNCTIONING, CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. YH

WHILE DRIVING NORTH BOUND ON I-71 IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW BLEW OUT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DIALED "911". WITHIN MINUTES, THE KENTUCK STATE HIGHWAY PATROL WAS ON THE SCENE. AS WE EVALUATED THE SITUATION AND CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION, I HAD CONCERNS THAT THE WINDOW WAS SHOT OUT. THE OFFICER ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS NOT FOR THE PROJECTILE WOULD STILL BE IN THE VEHICLE. WE FURTHER DISCUSSED OTHER PROJECTILES HITTING THE WINDOW AND THAT TOO WAS RULED OUT FOR THE SAME REASON AS PREVIOUSLY STATED. ALSO, THE MAJORITY OF THE GLASS BLEW OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. GLASS FRAGMENTS WERE INBEDDED INTO THE PAINT ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND ADDITIONAL CHIPS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE REAR WINDOW (SAME SIDE) AS WELL. THE SOUND OF THE WINDOW SHATTERING IS SIMILAR TO A SHOT GUN BLAST. IT SCARED THE *&%&*% OUT OF ME, MY WIFE AND MY CHILDREN. SHOULD WE HAVE BEEN IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. AS I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH MANY PEOPLE, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A MORE FREQUENT OCCURENCE THEN YOU WOULD THINK. I BELIEVE THAT MOST PEOPLE ASSUME THAT SOMETHING CONTACTED THE WINDOW CAUSING IT BREAK AND SIMPLY TURN IT IN TO THE INSURANCE. WHEN IN FACT, THERE COULD BE A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE GLASS ITSELF OR THE MECHANISM USED TO RAISE AND LOWER THESE WINDOWS. *AK

THE 24' WIPER BLADES WOULD NOT STAY ATTACHED AND IS A SERIOUS ROAD HAZARD. YH

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY AND PARK IN THE CENTER IF THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. NLM

PLASTIC TUBE WITHIN HEATING/VENTILATION SYSTEM , UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD AND ABOVE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BECAME LOOSE AND FELL OUT. IT THEN GOT WEDGED BEHIND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHICH DID NOT ALLOW VEHICLE TO RETUEN TO IDLE, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. ALSO REPLACED FRONT BRAKE DISC ROTORS AND PADS. *AK

DRIVING WITH WIPER ON WHEN THE WINDSHIELD EXPLODED OUTWARD.

WINDSHIELD WIPER DO NOT FUNCTION IN SNOW OR FREEZING RAIN BECAUSE THEY FREEZE IN THE HOLE AND CANNOT BE DUG OUT.

HEATER - THE HEATER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY TO HEAT VEHICLE -- THERE IS NOT ENOUGH AIR COMING FROM ANY VENT, WHETHER IT BE IN FLOOR, A/C VENTS, OR DEFROSTER POSITION. -- SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THERE IS A RESTRICTION IN THE AIR FLOW, POSSIBLE AN INTERIOR HEATER DOOR NOT WORKING PROPERLY. -- HEATER CAN BE ON MAX HEAT IN HIGHEST BLOWER MOTOR POSITION AND VEHICLE NEVER GETS WARN ENOUGH TO TURN HEATER CONTROLS DOWN -- THIS IS A LITTLE BETTER WHEN VEHICLE IS SITTING STILL FOR A LONG PERIOD, BUT IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE COLD FEET WHILE DRIVING. -- DEALER STATES THAT ALL LIKE MODELS OPERATE THE SAME AND THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. -- AIR FLOW THROUGH DUCTS IS POSSIBLE 1/3 THAT OF OUR 1996 BLAZER AND 1997 PICK-UP TRUCK, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE GREAT HEATERS.