1997 Chevrolet Venture problems
NHTSA has received 612 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Venture, and 13% of them involve steering. After that come engine (13%) and lighting (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 612 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 13% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 11 and 13
- Injuries and deaths
- 16 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 75,000 miles 122 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 11 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 27 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 30 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 28 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 8 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 9 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 122 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 75,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 83,000 miles (11 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 11 complaints mention a crash; 13 complaints mention a fire; 16 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 9 model years of the Chevrolet Venture with enough data (338 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Seat belt retracting device strangled child due to design while child was playing, rachet mechinism kept winding up the slack in the belt.
Loss of power steering LED to the death of driver's infant daughter as stated by the consumer's lawyer. While driving the vehicle's steering locked up. The consumer lost control of the vehicle which then ran off the road and struck a tree. In january 2003 the manufacturer issued a recall for the vehicle's rack and pinion.
Front collision at 45-50 MPH, passenger's airbag did not deploy; however, driver's airbag deployed and immediatly exploded. Neck/jaw/back injuries to passenger. Driver sustained injuries to chest and neck areas. Vehicle was totalled.
From about 40000 milesproblems with the temp gauge indicating engine running hot when in fact it never was and coolant was adequate mechanic never able to figure out 60000 intake manifold replaced 90000 miles engine losing power and stalling engine block cracked possible and head gasket. Brakes noisy with a grinding feel in the pedal lights on dash on & off ABS and coolant low when no problem exists! Car pulls to left and hard to steer in a puddle horn almost impossible to activate.
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.