7.9

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,191 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1998 Chevrolet Venture:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #47

May 012005

Venture 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles
The contact stated that the right front headlight lens came off three times and the left once. They replaced the entire head lamp twice on the right side. The problem occurred again.

- National City , CA, USA

problem #46

Jul 012004

Venture 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles
The contact states when applying the brakes both headlights separated from the vehicle. He replaced the headlights in the vehicle. The vehicle has not been inspected to determine why this happened. He has not contacted the manufacturer. Updated 11/30/05.

- Westchester, IL, USA

problem #45

Nov 292004

Venture 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles
The 1997-2000 venutures have problems with the engines, the intake gasket breaks down causing anti freeze to mix with the engines oil causing the cam shaft to crack, in our case there was no leaks under the van and there was no warning either the van was running well that morning and when my wife was driving down the street there was 2 short bukles from the van and everything shut down including steering which was difficult to do, is it going to take someones family to die on the side of the road before GM will do anything about this if my wife had been on the highway then there would be no way that she would have made it without being hit, even then she had 3 young children in the van ages 3-8 and was almost hit from behind, because it was an industrial highway speed limit of 50mph and not much room on the shoulder to park. There are many complaints about these vans and yet no one seems to be doing anything. This website has complaint after complaint, www. complaints.com and www.GM-V6lemons.com has hundreds of complaints along with other websites of people experancing the same problem. How many people have to die before anything is done? GM doesn't seem to care even though their dealerships have stated their is a problem with the engines. Engine shut off and failure are serious problems.

- Pawtucket, RI, USA

problem #44

Jun 122004

Venture 6-cyl

  • miles
While driving at night, the headlight lens fell from the vehicle. This forced the driver to pull off of the road. The consumer contacted the dealer.

- Bethalto, IL, USA

problem #43

May 142003

Venture 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
1998 Chevrolet Venture-both headlight covers fell off over a one month period. Cost was $180 for replacement components.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #42

Dec 242002

(reported on)

Venture

  • miles
While driving at 70 mph the vehicles steering wheel locked up. Consumer states' after breaking steering out of the lock mode, consumer drove to a near dealer.

- St. Johns, MI, USA

problem #41

Sep 042002

(reported on)

Venture

  • miles
While driving headlight lens cover will pop off without warning, unable too just pop it back on. Contacted dealer.cause unknown.

- Fort Pierce, FL, USA

problem #40

Apr 182002

Venture

  • miles
After much research with area GM dealerships and your website, it appers that the 1998 Venture mini-van's intake manifold gasket develops a leak at 80000 to 90000 miles. I had this replacement in May 2002. Since my van was out of warrenty by 1000 miles (it was shy 2 weeks of being 4 years old). I spoke with GM's customer service and they stated there was nothing they could do about it. Even though I have maintained my vehicle on schedule for all tune-up/oil changes/tire rotations, etc. I ended up paying $575 to have the intake manifold gasket replaced. Since then my van has never been the same. It is now in the shop in need of a whole new engine with only 82000 miles. It seems a piston rod spun and damaged the crank shaft. After much investigation, I was told that the problem with the intake manifold gasket could have caused all of this. Now I am faced with replacing the whole engine with an used engine with 4,000 miles for $2400 + tax, getting a remanufactured engine for $3865 or trading in the car. I do believe an investigation in the leaking of the intake manifold gasket should definately be pursued. I would really appreciate any assistance. For the headlight, my headlight lens fall off while I was driven on a highway going about 55 mph. I never could found the lens and lucky the lens flying off did not cause a crash. I contacted the GM assistance program and once again was told there was nothing could be done to assist us. This wasn't a known problem. After investigating again, I see this is a known problem. Replacing the lens meant replacing the whole headlight unit at the tune of $328.03. What is the consumer to do??no safety defect listed.

- Perrysburg, OH, USA

problem #39

Mar 272002

Venture

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Passenger side headlight lens fell off with out any physical damage to vehicle. Contacted dealer who was not willing to do anything.

- Jefferson, IA, USA

problem #38

Jun 052001

Venture

  • miles
Driver's side headlight fell out, consumer checked passenger's side headlight and it was very loose. Dealer has been contacted.

- Carmicheals, PA, USA

problem #37

May 032002

Venture

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Driver's side headlight fell out. Consumer checked passenger's side headlight and noticed it was loose.

- Carmicheals, PA, USA

problem #36

Jan 252002

(reported on)

Venture

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The head light covers that are to be permanent fall of exposing halogen bulbs to moisture, and insects causes them to blow out unexpectedly and repeatedly causing loss of headlights at night. The part is not covered under warranty.

- Mt. Blanchard, OH, USA

problem #35

Apr 012001

Venture

  • miles
While driving under normal conditions the plastic headlight cover on the driver's side fell off, a new unit was unstalled, three months later the cover over the passenger side fell off, the consumer believes there is a design problem or manufacturing defficiency. Nlm

- Rensselaer, NY, USA

problem #34

Jun 082001

Venture

  • miles
The headlight assemblies had to be replaced, due to the lens covers popping out and the headlamps blowing out, the problem was due to a defective venting system in the headlamps, and that the manufacturer was aware of the problem.

- Jim Falls, WI, USA

problem #33

May 012002

Venture

  • miles
Front headlamp assembly lenses for both front L/R fell off vehicle, attempted to have dealer repair. This is a defect, lens should not fall off at 52,000 miles, and to repair have to find lens, unavailable, dealer does not have individual lens, need to replace whole assembly on problem side.

- Stafford, VA, USA

problem #32

Feb 042002

Venture

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Lenses separated from headlights. Took vehicle to dealer. Problem was not solved. Consumer is concerned with paying out of pocket when it is clearly a manufactures defect.

- East Palistein, OH, USA

problem #31

Mar 202002

Venture

  • miles
I was making a turn and was going no more than 10mph, when I heard a noise. I stopped when I got to my destination and realized that both of my headlight covers had fallen off the van! I went back to the place where it happened and retrieved the, only to find out that the glue had separated the 2 parts. Manufacturer. Said it is not a 2 pc/ part, but now mine is. I have heard from a repair shop that mine is the 19th in my area alone to have this happen to in the past 6 weeks. I feel this is a major proble, B/C if the bulb were to get wet, wouldn't it short out" thus causing the driver to not have headlights?" I feel that the mfr. Should issue a voulentary recall of the mini vans and fix it at no cost to the consumer.

- Derby, CT, USA

problem #30

Feb 022002

Venture

  • miles
I noticed that my headlight cover was missing and couldn't figure out what had happened. I started looking at the other headlight cover and it fell off in my hand. I noticed that they had been glued on and the glue had dried up and was cracked no longer holding on the cover. I came in and called Chevrolet but they wouldn't do anything since it was out of warranty (just barely). They don't make just the cover - you have to buy a whole headlight assembly (ripoff -$90). I went online to a Venture owners message board. I found message after message about this same problem with other 98 Venture. Obviously Chevrolet/GM is ignoring it. It was pointed out to me how dangerous this can be if the cover is gone and moisture gets to the halogen light it could explode injuring anyone close. Not only that but someone could be injured if the headlight cover flies off while driving. Please investigate this. Chevrolet is being negligent. And people are going to be hurt.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #29

Jan 252002

(reported on)

Venture

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The head light covers that are to be permanent fall of exposing halogen bulbs to moisture, and insects causes them to blow out unexpectedly and repeatedly causing loss of headlights at night. The part is not covered under warranty.

- Mt. Blanchard, OH, USA

problem #28

Apr 012001

Venture

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Headlight protective covering that is glued to headlight, protective shield continuiously falls off. If something hits bulbs they blowout, once while driving at night headlights blewout, and consumer was not able to see, consumer stated all the repair work has been completed, consumer replaced the headlight himself.

- Mount Blanchard, OH, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »