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1997 Chevrolet VentureProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 432 owner complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Venture, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 6 safety recalls.

39
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.6× the Venture median · #2 of 9 years by complaints
Safety recalls6Free fix at dealersOwner complaints43229 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage75kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 6, 2017. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Chevrolet Venture has problems

432 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling854
Steering762
Exterior lighting621
Electrical system534
Structure440
Service brakes, hydraulic412
Visibility320
Seat belts242
Power train240
17 other systems12118

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

6 recalls

1997 Chevrolet Venture recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Doors: latch

Recall 04V-597 · Dec 22, 2004 · 717,302 vehicles

Risk. IF A PASSENGER USES THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND HOLDS ONTO THE HANDLE WHILE IT IS BEING OPENED BY THE MOTOR, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Steering: rack and pinion

Recall 02V-286 · Nov 4, 2002 · 1,159,156 vehicles

Risk. IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Doors: latch

Recall 01V-264 · Aug 21, 2001 · 248,737 vehicles

Risk. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
–no report yet

Front assembly: recliner

Recall 98V-145 · Jun 26, 1998 · 125,990 vehicles

Risk. WHEN ACTIVATING THE RELEASE MECHANISM TO ROLL A BUCKET SEAT FORWARD, A CUSTOMER'S FINGER(S) COULD BE SEVERELY INJURED OR SEVERED IN THEY ARE NOT KEPT CLEAR OF…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Windshield wiper/washer: linkages

Recall 98V-072 · Apr 7, 1998 · 55,154 vehicles

Risk. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN CAUSE REDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

75kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 49 engine and engine cooling complaints. 86% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 21% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
1under 30k miles42under 100k miles7100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

12 owners mentioned a cost

$3,400median

Middle half: $1,800 – $4,450

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1997 vs. every other Venture year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Venture median. How we score

'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1997 Chevrolet Venture safety ratings

1997 Chevrolet Venture in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1997 Chevrolet Venture frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
8 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1997 Chevrolet Venture, and the recalls they led to.

  1. RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT FAILUREDP04002 · closed Mar 17, 2004
    No recall
  2. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILUREEA02003 · closed Dec 10, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-286
  3. SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY FAILUREEA02032 · closed Nov 21, 2003
    No recall
  4. REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILUREEA03005 · closed Jan 12, 2004
    No recall
  5. STEERING RACK AND PINIONPE01038 · closed Apr 4, 2002
    No recall
  6. SHOULDER HARNESS CLIPPE02017 · closed Aug 2, 2002
    No recall
  7. FINGER CUTTING/PINCHINGPE98030 · closed Jun 30, 1998
    Led to recall 98V-145
  8. UNEXPECTED OPENING OF SLIDING DOORSQ00014 · closed Oct 22, 2001
    Led to recall 01V-067
In owners' words

What Venture owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, PROCEEDED DOWN THE RAMP, VEHICLE DID NOT DECREASE SPEED, APPLIED BRAKE, MOTOR CONTINUE TO PULL THE VEHICLE, SHUT ENGINE OFF TO STOP VEHICLE, DUE TO STEEL CABLE INSIDE THE VINAL COVERING HAD CUT THROUGH THE SHIELD AND HELD THE CABLE FAST, PREVENTING THE CABLE TO RELEASE.
Complaint 999999999 · Oct 7, 1997
1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE, CAUGHT FIRE AND BECAME FULLY ENGULFED CAUSING TOTAL DAMAGE. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE VEHICLE HAD ENGINE TROUBLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0318-89)*JB UPDATED 09/13/10*BF
Complaint 10354249 · Sep 1, 2010
I HAVE OWNED 3 CHEVY VENTURE MINIVANS OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS. ALL OF THEM HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, THE SIGNAL AND HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT, THE WINDOW SWITCH GOES OUT AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKET GOES. THEY RUN GREAT UNTIL THE DAY IT STARTS OVERHEATING, THEN YOUR OUT A VEHICLE. EVERYONE I KNOW WHO HAS A…
Complaint 10329161 · May 6, 2010 · 99,998 miles

Own a 1997 Venture?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.