1997 Chevrolet Venture

CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 40 MPH, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THAT THE RIGHT BRAKE LINE HAD A HOLE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. *AK 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *SCC

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. *AK *JG

WHEN CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH, HE WAS TRYING TO STEP ON BRAKE PEDAL TO REDUCE SPEED, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT REDUCE SPEED, IT ACCELERATED. FRONT OF VEHICLE STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SLC

LOSS OF POWER STEERING LED TO THE DEATH OF DRIVER'S INFANT DAUGHTER AS STATED BY THE CONSUMER'S LAWYER. *LA 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. *NM

SEAT BELT RETRACTING DEVICE STRANGLED CHILD DUE TO DESIGN WHILE CHILD WAS PLAYING, RACHET MECHINISM KEPT WINDING UP THE SLACK IN THE BELT.

ON DECEMBER 30, 1999, I DROPPED MY CHEVROLET, VENTURE TO PUENTE HILLS CHEVROLET DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER!/S TECHNICIAN FOUND A HOLE IN THE AIR CLEANER HOUSING. BASED ON THE DEALER!/S DIAGNOSTICS, THE HOLE WAS BURNED BY EXHAUST HEAT. SINCE THE DEALER HAD NO PART AVAILABLE, THE TECHNICIAN JUST SIMPLY TAPED THE HOLE AS A FIX. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE MINIVAN!/S ENGINE STARTED TO STALL OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE VAN WAS DECELERATED BEFORE THE RED LIGHT, LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. I SENT THE VAN TO GLENDORA CHEVROLET DEALER TWICE, ONE WAS ON MARCH 12, 2001, AND ANOTHER WAS ON MAY 15, 2001 WITH NO SUCCESS. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM, AND DID NOTHING (OBVIOUSLY, THEY DIDN!/T DO ENOUGH TESTING). ON OCTOBER 14 OF 2001, MY WIFE GOT AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE ENGINE STALL WHEN SHE EXITED FROM A FREEWAY. I SENT THE VAN TO PUENTE HILL DEALER NEXT DAY, ASKING TO CHECK THE ENGINE STALL PROBLEM AND, AT THE SAME TIME, TO REPLACE THE AIR CLEANER HOUSING. IT TOOK THE DEALER SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ENGINE STALL PROBLEM BY THE SERVICE MAN, MARK FETTERMAN, DURING HIS ROAD TEST, BUT HAS NO CLUE WHY THE ENGINE STALLED. EVENTUALLY, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE HOLE BURNED BY EXHAUST HEAT WAS VERY CLOSE TO AN ENGINE SENSOR AND THEY GUESSED THAT THE HOLE MIGHT CAUSE THE ENGINE STALL PROBLEM. THE DEALER!/S GUESS WAS CORRECT. AFTER A NEW AIR CLEANER HOUSING WAS INSTALLED ON OCTOBER 19, WE NEVER HAVE THE ENGINE STALL PROBLEM AGAIN. *AK

IN REAR IMPACT 10-15 MPH THE REAR LEFT SIDE BENCH SEAT COLLAPSED DUE TO A POORLY DESIGNED WELD TO THE FLOOR THAT BROKE OFF DURING THE REAR IMPACT. *AK

HAD BACKED VEHICLE UP & HIT TELPHONE POLE. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF DRIVEWAY. PUT FOOT ON BRAKES TO STOP & HELD STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE DID 21 FT SLIDE BEFORE HITTING BUILDING. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ABS WORKED. TOOK TO DEALER & TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S STEERING IDLER ARM FELL OFF DUE TO A MISSING BOLT, THIS CAIUSES BOTH FRONT TIRES TO POINT INWARD AND LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. *AK

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

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AND BUSTED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE INSPECTOR DETERMINED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT HER RESIDENCE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A FIRE STARED IN THE TAIL LIGHT ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, VERY NEAR THE GAS TANK. INSPECTOR STATED THAT IT WAS A DEAD SHORT. CONSUMER CONTACTED CHEVROLET, AND THEY WERE WILLING TO DO PAY THE SUM THAT VEHICLE WAS WORTH. *AK

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY A BURNT ODOR WAS SMELLED FOLLOWED BY BLACK SMOKE. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. *AK BLACK SMOKE CAME GUSHING OUT BY THE AIRBAG. SOON AFTER THE DASH BOARD EXPLODED IN FLAMES. EXPLOSION CAUSED ALL THE WINDOWS TO BLOW OUT. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AS FLAMES ENGULFED THE ENTIRE BODY. *TC

DESCRIPTION : I BOUGHT A USED 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE FROM THE NORWOOD GROUP IN WARWICK, RI BACK IN SEPT 2002. APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS AGO I BEGAN EXPERIENCING OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PEP BOYS IN WARICK, RI FOR A DIAGNOSTIC THINKING THAT IT WAS THE THERMOSTAT. THEY RAN THE TEST AND CAME BACK WITH AN ENGINE PROBLEM, AND ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DID THIS AND THE SERVICE DEPT AT NORWOOD INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS THEY REPAIRED THAT AND WHEN TAKING IT FOR A TEST DRIVE BEFORE RETURNING IT TO ME, THEY DECIDED THAT I NOW HAD A THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM. FIXED THAT AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMELL STRONGLY OF GAS. AGAIN I TOOK IT TO PEP BOYS WHERE ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC WAS RUN AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR, INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE FUEL INJECTOR KIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. BACK TO NORWOOD I GO....NORWOOD ASSUMED A PORTION OF THIS REPAIR BUT IT STILL COST ME A LOT MORE MONEY THAN IT SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERING THEY HAD JUST DONE THIS WORK.LESS THAN 48 HOURS AFTER GETTING MY VEHICLE BACK, WHILE ON THE ROAD AND 120 MILES AWAY FROM HOME THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH. OIL IS SPRAYED ALL OVER THE VEHICLE'S EXTERIOR,THE ENGINE AND UNDERCARRIAGE. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO NORWOOD. THE ENGINE APPEARS TO BE SEIZED UP AND WILL NOT TURN OVER. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED OVER THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS VEHICLE, THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CASH OUTLAY I AM HAVING FORCED UPON ME. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE IN THE WAY OF RECOURSE.*AK

I BOUGHT A USED 97 CHEVROLET VENTURE FROM THE NORWOOD GROUP IN WARWICK, RI BACK IN SEPT 2002. APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS AGO I BEGAN EXPERIENCING OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PEP BOYS IN WARICK, RI FOR A DIAGNOSTIC THINKING THAT IT WAS THE THERMOSTAT. THEY RAN THE TEST AND CAME BACK WITH AN ENGINE PROBLEM AND ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DID THIS AND THE SERVICE DEPT AT NORWOOD INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS THEY REPAIRED THAT AND WHEN TAKING IT FOR A TEST DRIVE BEFORE RETURNING IT TO ME THEY DECIDED THAT I NOW HAD A THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM. FIXED THAT AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMELL STRONGLY OF GAS. AGAIN I TOOK IT TO PEP BOYS WHERE ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC WAS RUN AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR, INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE FUEL INJECTOR KIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. BACK TO NORWOOD I GO....NORWOOD ASSUMED A PORTION OF THIS REPAIR BUT IT STILL COST ME A LOT MORE MONEY THAN IT SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERING THEY HAD JUST DONE THIS WORK.LESS THAN 48 HOURS AFTER GETTING MY VEHICLE BACK, WHILE ON THE ROAD AND 120 MILES AWAY FROM HOME THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH. OIL IS SPRAYED ALL OVER THE VEHICLE'S EXTERIOR,THE ENGINE AND UNDERCARRIAGE. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO NORWOOD. THE ENGINE APPEARS TO BE SEIZED UP AND WILL NOT TURN OVER. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED OVER THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS VEHICLE, THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CASH OUTLAY I AM HAVING FORCED UPON ME. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE IN THE WAY OF RECOURSE.

1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE. HEADLIGHT LENS COVER. LAST SUMMER I NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE LENS WAS LOOSE SO I GLUED IT BACK ON WITH EPOXY.(COST $3.00) RECENTLY I FOUND OUT THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE LENS HAD FALLEN OUT SOMETIME WHILE DRIVING.(BOTH FELL OUT WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER) I WENT TO WASH THE VAN AND THE HALOGEN BULB EXPLODED AND FLAMED WHEN IT GOT WET. HAD I BEEN CLOSER TO THE VEHICLE I COULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY FLYING GLASS. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING A RAIN STORM I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. (THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $165 TO REPLACE ONE ASSEMBLY). THE SEALANT WAS FAULTY ON THE LAST ASSEMBLY, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE NEW ONE. *NLM

POSSIBLE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE BACK SIDE WHILE DRIVING AND BURNT COMPLETELY. YH

FUNNY SMELL OF CHEMCALS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES WHEN VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH AROUND GAS TANK, FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AND DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO HAV EBEEN AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR A PIN HOLE IN THE GAS TANK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK