1998 Chevrolet VENTURE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
301 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 124 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Headlights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 301 complaints (11.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 32 | 10.6% |
| Steering behavior | 26 | 8.6% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 3.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 1.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 35 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 29 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 28 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 19 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 16 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 14 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 11 |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 35; Engine And Engine Cooling: 29; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 28; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 19; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 16; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 14; Air Bags: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 35 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 42 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 27 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 35; 75,000 to 99,999: 42; 100,000 to 149,999: 27; 150,000 and above: 5
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (42). 177 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 32 |
| 2001 | 42 |
| 2002 | 53 |
| 2003 | 75 |
| 2004 | 47 |
| 2005 | 25 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 32; 2001: 42; 2002: 53; 2003: 75; 2004: 47; 2005: 25; 2006: 8; 2007: 5; 2008: 5; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Headlights leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002713 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)
BAD ANTILOCK BRAKE PULSATION AT ALL TIMES WHEN APPLIED. I THOUGHT WAS NORMAL BUT DEALER SAID ROTORS MAY BE WARPED.
Owner-reported narrative. 82,310 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002713 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031944 · 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)
THE ABS SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. THE REAR ABS MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAMES ON AND STAYED ON. *AK WHILE DRIVING THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED IT FELT HARD. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE WERE FINE BUTHTE ABS WAS DISABLED. *SCC *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031944 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001458 · 2002-12-24 (December 24, 2002)
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. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001458 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009447 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING FAILURE. HE DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING THE STEERING. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE RECALL SCOPE, EVEN THOUGHT IT HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004876 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
I OWN A 1998 CHEVY VENTURE WITH THE 3.4L ENGINE. I AM CONSTANTLY LOOSING ANTIFREEZE AND OIL DISAPPEARS WITH EXPLANATION. I AM STILL UNDER A WARRANTY BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY ENGINE MIGHT SEIZE OR FAIL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE COOLANY THAT CHEVY USES DEXCOOL HAS BEEN KNOWN TO EAT AWAY THE GASKETS, SO LARGE A SCALE HAS THIS HAPPENED THAT GM HAS SWITCHED COOLANTS TO PRESTONE EXTENDED LIFE. I WANT A RECALL DONE FREE OF CH…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009401 · 2002-11-25 (November 25, 2002)
ENGINE CONTINUES TO SHAKE REAL BAD AND STALLS OUT. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR WONT START. *TS *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770115
Owner-reported narrative. 4,105 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010917 · 2003-03-23 (March 23, 2003)
I OWN A 1998 CHEVY VENTURE VAN. I RECENTLY TOOK IT IN FOR A RECALL FOR A DEFECT ON THE STEERING RACK AND PINION (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V286000). THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT BECAUSE THE VAN HAS A SALVAGE TITLE. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT "THE BEARING IS ABOUT TO FALL OUT" AND THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE DEFECT AND HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $600. I CALLED GM AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THEIR POLICY NOT TO DO RECALLS ON VEHICLES WITH A SALVAGED TITLE. THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY ISSUE R…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055639 · 2004-03-17 (March 17, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ANTIFREEZE WAS MIXED IN WITH THE OIL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BREAK. THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE RUBBER TRIM HAD FALLEN OFF, WATER WOULD GET INTO THE TRUNK WHEN IT RAINED, AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 145,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055639 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003440 · 2003-05-11 (May 11, 2003)
THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME UP ONE MORNING. A CERTIFIED FRIEND MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT AT HOME WITH HIS ENGINE ANALYZER/COMPUTER & FOUND NOTHING WRONG. HE THEN CHECKED OUT THE GAS CAP IF SECURE. AFTER AWHILE, THE LIGHT WENT OFF. I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT WAS THE GAS CAP BECAUSE I'M VERY CAREFUL ABOUT LOOSE GAS CAPS. ANYWAY, AFTER 2 DAYS OF DRIVING, THE LIGHT CAME OUT AGAIN. BEFOREHAND, HE SUGGESTED TO HAVE THE GAS CAP REPLACED IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. SO I CHANGED IT & HAVE BEEN DRIVING AROUND FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS NOW BUT THE LIGHT IS STILL…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005002 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
FUEL TANK "THUD" HEARD FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE A SECOND OR TWO AFTER COMING TO A STOP. LOUDEST WHEN TANK IS 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL. TAKEN TO DEALER TWO TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. NO REPAIR MADE. NOW WITH 80,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN AGAIN AND SHOWN THE DEALER A "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN" FROM NHTSA.COM SHOWING CERTAIN 1998 VIN #'S NEED NEW FUEL TANKS. DEALER TOLD ME MY VEHICLE DIDN'T APPLY. TWO WEEKS LATER I RETURNED AND DROVE VEHICLE W/SERVICE MANAGER. HE FINALLY AGREED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY TANK AND WILL FIX/REPLAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 567074 · 2002-08-12 (August 12, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES VAN WILL CRANK BUT WILL NOT START, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AT LEAST 20 TIMES. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND REPORTED ORIGINAL PROBLEM WAS NO FUEL PRESSURE TRACED TO NO OPERATION OF FUEL PUMP. FOUND WIRING HARNESS AT FUEL PUMP HAD COME LOOSE. AFTER HARNESS WAS RECONNECTED THE VAN STARTED RIGHT UP. ADVISED THAT CONNECTOR 305 AND GROUND 301 HAVE A HISTORY OF INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS AND ITNERNAL OPENS THAT CAUSE NO START CONDITIONS. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 567074 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 735996 · 2000-11-08 (November 8, 2000)
THE VAN WAS IN THE SHOP AT LANDMARK WHEN WE FIRST GOT IT FOR ITS BRAKES, LIGHTS AND BATTERY, IT ALSO WAS AT LAND MARK WHEN THE BATTERY WENT OUT AND WAS NOT TOLD THAN THAT THE SENSOR DID NOT GET TOLD THE SENSOR WAS BAD TILL AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE LIGHT FOR SERVICE CAME ON AND IT WAS TAKEN TO TUNEUP MASTER FOR A TUNE UP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE LIGHT FOR THE SENSOR HAD BEEN RESET FOR THE SENSOR SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED GM HAS A RECALL ON THIS MAKE OF VAN BUT BECAUSE MY VA DOES NOT FALL INTO THE TIME THEY WHERE MADE THEY WOULD NOT HELP WITH THE TRANS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 735996 at NHTSA ↗