1999 Chevrolet VENTURE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
315 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 143 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 315 complaints (14.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 38 | 12.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 25 | 7.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 22 | 7.0% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 2.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 44 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 25 |
| Air Bags | 23 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 18 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 18 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 16 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 44; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 25; Air Bags: 23; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 18; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 18; Structure:Body:Door: 16; Electrical System: 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 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 32 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 52 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 32 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 32; 50,000 to 74,999: 52; 75,000 to 99,999: 32; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (52). 172 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 | 41 |
| 2001 | 36 |
| 2002 | 44 |
| 2003 | 67 |
| 2004 | 65 |
| 2005 | 27 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 41; 2001: 36; 2002: 44; 2003: 67; 2004: 65; 2005: 27; 2006: 10; 2007: 7; 2008: 6; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 25 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 22 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 10000524 · 2003-01-04 (January 4, 2003)
MY 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE GASKETS LEAKING AND THUS CAUSING THE CAMSHAFT TO SNAP IN TWO WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 40 MPH. THIS CAUSED A IMMEDIATE ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. HAD THERE BEEN ANYONE BEHIND ME, I WOULD MOST CERTAINLY BEEN INJURED, AS WOULD ANYONE WHO WOULD BE SITTING BEHIND ME. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY MATTER AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ACCORDINGLY. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 74,098 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000524 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005543 · 2003-02-09 (February 9, 2003)
COOLANT LEVEL KEPT DROPPING AND THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER AND FOUND THAT MAINFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE REAR CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIR COST $1078.00 FOR BOTH. THIS VAN ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES. GOOD TO SEE THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THESE COMPONENTS, MAYBE THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX THESE PROBLEMS. A VEHICLE OWNER SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY(FOR THESE KIND OF REPAIRS) AND RISK THEIR FAMILY ON THE ROADSIDE ON VEHICLES WITH THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005866 · 2003-02-15 (February 15, 2003)
VEHICLE WILL SHIFT HARD WHEN DRIVING IN CITY (STOP & GO) CONDITIONS,TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN FEEL THE JOLT IN THE FLOORBOARD WHEN SHIFT WAS MADE (ACTUALY BROKE TRACTION A COUPLE OF TIMES) THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN (DOGGED) OR RACED AT THESE TIMES OF ACURRANCE.ONCE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY FOR A COUPLE OF MILES (ON THE WAY TO DEALERSHIP) FOR SERVICE TECH. TO RIDE WITH TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM SHIFTING IS SMOOTH AGAIN.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022739 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)
THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST SIX TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG AND MADE NO RECORD OF CHECKING THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. *AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007708 · 2003-02-18 (February 18, 2003)
VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR (BY THE GAS TANK) WHILE WE WERE TRAVELLING ABOUT 65 MPH, AT NIGHT TIME, ON A CROWDED FREEWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING, THE ONLY INDICATION I HAD THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WAS THAT THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. OTHER PEOPLE ON THE FREEWAY WERE HONKING ETC BECAUSE THEY COULD SEE WHAT I COULD NOT. BY THE TIME I GOT DOWN TO ABOUT 40 MPH, ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. I GOT IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SMOKE FILLED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WE GOT OUT AND RAN. A WRECKER DRIVER PUT OUT MOST OF THE FIRE BEFORE THE FIRE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049196 · 2003-12-04 (December 4, 2003)
MY 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE MINIVAN HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE ONE I AM MOST CONCERNED WITH IS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION MAKES THE CAR JERK WHEN I EITHER SLOW DOWN OR STOP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GAIN SPEED AGAIN. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. THERE ARE ALSO TIMES WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT WHINES. ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WHAT I FIGURE IS ELECTRICAL. SOMETIMES THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND THEN EVENTUALLY GOES OFF. ALSO, THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INT…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040865 · 2003-09-28 (September 28, 2003)
STEERING BINDS WHEN TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT TO THE EXTENT OF BEING DANGEROUS IN WET ,ICY,OR SNOW WEATHER CONDITIONS.ON DRY ROADS IS STILL MANAGABLE BUT IS NOT SAFE.STEERING RAK-N-PINION IS DEFECTIVE SIMILAR TO DEFECTS ON EARLY 1980'S G.M. VEHICLES THAT DEALERS WERE CALLING MORNING SICKNESS.THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MORE WHEN HOT THAN COLD AND THERE IS CLUNKING SOUND ALSO.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040865 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070024 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 CHEVY VENTURE MINI-VAN. WE HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EVERY 3,000 MILES. LAST WEEK MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. THE VAN STALLED AND WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. HE LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THERE WERE MAJOR INTERNAL PROBLEMS. WE THEN HAD IT TOWED TO OUR DEALER AND WERE TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. OUR MECHANIC SAID SINCE WE FAITHFULLY GOT THE OIL CHANGED THERE IS NO REASON WE SHOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE DEALER GAVE US AN ESTIMATE OF $5,300 FOR THE NEW ENGINE. WE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10479979 · 2012-10-13 (October 13, 2012)
MY WIFE SMELLED GASOLINE UPON ENTERING THE CAR ON OCTOBER 7, 2012. I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR FROM WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM, AND SAW GASOLINE DRIPPING FROM A PIPE NEAR THE GAS TANK. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO REPLACE FOUR FUEL AND EVAPORATION LINES DUE TO CORROSION. IT COST ME OVER $1,000 TO REPLACE THESE LINES. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE A DISASTER COULD HAVE OCCURRED. I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH GASOLINE LEAKING ONTO MY EXHAUST PIPE. I THINK THAT T…
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479979 at NHTSA ↗