1997 Chevrolet CHEVY VAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
89,888 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 20.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 20.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 10.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 10.0% |
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 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 2 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 2; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2009: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10057051 · 2004-02-11 (February 11, 2004)
FUEL PUMP/SENSOR UNIT FAILED DUE TO EXPOSED WIRES AND FRICTION BETWEEN PUMP WIRE AND ANOTHER WIRE. THE PUMP WAS SHORTED OUT ELECTRICALLY. FUEL TANK WAS NEARLY FULL. ITEM REPLACED BY INDEPENTANT MECHANIC AND DEFECTIVE PART RETAINED BY ME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 79,775 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116530 · 2005-04-07 (April 7, 2005)
ELECTRIC WINDOW NOT WORKING, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS,BRAKE LIGHTS SHORTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10116530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116542 · 2005-04-07 (April 7, 2005)
FUEL GAUGE DOESN'T WORK, VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR, ABOUT 800.00 DOLLARS THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW, I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN!!*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131434 · 2005-08-03 (August 3, 2005)
MY 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN DEVELOPED A SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES EXTREMELY ROUGH SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, AND ONLY PRODUCES THE RAGGED SHIFTS AFTER THE VAN HAS THOROUGHLY WARMED UP, AS WHEN ON A 2 HOUR TRIP. IT ALSO TURNS ON THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT, WITH A P1870 ERROR CODE STORED. MY CHEVROLET DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS NEEDING A NEW "VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY" IN THE TRANSMISSION. COSTS 1,000 WITH LABOR. AROUND TOWN AND SHORT TRIPS, ALL SHIFTS ARE NORMAL AND GOOD. …
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152679 · 2006-03-14 (March 14, 2006)
PURCHASED USED VAN FROM ORIGINATING DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FOLLOWING MY PURCHASE. THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW HAS BEEN EXHIBITING FAILURE FOR OVER A YEAR. IT NOW IS ALMOST TOTALLY USELESS AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE WINDOW IS PUT DOWN, ITS MOTION SLOWS TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY A 3RD OF THE WAY DOWN AND WILL GO NO FURTHER AND IT WILL NOT GO UP. SEVERAL MINUTES HAVE TO PASS BEFORE THE I AM ABLE TO GET THE WINDOW TO START GOING BACK UP. IT TAKES SEVERAL WAITING PERIODS BEFORE TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10152679 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157700 · 2006-05-17 (May 17, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE SERVICE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE COMPUTER IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS LOCATED NEAR THE REAR WHEELS AND WAS PRODUCING FALSE FAILURES CAUSING THE ILLUMINATION OF THOSE WARNING LIGHTS. ADDITIONALLY, IT WAS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT WHEN THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THE ANTILOCK BRAKES COULD FAIL. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES WERE REPLACED, BUT NO CORRECTIONS WERE MADE TO THE COMPUTER.
Owner-reported narrative. 159,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157700 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265133 · 2009-04-13 (April 13, 2009)
I HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR IN MY CHEVY VENTURE 97 I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN RECOVER MY COST. I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FILED A YEAR AGO REGARDING THIS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 147,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10551148 · 2013-11-06 (November 6, 2013)
MY VAN STARTED MAKING A STRANGE CRUNCHING SOUND. I WAS TOLD BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS CRACKED INSIDE. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10551148 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.