1997 Chevrolet VAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
127,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 19 complaints (21.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 21.1% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 15.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 15.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 3 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 3; Fuel System, Other: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 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 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 17 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 | 4 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
2000: 4; 2001: 7; 2002: 3; 2005: 3; 2007: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10106289 · 2005-01-13 (January 13, 2005)
STEERING LOCKED ON TAKING A LEFT TURN WITHIN A PARKING LOT. REMEMBERED THAT CHEVROLET HAD SERVICED A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE IN FEB 2003. HOWEVER, THEY ONLY REPLACED THE LOWER PINION BEARING, BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR. TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. THEIR INSPECTION POINTED TO A WORN STEERING GEAR AS THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING LOCK. THIS HAPPENED WITHIN 17,000 MILES OF THEIR SERVICING THE RECALL. READ ABOUT NUMEROUS FAILURES UNDER INVESTIGATION (PE01038) ALL POINTING TO THE SAME FAILURE. GM DID NOT SERVICE THE RECALL ADEQ…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127583 · 2005-07-06 (July 6, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BLINDING TO OTHER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 10 TIMES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127583 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127584 · 2005-07-06 (July 6, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BLINDING TO OTHER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 10 TIMES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10194002 · 2007-06-22 (June 22, 2007)
IN ONLY FOUR MONTHS, ALL 4 OF MY GOODYEAR REGATTA TIRES WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES ON THEM BLEW OUT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. (4 DIFFERENT INCIDENTS). THE COMPANY HAD AUDACITY TO TELL ME THAT THESE WERE ALL THE RESULTS OF "ROAD HAZARDS" AND THAT THE SAME COULD HAPPEN TO ANY TIRE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A BLOW OUT UNTIL ALL FOUR OF THESE TIRES BLEW OUT OVER A PERIOD OF 4 MONTHS. HAS TO BE THE TIRES, NOT THE ROADS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10194002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10209869 · 2007-11-26 (November 26, 2007)
I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY VENTURE. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION. THERE IS A RECALL ON THEM BUT CHEVY SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL. I FIRST TALKED TO SOMEONE ON THE PHONE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT YES THERE WAS A RECALL. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER. I TOOK IT AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. SO I CALLED THE CHEVY 800 NUMBER AGAIN AND NOW THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECALL. BUT I STILL SEE THE RECALL HERE. SO WHAT CAN I DO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 158,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 553141 · 2000-07-21 (July 21, 2000)
A/C LEAKED AT REAR AIR UNIT CORRODING THE CONNECTIONS AND DOES NOT BLOW COLD AIR DUE TO THE COMPRESSOR FAILURE. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 553141 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 562152 · 2001-07-20 (July 20, 2001)
THE ABS FAILS TO STOP THE VEHICLE DURING SHORT PANIC STOPS AT LOW SPEEDS IN WARM WEATHER BECAUSE ONE OF THE WHEELS PARTIALLY LOCKS UP, CONSUMER STATES HE DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE CAP, THE CAP SEAL WAS NOT SEALING PROPERLY AND A NEW SEAL WAS INSTALLED.*YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 562152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 564471 · 2002-02-02 (February 2, 2002)
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COOLANT LEAK.(CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNES VEHICLE)*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 564471 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.