Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||||
| 030601010 | 03/01/2003 | 10001282 | Engine oil or coolant leak. *tt | 04/25/2003 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| 03-06-01-010 | 04/01/2008 | 030601010C | 10004768 | Engine oil or coolant leak. *tt gm reminder. *tt install new lower intake manifold gasket. updated 7/18/08 *pe | 01/06/2004 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||||
| 020601014 | 04/01/2002 | 634708 | Subject regarding revised lower intake manifold installation. *tt | 10/07/2002 | |
| 990604005A | 04/01/2001 | 990604005 | 619360 | Some owners may comment on driveability symptons of long or hard starts, chuggle, rough idle and light or intermittent misfire due to clogged fuel injectors. *tt | 05/24/2001 |
| 990604005 | 02/01/1999 | 776304A | 604343 | Some owners may experience a driveability symptom of long or hard starts, chuggle, rough idle and light or intermittent misfire. *tt | 04/26/1999 |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 02/07/2011 | 112000 | ||
| Purchased vehicle brand new. manifold gasket leak at 35,000 miles repaired by gm. failed again at 70,000 miles but gm wouldn't cover the cost, paid $900 out of pocket. now at 112,000 miles and suspect that it is in need of replacement again. the lifters are also making noise. the mechanics are telling me that this is a very common problem. gm needs to take responsibilty for this design flaw in their engine. the government needs to step in and order a recall. | |||
| 05/01/2007 | 100000 | ||
| Tl*- the contact owns a 1999 chevrolet ventura. the contact stated that the vehicle hesitates when shifting into second gear. she replaced the transmission, but the failure was still present.also there was a puddle of water on the frontal floor board. the vehicle was taken to a local repair facility and a mechanic replaced the heater core. immediately after the repair the engine overheated. the vehicle was re-inspected in which the mechanic concluded that the head gaskets failed. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was 100,000. the current mileage was 162,000. | |||
| 03/06/2008 | 50000 | 100 | 10/28/2000 |
| Dexcool antifreeze deteriorated my intake gaskets of my 99 chevy venture, sludged up my engine and caused my car to overheat and leak dexcool continuously. the dealer just told me sorry but it will be about 1500 to 2000 to repair. that antifreeze was supposed to be never changed and work until 150k miles. my van is a leaking reliability problem that could strand us on the road because of the dex cool they put in the factory. there will be a recall if you investigate this. the problem is all over the web and there is a class action suit about it in california. it affects hundreds of thousands of people. *tr | |||
| 05/12/2006 | 3000 | 17 | 12/31/1989 |
| I have had so many problems 1. the inner brake pads wore down to the steel ruining the inside of both rotors about 3,000 miles. under warranty. but the brake pads. 2. battery acid is corroding about 4,000 miles the dealership pay all still under warranty 3. battery again but it turn out to be the alternator about 6,500 the dealership pay under warranty. 4. the tread completely separated from the sidewall. p215/70r15, fire stone on all four tires. dealership did not cover tire have no warranty on new vehicle 7,000 miles 5. water leak, and carpet is wet every time it rains i feel it is coming from the windshield. warranty does not cover. 8,000 still does it at 50,256. 6. lighter keep shorting out and ac keep mess up under the warranty 7. while driving the check oil light and the battery line came on. the vehicle shut off, loosing all power the intake manifold under warranty 38,000 miles. 8. intake manifold fix came home my lights was mess up when put on my brakes the four way flasher came on when i put my left turn signals the right one would came on put the right turn signals the left one would come on took it back they had to repaired entire wiring system because of over hearted burn it up under warrant 9. battery acid is corroding the battery pan and surrounding components, positive cable connected to battery has fallen off,38,500 not cover 6 year was up. 10. power steering fluid spraying fluid onto the engine and serpentine belt the dealership did not put cap back on power steering. 11. power locks will not operate from door switches only from the remote power window. back ac does not work. 12. connector left and right melt tail lights, stop lights, turn signals about 42,000. 13. there is a thump noise when stopping and taking off. 14. strong smell of fuel when parked. 15. clouding of lens 16. serpentine belt replace at 50,256 17. leaking from lower intake manifold gasket. at 50,000. *nm | |||
| 06/01/2005 | 84000 | 2 | 12/10/1998 |
| I have had numerous problems with my 1999 chevrolet venture which my husband purchased new for me in december 1998. last year i experienced problems with the engine light staying on, coolant level constantly dropping no matter how often we added dex cool, and then in the spring i had to have the intake manifold replaced due to engine oil in the coolant. he told me he has had several customers with chevy venture and olds silhouettes with the same problem. just a couple of months after this repair which cost me over $1,000.00 my car suddenly stalled in heavy traffic on route 22 on my way to work. i managed to get it to the shoulder before it stopped rolling despite losing power and called my mechanic. he towed me to his shop and has informed me that my camshaft is broken and he has never heard of anything like it before! well, after finding this site while researching what to do about this problem, i found this site and was shocked to see all the same complaints and since at least 2001 chevrolet has known about these problems and didn't care about their customers enough to warn them or offer to replace the source of the problem before we had major engine damage like mine. i am lucky i was not killed on the highway by a truck rear ending me or something! i am a single mom with 4 kids and i still owe my mechanic over $800.00 for my last repairs and now this! no way can i afford to replace the engine! besides, another venture engine would just have more problems! and now i'm reading about other problems like air bags not working and windows exploding and transmission failures, tail lights and electrical problems! these cars are death traps! and most people who purchase mini vans have young children! gm should be ashamed! *nm | |||
| 07/01/2005 | 63000 | 1 | |
| 1999 chevrolet venture developed problems with the thermostat, and the intake manifolds.*mr the thermostat was replaced, however that did not resolve the problem. the mechanic informed the consumer the type of vehicle he had was none to problems with the intake manifold, which was replaced at a cost of 780.00 dollars. *jb | |||
| 07/08/2003 | 69500 | 08/29/1999 | |
| I've had a 1999 chevy venture since new. i've had to replace the intake manifold gasket, upper and lower radiator hoses at 69500 miles. replaced the thermostat at 78400 miles. at 78500 miles i had to replace both head gaskets,intake gasket and plenum gasket, both valve cover gaskets and several collapsed lifters, and the cylinder heads needed to be reconditioned. these repairs cost me thousands of dollars. something is surely not right with this engine. *nm | |||
| 01/28/2003 | 55385 | 3 | 08/31/1999 |
| We own a 1999 chevy venture. the intake manifold gasket has failed three times. the first time was 1-28-03 at 55385 miles. it was leaking fluid in the front. it was diagnosed as the intake manifold gasket and repaired. the second time was on 10-30-03 at 67823 miles. this time, the repair shop took responsibility for the charges as they felt the adhesive failed. the third failure just happened on 2-11-05 at 85500 miles. *jb | |||
| 02/01/2005 | 136000 | 1 | 05/10/2004 |
| I have my oil changed every 3,000 miles. the intake gasket started leaking and got in my oil and caused it to die on me. the dealer said it was the worst one that he had seen. i have to replace the motor, but what is to say that this one will not do the same thing? *jb | |||
| 09/09/2002 | 47359 | 1 | 12/17/2001 |
| We have a 1999 chevrolet venture that we purchased in dec. 2001. we did not purchase a warranty. a couple of weeks after the purchase the check coolant light came on and stayed on. we had to keep adding coolant. i do not work on cars and had a very sick wife, so the light was a minor stress at the time. i'd taken the car to get looked at and they said the coolant is leaking into the engine, and the engine is going well for a car with just over 23,825 miles on it, i was very steamed. it lasted till 47,359 miles and my wife was stranded on the road. the car was towed and sat at the chevy dealership from sept. 9th till dec. 12th 2002. while still paying $437.00 a month payment. we had a used engine put in it by the chevy dealership which had 20,000 less miles on it, and today has 74,000 miles on it.we paid $2,400 for this used engine. i just found out that the o2 sensor just went out on us. but if there is a defective engine or similar parts on it, is this going to happen again- just a matter of time? | |||
| 07/14/2004 | 65000 | 1 | 07/01/1999 |
| I own a 1999 chev venture van with 65,000 miles. in march 2004, i had to have the intake gaskets replace because it was leaking antifreeze, this had gotten in the cam shaft and caused the cam shaft to break. *jb | |||
| 07/12/2004 | 77036 | 1 | 06/07/1999 |
| Intake manifold gasket of engine failed leading to dex-cool radiator fluid leakage on ground and into engine oil. repair of intake manifold gasket, water-pump, special sealant for bolts cost consumer $807.00. the leakage of toxic fluid into environment has no estimated cost, but represents hazard to animals and environment. chevrolet has received a high number of complaints about this problem and issued a technical service bulletin related to revised gasket, sealants, torque specifications and order of tightening bolts, but did not issue a recall. internal damage to engines is often not determined until complete engine failure despite repair of manifold gasket. dex-cool fluid cited in chevrolet literature as having 100,000 mile lifespan, but fluid appears to have destructive potential to engine beginning at anywhere from 40 to 60% of this estimated lifespan. *jb | |||
| 09/15/2003 | 90000 | ||
| Heater fan does not operate on the two lower speeds. bottom inside of tailgate is rusting from the inside. power locks will not operate from door switches, only from the remote or when activated by putting vehicle into gear. | |||
| 03/15/2003 | 60000 | ||
| Intake gasket leaks | |||
| 02/15/2003 | 48000 | ||
| Intake manifold gasket leaks allowing dex cool coolant to enter the engine and mix with the oil. gm customer assistance will not help. they say "there is no problem that they know of". $1000.00 repair bill for a $20.00 part. please see:www.petitiononline.com/gmcnsmrs/petition.html and http://www.gm-v6lemons.com/ there are literally thousands of folks with this problem. | |||
| 02/15/2003 | 50000 | ||
| 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 called gm customer service to see if they would help pay some of the cost. we just mailed them a copy of all our maintanence and are waiting for a reply | |||
| 11/15/2002 | 46298 | ||
| Failure of intake manifold gasket resulted in coolant leaking into engine causing \gumming\. this caused cam shaft/engine to seize. subsequent \knocking sound\ and check engine light. seizing engine simulated a rear-end collision as described by my wife who was driving at the time. she was picking up our kids from school at the time. after 3 trips to the service dealership and 4 weeks engine required replacement. | |||
| 02/15/2003 | 70000 | ||
| I have discovered coolant in the engine oil. my coolant is disappearing, and i have been forced to top it off. the engine is making ticking noises, and running roughly. i have done a quick check on the internet to see if others are experiencing this problem, and found that it seems to be a common problem, and that gm is aware of this. they have redesigned the head gasket to correct this problem, but have not offered to fix this problem on my car. chevy denied that there is a widespread problem, and refused to help cover the necessary repair (they said that because i had around 70,000 miles it was too far out of warrantee). it cost in the range of $815 to replace the head gasket. as a side note, the air bag light turned on intermittently after i got the car back, and now is on steady. i told my next door neighbor about it, and it turned out they also had the same problem. they had an even larger bill ( i don't remember how much), and they have another friend who has the same problem... | |||
| 07/15/2003 | 57000 | ||
| I noticed a smell of hot antifreeze. also it would make a lot of noise when starting up. the thermostat never showed anything overheating. oil didn't show anything on the dipstick. we change the oil every 3000 miles. the dealership that tore into it had said we did not change the oil ever by the looks of the internals. we bought this used 1999 chevy venture lt , august 2000 having 34,000 miles on it already. the previous owner bought this van in october 1998 brand new. how could a vehicle have to have a motor dropped in with only 57,000 on it and have had done everything possible to keep everything in working order. this is not our first chevy, our whole family buys chevys. just to brag we have 13, and all of them maintained well. one even having over 200,000 miles on it,1995 chevy astro. anyway, i watch the gauges very closely and never did i see anything wrong. | |||
| 08/15/2003 | 82000 | ||
| The problem with my venture turned out to be a leaking water pump based on the mechanic's diagnosis. so far, so good. although, replacing a $300.00 water pump at 82,000 is somewhat ridiculous! the mechanic says it was due to the fact that the extended life coolant (dex-cool) doesn't perform like chevrolet says it should, and it is the cause of many water cooling system problems. he recommends changing the ext. life coolant every other year just like regular coolant, and judging from the look of the old coolant, i believe him! august update: i am now facing a transmission rebuild that the transmission man says is "typical" of these ventures due to a mfg. defect causing the transmission oil pressure to drop and kick the oil pump into high pressure mode forcing fluid through the system at such high pressure that every time it shifts, it feels like the transmission will jerk itself loose from the vehicle. | |||
| 01/15/2003 | 48000 | ||
| Has 3.4 l engine with lower intake gasket leaks. i purchased an extended warranty when new and it covered the $700+ repair cost. will this happen again in another 48k when out of my extended warranty? | |||
| 03/15/2002 | 0 | ||
| Main problem: jan 03 cam shaft broke, engine must be replaced. mar 02 : intake manifold gasket replaced. leaking coolant into engine. oct 02 brake rotors warped. shakes violently while braking. | |||
| 10/15/2002 | 47827 | ||
| Replaced head gaskets | |||
| 07/15/2003 | 69000 | ||
| Vehicle has been in shop since 8/6/03 for repair on engine, due to continues lost of oil that cannot be found. engine need to be clean,gaskets was to be replace on two separated times and was not. have been told that van is losing oil due to block engine. wires were pulled and not replace back in correct order. | |||
| 06/15/2002 | 65000 | ||
| Water pump failed -- fog filled car when pump failed. i was completely fogged in and could not see. i had to use my daughter's sweatshirt to wipe inside of windshield. intake manifold gasket failed power window drivers side failed 2x shattered when it fell from track the second time | |||
| 01/15/2003 | 0 | ||
| Low coolant light comes on and then start to up shift hard, intake gasket. 3.4l v6 | |||
| 12/15/2002 | 0 | ||
| Seems everyone with the venture needs to have there intake maniflod gasket replaced shortly after warranty.. what real gets me mad is the dealer told me he knew of no problems with the gasket.... | |||
| 05/15/2002 | 40000 | ||
| Passenger sliding door window shattered while driving for no reason at all. nothing hit the window and it just popped loudly and shattered. | |||
| 01/15/2003 | 70825 | ||
| Intake manifold gaskets started to leak and needed to be replaced. have heard of several of these being replaced on the 3.4l v6 engine. | |||
| 03/24/2004 | 56348 | 2 | 05/30/2002 |
| Leak in the intake manifold gaskit , which has been diretly related to engine failure,which i now have with my 1999 chevy venture | |||
| 02/13/2004 | 56000 | 1 | |
| Coolant leak on 1999 chevrolet venture 3.4l v6 intake manifold. so many complaints on the web for the same expensive problem! gm needs to take responsibility. *ak | |||
| 01/13/2004 | 59500 | 1 | 08/17/1999 |
| 1 inch of sludge in engine, lost of coolant, the engine pinging and knocking, steering and brakes locked up which caused the accident while driving. we changed the oil pump, oil connecting rod, spark plugs, spark plug wires, coils and still engine is broken. started with coolant in the oil. unsure symtoms leading up to the accident. *jb | |||
| 01/19/2004 | 42200 | 1 | 03/18/1999 |
| Early failure of the lower intake manifold gasket, which caused lost of coolant. 40,000 miles on 1999 chevy venture. believe a poor design of gasket and that the radiator level is below that of the manifold. an air pocket can be trapped in the manifold and when the engine is off the residual heat of the engine cooks the gasket. believe this theory is supported by the coolant sensor is on even though the level in the radiator is full and the reservoir is full. *cb | |||
| 01/02/2004 | 58000 | 1 | 05/05/2000 |
| 1999 chevy venture passenger van with less than 58,000 miles experienced an intake manifold gasket failure. chevrolet customer support representative indicated an advisory has been issued for the 3.8 litre v6 engine but that she has also received several calls on the 3.4 litre v6 engine. given vehicle age, number of miles, and driving patterns, a failure of this magnitude and cost should not occur. *ak | |||
| 11/20/2003 | 2 | 08/29/2002 | |
| I have a 1999 chevy venture. i have had nothing but problems with the injectors causing the check engine light to come on. this happens every couple of months. i also have a problem with the intake on the same vehicle. it is the 3.4 engine and there are a lot of people with the same problem. i feel that a recall needs to be required to fix this. after spending thousands of dollars on a vehicle is should be right or at least fixed on good faith. *la | |||
| 07/22/2003 | 72000 | 1 | 06/13/1999 |
| Blown head gasket on 1999 chevrolet venture van with only 73000 miles causing $1500 worth of repairs.*ak | |||
| 03/17/2003 | 1 | ||
| The vehicle overheated, the dealer replaced the radiator, egr valve, seal, thermostat. and seal on the head gasket. *jb | |||
| 11/18/2002 | 46298 | 1 | 09/01/1999 |
| Defective intake manifold gasket on 1999 chevrolet venture minivan with 3.4 liter v-6 engine. intake manifold gasket leaked coolant into engine gumming up and caused engine to seize. stranded my wife and 3 kids. impact of seizing engine simulated a rear-end collision as described by my wife who was driving at the time. | |||
| 01/17/2003 | |||
| While traveling on the highway without prior warning. the vehicle shut down and will not restart at all. please fill in additional information dealer is aware of the problem. ts | |||
| 01/10/2003 | 36500 | ||
| Failure of engine gaskets | |||
| 01/01/2003 | |||
| Consumer called complaining while driving at 40mph the temperature gauge went up and down, took the vehicle to the near shop, a technician diagnosis the head gasket was leaking, manifold failed at 78000 miles and the cool found leaking will paid a couple thousand of dollars ph | |||
| 01/02/2002 | 40000 | 03/18/1999 | |
| 1999 chevy venture at 40,000 miles had to have intake manifold gasket replaced. was told by dealer that there was no problems with them yet all i see on the internet is everyone needs to replace them at about 40,000 miles (just over warranty). | |||
| 08/04/1999 | 3 | 08/04/1999 | |
| Temperature guage failed to show correct temperature for the engine. engine would overheat without driver's knowledge & vehicle would stall out.*ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||
| 03/13/2005 | 105000 | 1 | |
| I had to replace intake and head gaskets at 105,000 miles on my 1999 chevy venture. they are leaking at 180,000 miles. i am very unhappy about this. *tr | |||
| 10/10/2008 | 139000 | 1 | |
| I own a 99 chevy venture the problem is the temp gauge goes back and forth from hot to cold i was told the head gaskets were bad. after a little research i found out that this problem is occurring with a majority of these vehicles why isn't gm doing a recall. *tr | |||
| 02/16/2005 | 1 | ||
| 1999 chevrolet venture had the transmission repaired and the intake manifold replaced.***no answer required***. *mr the intake manifold was leaking. the consumer's mechanic explained that he believes the transmission failure was due to faulty valve body installation at the factory. *nm | |||
| 06/10/2005 | 2 | ||
| My wife with my 4 small children were entering mo hwy 412 when the vehicle started stalling and quit. when the vehicle quit it was partially on the hwy and partially on the turn from where she was exiting. while she alone was trying to push the vehicle off the hwy a tractor truck and trailor almost run them over. take in mind that when these vehicles die they have no brakes or power steering. when i had the vehicle checked out it seems that it had a intake valve gasket blown leaking dexcool into the oil and broke the camshaft. at this time i can't afford to have the vehicle fixed because from the research i've done it will cost $4,000 to $5000 to get the vehicle fixed. | |||
| 03/23/2004 | 39000 | 1 | 08/16/1999 |
| Intake manifold leak. *nm | |||
| 12/07/2004 | 59999 | 1 | 06/08/1999 |
| At my 60000 miles the service department found oil and coolant leaking from the engine of our 1999 chevrolet venture which has the 185 hp v-6 engine. total cost to repair the leaks was $695.39. according to the servce representative at the chevorlet dealership, this problem is common with this engine.*ak | |||
| 09/09/2004 | 42000 | 1 | 07/30/2003 |
| 1999 venture with 3.4 l engine and 42,000 miles has leaking intake manifold gasket. gm should recall minivans and reinburse owners for repair cost. dealer cost estimate for repairs was $800.00. *ak | |||
| 06/26/2004 | 88000 | 1 | 08/21/2003 |
| Experienced coolant leak into engine. personal mechanic found that dex-cool had caused excessive corrosion to intake manifold and that gasket had to be replaced. spent in excess of $500 to repair this. other people i know say that if the corrosion was bad enough that the cam shaft might break. i am not willing to put my family's lives in jeopardy with an issue that gm is aware of. the fact thta nobody has died from this is no excuse not to recall the gm 3.4l engine vehicles to repair this problem at no cost to the consumer. also, the effectiveness of dex-cool needs to be re-evaluated with regards to performance and the affect on engine parts long-term. | |||
| 01/15/2004 | 37000 | 1 | 05/01/1999 |
| The consumer stated that she took her vehicle to the dealer, to have it checked out after having to stop and refill the vehicle with coolant. she was told by the mechanic that the vehicle had a manifold intake valve crack which caused the coolant to leak. *jb *nm | |||
| 09/15/2003 | 59000 | 1 | |
| As the weather has gotten cooler i tried to use my heating system and just got cold air. the engine temp gauge was going up but i only got cold. then i noticed that the temp gauge kept climbing and i was afraid it was going to 'redline' and it suddenly dropped to normal and i started to get heat in the car. the problem then kept coming and going as i drove. the car is now in the shop and i am told that it is a leaking intake manifold gasket and will cost me $650 to fix. i only have 59k miles on my car. the shop owner also mentioned that he has seen 'a lot' of this problem in chevy ventures (and other cars with the same engine) and that he had another one in his garage as we spoke. this sounds like a desing fault that gm should take ownership of. i haven't heard of a recall so i'm faced with paying so i can have a functional car. | |||
| 04/01/2003 | 55000 | 2 | 02/01/2000 |
| Leaking intake manifold gasket and water pump causing loss of antifreeze over a short period of time. no sign of leak other than low coolant light from vehicle.*ak | |||
| 01/01/2003 | 70000 | 1 | 12/16/1998 |
| Defective cooling system caused interior to become all fogged up. luckily we were not going fast. used my daughters sweatshirt to wipe fog off windows. *jb | |||
| 12/26/2002 | 75000 | 1 | 12/30/1999 |
| My 1999 chev. venture started losing antifreeze when it had about 75,000 mile on it. it was not leaking so i replaced the coolent when it was low. then at 100,000 miles it began leaking. upon taking it to my local dealership, they informed me that the head gaskets were bad and needed replacing. the repairs totaled to $2,400.00. i know of one other person that has experienced the same problem with their chev. venture. i believe this is design fault and should be covered by general motors. | |||
| 02/01/2003 | 65000 | 1 | 06/01/1999 |
| I have dex-cool coolant in my oil. it seems that i have a bad gasket, and that there are a lot of others who also have this problem with leaking gaskets (which have been redesigned). i think that gm should fix my car prior to total catastrophy of engine failure with my less than 1-year old child on board. | |||
| 02/03/2003 | 70000 | 01/01/2001 | |
| I have a 1999 chevy venture with a leaking intake manifold. my daughter also drives a chevy and had the same repair performed on her vehicle two months ago. both of these vehicles have less than 75,000 miles on them. | |||
| 01/10/2003 | 36500 | ||
| Failure of engine gaskets | |||
| 01/01/2002 | 50000 | ||
| In january of 2002, the heat in our 1999 chevy venture stopped working. the van had around 50 or so thousand miles at the time. the dealer in baton rouge all-star chevrolet could not diagnose the problem and recommended a cooling-system flush as the coolant level looked low in the reservoir. this flush was done at another shop in town. this did not correct the problem and this shop recommended i go back to the dealer. the engine was also running hot, so took it into the dealer with these problems. this dealer did around $1,000 in repairs including a water pump and thermostat. the problem was not fixed as i drove the van home. i brought it back to the dealer the next day and they looked at it and said they could see nothing wrong and would not do any more work. i then took it to another chevy dealer (brian harris chevrolet) in baton rouge with my problem. ultimately they diagnosed the problem as a clogged heater core due to sludged antifreeze, and also a blown head gasket and other problems with the head. they completely flushed the system of the sludge and that corrected the problem with the heat not working and the temperature guage running hot. i had to pay over $500 during the time of taking it back and forth to shops for diagnosis, deductibles and parts and labor not covered under warranty. i am very concerned that i will continue to have problems due to this antifreeze and sludge problem that caused the need for the repairs. i am also concerned that this occurred on a vehicle with only 50k miles. | |||
| 07/17/2002 | |||
| Vehicle lost coolant due to a crack in coolant container. dealer has been notified. feel free to provide any further information.*ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | |||
| 10/31/2004 | 77500 | 1 | |
| Recently had lower engine manifold intake gasgit replaced due to coolant leak resulting from use of dex-cool collant corroding the plastic gasgit. also associated was thermostat failure which could have caused engine overheating and fire before there was any means of knowing the engine was overheating.*ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 07/16/2008 | 111000 | 1 | |
| Ball bearing on vehicle replaced 2007, now 2008 won't pass inspection must be replaced again, plus the engine manifold. *tr | |||
| 03/06/2008 | 50000 | 100 | 10/28/2000 |
| Dexcool antifreeze deteriorated my intake gaskets of my 99 chevy venture, sludged up my engine and caused my car to overheat and leak dexcool continuously. the dealer just told me sorry but it will be about 1500 to 2000 to repair. that antifreeze was supposed to be never changed and work until 150k miles. my van is a leaking reliability problem that could strand us on the road because of the dex cool they put in the factory. there will be a recall if you investigate this. the problem is all over the web and there is a class action suit about it in california. it affects hundreds of thousands of people. *tr | |||
| 06/10/2005 | 2 | ||
| My wife with my 4 small children were entering mo hwy 412 when the vehicle started stalling and quit. when the vehicle quit it was partially on the hwy and partially on the turn from where she was exiting. while she alone was trying to push the vehicle off the hwy a tractor truck and trailor almost run them over. take in mind that when these vehicles die they have no brakes or power steering. when i had the vehicle checked out it seems that it had a intake valve gasket blown leaking dexcool into the oil and broke the camshaft. at this time i can't afford to have the vehicle fixed because from the research i've done it will cost $4,000 to $5000 to get the vehicle fixed. | |||
| 04/05/2005 | 90000 | 1 | 12/01/2002 |
| The car has been running low on radiator fluid, but we could not find any visible leakages. we have been replinishing the fluid. we did not think anything major. on a friday, we started to hear a knock in the engine. we were told to have the oil changed/looked at. afterwards, the noise continued even louder. we had the car immediately towed. the problem involved the lifters and the intake gasket. (both problems are related.) i researched and many others had the similar problems with the intake gasket. repair for all will be $1,000.*ak | |||
| 05/12/2001 | 32334 | 50 | 05/12/2001 |
| Day of purchase, major engine failures replacement of nearly everything then some. continues to arc electrical sparks under the hood. electrical shorting of all components within the van internal engine issues not correctable just bandaiding fuel issues with oil coolant and arcing constitutes a fire and possibly death. i have all serviced repair documents if one should need to view them. *nm | |||
| 09/11/2004 | 72416 | 1 | 01/07/2004 |
| The low coolant light came on in my 1999 chevrolet venture ls (that i purchased in january of 2004), the engine started making a horrible knocking noise, and then froze up while driving down the highway. after having to have it towed and looked at by 2 mechanics, the diagnosis was that the intake manifold gasket was defective and allowed coolant to leak into the engine, causing the rocker arms to quit working, the valves to bend and the cam shaft to break in half. the cost of a rebuilt motor and labor to install it adds up to $4,300. gm doesn't know if they can help or not.*ak | |||
| 41000 | 1 | ||
| While driving consumer heard a ticking noise coming from the engine. *ak | |||
| 12/17/2003 | 104500 | 3 | 03/03/1999 |
| 3 failed engine manifold & head gaskets and expensive repairs in 2 years. | |||
| 10/04/2003 | 2 | 08/10/2002 | |
| My husband and i own a 1999 chevrolet venture. we bought it august of 2002. with in the first month my airbag light came on. called the dealer and we had to have the seat belt tension replaced on the drivers side. about a year later the samething happens again this time on the passengers side. about a month ago our antifreeze light keeps coming on and shutting off. we notice no leaking on the ground however the antifreeze is slowly disappearing. well this weekend my husband took the van on a trip and comes back the next day and the engine is making a ticking noise. we found out that the antifreeze is leaking into the oil causing the gasket to be replaced and the hydraulic lifts to be replaced. this could of resulted in the engine freezing up. this has obviously been an issue with this vehicle and i want to know why anything has not been done about this. just because someone was not injured does not allow the company to overlook the fact that they have a defect with this year of ventures. *jb | |||
| 05/05/2003 | 78000 | 03/20/1999 | |
| I have a chevrolet venture 1999 that has had an intake gasket leak. i have researched this problem on the internet and there have been many similar problems. many service technicians have also stated that gm has had a problem with intake gaskets. gm should recall all vehicles affected and pay repair bills on all others already fixed. *nlm | |||
| 12/12/2002 | 36000 | 1 | 09/17/2002 |
| The intake and head gaskets failed, which caused anti-freeze to leak.*ts *jb | |||
| 04/02/2003 | 78000 | 1 | 07/12/2001 |
| 1999 chevy venture, engine temperature gauge went to about the 50% mark, intake gasket failed, engine seized. needs a new engine at 78000 miles. well maintained vehicle. *jb | |||
| 02/15/2003 | 48898 | 1 | 09/06/2001 |
| 1999 chevrolet venture minivan intake manifold gasket failed causing dexcool coolant to leak into the engine and mix with the oil. a simple internet search found literally thousands of other folks with the same problem. gm customer assistance denies a problem. it costs an average of $650-$1000.00 to fix this gasket with no assurance that a new improved gasket is in place. this seems to happen shortly after the 36,000 miles warranty coverage is up. please see: www.petitiononline.com/gmcnsmrs/petition.html. *nlm | |||
| 02/24/2003 | 60000 | 1 | 06/01/1999 |
| The intake manifold gasket failed at 60,000 miles requiring about $800 in repairs. i have been driving vehicles for 35 years and have never seen an intake gasket fail. i understand from my mechanic that this is a common problem and that gm is aware of it. gm should be required to repair this defect as it could lead to a blown engine which would be very dangerous in traffic.*jb | |||
| 01/01/2003 | 24230 | 0 | 08/01/1999 |
| Coolant flowed back into the engine. ph | |||
| 12/23/2002 | 68000 | 10/05/2001 | |
| Low coolant lite comes on and starts upshifting hard, checked coolant and isnt low, left stranded several times, intake gasket | |||
| 03/05/2002 | 45000 | 1 | 03/02/1999 |
| 1999 chevy venture. intake manifold gasket blew | |||
| 04/16/2001 | 74098 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 09/01/2002 | 1 | 06/01/2099 | |
| Premature head gasket failure. mr | |||
| 4 | 07/01/1999 | ||
| Air filter is emersed with moisture, causing vehicle to stall out and die. dealer has inspected vehicle.*ak stalling occurred when downshifting, power steering was lost during stalling, dealer stated stalling occurred because of a swamped air filter that choked the engine, consumer stated vehicle would restart with no problems. *jb | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 03/19/2007 | 101050 | 1 | 04/01/2000 |
| Intake gaskets leaking, upper and lower. caused oil to be contaminated with anti freeze and anti ffreeze to be contaminated with oil. gm has since changed the gaskets to a different type of material. mechanic stated that this problem is common with this type of vehicle. | |||
| 03/23/2004 | 86800 | 1 | 08/13/2003 |
| I bought a used 1999 chevrolet venture with 54,500 miles on it. 7 months and 32,000 miles later, the van is at my local chevrolet dealer with $1,650 $2,200 of engine damage, due to an intake manifold gasket failure.*ak the vans 3.4l engine was well-maintained, with frequent oil changes and inspections. the only warning sign that i got was that the coolant level had to be topped off about once a month. a mechanic said that the coolant loss was due to evaporation. my mechanic offered to replace the engine with a used one for $2,200. he would put a new intake manifold gasket on the replacement engine, so i would be less likely to run into the same problem again. i learned of gm technical service bulletin #03-06-01-010, with subsequent revisions appended a and b, which describes a repair procedure for coolant leaks on 3.1l and 3.4l engines. the repair procedure is install a new design intake manifold gasket. the material used in the gasket has been changed in order to improve the sealing qualities of the gasket. when replacing the gasket, the intake manifold bolts must also be replaced and torqued to a revised specification. the new bolts will come with a pre-applied threadlocker on them. my son called chevrolet customer assistance and spoke with john brooks, who told him that i would have to have my van evaluated by the service department of a chevrolet dealer before he could offer any assistance. he gave me the following service number with which i could reference the call: 1-201938-040. the intake manifold leak was confirmed at the local chevrolet dealer. the service manager estimated that the engine could be repaired for about $1,650, including parts and labor, but that he couldnt confirm the extent of the damage without getting into the engine. getting into the engine would cost $500, after which there would be no going back. he said there would be no assistance from chevrolet, as i hadn't bought or had my vehicle serviced there. | |||
| 10/01/2002 | 47827 | 07/10/1999 | |
| 1999 chevy venture 47,827 miles had to replace intake manifold gasket. so far we are out $1027.54 | |||
| 01/16/2003 | 60000 | 1 | 03/03/1999 |
| The engine blew with no indication of major trouble while driving at 70 mph on interstate 5 at around 6pm. major safety concerns with no power to the accessories, having to coast off the freeway exit and having to push the van to safety. dealer says that it may be the cam shaft. i have read many cases of the cam shaft breaking or cracking in these vehicles, especially after having the intake manifold gasket replaced ( which i have at 45000 miles). | |||
| 10/01/2002 | 1 | 03/01/2099 | |
| Intake manifold gasket failed at about 64, 000 miles. coolant was found leaking out in the rear corner of the intake. also there were signs of coolant found in the motor oil after removing the valve covers. this repair has cost me almost $600.00 on a vehicle less than 4 years old. the auto repair shop that did my repair said they are changing 1 to 2 intake gaskets a week on these 3.4l v6 engines. dt | |||
| 4 | |||
| While traveling at any speed vehicle would stall without any indication. dealer has been contacted, and could not duplicate problem. this was the fourth time. manufacturer has been notified. please provide further information.*ak | |||
| 08/04/1999 | 3 | 08/04/1999 | |
| Temperature guage failed to show correct temperature for the engine. engine would overheat without driver's knowledge & vehicle would stall out.*ak | |||
| 12/16/1999 | 6 | 09/01/1999 | |
| Vehicle has quit on highway while in passing lane and heavy traffic almost, causing major accidents. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | |||
| 05/30/2006 | 89500 | 1 | 10/12/2003 |
| The engine in my 1999 chevy venture van just went out. the van has less than 90,000 miles on it. my parents 1999 venture did the same thing at approximately the same mileage 2 years ago. is there a problem with the engines in the 1999 venture vans? *jb | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||
| 02/06/2003 | 05/20/1999 | ||
| 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 few of miles and age. i've also had an air bag warning light on for most of the time that i've had the vehicle. it was worked on a couple of times during the warranty period. the dealer said it was an air bag sensor problem. this vehicle has front and side air bags. i hope the air bags deploy in case of an accident. | |||
| 02/01/1999 | 02/01/1999 | ||
| I have the same problem as reported in odi id: 758368. no safety defect listed. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | |||
| 04/28/1999 | 20000 | 3 | 04/01/1999 |
| This will be a list of most of the problems. i have complained of smelling anti-freeze since i purchased the van new. it currently has 94k on it and i have done all scheduled maintenance on it. i think the clock work oil changes is the only reason it still runs. manifold gaskets, intake, head...have been replaced twice and need it again, really bad. but i just do not have 5-800 bucks laying around to do a gasket job again since i just did it a year ago. the anti-freeze diluting the oil has messed up a couple pistons. they slap very bad ok here is my list (i have dealer invoices for everything fixed the first time and receipts for parts and labor the second time, or my husband got sick of paying for the same crap so he would fix things) (he is in the automotive testing and design field) *jb | |||
| 01/06/2006 | 50000 | 1 | 09/01/1999 |
| We have a 1999 chevy venture minivan with 50,000 miles on it. we started having problems about a year and a half ago with it. after many trips to the mechanic, we finally found the main issue causing the numerous problems. a leak in the intake manifold leaking coolant into the engine oil. the gm part is plastic. it is a small part, but takes 7.5 hours to fix, so the average cost to fix it is $800!!. there are literally thousands of complaints about this part used by gm. there is a petition with over 9,000 signatures!! its time for gm to recall the part and make things right for their customers especially when it is usually families with small children riding in these gm minivans. *nm | |||
| 10/11/2004 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle was losing coolant due to defective intake manifold, but there was no leak. *ak all of the repair shops and dealership claimed this intake problem was common with this engine. it took dealership two months to repair vehicle. *ak | |||
| 01/25/2005 | 91000 | 1 | 03/17/1999 |
| Intake manifold gasket failed at 91,000 miles. this is the seond time this gasket has failed on this car. the first time (3 years ago, i think) was replaced by gm under warranty. this problem is endemic to this (3.4 v6 and the gm 3.1 v6) engine. gm should recall and fix these for free. *ak | |||
| 06/06/2004 | 1 | ||
| I own a 1999 chevy venture which has been driven 26,000 miles. i took my vehicle in foran oil change and on inspection the dealer found coolant leaking from all four corners of the lower intake manifold gasket. they replaced the lower intake manifold gaket and related gaskets at a cost to me of $753.88. the service supervisor informed me that there was a defect in the gaskets and that they have been seeing and fixing this problem on vehicles with this particular motor. he informed us that if we did not get our vechicle repaired that the engine might seize up. i called the corporate office for chevrolet and they stated that there was no recall on the faulty gaskets at this time. iak | |||
| 02/01/2004 | 1 | ||
| Coolant leak from intake manifold gasket after 36,000 miles. *ak | |||
| 03/30/2004 | 59650 | 1 | |
| My 1999 chevrolet venture has 59,800 miles. while driving on the highway i noticed the coolant level low warning light on; the coolant reservoir was nearly empty but there were no visible leaks. the mechanic told me that the intake manifold was leaking. the service shop replaced worn gaskets. this is an expensive repair which should not be necessary at 60,000 miles. i have a friend who owns a 1999 venture which has had the same problem, and he told me of two others in his circle of friends. *la | |||
| 02/02/2004 | 84000 | 1 | 09/09/2000 |
| This complaint is directed at potential safety issue concerning vehicles using the gmc v6 engine. in my case, with a 1999 chevrolet venture, a poorly designed intake manifold gasket caused the dex-cool coolant to leak into the engine. this coolant is corrosive and will lead to catastrophic engine failure. the problem is especially serious since the leak cannot be easily detected due to its internal nature. a brief investigation on the internet found well over 5,000 other persons reporting the same failure. gm has refused to issue a recall on this problem, but should do so immediately.*ak | |||
| 01/20/2004 | 46475 | 1 | 04/08/2000 |
| Plastic manifold intake gasket failed on my 1999 chevy venture mini van.*ak | |||
| 11/25/2003 | 67000 | 1 | |
| 1999 chevrolet venture at 60,000 miles had to have intake manifold gasket replaced. repar cost was $874.66. upon further research, it is apparent there are thousands of venture owners who have suffered the same problem and expense. *ak | |||
| 12/08/2003 | 71000 | 1 | 10/07/1999 |
| At 71000 miles intake manifold gasket failed. if not repaired this will lead to engine damage and possibly total engine failure. at my own expense i had it repaired using the proper re-engineered gasket. expense was $550. *ak | |||
| 09/29/2003 | |||
| I contacted cheverolet for assistance regarding my 1999 venture van. the intake manifold gasket was leaking causing over heating. repairs were made at a cost of $706. the representative at cheverolet (1-800-222-1020) said that there was a recall on the the intake manifold gasket, but not for my vehicle. i asked the representative how can the recall not cover my vehicle with the same problem. that does not make common sense. the representative could not answer the reason why my vehicle was not included. | |||
| 01/27/2003 | 36227 | 1 | 03/17/1999 |
| Intake manifold gasket leak. 1999 chevrolet venture with 3.4 litre v6 engine. noticed some coolant loss in resevoir. few days later loud mechanical noise from engine. brought to dealer. dealer diagnosed coolant leaked into engine mixing with oil (from intake manifold gasket) causing top end engine damage (hydralic valve lifters had to be replaced and intake manifold gasket) . mechanic who worked on my van said it was very common problem the 3.4l v6. had vehicle for little over 3 1/2 years with 36227 miles (cost $862) when problem occurred. *ak | |||
| 04/01/2003 | 55000 | 2 | 02/01/2000 |
| Leaking intake manifold gasket and water pump causing loss of antifreeze over a short period of time. no sign of leak other than low coolant light from vehicle.*ak | |||
| 04/08/2003 | 60000 | 1 | 04/20/2000 |
| Replaced intake manifold gasket on my 1999 chevrolet venture in april 2002. just one year later and my mechanic says i have a leak again. these gaskets have been on national backorder for over a year now which tells me i'm not the only one with this problem. *ak | |||
| 04/14/2003 | |||
| While driving the intake manifold crack causing fluid to leak. the dealer was notified. *nlm | |||
| 12/17/2002 | 74753 | 1 | 03/31/1999 |
| Noticed that coolant level was slowly going down and needed to be refilled. took van in for coolant flush. dealer would not do flush because intake manifold gasket was leaking coolant. van had 74,853 miles on it but was leaking for at least a year. paid $936 for repair and flushing of coolant and oil. spoke to local mechanic. he has encountered this problem many times before with chevy ventures. luckily, coolant had not yet leaked into engine oil. | |||
| 02/14/2003 | 55133 | 1 | 02/26/2002 |
| I took my van in for an oil change and they told me i had anti-freeze in my oil. therefore i needed to have the intake gasket replaced, otherwise the engine would fail. this job cost me $777.00 to have corrected. i had owned the van for less than one year when these problems occurred. the van had 55,133 miles on it at the time. the funny thing is a few days after i purchased my van my mom purchased one also. about 2 months after she had hers the same problem happened and she had to have her intake gasket replaced also. apparently there is a problem with these gaskets and gm should replace them. or at least reimburse us for this money we had to fork out for a problem that is apparently a little more than a coincidence. *nlm | |||
| 09/15/2002 | 65000 | 1 | 02/22/2002 |
| Intake manifold gasket on the 3.4l engine in my 1999 chevrolet venture failed. this is a pervasive known problem with the 3.4l engine produced and sold by gm. gm has had a nationwide backorder on the gasked involved indicating redesign due to poor initial design. i had to wait 4 months for the gasket to be delivered and there were 2 other ventures in the repair facility unable to be repaired or driven due to the backorder. my cost for repair was $538. others have had to pay over $4,000 due to engine failure. this should be investigated and gm made to conduct a nationwide recall/reimbursement of said repair costs. if you desire i will provide my repair invoice. due to the part failure and waiting on gasket delivery and repair, i may have hidden engine damage that may surface at a later time.*jb | |||
| 12/26/2002 | |||
| My 1999 chev venture van required the replacement of the intake manifold gasket at about 65,500 miles. service department stated that this was due to a bad batch of manifold gaskets and that gmc was now getting gaskets from another supplier. this appears to be a major problem within gm products; however, no recall has been issued; nor was there any offer of a discount or refund from the dealer for this apparent defect. this could be considered a safety problem as the engine could get water in it and freeze up. if this happens during the winter, on a backroad in minnesota when the temperature may be well below zero, serious consequences could follow. i see a pending law suit coming. | |||
| 12/30/2002 | 700000 | ||
| Leaking head gasket on my 1999 chevy venture with low coolant light coming on frequently the van has about 70000. ts | |||
| 07/09/2002 | 28782 | 1 | 06/04/1999 |
| Consumer states while driving the check oil light and the battery line came on. the vehicle shut off, loosing all power. contacted dealer. there was anti- freeze in the oil.*jb gm has had previous problems with the intake manifold leaking. consumer feels gm should recall these faulty intake manifolds. *jg | |||
| 05/10/2002 | 1 | 06/01/2099 | |
| I contacted chevrolet for assistance regarding my 1999 venture van. it developed a leak in the intake manifold gasket which allowed water to get into the oil. this vehicle was only 3 years old and had only 50,000 miles on it. i did some research and determined that other ventures, montanas, and silouettes were having similar problems and i wanted to know if chevrolet was covering this repair as it was so widespread. it was my belief at that time that my own vehicle was out of warranty, but considering the general failure of the part and the new condition of the vehicle, i hoped chevrolet would at least assist with the repair. chevrolet case no. c06820805. chevrolet rudely refused to assist me with the cost. later i proved to the dealer that the failure was covered by an extended california emission warranty. the dealer refunded me the cost of the repairs.*ak | |||
| 05/07/2002 | 1 | ||
| Gasket failure is due to manifold being made of aliminum and engine block being made of cast iron. any gasket material placed between the two metals is subject to mechanical wear caused by differences is the coefficient of expansion of the two metals. presently, the manifold gaskets are on a nationwide back order; some vehicles have been on dealership lots for weeks.*ak | |||
| 02/15/2002 | 01/01/1999 | ||
| Coolant leaking from intake manifold,and bolts . service shop is telling me that engine needs new intake gasket bolts ate also leaking repairs will cost between 400-500 dollars. tried getting gasket kit on national backorder, does that tell nme there is more than just my van having coolant problems | |||