1998 Chevrolet Venture Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Venture years
- More complaints than other years 2nd of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 7 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 409 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Venture. That ranks 2nd out of 10 Venture model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (111 complaints, 27%), typically at around 76,000 miles. Complaints mention 27 crashes, 3 fires, 39 injuries. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 7 defect investigations involving it.
- 409owner complaints
- 7safety recalls
- 7NHTSA investigations
- 27complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Chevrolet Venture problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 111 | 27% | 76,000 | “intake manifold” (41%) | $2,000 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 59 | 14% | 91,000 | “fell off” (27%) | $330 |
| Steering | 36 | 9% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 31 | 8% | 85,714 | — | — |
| Structure | 30 | 7% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 27 | 7% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 25 | 6% | 44,400 | — | — |
| Visibility | 23 | 6% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 22 | 5% | 81,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 21 | 5% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 17 | 4% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 16 | 4% | 99,559 | — | — |
| Seats | 12 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 2% | 188,888 | — | — |
| Equipment | 8 | 2% | 108,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 8 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 8 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 2% | 82,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 4 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 1% | 73,603 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 0% | 82,310 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | 188,888 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Chevrolet Venture recalls (7)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: On certain minivans equipped with second-row bucket seats or captain's chairs and a power sliding door on the passenger side of the vehicle, a passenger using the interior handle to open the power sliding door could be injured.
Risk: If a passenger uses the interior handle to open the power sliding door and holds onto the handle while it is being opened by the motor, the passenger's arm may be pushed into the seat back or armrest and a wrist or lower arm injury may result.
Fix: Dealers will replace the power sliding door interior handle on the passenger-side. If the vehicle is equipped with a power or manual sliding door on the driver-side, the interior handle will also be replaced for appearance reasons. Note: before the vehicle is serviced, gm advises owners to not use the interior door handle to open the door. The driver can open and close the door from switches at the driver's position or by using the remote key fob. The driver should tell passengers to use the switch located in front of the door to open or close it. The driver should use the override switch to prevent operation of the power door by children or by others who are not familiar with its use. The owner notification letter mailing will be conducted in phases with the first phase beginning on may 31, 2005. The second phase mailing began on july 18, 2005. The recall began on may 31, 2005. Phase 2 began on july 18, 2005. Phase 3 (final phase) began on august 24, 2005, to all remaining customers. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; pontiac at 1-800-620-7668; or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537.
Steering:rack and pinion
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles and mini vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Risk: If this occurs, the pinion shaft can be forced upward during left turns and back down as the steering wheel is moved back and to the right. If the pinion shaft moves further, the driver will need to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel, similar to a vehicle without power assisted steering. If the pinion shaft moves even further, the driver will require much higher effort to turn left and may not be able to turn the wheel as much as intended. With the maximum pinion shaft movement, which requires internal gear component damage, the driver can encounter high resistance to turning left, followed by unintended power assist to the right. In any of these conditions, a crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began january 24, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: Vehicle description: 1997-2001 chevrolet venture, pontiac montana/transport, and oldsmobile silhouette mini vans equipped with passenger side power sliding doors that were serviced in campaign 01013 (01v-067) from april to august 2001. Also 2001 chevrolet venture, pontiac montana, and oldsmobile silhouette mini vans equipped with passenger side power sliding doors assembled in january through april 2001. These vehicles have inadequate front welds. If a front weld fails, the actuator can jam in the unlatched position and, when the sliding door closes, it will not be latched.
Risk: If this happens, the power sliding door can open while the vehicle is in motion, particularly when the vehicle ascends a hill, makes a turn, or travels over a rough road surface. An unrestrained occupant could fall out of the van and be injured.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if required, install a new power sliding door unlatch actuator assembly. Owner notification began on october 22, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: Vehicle description: minivans equipped with passenger side power sliding doors. The door closes but may not be latched. If this happens, the power sliding door can open while the vehicle is in motion, particularly when the vehicle ascends a hill, makes a turn, or travels over a rough road surface.
Risk: An unrestrained occupant could fall out of the van and be injured.
Fix: Dealers will install a new un-latch actuator assembly to the power sliding door. This recall has been continued under safety recall 01v-264. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Seats:front assembly:recliner
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger mini vans equipped with bucket seats or a split bench seat in the second (middle) or third (back) row. The seat latch mechanisms on bucket seats and on the 40% portion of the split bench seat in the second and third rows do not have protective covers.
Risk: When activating the release mechanism to roll a bucket seat forward, a customer's finger(s) could be severely injured or severed in they are not kept clear of the mechanism.
Fix: Dealers will install protective covers on the outboard latch mechanisms on all left and right hand rear bucket seats in the second and third row, and to both inboard and outboard latch mechanisms on the center rear bucket seat and the 40% portion of the split bench seat.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: Vehicle description: mini vans. These vehicles may have (1) a broken shift cable fitting or (2) loose shift linkage. Consequently, moving the shift lever to a 'park' position may not shift the transmission to 'park'.
Risk: The vehicle could roll increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace if necessary, the automatic transaxle range selector cable.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger mini vans equipped with traction control systems. The windshield wiper linkage arm can contact a brake line which is connected to the traction control system modulator valve. This contact can chafe the brake line resulting in a brake fluid leak.
Risk: Brake fluid leakage can cause reduced brake effectiveness and increased stopping distances.
Fix: Dealers will install a brake line clip to ensure proper clearance. Also the brake lines will be inspected to any damage caused by this condition and will replace any damaged lines.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Power-sliding door (PE04064) — opened Sep 17, 2004, closed Dec 22, 2004, led to recall 04V597000.
- Rear axle trailing arm failure (EA03005) — opened Apr 23, 2003, closed Jan 12, 2004.
- Safety belt assembly failure (EA02032) — opened Nov 18, 2002, closed Nov 21, 2003.
- Rear axle trailing arm failure (PE02086) — opened Nov 18, 2002, closed Apr 9, 2003.
- Shoulder harness clip (PE02017) — opened Feb 11, 2002, closed Aug 2, 2002.
- Air bag tear during deployment (PE00045) — opened Nov 3, 2000, closed Jan 11, 2001.
- Unexpected opening of sliding door (SQ00014) — opened Jul 25, 2000, closed Oct 22, 2001, led to recall 01V067000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Van was traveling at approx 65 mph..ford quad cab truck pulled out in front of me..i locked the brakes, some skid marks down the highway, and completely broadsided the truck. Damage to truck was on driver side door, and front corner panel. Several of trucks airbags deployed. Impact was at a high…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet venture. The contact stated that while making a left turn at approximately 5 mph, the steering wheel seized without warning. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion…
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet venture. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift from the park position. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa…
Goodyear assurance comfortred 215/70 r15 98t. Belts separated at bead, giant goiter in sidewall. I was told by dealer this was a mounting error. No tearing of inner edge on bead. The other three tires all have bulges starting in sidewalls. *tr
Sudden and complete brake failure. It was discovered that the rear brake lines had rusted to the point of failure. No warning...just complete failure. *tr
Other Chevrolet Venture years
← 1997 Venture · 1999 Venture →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Venture | 42 | 1 |
| 2004 Venture | 124 | 3 |
| 2003 Venture | 185 | 5 |
| 2002 Venture | 220 | 3 |
| 2001 Venture | 222 | 9 |
| 2000 Venture | 350 | 5 |
| 1999 Venture | 349 | 4 |
| 1998 | 409 | 7 |
| 1997 Venture | 432 | 6 |
| 1996 Venture | 2 | 0 |
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Venture?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, exterior lighting, steering problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 111 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Chevrolet Venture?
Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Chevrolet Venture a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Venture model years, the 1998 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.