Chevrolet Venture Steering Problems
Owners have filed 146 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Chevrolet Venture across 9 model years. The 1997 model year has the most (76). The words owners use most often: “rack pinion” (34% of reports).
- 146steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 14%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Rack pinion: mentioned in 49 of 146 complaints (34%)
- Turn steering: mentioned in 15 of 146 complaints (10%)
- Wheel locked: mentioned in 10 of 146 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 43 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 146 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury.
Chevrolet Venture steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Venture | 3 | 7% | 138,000 |
| 2004 Venture | 1 | 1% | 114,530 |
| 2003 Venture | 2 | 1% | 500 |
| 2002 Venture | 8 | 4% | 44,500 |
| 2001 Venture | 2 | 1% | 57,241 |
| 2000 Venture | 7 | 2% | 65,000 |
| 1999 Venture | 11 | 3% | 44,000 |
| 1998 Venture | 36 | 9% | 90,000 |
| 1997 Venture | 76 | 18% | 83,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Steering:rack and pinion
Model years: 1997, 1998
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.
Steering:gear box:shaft sector
Model years: 1999
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger mini vans. The left and/or right front lower insulator to cradle center metal sleeve is collapsed, which can result in loss of clamp load in the joint. If the clamp load is reduced or lost, the bolt can be lost or broken and the joint can separate.
Risk: If not repaired, separation of the opposite side joint could occur resulting in steering shaft separation.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right front lower cradle-to-suspension insulators and the attaching bolts.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Venture. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was making a rattling sound coming from the front passengerâs side of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who…
Steering locked up on '97 venture van while being operated at 70 mph on a straight highway. Vehicle had to be towed, rack and pinion and steering pump replaced.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet venture. While driving approximately 5 mph, the steering snapped and disengaged. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road and was towed to the contact's residence. Based upon the contact's examination, the gear box was fractured. The failure was not…
Something broke inside steering column , rack & pinon. 100% lost control of steering. Vehicle was in motion when attempt to turn.
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Ventures have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 146 owner complaints about steering for the Chevrolet Venture. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Venture steering?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Chevrolet Venture?
The most frequent phrase is “rack pinion”, in 49 of 146 complaints, followed by “turn steering” (15).
Other Chevrolet Venture problems
See all Chevrolet Venture problems.