5th Sep 2003, 11:02

My passenger side headlamp lens also fell off, but unfortunately I did not recover it so I paid $250 to have the whole unit replaced. The mechanic says this happens often and always seems to be the passenger side. I silicon-ed both the new and old units after I had the new one installed.

My water pump had to be replaced because the gasket was leaking. The garage says this is normal as the original gasket material is poor.

After 100,000K (60,000 miles) the intake manifold gasket had to be replaced. There were 5 other Ventures of the same year in for the same thing that week.

Mike.

26th Dec 2003, 18:07

Our 1998 Venture's power sliding door motor failed at 62,000 miles. GM wants $2000 to replace the power sliding door motor. I declined and decided to never purchase another Venture.

2nd Feb 2004, 17:10

We own a 1998 Chevrolet Venture LS. The power sliding door motor broke according to the dealership. It is a $2000 repair cost. The man at the dealership said that we should have bought the extended warranty. Can you imagine?

I have always owned Chevy vehicles. I have $2000 in earnings from our GM Mastercard for our next GM vehicle. However, we will not buy another GM.

9th Mar 2004, 08:34

After contacting Chevy company about 1998 headlight covers popping out- was told they only had one other complaint on it. The entire light wells have to be replaced at cost of $300. Lost one and the other is loose. After reading other comments, I don't feel they were honest with me about the frequency of occurrence.

1st Apr 2004, 19:50

Hi I have a 1998 venture... at 100,000km we replaced motor gasket (Price at dealer $1000) I changed myself... also head light lens fell off, but found a used one $150... passenger side power window not working ($?) compressor for rear shocks toast ($800)... rear tail light electrical board toast ($350) Multi fonctional switch toast ($500)... Front shock mounts glides toast... drive side mirror toast... all Canadian dollars... I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER VENTURe AGAIN!!!

1st Apr 2004, 22:43

Motor gasket hunh? Is that anything like the electrical switch? Come on which one (head, intake manifold)?

30th Apr 2004, 15:15

We just purchased a 1998 Chev Venture LS. So far so good, but I will look out for these seem to be common faults.

16th May 2004, 08:48

My wifes 1998 Chevy Venture LS stopped running while driving down the interstate. No warning lights came on. Two different mechanics have looked at it and told me that a new motor is needed. Compression is low in cylinders 2 & 4. There should be 100psi to 125 psi, but, there is about 25 psi in both. Estimate $2800 to $3500 to repair. Vehicle only has 58000 miles and has had regular routine maintenance. She also had the problems with passenger side sliding door, loose windows, and new tires after 20,000 miles. We will not be purchasing another Chevy min-van.

9th Jun 2004, 04:11

1997 Chevy Venture

So far experienced leaking intake manifold, which resulted in $500 repair. Lost driver side headlight cover and am in the process of looking for headlamp removal instructions. For the last year or so the Van has been running erratically at certain speeds. Have had both engine and transmission diagnosed. Replaced plugs and wires, cleaned injectors, replaced fuel filter, replaced transmission solenoid, still no improvement. Very frustrating.

I agree with most of the preceding posts and will not buy another Chevy product, especially not a Van. The dealer's attitude has been nonchalant about hitting me with outrageous repair estimates, even when the failure is quite common and well known to be a design flaw.

28th Sep 2004, 11:53

I have a 1998 venture and it is about to nickel and dime us. The rear door strap broke, the passenger headlight lens fell off, the drivers side window has came off of track, the garage door opener above head has broken, and the automatic side door faults out for some reason. The automatic door will not close all the way, what time it doesn't fault and stop working. Other than the things afore mentioned, the venture runs good. It will just nickel and dime you to death.

16th Nov 2004, 11:36

Two months ago I bought a 1998 Chevy Venture with 50,000 miles on it. It began stalling on a Wednesday. By Friday it stopped working altogether. My mechanic tells me it needs a new motor which will cost me $3200.00. Not to mention the fact that the power lock on the sliding door does not work. I am quite unhappy with my purchase, and would not recommend that anyone buy a Chevy Venture.

14th Jul 2005, 15:54

I have a 1997 Venture Van, and it has been a dependable vehicle. I bought it used 3 years ago. The only trouble I've had has been from the side power door (which there was a recall on). I am currently looking to replace a headlight assembly, only because I was involved in an accident that broke the one on the drivers side. There are some good ones out there! I would definitely own another based on my experience with this one.

30th Jul 2005, 19:11

1998 Chevy Venture Van: Have a noise in the rear on driver side when going over bumps. I found on the Web a description of "loose lumber noise from rear, 1997-98 Venture LS". It mentions a valve making noise in the load leveler system. Manufacturer Technical note suggests replacing rear shocks with a new set of GM shocks. I read this after putting a set of Gabriels on it. Unfortunately the new shocks made the clunking noise more frequent even on the slightest bumps. Any ideas? So I should pitch the new shocks and buy the GM shocks?

I sympathize with the 98 venture van owners, since about half of the problems I have had appears to be inherent in this van. Thank you.

1st Aug 2005, 21:36

I was looking for a headlight assembly for my 1998 Venture and I came across this site. It seems like a lot of people have the same problem. Is there any alternative to spending $300 on a whole new assembly? The lens came off and is lost. Help!!

22nd Aug 2005, 22:39

Re: Chevy Venture Headlamps.

On my 1997 Venture I've replaced one where the lens just fell off, and now need another.

These guys are advertising one online... delivered for $95.

Pretty easy to install as I recall.

http://www.carpartswholesale.com

27th May 2006, 17:46

I have had a 98 Chev Venture for 7 years. In 2001 the passenger side lens cover fell off and replaced it with a new one... around $300. A couple of months ago the driver's side lens cover fell off. Other than that I had oil mixing with antifreeze and had to replace the engine seal... that was big money, window power buttons had to be replaced, twice on the passenger side and rear a/c, heater blower had to be replaced. Not bad for 7 years I guess, but the headlamp thing is annoying.

15th Sep 2006, 10:11

We bought a used 1998 Venture LS from a Chevrolet dealer that had just come off lease at 36,000 miles. It was fine for 18 months, but then several familiar sounding troubles happened.

Leaking antifreeze, ended up being just the water pump. Dealer wanted to replace manifold gasket. $25.00 for new pump and installed myself. Wasn't too bad to do thanks to the serpantine belt ease of removal and install. Waterpump is right up front.

Power sliding door motor, we have not repaired this as we also were quoted about $2000.

Drivers window off of the track. Not yet repaired. But did put new up/down switches since they also were bad. $75.00 Easily done myself, but since we don't use the window don't know why I fixed the switches first.

Fan speed control on dashboard. Had to replace entire enviromental control panel even though the individual component is easily removed. $205. for part.

Fan speed resistor pack under dashboard. $80.00 for part.

Not very complicated, but difficult to reach.

We have had the van for almost 6 years now. I suspect from other posts the intake manifold gasket may have already been replaced and then the van was sold to the dealer we bought it from.

I'm not so mad at the parts going bad, but it seems Chevy is maximizing the amount of hardware that needs to be replaced by making all these intergrated units. For example you can't, but the $5.00 part that is from an assembly, but you can buy the entire assembly for $200.00.

The sliding door motor is another example. They say you have to buy the entire assembly about $1600. and about $400. to install it. I wonder how much just the motor is and if you can buy it?

We don't look at GM cars anymore.