1998 Chevrolet Venture engine problems

Filed Jan 31, 2010 · Engine · 88,000 miles · MI

I backed the van out of my driveway at home and placed the car into drive. As I started to move forward, the gas pedal felt harder than normal but I attributed that to being left outside all winter. I pushed the gas pedal harder to get to car to move forward. And immediately I felt the pedal unstick . At that same moment, the engine raced to full throttle and raced forward with the van continually going faster and faster racing instantly to 50 miles an hour and still accelerating. At the beginning of the sudden acceleration, I tried to apply the brakes but could not stop the van or stop the acceleration. I turned off the ignition and finally braked the van to a stop. This all happened on the side street of my subdivision before I could get onto the main road. Luckily there were no cars or people in my way and I was able to get control of the van without hurting myself or others, the van was brought back to my driveway where it remains. I have not contacted the dealership at this point as I do not want to pay to have this 12 year old van repaired at my cost nor do I ever want to drive this van again.

Filed Mar 6, 2008 · Engine · 130,000 miles · VA

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet venture. While idling in traffic or on an incline, the heat temperature gauge fluctuates. The vehicle is also losing antifreeze. The contact has been adding one half gallon of antifreeze per month and does not know why. When the weather becomes warmer, the check engine light illuminates sporadically. The light does not illuminate in the winter. The purchase date and powertrain were unknown. The current mileage was 160,000 and failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Mar 28, 2007 · Engine · 144,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevy venture. While driving 35 MPH the vehicle shut off when approaching a traffic light or stop sign. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. It was towed to the mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the ause of the problem , and recommended the vehicle be diagnosed by the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that there was a bar inside the engine that broke, and therewas also corrosion in the engine. The dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle currently has 14, 4000 miles.

Filed Mar 17, 2006 · Engine · 50,652 miles · PA

Venture was making a smell that I remembered from my 95 chevy lumina. Pull over realized the same thing was going on with this van. Coolant going into engine. This van only had 51,652 miles on for a 98 that is great I took very good care of it and chevy lost a customer for life. We were looking a tahoe but I would even look at it now chevy is the worst car maker out there but then again they are making me now look a toyota,honda in a whole new light.

Filed Jan 22, 2006 · Engine · 112,234 miles · UT

The intake gasket on my 98 venture failed and leaked dexcool into the engine. The engine temp fluctuated and the vehicle overheated damaging the head gasket. I see gm is ignoring the issue as well as the federal safety agency. There is however a law firm in putting together a class action suit for this problem. I encourage all to join in the suit and to leave gm and become loyal honda owners.

Filed Dec 27, 2005 · Engine · 34,000 miles · FL

For the 2nd time since the date noted below, I am experiencing intake manifold failure on my 1998 chevy venture. In 2003 it was replaced while the vehicle was still under warranty at 34,000 miles. Now, just shy of 2 years later, and at 53,000 (at my own expense and a cost of $1200.00)) it needs to be replaced again. The reason I am contacting you at this time is that gm does not recognize this as a recallable issue with their vehicles. I spoke with glen kuniyuki on 12/7/05, and sylvia jabouin on 12/8/05, at gm customer service. They said that since this was not a recallable issue and until such time that the federal safety agency made them recall the vehicles involved, that they simply were not going to recognize that this is a common problem to gm models, and recommended trading it in for a newer model. While researching this problem, I found several websites where many other gm customers are experiencing the same repetitive problem with no satisfaction from the manufacturer. I am providing you with only four, but there are many out there. (http://forum.freeadvice.com/archive/index.php/t-194703.html http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/gm_intake_manifold.html http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/gm_dexcool.html http://sfdiscussions.proboards32.com/index.cgi?board=lemon&action=display&thread=1089240579) your attention and response to this matter will be anxiously awaited.

Filed Aug 19, 2005 · Engine · 55,000 miles · NY

Dt: consumer owns a 1998 chevrolet venture. At 55000 miles the intake manifold gasket went out. The vehicle was maintained immaculately. This happened in october 2003. Vehicle was fixed by a dealer on october 10, 2003. He then checked the internet to find that this was a common problem due to a coolant that the manufacturer used. On july 2, 2005 the head gasket failed suddenly, vehicle had 75,000 miles. This was two weeks after a garage had done a 75000 mile check up on vehicle. Well over $40000 was spent. He did further research on the internet to find many other complaints on this issue. He felt this wa a safety issue, and it was endangering the life of his family. He contacted manufacturer, and was told that they would call him back, after not being called back by the manufacturer and him calling manufacture often back they finally made him an offer of a discount on something. He refused the offer,. He felt that the offer was not near what he had spent on repairs that manufacture should have paid for repairs.

Filed Jul 27, 2005 · Engine · 68,000 miles · OH

I noticed that the vehicles coolant level had been dropping over a period of severla weeks. After having it tested it was discovered that the lower intake manilfold had a slow leak and needed replaced. The vehicle had less than 70,000 miles on it and it seems very unusual for this to happen so soon.

Filed Jul 18, 2005 · Engine · 70,000 miles · OK

Ticking begin at around 45000 to 50000 miles on 1998 venture, soon it needed bearings and rods, the mechanic took off the oil pan and oil was like mud, I have oil changed every 3000 miles, I saw the oil, it was awful, then one day the oil light came on and the service engine light and at around 70000 miles I need new engine, I have always been a general motors person mainly cherolet, but, as of now, I am thinking it will be a cold day in ---- before I buy another, I see why the foreign motor companies are kicking butt...I am not the 1st to have a problem with the ventures.. I have been told that the maifold is leaking into the oil system there by causing this problem with engines blowing...I do not know what to do, I have 4 children 2 of whom are in college and 2 at home, I can't just race out and buy a new one, which chevy offered to maybe give me a little off if I wanted to buy a new one.

Filed Jun 7, 2005 · Engine, Steering · WI

Manifold intake gasket had to be replaced twice now on my 1998 chevrolet venture (2003 and 2005). Also the rack and pinion needs to be replaced for turning left.