Chevrolet Venture stalling problems

Filed May 12, 2014 · Engine · 112,156 miles · OR

We were driving on the freeway and noticed the heat gauge starting to rise very quickly to the red zone. The engine stalled and once the temp came down we proceeded to an auto parts store. There we purchased a thermostat, radiator cap, and 2 gallons of premix dex-cool. We installed the new cap and filled system with the dex-cool. We drove about 7 miles to a lake for a day of fishing. The inaccessibility of the thermostat, I could not change the thermostat that day. After sitting (not running) we started for home (60 miles). We had only gone about 10 miles when it overheated for the first time. We could only go about 10 miles before we'd have to stop and let the van cool down and add more coolant and water. It took 6 hours to get home. Over the next couple of days the overheating problem continued. On 28apr2014 we had the van towed to a local (reputable) auto shop. The next day we were informed that the intake manifold was leaking and would have to be repaired before they could pressure test the system to check the other components (radiator, radiator cap, etc.) the cost of just the intake repair was estimated at $1500-$2500. I have been researching the issue online and found that this is a common issue with these vans because of the dex-cool being a plasticizer and an aluminum corrosive. Also found out that gm has known of this problem but have chose not to fix the problem. I have had recalls on other vehicles (for a less problem) because the manufacturers said ok we have this problem so to keep our customers we'll fix it, but not gm. It wouldn't be so bad if gm even tried to fix this issue. We are middle-class and have a hard time making ends meet and can't afford this kind of expense.

Filed Jan 10, 2014 · Fuel system · 140,000 miles · AK

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 chevrolet venture. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the contacts home. A mechanic diagnosed that the fuel line and fuel tank melted due to the exhaust. The contact patched up the fuel tank and the fuel line since it was defective. The mechanic stated the fuel tank and the fuel lines needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 140,000.

Filed Apr 2, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 266,000 miles · FL

Car will speed up on its own and accelerate. The venture will also over heat after running for 10 min. Or so. This van likes to stall while driving and you must keep your foot on the brake or gas to prevent this from happening while driving. Transmission has been slipping since I got the car. Only owned it less than a year, now it made a loud clanking noise last night and now it will not go in drive only in reverse. You have to shift gears on the steering column only and even then it's debatable if it will run.

Filed Oct 9, 2009 · Engine · 111,571 miles · CA

Our 2001 chevrolet venture's intake manifold gasket has failed, allowing coolant into the engine oil. We started having trouble with it in january 2007. The check engine light came on and we took it in to our mechanic. He checked the cooling system and found the thermostat was not working properly. It was replaced. In june 2008, we noticed a loss of coolant. We took it in to our mechanic again. He did a coolant system check and found nothing wrong, replaced possible leaking hose. Once again we were losing coolant. We took into our mechanic again (third times a charm). Could fine nothing wrong with cooling system, did diagnostic and found a leak in the intake manifold gasket. We had no warning, no check engine light, no over heating since earlier time. The main problem is the coolant was going inside the engine, no outside leaking to warn us. The car stalled and died on us, luckily it was at a stop light. It could have caused a major accident if I was driving on freeway going 65. It has been parked at my house, non-op with dmv. Gm has admitted to me during more than one call that they have known about this problem for some time, but refuse to fix it. They say they are waiting for the federal safety agency to put out a mandatory recall before they will fix any problems. There are thousands of people with this same problem. The 3.1ll and 3.4l v-6 engines were put in all body types and different gm makes and models. Now some v-8's and newer models are coming down with the same problem. According to internal memo's from gm, they have known about this problem since 2000. Dex-cool seems to be the culprit. It is a known plasticizer (softens plastic) and is corrosive to aluminum. The gasket on the intake manifold is made of plastic and the some of the manifolds and or parts are made of aluminum. Dex-cool degrades hoses, gaskets and also rusts aluminum, causing a sludge to build up into the engine. Why would any one put this corrosive material into an engine on purpose?

Filed May 6, 2008 · Engine · 75,000 miles · IL

Was on the interstate after driving approximately 1.5 hours when service engine soon light appeared. When I slowed down to in-town speeds the van drove very rough and would often stall when at a stop light. Took it to gm shop to find out that the rocker arm post had pulled out of the cylinder head #4. Gm wanted to charge me over $2000 to repair. Instead the offered to repair with a "heli-coil" and gm picked up all charges. 10 months later driving again on the interstate went to pass another vehicle and the service engine soon light appeared again. Was able to get to a gm service shop. They found another rocker arm post had pulled out of a cylinder head #6. They did a "heli-coil" replacement again which I paid for. Both shops have said this should never happen during the lifetime of a vehicle, yet it happened twice in mine. In a car less than 5 years old no less. Is there a manufacturing defect in these engines to cause such a significant failure?

Filed Apr 4, 2008 · Engine · 153,000 miles · NJ

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet venture. While driving 45 MPH, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle began to stall. The current mileage was 157,300 and failure mileage was 153,000. Update 05/13/08 *bf the consumer took the vehicle back to the repair shop on 4 occasions. Updated

Filed Mar 12, 2007 · Electrical, Fuel system · TX · crash

Tl*- the contact had a number of stalling problems with the 2000 chevrolet venture minivan stalling. The contact stated that the minivan stalled at any given time. On one occasion the contact's vehicle was hit from behind by another vehicle while driving 35 MPH. When the vehicle stalled there was no prior indication of the vehicle losing power. He noticed that the vehicle decelerated and the instrument panel showed everything had lost power. The contact took the vehicle to the dealership on the first occasion and they couldn't find anything wrong with the vehicle. The dealership informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be tuned up. The contact stated that he was put on a waiting list for one week. He took the vehicle to a mechanic shop for the tune up. The contact stated that the vehicle continued to have the stalling problems. The contact stated that the mechanic shop replaced the fuel pump, fuel relay and the harness. The contact stated that he was no longer having any problems with the vehicle stalling. He stated that the dealership couldn't find what the problem was with the vehicle, but a mechanic shop was able to find the failure on the first attempt.

Filed Nov 13, 2006 · Electrical · VA

The first year we owned the vehicle was great. After the first year we have had nothing but problems, frustrations and the run around. The most serious problem is the one I will share with you today. For over a year now, my battery light would come on while I was driving. I have taken the van into the dealership several times. They can never duplicate the incident. Thank goodness that it has never stalled while driving but I am sure it is just a matter of time. I have a small child and my husband is military, so my husband is not with us when we travel. Naturally I am very concerned that my child and I will be on the highway alone. They have replaced several parts (starter, wires, this time the battery, other times no parts at all) in the vehicle but nothing has corrected this problem. I keep going back and the service department keeps giving the vehicle to the same team. I am so frustrated and I feel like I was sold a new lemon.

Filed Oct 4, 2006 · Engine · 41,000 miles · TN · fire · 1 injury

My husband and I purchased a 2004 chevy venture on october 24,2004. It had less than 6,000 miles on it. On september 27,2006, while my husband was driving down the interstate,the van began to serge/ stall. He pulled to the side of the interstate and got out of the van. He noticed smoke coming from the hood and figured that it may have just overheated( no warning lights came on ). He pulled up on the hood and flames shot out at him. He dropped the hood down and within minutes the van was completely inflamed. 911 was called to the scene as well as law enforcement. With the exception of singed hair and minor facial burns my husband is ok. The fire inspector told my husband that the fire apparently started on the passenger side of the motor. Most of the time my 3 children traveled in this van. They would have never been able to escape this fire. The van only had around 40,000 miles on it . I am writing this with the hope that people pay close attention to surging or stalling ventures. I'm not sure what caused my van to catch on fire. Hopefully the insurance company will soon know, but I wanted to make gm aware of a potentially life threatening problem.

Filed Feb 16, 2006 · Engine · 42,560 miles · OH

Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle stalled intermittently. This happened at various speeds and under normal driving conditions. The vehicle was taken to the local dealership for inspection numerous times. However, the dealer could not duplicate the problem. The dealer replaced the intake manifold and anti-freeze in an attempt to remedy the problem, but it still exists.