Chevrolet Venture Minivans | Wagons
Chevrolet Venture Minivans | Wagons
[Dec 09, 2003]
B Johnson
Model Reviewed:
Chevrolet Venture
Strength:
Roominess, easy to get in and out of, comfy ride.
Weakness:
Transmission, transmission, transmission. After reading other emails about the Venture I am finally realizing that I am NOT CRAZY!! For two years I have been telling my husband my Venture shifts hard, that it rolls on inclines, that it's "just not right." We've taken it to the dealership (several times under warranty) and they clean some parts and tell me it's fine. My (non dealer) mechanic tells me it's the cellanoid -- the dealership says it's not. So now, at 57,000 miles, I'm waiting for the tranny to blow. Also having issues with the back driver's side door -- sliders are actually bent and the door won't close correctly, although I've never been in an accident, hit a post, anything. The parts just bent out of normal wear and tear. I loved this van out of the dealership, have regular oil changes, etc. Love the room, love the DVD player. But I am so unhappy about this transmission issue and will probably think twice about buying another chevy product. |
[Dec 06, 2003]
Pablonbama
Model Reviewed:
Chevrolet Venture
Strength:
Roomy, decent gas mileage, drove well when is worked.
Weakness:
Windshield wipers would occasionally quit when it was raining. Transaxle is the worst. I bought this junker at 17,000 and was ripped off at that. The salesman told me that I really should consider an extended warranty. That should have been my first clue. 6 months after I bought it the trans. started shifting hard. But it would come and go. Dealer told me this was normal for the Venture. 1 yr later I was collecting on the extended warranty to rebuild the trans. it just squated. Now it is 6 months after that and guess what? I had to tow my wife home due to that same transaxle. What a sorry piece of junk. Never had any luck with Fords. This van should have been a Ford. Best working vehicle I've had was a Toyota pick-up. Thinking about going over to them again. American vehicles (as much as I hate to say this) are poorly engineered and supported. |
[Nov 25, 2003]
Sharon Nichols
Model Reviewed:
Venture LT
Strength:
comfortable ride - I have heavy duty suspension. roomy, good milage on highway. Handles well. Until the window fell off track was quiet inside with windows and doors closed. Now there is a gap so it is very noisy. Comfortable seats - good on long road trips. Controls are easy for the driver to work.
Weakness:
Rear hatch door latch pinches, rear hatch weighs a ton, hard to close. Have had trouble with interior lights since owned vehicle. (4 years) The lights flicker on and off and dealer can not fix. DIC leaked with every heavy rain. Took numerous visits to dealer (Anderson Chevrolet in Baltimore MD) only to have them say they could not find a leak. When I took it into their service department with water pouring out of the Dic they finally were able to find/fix it. Sliding door will not stay closed. Dealer (Fox Chevrolet in Catonsville, MD) charged 87.00 to clean rods that touch contact. I cleaned them for free for months. Next day door still is not staying closed. Dealer claimed the recall to fix sliding door did not address this problem. Did not explain just what the recall was for, or what they fixed per the recall. Transmission iffy. Slips. Getting worse as gets more miles on it. Has 82,000 miles now. Slides backwards on slightest hill. Had this checked when new, told this is the way the transmission is on the Venture. Drivers power window dropped off track. Want $750-800 to fix window. Upholstry ripped on seam of back pocket after two years. Told this was not covered by warrenty. I do not have young children so no extra stress placed on these seams to cause the rip. Handle on the rear lift gate broke after first year, makes it very hard to close the hatch. Hatch was hard to close to start with, took back to dealer (Anderson Chevrolet in Baltimore MD) they said stiff hatch door is just the way the Venture is. Similar Products Used: Dodge Caravan, Have owned Chevy vehicles for years, Vega, Chevette, Sprint, |
[Nov 21, 2003]
poopychevy
Model Reviewed:
venture
Strength:
Roomy, comfortable
Weakness:
Cheap piece of crap that demands a lot of money, noisy on freeway and is manufactured quite poorly Stay away from this one. The lights have flickered dim to bright since buying new and the dealer could never find the problem. Transmission is weak and slips in overdrive, this I find amazing since my wife drives it. The cup holders fell apart, the brakes squeeked until I replaced the roters and brakes with Wagner replacement parts. The rear left tail light seal is so bad that I had to but another one, replace the wiring harnes and seal it myself with silicone sealant to keep the water out, the old one let in water and ruined the whole thing. Now with 65,000 miles on it I have to spend $550 more to replace the front wheel bearings because they are making loud grinding sounds AND their are NO zirk fittings on any of the grease fittings which are now bone dry and I can't grease them. Another fine specimen from GM, I think I'll buy a toyota mini soon. Also engine knocks upon starting for up to 10 minutes even after on time oil changes. |
[Nov 17, 2003]
Tsydrar
Model Reviewed:
chevrolet venture
Strength:
drives well, comfortable quite well organized interior, lots of room.
Weakness:
I am just astounded as to how a 20-30 dollar part can do so much damage. My weakness: didn't buy extended warranty this being my 4th GM vehicle and all problem free (bar pontiac brake frequent changes) I had the low coolant light. Added coolant (expensive too). The reserviour is almost empty and I don't see where the stuff went. Now I have a brown colour everywhere and checked on the internet for information. What I found is frightening and have told my wife to just park it until we can shop around for a garage not only to replace the gasket, but wash clean systems that have come in contact with this puddy. Similar Products Used: All GM cars Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac |
[Nov 08, 2003]
Dan
Strength:
None
Weakness:
Pinch your fingers in the door handles, interior lights don't go on with the doors opening, side doors die and jamb, slow as heck, doors rattle, heat can't be regulated, handles like an old sneaker, the turn signal stalk controls everything in the car...poorly. The radio is garbage, the cup holders are a totally odd size, and there are none in the second row. The second row seat doesn't move forward without breaking or jamming to let people into the third row What a collosal piece of junk. I am stunned that GM still just can't get it together. This thing is an embarasment to American auto manufacturing. What is wrong with GM and chevrolet. They are in an alternative universe and should be ashamed Similar Products Used: Other competitors |
[Nov 05, 2003]
Mike
Model Reviewed:
Venture EXT, WB
Strength:
Very roomy for passengers and cargo. The 8 seat model is best if you have 2 or more kids. Excellent sound system with the DVD player. Great highway fuel economy.
Weakness:
Drops like a rock in value if purchased new. Be prepared for it to lose at least half it's value in 18 months or less. Not a high quality vehicle. Noisy ride on highway and bumpy roads. Poor city fuel economy. OnStar is too expensive. I was originally looking at a Toyota Sienna but went with the Chevrolet Venture due to the great rebates and my GM card points. I've owned the vehicle for 18 months now, and I'm already looking forward to dumping it next year. I'll probably be upside down on my loan because this vehicle holds it's value so poorly. I'm told with only 18,000 miles on it, and in excellent condition, it's only worth $15,000 in trade. It stickered at $32,000. Makes me want to puke. I had the vehicle for 3 months when the passenger electric sliding door jammed closed. It wouldn't open electrically, only manually. The door was fixed, but broke again 4 more times. I've had the vehicle in the shop 5 times in 18,000 miles. I now have a problem with the drivers electric sliding door. That door won't close. I either close it manually or start driving while it's open, hit the button,and wait for it to close. It'll open and close 3 or 4 times before it finally catches. Other problems I've noticed are; The horn beeps for no reason; The headlights get brighter for a split second, then go back to normal; Transmission slips at rolling stops; Van rolls backwards on even slight inclines; Rear hatch door doesn't close completely at times. Must slam it shut, HARD. Has stalled on me 3 times. Twice coming to a stop, once slowing down on the highway. What upsets me the most about this van, is that I want to buy American whenever I can. Instead, my next van will be a Nissan, Toyota, or Honda. That saddens me but those vehicles have better quality, at least according to J.D. Powers and Consumer Reports. I wouldn't recommend this vehicle to anyone unless they got a good lease deal on it for 36 months or less. Definitely avoid it if it's used. Similar Products Used: Nissan Quest |
[Nov 04, 2003]
kaycar
Model Reviewed:
Venture LS..all the extras offered
Strength:
When it is not at the shop....Spacious, comfortable nice interior and power. Loved the power door when it was working well.
Weakness:
Blown engine!! Coolant Leaks!! Broken Cam due to faulty GM parts..LOts of $$ per hour for Chevy to diagnose these probs VENTURE=LEMON!! BEWARE.Mine sits at Chevy as I write...needing a $5,600 engine due to broken Cam..no warning.Van lost power on busy hwy.Dex-cool coolant apparently leaked into engine(checked it..looks like thick brown pudding) I bought this new, one owner, always maintained, including the Dex-Cool being changed prior to 5 years....no probs til warranty ran out.Last year narrowly avoided an accident w/ small children on board.. when rack-pinion failed ~SURPRISE~ NO STEERING!!!!(AS ALWAYS GM DENIED there was a prob..Imagine that???, , until they were forced to recall the rack year later!!}Countless batteries and brake jobs.Its too bad.. it WAS a nice van when its running and not costing LOTS of $$. SPREAD THE WORD FORMER CHEVY OWNERS..New Venture owners..enjoy your van NOW while its new and relatively problem free..its just a matter of time!! Wish they'd let GM credit card points be used to pay for repairs on their JUNK..as I will never EVER buy GM again!! Similar Products Used: 95 Chevy s-10 xcab, 2001 Silverado x-cab |
[Oct 31, 2003]
Art Adair
Model Reviewed:
Chevrolet Venture LS
Strength:
Roomy, Good stereo system if little things were not always a problem it would be great
Weakness:
Its a Chevy!! Chevrolet stands for (cheap heap enjoys visiting repairman over litte engine troubles) We also upgraded we thought from a Chevy Cavalier to the Venture. We have had it for just over one year and it has 60,000 miles on it. First our automatic sliding door is just that automatic. It will open when ever it feels like it. You have to manualy close it or it will keep opening and closing opening and closing. We Have had the air bag light on and off. Our rear left tail lights are a mess. Transmission has no holding power. The drivers seat is worn through to the metal. of course no warranty on anything for my vin number. Seats do not lock unless you jump up and down on them. Luckily we have not had the major problems wiht it but am looking forward to it. Hopfully can sell it before it pulls a chevy on us and breaks down. |
[Oct 27, 2003]
cgurnett
Model Reviewed:
LS
Strength:
This van has some nice features and was trouble free for the first 2 years. Good ride, good handling, respectable power, decent fuel milage.
Weakness:
Reliability, Reliability, Reliability. Are you listening Detroit???? Van was bought new in 1999. It now has about 60k miles and is having big problems. I've been a life-long chevy buyer, but I think I'm done with Detroit. Right now my driveway is full of chevys - this will change soon. The transmission has problems with TCC stuck on (AKA P0742) - a MAJOR MAJOR problem with 4T65E transaxle that GM apparently has refused to face for years. A lousy $5 piece of plastic garbage solenoid in a transmission that can result in THOUSANDS of dollars in repair cost. Apparently some dealers (from what I see here) deal with this by replacing the entire transaxle. What a crock. I see others here have discovered the manifold gasket problem too. I just got done replacing my water pump and noticed that the manifold gasket is leaking down over the bell housing. I am no Ford fan, but at least they faced up to the gasket problems they had on the 3.8L V6 some years back and issued a recall. GM looks to be stonewalling this problem. Similar Products Used: GVan |