1999 Chevrolet Venture LS from North America - Comments

I was thinking at first that maybe my problems with the 99 Venture were isolated. A former mechanic buddy of mind recommended the van when it came in to the shop. I think I could handle a few issues from time to time, but come on.

Fuel gauge went kaput and stranded my family, the tranny start shifting ruff, then it went on a permanent vacation. That one hurt.

Electric issues... don't get me started. ABS light started intermittently appearing around the time when I rotated the tires, indicator lights go nuts when I press the brakes. I have the air bag light stay on then off, then on.

I have thought about pushing it off the pier, but I think I would get charged for recovery and environmental fees for the leaks. Did I mention my former mechanic buddy??

Wow!...I came to this site with hopes of getting some good insight on the Venture. I have a 1999 I got for a good deal; only 29,000 miles on it, super clean and rides great. But I noticed over the winter, when I used the wipers, they wanted to stay in the upright position; now they won't go down and it just annoys me. I had never paid much attention to the van, but it seems as if when I purchased mine, that's all I see on the road now. And on quite a few of them, the wipers are stuck in the upright position also; strange!

I have a 1999 Venture van with 250,000km on it. It has had the intake gaskets replaced etc. Overall we have been okay with this vehicle until recently. In the past 6months the rear window wiper stopped working, the water pump failed, the ABS sensor in the right front hub failed, the door locks no longer work properly, the tranny shifts rough, the water pump began leaking, the feed lines for the tranny failed leaving us stranded, and the brake lines had to be replaced. Perhaps this vehicle is well past it's expected life span.

I am amazed at the people who buy a vehicke with over 100,000 miles on their vehicles and then get upset when they need to make repairs. There is a reason you are getting a vehicle priced $25000 less than a new one - it is old.

We bought a 1998 Venture Van, absolutely mint condition, full load, what an impressive van, FOR THREE MONTHS.

The interior light doesn't work, and I'm convinced they never will, the wiper motor on the back is kaput!

Today we had a 150k drive, well, we noticed, massive amounts of oil, spewing all over the back window, we looked underneath, and the under carriage was soaked on tranny fluid, that's when we noticed the fluid pouring out from it.

Took it to tranny shop, quoted $2800.00!! WTF? The tranny still works fine, shifts fine, but there is this slight sound like two peices of thin metal rubbing together, and it leaks like crazy. OFFERS?? LOL...

Welcome to chevy venture land.

Does anyone have an answer on the hard shift problem? Is it a solenoid? I too am a proud owner of a 99 Venture with 150,000 on it!

Have owned a 2000 Chev Venture for the past five years; terrible vehicle.

The interior and backup lights have never worked, the door locks don't work and now the driver and passenger side front windows won't go up or down. Gas gas is wonky.

Had to replace the intake manifold gasket and then the transmission went out of it. Severe rust and rotting problems along the bottom of the van behind both front wheels and the paint is beginning to peel on the hood. The latch on the back hatch is starting to go, along with the front struts and mounts...

All of this and the van has less than 150,000kms. Piece of junk.

I have a 99 Venture bought used at 65000 miles.

I have replaced the wiring harness, 600.00 to get my lights to work again.

My windows do not work - well they go down but not up anymore.

Door switches don't work.

Rear windshield wiper does not work.

A/C works but does not get cold enough.

My van cannot go over 55 - if you do, all of a sudden you put your foot on the gas and it does not go - so you have to pull over and shut the car off for a minute, and then it is fine. And if you have the heat on, you can count on it doing that at 45.

My airbag light goes on sometimes, the radio lights don't work, lighter does not work, cruise control is weird, races the engine.

My check engine light goes on and off all the time. The worst vehicle I ever owned.

Lauren.

I own a 99 Chevy Venture that had the gaskets replaced at my expense just after the warranty was expired! It too has the fuel gauge problem. I never know how much gas is in the tank. The rear wiper still works but makes a terrible noise for the past 6 years. The rocker panels are badly rusted to the point I am not able to jack the vehicle to replace a flat rear tire. My lights for the seat belts and airbags are on most of the time. A rear wheel bearing needed to be replaced and since it was the entire hub assembly it cost a fortune. I only hope Chevy has learned and corrected these chronic problems in their newer vehicles. I will give Chevy one last chance if they are still around in a couple years when I am in the market for a new vehicle.

My 98 venture van just bit the dust!!! 160k miles and is ready to throw a rod. Interesting reading all the things that went wrong with others vans because most of them happened to me. Intake manifold replace twice and the floor board is wet again(first sign of problems with the intake manifold). Door locks quit working and then started again, same with the window. I found that whenever I used premium gas my gas gauge always worked. Oh well. Lots of great memories and fun times with this car but I won't miss it.

Please if you have or are having issues with your 99 Chevy Venture, place a complaint with the NHTSA. They have a toll free number or you can place it on the web-site. The more complaints that they receive, the more they will take the issues at hand and do something about them. I too have had to deal with just about everything that has been mentioned in regards to the 99 Chevy Venture. I have placed a complaint and will be waiting to hear back from them. The more people who speak out about it, the louder our voice will be heard.

www.recalls.gov/nhtsa.html or you can call them toll free at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153

Owner of 1999 Venture with extended wheel base, we bought 3 yrs ago with 44,000 km on it. Now has 150,000 km, 100km/day to/from work, then add in hockey, soccer, etc.

Intake went the day we picked it up, wife had sense enough to buy Extended warranty off of internet, with this repair we covered our cost. Year and half later, tranny went, extended warranty covered that, $0 to us.

In the first 2 winters, live near Winnipeg, Mb CANADA, had the thermostat replaced 3 times due to no heat at all. Third time the charm as it has worked Great Since!

Now...well, started about 2 months ago, if you pull out to pass on highway, almost stalls unless you accelerate gradually. Garage checked all sensors, narrowed down to fuel pump, little pricey but extended warranty covers the pump, most expensive part.

Rear Struts were done at 125,000, not the front springs as they are still good.

Brakes, pads/rotors, lasted until 130,000 mark. Rear shocks are done, along with springs, replacing them in couple of weeks.

Overall, can't complain, Great on Gas on highway, good in city.

Love my wife even more for being so smart with extended warranty!! She did same thing with a 1995 Grand Cherokee we had as well, now there was a list for Warranty Recall!! Winnipeg, Mb.