2000 Chevrolet Venture LS from North America - Comments

Problem Intake manifold gasket leaked. This was indicated by antifreeze level dropping in overflow reservoir. I was advised to ask GM nicely for repairs and GM paid one half (after warranty expired) In my opinion, this should have been a recall and I feel customer confidence will suffer.

Problem Front brakes began to fade. I was advised by a independent mechanic to change disks (rotors) purchased from a well known auto supply store. Rotors and pads were changed and I have had good service from brakes since.

Problem Changing air filter myself. It's a frustrating job. Everything is so jammed in. I had to remove electric pump to rear heater, removed overflow reservoir and then pry air cleaner assembly apart to replace air filter. I suggest you leave it to a mechanic.

Problem I started to hear a slight whine in the transmission. I suggest you run not walk to your nearest auto transmission shop and have fluid changed. My friend with a 96 Dodge Caravan didn't do this and he now has a rebuilt $4500 transmission. Venture's transmission shifts up and down very smoothly. All front wheel drive transmissions are more stressed than the old rear drive, the shop told me. Yes, the transmission is OK and now no noise and normal shifts.

Problem (When first purchased with 66000km) 3.4L engine slightly difficult to start and then some clicking from engine lifters when engine cold. I changed to full synthetic oil and that solved it. I won't use anything else now.

Overall I like the Venture's power. It has 185 hp and is adequate, but not lazy. I see the new Venture clone, The Uplander has 3.4L (200hp) engine. Perhaps its better.

I have found the the fit and finish to be about the same as other domestic vans. The Venture's ride is very good. The sliding doors rattle a bit over harsh bumps, but so do other domestic vans. I have found the mileage to be above average, about 26 or 27mpg. It's great for hauling plywood sheets. Newer seat systems are easier for the some to handle. I find mine OK to remove, but a bit heavy. Air conditioning is very good. I was advised to get a upgraded thermostat. I did and now get much better heating. I like my 2000 Chev Venture, but I feel GM should correct the head gasket deficiency and others that are mentioned on this forum.

STAY AWAY!! The 3.4L engine will be grief!! The Venture, Montana, Grand Am, Alero, anything with a 3.4L engine will suck you dry.

We had a 2000 Venture with a 3.4L engine. Bought it as a lease return with 58,000 KMs (36,000 miles). 3 years old, low mileage, figured great!!

Day after we got it, ignition coil and ignition module problems. $600 bucks. A few months later, seat belt pre tensioner. $200 bucks. A few months after that, O2 sensor with the other seatbelt pre-tensioner and the fuel pump. $1500 bucks.

The fuel pump died as I was crossing a busy intersection. Was Saturday and needed to get towed to the dealership. After intense arguing for 1/2 hr with GM VPs, they decided to pay half (vehicle had about 50,000 miles or 80,000 kms at this point).

A year after we got it, intake gasket and transmission problems. Another $800 bucks.

Premature tie rod end and ball joint replacement as well. Tranny would always whine and jerk into gear when hot even after fixing and tranny fluid flushes.

Rear wiper motor never really worked at all either.

The most recent and damning problem, head gasket blown. 130,000 Kms or 81,000 miles. Taxes included, a $2,400 dollar fix. It was -25c or -13F when my wife was going to work and called me saying she had no heat in the van and the temperature gauge was spiking. I knew right away.

We took it to our local GM dealer to look and said it was a blown head gasket and it would be 2000 to fix plus taxes or $2,400. Well, we have been fed up with GM's attitude towards us from day 1 with their lack or concern for all the issues (corporate GM that is) so we went across the street to our local Honda dealer and traded it in on a brand new Civic. Never buying GM again. They just don't care. They lost 37.8 BILLION dollars last year... gee... I wonder why. Crappy product perhaps?

I am pretty good at repairing most anything, and will have to say that my Chevy Venture has given us good service for a price.

I too am pretty fed up with Chevy parts and service, they seem to think you have a money tree growing in you back yard when paying for parts. I just discovered that my 3.4 has a blown head gasket at 178K, which most likely started 20K ago, but just figured it out. I replaced the thermostat, (Clue) temp gauge was fluctuating, which means your 3.4 has reached end of the road.

We've had transmission problems, differential problems, even had problems with the wheel bearings where Chevy used plastic races for one year in the Venture model.

Replaced my fuel pump twice, and even the wiper assembly had issues which required an expensive part.

You really have to wonder if Chevy engineers think the public are a bunch of Ginny pigs, and really how much they value or safety. Fortunately all of us are still alive.

We have a 1997 Venture van which we bought as Chevy Certified New/Used in 1999. To make a long story short this car has been very unreliable. We not only had to have the engine rebuilt and replaced and 65,000 miles, but the service department did not replace the transmission at the same time even thought I brought it it and told them the car kept slipping after they had replaced the motor. They kept sending it back and saying they could not find anything wrong, so I had to go to another car service place where they told me I did indeed need a new transmission which at this point was not under the Chevy warranty so we fixed it at our own expense.

This car has had bad rotors too, which means I have to replace brakes every year, which is very costly. How the rotor got so warped is beyond my understanding.

Along with some other minor electrical problems (like it kept blowing fuses by running the radio) which meant I had to hotwire the radio to work off the ignition because I can't afford to have the electrical replaced or worked on. Now the car has died even though I have very low miles on a newer rebuilt tranny and engine. Can someone explain why this Venture has been such a lemon?

Overall I can't wait to get a new car and have vowed never to buy another Chevy because I do not feel they are good dependable cars. In the older days I know their trucks were!

My GM Venture is bad. Head gasket is leaking and no heat. Replaced two fuel pumps in 180,000km. The electrical wire to the fuel pump is over heating and broken. IT COST ME A LOT OF MONEY AND IS GIVING ME PROBLEMS. I do not buy GM cars.