Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Chevrolet Venture owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On December 30, 1999, I dropped my Chevrolet, Venture to puente hills Chevrolet dealer for regular maintenance. The dealer!/s technician found a hole in the air cleaner housing. Based on the dealer!/s diagnostics, the hole was burned by exhaust heat. Since the dealer had no part available, the technician just simply taped the hole as a fix. A few months later, the minivan!/s engine started to stall occasionally when the van was decelerated before the red light, left or right turn. I sent the van to glendora Chevrolet dealer twice, one was on March 12, 2001, and another was on May 15, 2001 with no success. Dealer was not able to duplicate problem, and did nothing (obviously, they didn!/t do enough testing). On October 14 of 2001, my wife got an accident due to the engine stall when she exited from a freeway. …
Description : I bought a used 1997 Chevrolet Venture from the norwood group in warwick, ri back in sept 2002. Approximately 5 weeks ago I began experiencing overheating problems. I took the vehicle to pep boys in warick, ri for a diagnostic thinking that it was the thermostat. They ran the test and came back with an engine problem, and advised me to take the vehicle back to the dealership. I did this and the service dept at norwood informed me that there was a problem with the intake manifold gasket. After having my vehicle for two weeks they repaired that and when taking it for a test drive before returning it to me, they decided that I now had a throttle body problem. Fixed that and two weeks later the vehicle started to smell strongly of gas. …
My Chevy Venture with 95,000 miles, with no prior warning, rather suddenly overheated and stalled as I was pulling it over on the interstate. Thankfully there was a level, grassy shoulder so I could pull all the way off the road, as the heavy truck traffic was quite intimidating. This was in maine, on a very cold day, and I was alone with my 4 small children, about 45 minutes from home. Tow truck driver couldn' t take all of us, and there were no taxi cabs. Thank god one of my friends with a van (Ford!) was able to come get us. We had to wait in the cab of the tow truck for 45 minutes for my friend to come from home to where we were stranded. …
Own a 97 Chevy Venture during an oil change was told I had coolant in my oil, so I took van to a local Chevy dealer. They informed my the intake gasket was bad and had to be replaced at a cost of 975.00, this was done and no mention was ever made that there could also be engine damage due to this leak. Five months later I was driving down a busy street during 5 o'clock rush hour traffic taking my sick child to the doctor when all of a sudden the oil light came on and I lost all power, I had to leave the vehicle in the curb side lane, get my sick child out and walk to a phone to call my spouse to come get us and the vehicle mind you this was late September and it was chilly outside. …
This all started in dec of 2002, the coolant was leaking into the oil due to a intake manifold gasket failure. I replaced this at a cost of 850.00. After reading all the complaints on this from other websites I decided to write the bbb also who wrote back stating not gms fault since they have not had any complaints. Thats a lie, because there is a thousand of them on the internet including a petition-on-line. Anyway though, after only one month after I fixed the manifold gasket the engine went anyway and since I still have a large "balance due" on the car I had to get the engine repaired at a price of $4300.00. My mechanic though at least guarantees me on this engine of 3 years or 75000 miles. More of a warranty than GM gave me. …
Van taken for service for complaints of engine overheating and temperature gauge going up and causing temperature (hot) and service engine soon indicator lamps to come on. The van never warms up either. The van was diagnosed by GM technician indicating repairs of leaking lower intake manifold gasket, replacement of lower intake gasket thermostat and oil pump drive seal. Cylinder #2 misfire with installation of new spark plugs and wires, pcv valve, air filter, fuel filter and cleaning of fuel injectors. The van didn t get 1.5 miles from the service facility after my almost $1600 payment before the same problems resurfaced. The car was taken back and after being serviced again with no new diagnosis, I drove the van all of 20 miles before the engine overheated again. The van was taken back for the second time after initial service, all within a one-week timeframe. …
I own a 1997 Chevrolet Venture van. Recently discovered engine coolant was leaking internally and externally at the intake manifold because of a failed gasket and dexcool engine coolant. Water pump was leaking also. When I discovered this problem I began to search for the root of the problem on the internet and found a petition located at http://www.petitiononline.com/gmcnsmrs/ that contained almost 5000 GM owners who have experienced the same problem. On other sites I found that some people were put in harms way by the failure of this gasket and the subsequent damage caused to their automobile engines at inopportune times. The gasket has been redesigned but at some point last year (2003) it was on back order for weeks at a time. After repairs and approximately 100 miles of travel my "service engine soon" light has now come on. …
This is a follow up of acomplaint filed on 3/10/1997. After several conversations with Chevy corp. They have advised me that they will offer no assistance in repairing my Venture. The dealership has advised me that repairs will cost a minimum of $2000. Add this to the $7500 that I still owe and I will owe $9500 on this van. I am amazed by the denial of Chevy corp. With all of the complaints by consumers who have blown head gaskets from dex coolant. I am asking that someone please investigate this matter!! This should not have happened with only 75,000 miles on this van. That's an average of 12,000 miles per year, and I have doccumented proof of regular maintenance. I have also had problems with the brakes, sliding door, seat latches, and electrical problems with power windows. I will never by another GM product again!!
My vehicle a 1997 Chevy Venture, suddenly lost power while cruising on the highway. The temp light came on and I pulled off the highway. Luckily it happened to be the dealerships exit and I pulled right in to the service bay. They tell me I have a blown head gasket. When they took the engine apart the service manager allowed me to see the engine. The coolant channels are coated with a brown gummy substance and the cylinders were full of coolant. The service manager was given a sample of the substance and said he will give it to the GM rep when he comes in later this week. Cost will top $2500. Previously I replaced the intake manifold gasket and the water pump. This seems like faulty gaskets or coolant I don't know which. I'm just glad it didn't strand me out somewhere away from town.
Total engine seisure from blown head gasket(plastic) coolant sucked into engine oil, total destruction of block. Heard from service reps from twentyfive local dealerships (chevolet) that this is no uncommon but typical!!! Something has to be done!! Total cost for fixing over $4000.!!!! Chevy no heelp says it's too bad, called every local dealer in upstate ny (20+) and get the same reply "typical of this engine, good thing nobody hurt!!sorry" if nsta wont do anything how about a class action suit??what will it take a few deaths?? GM is junk!! I wonder how many others out there are suffering also?? Notified the ny state attorny general with problem also. Next will be the media.. I know there are many more with the same problem with this type.
Engine complaints in other Venture years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1997 Chevrolet Venture?
NHTSA has 86 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1997 Chevrolet Venture, 20% of the model year's 432 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system › manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (17 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chevrolet Venture engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1997 Chevrolet Venture, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Venture engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.