Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
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).
Steering rack broke. Driving down highway steering wheel can assume positions anywhere between 10 to 2 o'clock while still going straight. Steering action is not positive. At turns, more steering movement is needed and vehicle does not response as before. Found out there is a recall NHTSA #02V286000 for the steering rack lower pinion bearings that the dealer would replace the lower pinion bearing or replace the steering rack. We took the car in 5/28/05 for this recall and I believe the lower pinion bearing was replaced. Contacted Chevrolet customer service 1/17/05. Told to have car inspected by dealer. Lannan Chevrolet confirmed that damage is inside steering rack and it needs to be replaced. Talked with Chevrolet customer service 1/20/05, they decline responsibility for the current problem and said that it is due to "wear and tear". …
On 28 July 2003, the Chevy dealership replaced the lower pinion bearing in my 97 Chevy Venture under a recall scheme. I should have taken it back in, since they left the vehicle with the steering offset to the right by about 15 degrees, but it was such a hassle dealing with them that I didn't bother. Around the start of February 2006, I started to experience intermittent problems when steering to the right. It was as if the power steering wasn't working. When I drive the van, I have to be constantly prepared to wrestle the wheel with both arms, although the fault is still intermittent. I have yet to raise the matter with the dealership, but note that there are many similar accounts, although mostly relating to steering to the left, for similar 97 ventures and other GM vehicles.
I made a left hand turn onto the street I live on, the steering wheel locked up and released. It ripped out of my hands and sent me right on onto someone's front lawn nearly missing a tree. I regained control just in time and got it back on the road. I limped it home and parked it. I called the dealer I bought it from and did not believe me and would not help, so I started looking for a different vehicle with help from my parents. Found a dealer ship 3 cities away and said bring it in and we'll help you. They called in saginaw steering plant rep. And it did it to him and said we'll replace for free just pay labor. Seeing it was not covered by my extended warranty I accepted and traded it in on a s-10 pick-up.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Venture. The contact stated that the manufacturer was not going to honor the recall for the steering rack and pinion because her VIN was not included. While making a right turn at 5 MPH, the steering wheel locked. The failure occurs intermittently. According to the NHTSA manufacturer notices to dealers (etc rcmn-02V286-8630.pdf), the VIN was included in the recall. The dealer stated that they could not find a recall for the steering rack and pinion. The powertrain and recall number were unknown. The current mileage was 160,000 and failure mileage was 100,197.
Dt: the caller bought a vehicle and found out about a recall before he got the vehicle. The recalled part was the steering rack bearing. He was told the repair was done. He says the vehicle was hard to turn when turning right. He will not let his wife drive the vehicle anymore because she could not turn the steering wheel. He thought the replacement part was faulty. Dealer said they might not do the work for free. Manufacturer said they would pay the repair costs, the first time he called, if it was the part in question. The second time they said they would not.
When making a turn at 15 MPH steering wheel made a loud grinding noise, and then locked up. With enough force consumer was able to unlock the steering wheel. Dealership was notified, but was unable to resolve the problem.
Vehicle requires excessive force to steer to the right, followed by unintended power assist to steer to the left. This is after recall campaign number 02V286000 (02049) was accomplished on 03/19/03 @ 103819 miles.
While making a routine rt turn, the gear assembly of the rack and pinion assembly "blew-out". This event locked my steering up. No warranty in place to recover loss. But, the nature of the event was unusual. That is, the mechanical failure of the gear(s)fracturing and exploding it's housing causing loss of steering is highly questionable? At a higher speed this would have cause injury or loss of life. A certified mechanic with 20+ years experienced indicated that he has never seen a rack and pinion assembly "blow-out" like the one I am presenting in this case. The supervisor mechanic further indicated, "that this could have caused a serious accident". I have the rack and pinion assembly in my possession and I have also contacted general motors customer service (doc# 000029454 GM). …
I am the owner of a 1997 Venture Chevrolet van that I purchased in May of 1997. I have several concerns after reviewing your web site. First, I just charged on my credit card almost $2,000 (December 2003) to fix the rack and pinion steering and to replace the power steering pump. There was a recall in November 2002 that I was not notified for the rack and pinion. Second, I have just learned that there is a recall related to the power pump steering. It is not by chance that both of these items have malfunctioned on my vehicle. I have experienced the exertion on more pressure to make turns and this is some of the issues that are related to the recall. I can not give a specific date of the incidents when the issues first started but it is fair to say it started sometime in 2003. What procedures should I follow to get these charges taken off of my credit card? …
I sent a report earlier this week regarding the steering failure of my van on 3/18/02. I brought our minivan to iron trail to be repaired. On 3/28/02 we called to find out when the repairs would be complete and the mechanic told us that the replacement rack he installed in our van broke when he was taking it for a test drive after installation. He also told us that this is the second Chevrolet Venture that he needed to replace the rack and then the replacement rack also broke. This seems to be a failure on the part of Chevrolet in that the rack is defective. This is a major problem since the vehicle can not be steered at all when this occurs. I feel this is a serious safety issue and that it needs to be investigated futher. There are probably many people out there that don't realize that their steering can "freeze" at any time. …
Related recalls
Steering › Rack and pinion
Certain passenger vehicles and Mini vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between January 1, 1996 and October 31, 1997, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began January 24, 2003.
NHTSA investigations
Steering rack and pinion
Odi has received 200 complaints fromt consumers and 1,238 from GM alleging failure or lockup of the steering rack and pinion unit (r&p).this alleged condition can result in the loss of steering control of the vehicle and a crash can result.GM has reported six crashes in which eight people have sustained injuries ranging from bruises, airbag burn, seat belt abrasion, facial injury, neck and back pain.all crashes were…
Power rack and pinion steering failure
The lower pinion bearing in the rack and pinion steering assembly May fail.GM will recall 1997-98 grand prix built between 1-mar-96 and 31-oct-97; and 1996-98 u-vans/j-cars built between 1-jan-96 and 31-oct-97.see attached summary.
Rack and pinion steering unit failure
Mr. Dennis fike of elkridge, md, submitted a petition to NHTSA by letter dated January 13, 2004, alleging that a GM dealer informed him that his van was not included in safety recall 02V286 and charged him for the replacement of the steering rack and pinion unit.mr.
Steering complaints in other Venture years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1997 Chevrolet Venture?
NHTSA has 76 complaints about the steering of the 1997 Chevrolet Venture, 18% of the model year's 432 complaints. The component named most often is rack and pinion (42 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chevrolet Venture steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-286 (rack and pinion, Nov 4, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Venture steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries and 1 death to steering 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.