Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
I have a 1997 Chevrolet Venture and I have had a lot of transmission problems since I bought it. I got the vehicle in 2003 used. The day I bought it the transmission failed. I had it taken to the dealer and watched them take a new transmission out of a crate and put it in. After that it was back in the shop 3 more times over the next year for problems. When I would go through a yield requiring me to speed up such as getting on the interstate it would rev up as if it were in neutral , almost causing me to get hit on several occasions. When I would take my foot off the gas and then try again it would grab and take off. All three times they rebuilt the whole transmission. Now the shift sensors are going out and even the local dealer said this should not be happening at only 35,000 miles. …
General motors dex-cool ruined our cooling system in our 97 Chevy Venture. Have had to replace entire cooling system and now crankshaft has gone bad. We have spent over $2000 in repairs. Van started having problems at 80,000miles. Van only has 110,000 miles. We are overwhelmed and extremely frustrated. We would have replace the coolant if we would have know about the problems the dex-cool caused. We feel we have been denied very important information in regards to maintaining our vehicle. Consumers need to be made aware of the problems with dex-cool coolant!!!!!!!
Had a very loud banging sound in rear of van after turning van off, this has been going on for sometime but we have been unable to pin point the cause. While driving on the expressway May 4, 2003 (at 55 MPH), transmission failed, causing a very violent forward jerk. After doing some research, I found that this seems to be a somewhat frequent occurrence in this model. Please investigate this situation before someone gets severely injured. This occurred 2 days after having the recalled repair done to the rack & pinion steering.
Transmission failure - mechanic stated the transmission failure was due to premature wear of the second drum clutches due to the fourth clutch supports main bearing being out of correct position. Failure was likely due to production error. We have the actual transmission part as proof that it was misaligned when installed from the manufacturer.
The intake manifold failed and needs to be replace, along with the water pump. In addition, there is a problem with the rear braking system causing the ABS and traction contol system not to work. Last month the transmission needed to be replaced.
Dt: the contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Venture. The headlight covers came off of the vehicle. It costs $178.00 plus tax for each of the headlight covers to be repaired. About six month ago one of the headlight covers came off, and a couple of days ago, the other headlight cover came off. The entire headlight assembly has to be replaced to correct the problem. The GM manufacturer told her that this was the first time that he heard of this problem. Also, the contact had automatic transmission problems. The transmission slipped. The first time it got stuck in second gear. The transmission was replaced twice. The first time at only 26,000 miles, and the second time at 26,100 miles. Both times was replaced under warranty. After the second transmission was replaced it had only 78,000 miles on it. While on vacation and driving on the interstate the transmission quit. …
Ref: complaint #761127 we also experienced a transmission failure on a 1997 Chevrolet Venture that required a replacement transmission. There were less than 60,000 miles on the vehicle at that time - now there are 140,000 miles on the vehicle with a rebuilt (GM warranty) transmission. I also had a 1997 Buick (GM car) that had warranty work to replace/repair the transmission (twice) and a complete failure of the transmission that required replacement of the transmission (which was less than 200 miles outside the warranty but was not covered under the warranty). My grandmother also had a 1997 Buick where the transmission failed with less than 40,000 miles (but outside the 3 year warranty period). I would think it unlikely that so many 1997 cars would exhibit transmission failures with low mileage unless there was a specific manufacturing problem with 1997 GM transmissions.
Headlamp fell out while going down the road, never did find it. Antilock brakes are malfunctioning, very unsafe to drive, transmission went out very costly to repair, especially with so little miles on this vehicle. These problems that I am reporting are very commom and need some attention granted to them. Vehicles cost so much and then when you have to put more money into them it can financially drain you. Please look into this. Thank you, [redacted]. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 U.S.c. 552(b)(6).
This truck is a 1997 model I purchased in May 1998 from tom taylor Chevrolet in martin, tennessee. Within 3 months I had to take the truck back (before the 6-month warrenty inspection) because the transmission would not pull the truck. Since then I've had intermittent problems with the transmission including transmission will not engage, even at stop signs, with accelerator pressed down and at increased RPM's. Have to shift manually. Transmission jerks when shifting and will not sheft into overdrive. This has nearly got me injured or killed at a busy intersection.
When the car is runing for more that one hr the engine light come on, when I stop and try to leave the car is moved with loss of drive. I change new transmission from the same date, but nothing changed,every time the light come on the reading in the computer scaner, always is a fault in the transmission and the shop can't find anything wrong in the transmission. The shop just reset the light. They don't know what's the problem.
Transmission complaints in other Venture years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1997 Chevrolet Venture?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1997 Chevrolet Venture, 6% of the model year's 432 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chevrolet Venture transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain 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 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 98,000 miles.
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.