Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Chevrolet Venture owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Dt*: the contact stated while stopped at a stop light during wet road conditions, the vehicle was impacted on the front driver side by another vehicle traveling 45 MPH. The contact's vehicle was pushed into oncoming traffic and collided with 3 other vehicles causing damage to the whole front end and front passenger door. None of the air bags deployed, and the contact sustained injuries to the leg, shoulder, and chest. The seat belt was worn, and the airbag warning light was not illuminated prior to the incident. A police report was taken and pictures were available. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop, and was deemed totaled. Updated 1/26/2007 -
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Venture. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light would flash 7 times then remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and a diagnostic was performed, which located a failure code for the air bags. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,500.
I noticed a smell of hot antifreeze. Also it would make a lot of noise when starting up. The thermostat never showed anything overheating. Oil didn't show anything on the dipstick. We change the oil every 3000 miles. The dealership that tore into it had said we did not change the oil ever by the looks of the internals. We bought this used 1999 Chevy Venture lt , August 2000 having 34,000 miles on it already. The previous owner bought this van in October 1998 brand new. How could a vehicle have to have a motor dropped in with only 57,000 on it and have had done everything possible to keep everything in working order. This is not our first Chevy, our whole family buys chevys. Just to brag we have 13, and all of them maintained well. One even having over 200,000 miles on it,1995 Chevy astro. Anyway, I watch the gauges very closely and never did I see anything wrong.
I have had 3 main problems transmission, headlight moisture and airbag light illumination my 99 Venture has 79K miles on it and that transmission is shifting hard (dealer suggest a drain and flush) at 60K I had a valve in the transmission replaced for 800 dollars. I am afraid we will be replacing a transmission at 85000 miles. I can not believe it. The air bag light has been coming on since we bought the vehicle. We have had it in 7-9 times fixes ranged from clearing the code to tightening up a plug. The head light units have been taking on water and burning out lights for the last 20K miles. Sounds like a manufacturer defect. From what I have read on the internet a lot of people are having the same exact problems and I cannot believe GM would produce a vehicle like this and not stand buy there product.
This will be a list of most of the problems. I have complained of smelling anti-freeze since I purchased the van new. It currently has 94K on it and I have done all scheduled maintenance on it. I think the clock work oil changes is the only reason it still runs. Manifold gaskets, intake, head...have been replaced twice and need it again, really bad. But I just do not have 5-800 bucks laying around to do a gasket job again since I just did it a year ago. The anti-freeze diluting the oil has messed up a couple pistons. They slap very bad OK here is my list (I have dealer invoices for everything fixed the first time and receipts for parts and labor the second time, or my husband got sick of paying for the same crap so he would fix things) (he is in the automotive testing and design field)
My 1999 Chevrolet Venture minivan has had numerous problems. The one I am most concerned with is the automatic transmission. The transmission makes the car jerk when I either slow down or stop in heavy traffic. This happens when I press on the accelerator to gain speed again. It doesn't happen every time but more often than not. There are also times when driving down the road it whines. Also have a problem with what I figure is electrical. Sometimes the ABS light stays on and then eventually goes off. Also, the air bag light comes on intermittently.
While driving 15 MPH had a frontal impact in which driver's and passenger's airbags did not deploy, and did not protect the occupants in the crash. Front end was totaled. Also, emergency parking brake malfunctioned which not slow vehicle down in the crash. Manufacturer admitted there was a problem with the emergency parking brake. Please provide further information.
While consumer was stopping was rear ended by another vehicle at 30 MPH. Upon impact, front seat collasped, and front airbags did not deploy. The injuries that driver sustained caused a miscarraige of pregnancy. Consumer felt if airbags would have deployed,njuries would not have been so severe.
Air-bag warning light I just bought another 1999 Chevy Venture because I really liked my other one, but it had too many problems. My old one was a ls and this one is a lt. Now the air bag light is on with this one too! I do not understand why such an important component is such a problem.
I was in a major accident. Car hit me and bounced my van real hard into concrete wall in the middle of highway. I bounced off wall, and got knocked into it again. The inpack was so bad, it knocked my engine out, but yet not neither one of my airbags popped. I would really like to know why?
NHTSA investigations
Air bag tear during deployment
Airbag complaints in other Venture years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1999 Chevrolet Venture?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Chevrolet Venture, 11% of the model year's 349 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Chevrolet Venture airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1999 Chevrolet Venture, though it has 4 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 1999 Chevrolet Venture airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 12 crashes, 0 fires and 17 injuries and 1 death to air bags 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.