NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls and 427 owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Venture. Most complaints involve engine and engine cooling (111) and exterior lighting (59). The EPA rates it 19 mpg combined.
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“I BACKED THE VAN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME AND PLACED THE CAR INTO DRIVE. AS I STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD, THE GAS PEDAL FELT HARDER THAN NORMAL BUT I ATTRIBUTED THAT TO BEING LEFT OUTSIDE ALL WINTER. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL HARDER TO GET TO CAR TO MOVE FORWARD. AND IMMEDIATELY I FELT THE PEDAL UNSTICK . AT THAT SAME MOMENT, THE ENGINE RACED TO FULL THROTTLE AND RACED FORWARD WITH THE VAN CONTINUALLY GOING FASTER AND FASTER RACING INSTANTLY TO 50 MILES AN HOUR AND STILL ACCELERATING. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT COULD NOT STOP THE VAN OR STOP THE ACCELERATION. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND FINALLY BRAKED THE VAN TO A STOP. THIS ALL HAPPENED ON THE SIDE STREET OF MY SUBDIVISION BEFORE I COULD GET ONTO THE MAIN ROAD. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS OR PEOPLE IN MY WAY AND I WAS ABLE TO GET CONTROL OF THE VAN WITHOUT HURTING MYSELF OR OTHERS, THE VAN WAS BROUGHT BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY WHERE IT REMAINS. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AT THIS POINT AS I DO NOT WANT TO PAY TO HAVE THIS 12 YEAR OLD VAN REPAIRED AT MY COST NOR DO I EVER WANT TO DRIVE THIS VAN AGAIN. *TR”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY WHILE SHE WAS ASSISTING A CHILD WITH EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RAN TO JUMP INTO THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS VERY UNSTABLE AND HAD A LOT OF "PLAY" OR WIGGLE. SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE, THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED IN FEBRUARY OF 2007. AT THAT TIME, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT SHE NEEDED NEW CIRCUIT BOARDS. WITHIN A YEAR, THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE CIRCUIT BOARDS BURNED OUT AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PLUG FOR THE BOARDS WAS BURNED OUT AS WELL, WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE FAILURES TO CONTINUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E005000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venture FWD Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | $3,400 | 468 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
10 safety recalls as of Oct 29, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 427 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine and engine cooling (111), exterior lighting (59), steering (40). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 1998 Chevrolet Venture at 19 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (1 version rated).