Problems · by component
1998 Chevrolet Venture electrical system problems
31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Venture cite electrical system, 7% of all 427 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
31
7% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE HAZARD LIGHTS TURNED ON ITS OWN AND THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED. THE ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, WHEN THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL FLASHED TWICE AS FAST AS NORMAL, BUT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED, THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL FLASHED NORMAL, ALSO WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BOTH DIRECTIONAL INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STAYED ON UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED, THE ABS AND TCS WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON AND STAYED ON UNTIL IT WAS RESET, AROUND THE SAME TIME THE BLOWER FOR THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING LOST BOTH THE FIRST AND SECOND SPEEDS, THE DOOR LOCK CYCLE WAS INTERMITTENT AND THE CONSUMER WAS LOCKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE BRAKES FAILED MANY TIMES. *SC *JB”
“ANTI-LOOK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. OTHER LIGHTS ARE NOW FLASHING WHEM BRAKES ARE USED. THE MAIN BRAKE, SIGNAL AND RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE STIPPED WORKING. THE ONLY BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING NOW ARE THE LED LIGHTS ON THE REAR DOOR. SYSTEM IS ACTING LIKE IT HAS A SHORT OR GROUNDING CONDITION. UNABLE TO USE THIS VEHICLE AND IS PARKED.*AK UNABLE TO REPAIR THIS DUE TO BEING ON A FIXED INCOME. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND PAST THE LAST PART OF APRIL 2004.”
“THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE KEY REMOVED WHEN SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE PASSENGER DOOR AREA FILLED THE INTERIOR CABIN. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG THEN DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM”
“I OWN A 1998 CHEVY VENTURE WITH THE 3.4L ENGINE. I AM CONSTANTLY LOOSING ANTIFREEZE AND OIL DISAPPEARS WITH EXPLANATION. I AM STILL UNDER A WARRANTY BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY ENGINE MIGHT SEIZE OR FAIL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE COOLANY THAT CHEVY USES DEXCOOL HAS BEEN KNOWN TO EAT AWAY THE GASKETS, SO LARGE A SCALE HAS THIS HAPPENED THAT GM HAS SWITCHED COOLANTS TO PRESTONE EXTENDED LIFE. I WANT A RECALL DONE FREE OF CHARGE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT IS DEFINITLY A SAFETY ISSUE AS MOST HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT CAMS BREAKING AND LOSS OF POWER. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF THIS.”
“SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT STATES EVAP PROBLEM. STINKY EMISSIONS BUT DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM AFTER I PAID $162. RESET LIGHT SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE SAME PROBLEM REAPPEARS AFTER A FEW DAYS.”
“CONSUMER STATES VAN WILL CRANK BUT WILL NOT START, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AT LEAST 20 TIMES. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND REPORTED ORIGINAL PROBLEM WAS NO FUEL PRESSURE TRACED TO NO OPERATION OF FUEL PUMP. FOUND WIRING HARNESS AT FUEL PUMP HAD COME LOOSE. AFTER HARNESS WAS RECONNECTED THE VAN STARTED RIGHT UP. ADVISED THAT CONNECTOR 305 AND GROUND 301 HAVE A HISTORY OF INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS AND ITNERNAL OPENS THAT CAUSE NO START CONDITIONS. *TT”
Showing 6 of 31 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.