Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Chevrolet Venture problems

Owners filed 226 complaints about the 2001 Chevrolet Venture with NHTSA between Feb 2001 and Nov 2022. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (44).

Complaints
226
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
18
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
38
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling44
  2. Power train31
  3. Structure26
  4. Electrical system20
  5. Equipment19
  6. Visibility18
  7. Air bags16
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic15
  9. Fuel system, gasoline13
  10. Exterior lighting12
  11. Seat belts12
  12. Latches/locks/linkages10
  13. Fuel/propulsion system7
  14. Tires6

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200110
200236
200333
200447
200528
200613
200712
20086
20097
20108
20117
20121
20134
20144
20154
20163
20171
20181
20190
20200
20210
20221

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

44 reports
“HEATER SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING ON VERY COLD DAY WAS INITIAL INDICATION THERE WAS A PROBLEM. AFTER HAVING EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS DONE AND MANY REPAIRS LATER TEMPERATURE GAUGE STILL GOES INTO RED AND NO HEAT COMING INTO CABIN WHEN HEATER TURNS ON. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AS I HAVE DONE MUCH RESEARCH, AND PEOPLE SEEM TO BE STUCK WITH HIGH REPAIR BILLS JUST LIKE ME BECAUSE THEY MADE THE UNFORTUNATE DECISION TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE THAT CAME OFF THE ASSEMBLE WITH A FLAWED DESIGN IN THE COOLING SYSTEM/ HEAD GASKETS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 8, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10438960

Power train

31 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO CHANGE GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 1, 2015Power trainODI 10714015

Structure

26 reports
“OTHER PART AFFECTED IS THE JACK THIS STYLE VAN RUSTS THRU IN FRONT OF THE REAR WHEEL WELL WHERE THE JACK IS SUPPOSED TO BE PLACED TO REPLACE THE SPARE TIRE. THERE IS NO LONGER ANY STRUCTURAL SUPPORT RESULTING IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHERE THE VAN CAN FALL OFF THE JACK IF YOU ATTEMPT TO PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON. AS A MATTER OF FACT MY CHEVROLET DEALER, AT ABOUT 170,000 MILES, CRUSHED THE WHOLE AREA OF MY CAR WHILE THEY PUT IT ON A LIFT TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION LINES. I CAN NEVER SAFELY PUT THE JACK AT THAT LOCATION. THAT IS WHAT ALERTED ME TO THE PROBLEM WHEREAS THE RUST WAS THERE VERY EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VAN! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2014Structure, WheelsODI 10620873

Electrical system

20 reports1 fire
“I WAS TOLD IT HAD INTERMITTENT REAR LIGHTING PROBLEM (DRIVER SIDE REAR LIGHTS WOULD GO IN AND OUT) WHEN PURCHASING VEHICLE USED IN 2012 WITH160,000 MILES, 90% HIGHWAY. HAD REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY FOR SAFETY, LEGAL AND STATE REQUIRED ANNUAL INSPECTIONS (OR SO I THOUGHT). WITHIN 3 MONTHS/75 MILES LATER, IT STARTED AGAIN. ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS AND LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, TO NO AVAIL. BEFORE I COULD TAKE IT IN AGAIN, BOTH REAR LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY STOPPED WORKING. PASSENGER SIDE WIRING HARNESS AND LIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACED. IT WASN'T FIXED.AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT BACK IN THE SHOP, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LIGHTS STARTED THE SAME THING. NEW MECHANIC ASSURES ME, " DON'T WORRY, THERE ARE MANY THINGS I CAN TRY!" LITTLE CONSOLATION FOR THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME OR FOR ME FROM BEING PULLED OVER BY & TICKETED OR WHEN I NEED THE VA STATE MANDATORY "ANNUAL INSPECTION" STICKER. THEY ARE ABLE TO GET THEM TO WORK LONG ENOUGH BUT AGAIN, AT WHAT COST? MEANWHILE, THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM MOVED TO THE PASSENGER FRONT LIGHTS, WHEN HITTING BRAKES I SEE THAT FLASHERS START TO WORK. ALL OF THE MECHANICS ARE "PUTTING A BAND-AID ON A BROKEN ARM". & II'M PAYING DEARLY EACH AND EVERY TIME.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2016Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10934328

Equipment

19 reports1 related recall
“I OWN A 2001 GRAY CHEVROLET VENTURE MINIVAN & OFTEN TIMES FOR ABOUT THE LAST 5 YEARS NOW AND EVEN AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE ACCELERATOR SPEEDS UP WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION AND I HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON AGAIN TO STOP IT FROM CONTINUOUSLY ACCELERATING. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF AND WHEN I HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL ACTUALLY PUMPS UP TO DEACTIVATE THE ACCELERATION PROCESS TEMPORARILY. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN AIR CONDITION IS IN USE AND IT ALSO HAPPENS ALOT WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND THE ACCELERATOR WILL JUST SPEED UP SUDDENLY FOR NO REASON. I HAVE HAD IT INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP ONCE ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED AND THEY SAY THAT IT IS SOME KIND OF BRAKING SECURITY FEATURE ONCE THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM AND SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT BUT OTHER AUTO MECHANICS THAT HAVE INSPECTED MY BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE DON'T SEEM TO KNOW ANYMORE THAN THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS COMPUTERIZED. ALL THE OTHER MECHANICS DO IS CHANGE MY BRAKES PADS WHEN THEY WEAR DOWN BUT CAN'T EXPLAIN THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION NOW THAT I AM HEARING ABOUT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2010Service brakes, hydraulic, EquipmentODI 10326303

Visibility

18 reports1 crash
“OUR 2001 CHEVY VENTURE MINIVAN'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO GO BACK DOWN; REMAINING UP, ON THE SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD AT ABOUT 150,000 MILES. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I SEE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUE. WE HAVE NOT REPLACED THE MOTOR AS YET. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2011VisibilityODI 10404292
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.