Problems · by component
2002 Chevrolet Venture engine and engine cooling problems
43 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Venture cite engine and engine cooling, 18% of all 233 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
43
18% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000. UPDATED 04/06/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 04/19/2016.*JB”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR CAP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE REPAIR FAILED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MOTOR ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THE GASKETS FOR THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
“SUSPENSION--BOTH TIE RODS IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED--MECHANIC SAID THAT BOTH TIMES IT WAS NEAR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. OTHER--AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER CRACKED DUE TO DESIGN FAILURE. 2002 SERVICE BULLETIN TOLD THAT GM WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT KEPT QUIET UNTIL THE WARRANTY PERIOD WAS OVER, AND THEN REFUSED TO HELP. BRAKES--FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR (4) TIMES, ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE HAS 83,000 ORIGINAL MILES. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT NOTICED ANTI-FREEZE AND WATER ON THE GARAGE FLOOR WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE MANIFOLD WOULD NEED REPLACING. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,103.”
“JANUARY 4,2011 PHILADELPHIA, PA. I FIRST NOTICE IN AUG 2010 THAT MY 2002 CHEVY VENTURE WAS MAKING NOISE AND OVERHEATING WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC IT WAS MY WHEEL BEARINGS AND MY THERMOSTAT GOT THAT REPAIRED THAT COST ABOUT $425.00 THEN THE VAN KEPT OVERHEATING AND CUTTING OFF WENT BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY RADIATOR THAT WAS REPAIRED DROVE IT AND HAD TO TAKE THE VAN BACK BECAUSE IT WAS STILL OVERHEATING SO THE WATER PUMP WAS REPAIRED AND THE BOTH OF THOSE REPAIRS WAS ABOUT $275.00 NEEDLESS TO SAY THE VAN WAS STILL OVERHEATING THEN I WAS TOLD THAT THE VAN NEED TO BE PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND THEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THAT COST ME $500.00. IF GM IS HAVING THIS MANY CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS THIS IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED SO US AS OWNER DON'T BE PUT THROUGH THIS AGAIN. *TR”
Showing 6 of 43 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.