1997 Chevrolet Chevy Van recalls & problems
The 1997 Chevrolet Chevy Van has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 12 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (4 complaints).
Recalls0safety recalls
Complaints12filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths4 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1997 Chevrolet Chevy Van.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling Cooling system; Engine | 4 | 100,000 mi |
| Fuel system, gasoline Delivery › Fuel pump | 2 | — |
| Visibility Power window devices and controls | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Abs warning light; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2 | — |
| Structure Body › Door | 1 | — |
| Suspension Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint | 1 | — |
| Power train Automatic transmission | 1 | — |
| Electrical system | 1 | — |
| Engine | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- May 13, 2001Engine
MY HUSBAND WROTE A LENGTHY LETTER DETAILING THE PROBLEM AND EVENTS AROUND THE TIME WE WERE FORCED TO TRADE OUR VAN FOR A TAHOE IN JULY/AUGUST 2001. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 40 NEAR CROSSVILLE, TN, WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT LEAVING ME WITH LITTLE CONTROL AND BARELY ABLE TO MOVE IT SAFELY TO THE ROADSIDE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE CHEVY DEALER IN CROSSVILLE, WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. AFTER MULTIPLE EVENTS LATER THE SAME TYPE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON A CROWDED TALLAHASSEE, FL, ROAD WHILE WE WERE ON VACATION. THEIR CHEVY DEALER TRIED TO FIND THE PROBLEM BUT COULDN'T EITHER. WE DROVE IT HOME ON BACK HIGHWAYS TO OUR TOWN OF TULLAHOMA,TN, VERY CAREFULLY, BUT IT STALLED… - Jan 1, 2013 · 100,000 milesEngine and engine cooling
MY VAN STARTED MAKING A STRANGE CRUNCHING SOUND. I WAS TOLD BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS CRACKED INSIDE. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR - Mar 6, 2009 · 147,000 milesEngine and engine cooling
I HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR IN MY CHEVY VENTURE 97 I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN RECOVER MY COST. I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FILED A YEAR AGO REGARDING THIS. *TR - May 17, 2006 · 159,000 milesElectrical system
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE SERVICE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE COMPUTER IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS LOCATED NEAR THE REAR WHEELS AND WAS PRODUCING FALSE FAILURES CAUSING THE ILLUMINATION OF THOSE WARNING LIGHTS. ADDITIONALLY, IT WAS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT WHEN THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THE ANTILOCK BRAKES COULD FAIL. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES WERE REPLACED, BUT NO CORRECTIONS WERE MADE TO THE COMPUTER. - Oct 22, 2001Visibility › Power window devices and controls
PURCHASED USED VAN FROM ORIGINATING DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FOLLOWING MY PURCHASE. THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW HAS BEEN EXHIBITING FAILURE FOR OVER A YEAR. IT NOW IS ALMOST TOTALLY USELESS AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE WINDOW IS PUT DOWN, ITS MOTION SLOWS TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY A 3RD OF THE WAY DOWN AND WILL GO NO FURTHER AND IT WILL NOT GO UP. SEVERAL MINUTES HAVE TO PASS BEFORE THE I AM ABLE TO GET THE WINDOW TO START GOING BACK UP. IT TAKES SEVERAL WAITING PERIODS BEFORE THE WINDOW WILL GO UP ENOUGH TO CLOSE. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THIS PART REPLACED. *JB - Aug 3, 2005 · 60,000 milesPower train › Automatic transmission
MY 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN DEVELOPED A SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES EXTREMELY ROUGH SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, AND ONLY PRODUCES THE RAGGED SHIFTS AFTER THE VAN HAS THOROUGHLY WARMED UP, AS WHEN ON A 2 HOUR TRIP. IT ALSO TURNS ON THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT, WITH A P1870 ERROR CODE STORED. MY CHEVROLET DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS NEEDING A NEW "VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY" IN THE TRANSMISSION. COSTS 1,000 WITH LABOR. AROUND TOWN AND SHORT TRIPS, ALL SHIFTS ARE NORMAL AND GOOD. HERE'S THE HOOKER - THE STATE OF ILLINOIS WILL NOT PASS THE VEHICLE EMISSIONS TEST, IF THERE ARE ANY ERROR CODES OR "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" INDICATORS.… - Jun 13, 1999 · 54,000 milesFuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
FUEL GAUGE DOESN'T WORK, VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR, ABOUT 800.00 DOLLARS THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW, I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN!!*AK - Sep 1, 2000Visibility › Power window devices and controls
ELECTRIC WINDOW NOT WORKING, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS,BRAKE LIGHTS SHORTS. *AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.