1997 Chevrolet Van recalls & problems
The 1997 Chevrolet Van has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 27 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is power train (7 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1997 Chevrolet 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.
Fuel economy
Van 1500/2500 2WD
| City / highway | 14 / 17 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
4.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel
Van 1500/2500 2WD
| City / highway | 13 / 17 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
5.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel
Van 1500/2500 2WD
| City / highway | 13 / 17 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
5 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Power train Automatic transmission; Driveline › Differential unit | 7 | — |
| Structure Body › Door › Hinge and attachments; Body › Door | 4 | — |
| Equipment Appliance › Air conditioner | 4 | — |
| Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline; Exhaust system › Emission control | 4 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor | 4 | — |
| Seat belts Front › Webbing; Front › Anchorage | 3 | — |
| Fuel system, other | 3 | — |
| Steering Rack and pinion; Hydraulic power assist › Pump | 3 | — |
| Exterior lighting Headlights | 3 | — |
| Tires Sidewall | 2 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap | 2 | — |
| Electrical system 12v/24v/48v battery › Cables | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Nov 19, 2007 · 158,000 milesSteering › Rack and pinion
I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY VENTURE. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION. THERE IS A RECALL ON THEM BUT CHEVY SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL. I FIRST TALKED TO SOMEONE ON THE PHONE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT YES THERE WAS A RECALL. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER. I TOOK IT AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. SO I CALLED THE CHEVY 800 NUMBER AGAIN AND NOW THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECALL. BUT I STILL SEE THE RECALL HERE. SO WHAT CAN I DO. *TR - May 9, 2007Tires
IN ONLY FOUR MONTHS, ALL 4 OF MY GOODYEAR REGATTA TIRES WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES ON THEM BLEW OUT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. (4 DIFFERENT INCIDENTS). THE COMPANY HAD AUDACITY TO TELL ME THAT THESE WERE ALL THE RESULTS OF "ROAD HAZARDS" AND THAT THE SAME COULD HAPPEN TO ANY TIRE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A BLOW OUT UNTIL ALL FOUR OF THESE TIRES BLEW OUT OVER A PERIOD OF 4 MONTHS. HAS TO BE THE TIRES, NOT THE ROADS. *TR - Jul 6, 2005Exterior lighting › Headlights
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BLINDING TO OTHER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 10 TIMES.*AK - Jul 6, 2005Exterior lighting › Headlights
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BLINDING TO OTHER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 10 TIMES.*AK - Oct 20, 2004 · 96,500 milesSteering › Rack and pinion
STEERING LOCKED ON TAKING A LEFT TURN WITHIN A PARKING LOT. REMEMBERED THAT CHEVROLET HAD SERVICED A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE IN FEB 2003. HOWEVER, THEY ONLY REPLACED THE LOWER PINION BEARING, BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR. TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. THEIR INSPECTION POINTED TO A WORN STEERING GEAR AS THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING LOCK. THIS HAPPENED WITHIN 17,000 MILES OF THEIR SERVICING THE RECALL. READ ABOUT NUMEROUS FAILURES UNDER INVESTIGATION (PE01038) ALL POINTING TO THE SAME FAILURE. GM DID NOT SERVICE THE RECALL ADEQUATELY - THEY HAVE A FAULTY RACK AND PINION WHICH IS A GLARING SAFETY ISSUE. THEY SHOULD BE REPLACING THE COMPLETE RACK AND PINION AS PART OF THE… - Nov 15, 2002Power train › Automatic transmission
MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 1500 VAN. IT SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE "REVERSE INPUT HOUSING BEARING" FAILED AND HAD SHREDDED INTO METAL SHARDS THROUGHOUT THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. AS SUCH, THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED VS. REPAIRED. $3,000. FAILURE AT 64,920 SEEMS UNREASONABLE FOR A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE THAT IS DRIVEN WITH CARE. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE REPLACEMENT WILL FAIL AND AN ACCIDENT AND INJURIES MAY RESULT. I'VE HEARD THIS TRANSMISSION HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE. DT - Apr 5, 2002Fuel system, other
THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONSUMER WANTS EITHER TO RETURN THE VEHICLE OR THE DEALER TO REIMBURSE THE REPAIR EXPENSES. *YH - Feb 2, 2002Power train › Manual transmission
CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION GASKET FAILED.(CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS VEHICLE)*JB
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.