NHTSA Complaint #10062515 — 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE

I PURCHASED A 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE IN 8/2000. THE VAN HAD 19,000 MILES AND I PAID 17,900. I AM THE SECOND OWNER, AND THE VAN HAS RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I USE THE VAN TO TRANSPORT MY DAY CARE CHILDREN TO THEIR SCHOOLS. I ALSO USE IT TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN AND THEIR FRIENDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS AND DANCE. LAST WEEK THE COOLANT LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON & OFF. ALSO, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN FLUCTUATING BETWEEN HOT AND COLD, AND THERE WAS NO HEAT. THE GARAGE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT- $130.00. AT THE TIME THERE APPEARED TO BE NO COOLANT MIXING WITH THE OIL. I DROVE THE VAN 3 MILES TO MY HOME WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE VERY NEXT DAY WHILE TAKING THE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL THE SAME THING OCCURRED. AFTER RETURNING THE VAN TO THE GARAGE, I GOT THE DEVASTATING NEWS THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A HEAD GASKET. MY MECHANIC WAS IN DISBELIEF BECAUSE I TAKE SUCH GREAT CARE OF MY VAN. MY DAY CARE PARENTS ARE FURIOUS!! I STILL OWE $7,000. ON THIS VAN AND I'M MAKING PAYMENTS OVER $300.00 A MONTH. I RECENTLY BUILT A NEW HOME AND DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS FOR THE REPAIR. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, TWO OF MY FRIENDS JUST PURCHASED VENTURESBASED ON MY RECCOMMENDATION! THEY ARE ALSO CONSIDERING UNLOADING THEM ASAP. I WAS GOING TO TRADE MINE FOR A WARNERS BROTHERS MODEL LATER THIS YEAR. I SOLD A JEEP CHEROKEE WITH 100,000+ MILES ON IT FOR $2000 SO THAT I COULD GET THIS VAN. THE JEEP WAS RUNNING BEAUTIFULLY. GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN ONGOING COMPLAINTS. THEY NEED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES FOR REPAIR. THIS MAY VERY WELL BE MY LAST GM PURCHASE. MY FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND BUISNESS ASSOCIATES HAVE ALL SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT PURCHASE GM PRODUCTS IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO NOTHING WITH MY VAN! WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY, NEWS SPREADS FAST!! I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED WITH HOW GM IS HANDLING THIS SITUATION. PLEASE HELP. GREATFULLY, MARIE MARION. *AK