NHTSA Complaint #10070807 — 2000 CHEVROLET VENTURE

WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN JULY 2003. A MONTH LATER, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE EXTENT OF A 40 MILE TRIP, BUT HAS NOT APPEARED SINCE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, AND THE REPAIRS WOULD BE $750. THE VAN HAD ONLY 42000 MILES! I REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND OUT THAT CHEVROLET IS WELL AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, AND THAT MANY MANY OTHER DRIVERS HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THIS ENGINE. I AM EVEN MORE UPSET THAT THE DEALERSHIP (ED SCHMIDT CHEVROLET MAUMEE, OHIO) IS PART OF THE CONSIPRACY. WE WERE TOLD BY THE SALESMAN AND THE DEALERSHIP THIS WAS A GOOD VEHICLE, AND WOULD BE VERY RELIABLE. MY HUSBAND IS IN GEORGIA FOR SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR 6 MONTHS. WE PURCHASED THE VAN UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DEALERSHIP SO THAT I WOULD HAVE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION WHILE MY HUSBAND IS OUT OF STATE. THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.