NHTSA Complaint #10071323 — 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE

IN MARCH 03, I NOTICED THAT THE VAN DID NOT HAVE HEAT. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO HIGHLAND CHEVROLET, AURORA ONTARIO FOR RECALL WORK AND WE ASKED THAT THEY CHECK THE NO HEATING PROBLEM! THE NO HEAT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. AT THE TIME OF REPLACEMENT THE VAN HAD 59274 KILOMETERS (37000 MILES) ON IT. THE VAN WAS REPAIRED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED GASKETS THAT CAME OUT IN NOVEMBER 2002. THE VAN STILL DID NOT HAVE HEAT AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS NO LONGER WORKING AFTER THE ABOVE REPAIR. THE VAN WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHO RECHECKED THE VAN AND STATED THAT THE CABIN FILTERS WERE BLOCKED. THEY TOOK THE CABIN FILTERS OUT AND TOLD US TO TRY THE VAN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THIS DID NOT WORK AND VAN STILL DID NOT HAVE HEAT OR A/C. THE VAN WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN , WE ADDRESSED OUR COMPLAINTS WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, WHO AGREED TO TAKE THE VAN BACK IN FOR A THIRD TIME . THIS TIME THEY BACK FLUSHED THE HEATER AND HEATER NOW WORKS MODERATELY BETTER. SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A BUILD UP OF GRUNGE, WHICH WAS PREVENTING THE HEATER FROM WORKING . AS FOR THE A/C THAT STILL DOES NOT WORK, WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE ARE PIN HOLE LEAKS IN THE PIPE THAT RUNS UNDER THE VAN .THIS PIPE OPERATES THE REAR AIR. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THERE IS LEAK WITH THE END SEAL ON THE TIE ROD, WHICH CAUSES POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK. TO DATE WE HAVE NOT HAD THESE ITEMS REPAIRED. IN JULY THE HEADLIGHT LENS COVER CAME OFF! I SENT A REGISTERED LETTER TO MR. GRIMALDI, PRESIDENT G.M. CANADIAN DIVISION, ASKING FOR FULL REIMBURSEMENT. I ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE TSB THAT WAS RELEASED FOR THE 1999 VANS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT ESSENTIALLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR VANS WITH LESS THAN 80,000 KILOMETERS . VERNA, A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TELEPHONED ME IN RESPONSE TO MY CORRESPONDENCE. HOWEVER SHE INDICATED THAT GM DID NOT SEE IT AS A PROBLEM BUT TOLD ME TO HANG ONTO MY RECEIPTS. WE PURCHASED OUR VAN BRAND NEW IN AUGUST 1997.