NHTSA Complaint #10096157 — 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE

TWICE WHILE DRIVING OUR 2001 VENTURE MY WIFE AND I HAD NOTICED THE ENGINE REVVING WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED MOST OF THE DAY FINALLY GOING OUT ON THE DRIVE HOME. WE ARRANGED AN APPOINTMENT AT THE LOCAL CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH INCIDENTALLY IS WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPORTED TO US THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BROWN AND SMELT BURNT. THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT THEY HAD PULLED 2 TRANSMISSION CODES WHEN SCANNING THE VEHICLES COMPUTER. THE DEALER PROVIDED US WITH TWO REMEDIES TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. THE FIRST REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION SOLENOID AND REFILL THE TRANSMISSION WITH NEW FLUID. WE WERE ADVISED THAT THIS WAS A TRY IT AND SEE APPROACH. THE SECOND REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE THE FACTORY TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. ESTIMATES FOR THESE REMEDIES WERE $1137.74 AND $2985.06 RESPECTIVELY. A SECOND OPINION WAS OBTAINED FROM A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE SHOP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPORTED TO US THAT INDEED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BURNT, THE ENGINE CODES MENTIONED HEREIN WERE TRANSMISSION RELATED, AND THAT THERE WAS MATERIAL BUILT UP IN THE TRANSMISSION FILTER AND OIL PAN. THE SHOP ADVISED US THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE REBUILT FOR $2372.92. DUE TO THE OVERALL LOWER COST, THE LOCAL SHOP REBUILD WAS SELECTED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP WE WERE ADVISED SOME OF THE CLUTCHES WERE ESSENTIALLY GONE, MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A SOLENOID.