NHTSA Complaint #10587711 — 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND NOTICED THE HEAT GAUGE STARTING TO RISE VERY QUICKLY TO THE RED ZONE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND ONCE THE TEMP CAME DOWN WE PROCEEDED TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE. THERE WE PURCHASED A THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR CAP, AND 2 GALLONS OF PREMIX DEX-COOL. WE INSTALLED THE NEW CAP AND FILLED SYSTEM WITH THE DEX-COOL. WE DROVE ABOUT 7 MILES TO A LAKE FOR A DAY OF FISHING. THE INACCESSIBILITY OF THE THERMOSTAT, I COULD NOT CHANGE THE THERMOSTAT THAT DAY. AFTER SITTING (NOT RUNNING) WE STARTED FOR HOME (60 MILES). WE HAD ONLY GONE ABOUT 10 MILES WHEN IT OVERHEATED FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE COULD ONLY GO ABOUT 10 MILES BEFORE WE'D HAVE TO STOP AND LET THE VAN COOL DOWN AND ADD MORE COOLANT AND WATER. IT TOOK 6 HOURS TO GET HOME. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM CONTINUED. ON 28APR2014 WE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO A LOCAL (REPUTABLE) AUTO SHOP. THE NEXT DAY WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE THEY COULD PRESSURE TEST THE SYSTEM TO CHECK THE OTHER COMPONENTS (RADIATOR, RADIATOR CAP, ETC.) THE COST OF JUST THE INTAKE REPAIR WAS ESTIMATED AT $1500-$2500. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VANS BECAUSE OF THE DEX-COOL BEING A PLASTICIZER AND AN ALUMINUM CORROSIVE. ALSO FOUND OUT THAT GM HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAVE CHOSE NOT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD RECALLS ON OTHER VEHICLES (FOR A LESS PROBLEM) BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURERS SAID OK WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM SO TO KEEP OUR CUSTOMERS WE'LL FIX IT, BUT NOT GM. IT WOULDN'T BE SO BAD IF GM EVEN TRIED TO FIX THIS ISSUE. WE ARE MIDDLE-CLASS AND HAVE A HARD TIME MAKING ENDS MEET AND CAN'T AFFORD THIS KIND OF EXPENSE. *TR