CHEVROLET VAN · model year

1997 CHEVROLET VAN

41 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997CHEVROLETVAN carries 41 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 VAN is equipment:appliance:air conditioner with 4 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (4) and fuel system, other (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1997 VAN, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

41
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

41 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS3
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
STEERING:RACK AND PINION2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1
POWER TRAIN1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES1

Recent Complaints

20071126STEERING:RACK AND PINION

I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY VENTURE. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION. THERE IS A RECALL ON THEM BUT CHEVY SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL. I FIRST TALKED TO SOMEONE ON THE PHONE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT YES THERE WAS A RECALL. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER. I TOOK IT AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. SO I CALLED THE CHEVY 800 NUMBER AGAIN AND NOW THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECALL. BUT I STILL SEE THE RECALL HERE. SO WHAT CAN I DO. *TR

Mileage: 158,000

20070622TIRES

IN ONLY FOUR MONTHS, ALL 4 OF MY GOODYEAR REGATTA TIRES WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES ON THEM BLEW OUT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. (4 DIFFERENT INCIDENTS). THE COMPANY HAD AUDACITY TO TELL ME THAT THESE WERE ALL THE RESULTS OF "ROAD HAZARDS" AND THAT THE SAME COULD HAPPEN TO ANY TIRE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A BLOW OUT UNTIL ALL FOUR OF THESE TIRES BLEW OUT OVER A PERIOD OF 4 MONTHS. HAS TO BE THE TIRES, NOT THE ROADS. *TR

20050706EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BLINDING TO OTHER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 10 TIMES.*AK

20050706EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BLINDING TO OTHER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 10 TIMES.*AK

20050113STEERING:RACK AND PINION

STEERING LOCKED ON TAKING A LEFT TURN WITHIN A PARKING LOT. REMEMBERED THAT CHEVROLET HAD SERVICED A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE IN FEB 2003. HOWEVER, THEY ONLY REPLACED THE LOWER PINION BEARING, BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR. TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. THEIR INSPECTION POINTED TO A WORN STEERING GEAR AS THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING LOCK. THIS HAPPENED WITHIN 17,000 MILES OF THEIR SERVICING THE RECALL. READ ABOUT NUMEROUS FAILURES UNDER INVESTIGATION (PE01038) ALL POINTING TO THE SAME FAILURE. GM DID NOT SERVICE THE RECALL ADEQUATELY - THEY HAVE A FAULTY RACK AND PINION WHICH IS A GLARING SAFETY ISSUE. THEY SHOULD BE REPLACING THE COMPLETE RACK AND PINION AS PART OF THE RECALL. HAD TO PAY FOR NEW RACK AND PINION AND LABOR CHARGES, OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. *JB

Mileage: 96,500

20021125POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 1500 VAN. IT SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE "REVERSE INPUT HOUSING BEARING" FAILED AND HAD SHREDDED INTO METAL SHARDS THROUGHOUT THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. AS SUCH, THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED VS. REPAIRED. $3,000. FAILURE AT 64,920 SEEMS UNREASONABLE FOR A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE THAT IS DRIVEN WITH CARE. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE REPLACEMENT WILL FAIL AND AN ACCIDENT AND INJURIES MAY RESULT. I'VE HEARD THIS TRANSMISSION HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE. DT

20020917POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION GASKET FAILED.(CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS VEHICLE)*JB

20020917EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

CONSUMER STATED BOTH HEADLIGHT LENS COVERS FELL OUT, DUE TO WATER BUILDING INSIDE. (CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNES VEHICLE) *JB

20020917ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COOLANT LEAK.(CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNES VEHICLE)*JB

20020731FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONSUMER WANTS EITHER TO RETURN THE VEHICLE OR THE DEALER TO REIMBURSE THE REPAIR EXPENSES. *YH

20010828SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE ABS FAILS TO STOP THE VEHICLE DURING SHORT PANIC STOPS AT LOW SPEEDS IN WARM WEATHER BECAUSE ONE OF THE WHEELS PARTIALLY LOCKS UP, CONSUMER STATES HE DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE CAP, THE CAP SEAL WAS NOT SEALING PROPERLY AND A NEW SEAL WAS INSTALLED.*YH

20010827ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

02 SENSORS KEEP GOING OUT, CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. *AK

20010706POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SIRS, I HAVE TWO EXPRESS VANS (1999 AND 1997) BOTH HAVING TRANSMISSION FAILURES BEFORE 50000 MILES. HMMMMM I SEE A PATTERN HERE. DOES ANYONE ELSE. *AK

20010405FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR A RECALL ON FUEL FILLER VALVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

20010322FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED GAS GAUGE READING 1/2 OF TANK, SOON AFTER GAS INDICATOR WOULD READ A FULL TANK OF GAS. *AK DEALER REPLACED FUEL TANK SENDER UNIT WITH PUMP. *SLC

20010322FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED GAS GAUGE READING 1/2 OF TANK, SOON AFTER GAS INDICATOR WOULD READ A FULL TANK OF GAS. *AK DEALER REPLACED FUEL TANK SENDER UNIT WITH PUMP. *SLC

20010308ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING, AND BRAKE CONTROL. *AK CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALL. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BUT STARTED STELLING AGAIN. *YH

20010301STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

SIDE CARGO DOOR FROZE AT HINGES, AND DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE CONSUMER FEELS THE DOOR WAS UNSAFE. *YH

20010118POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

EXPERIENCED 2 HARD 1ST-2ND GEAR SHIFTS AND SET TROUBLE CODE P1870 INDICATING INTERNAL SLIPPAGE. DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT, OR OVERHAUL. OTHER RESEARCH INDICATES COMMON PROBLEM FOR GM WITH THE 4L60E TRANSMISSION QUITE POSSIBLY STEMMING FROM SWITCHING FROM A CAST IRON VALVE BODY IN EARLIER MODELS TO AN ALUMINUM VALVE BODY IN LATER MODELS OF THAT TRANSMISSION. *AK

20001010TIRES:SIDEWALL

HUGE LOUD SHIMMY/VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED, REPLACED DUE TO LARGE SIDEWALL BULGE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: BM05326-1 TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)

Compare 1997CHEVROLETVAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 CHEVROLET VAN have?
The 1997 CHEVROLET VAN has 41 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 CHEVROLET VAN?
The most-complained component for the 1997 CHEVROLET VAN is EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER.
Is the 1997 CHEVROLET VAN safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.