1998 Chevrolet Venture Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 111about this part
- Share
- 27%of 409 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 76,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 111 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1998 Chevrolet Venture, 27% of the 409 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 76,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The intake gasket on my 98 Venture failed and leaked dexcool into the engine. The engine temp fluctuated and the vehicle overheated damaging the head gasket. I see GM is ignoring the issue as well as NHTSA. There is however a law firm in putting together a class action suit for this problem. I encourage all to join in the suit and to leave GM and become loyal honda owners.”
NHTSA complaint #10148300, filed 2006-01, 112,234 miles“My 1998 chev Venture was getting coolant into the motor oil which caused it to start ticking.I took it to the dealer and they said it was the intake gasket. They fixed the problem which cost me $1500.00. Three months later the engine blew up .I had to get a reman.engine which cost $4000.00.I feel because of the faulty gasket this lead to my engine problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10066155, filed 2004-04, 127,000 miles“Venture was making a smell that I remembered from my 95 chevy lumina. Pull over realized the same thing was going on with this van. Coolant going into engine. This van only had 51,652 miles on for a 98 that is great I took very good care of it and chevy lost a customer for life. We were looking a tahoe but I would even look at it now chevy is the worst car maker out there but then again they are making me now look a toyota,honda in a whole new light.”
NHTSA complaint #10152942, filed 2006-03, 50,652 miles“Heater not working due to a faulty manifold gasket that allowed the coolant to leak out of the engine of our 1998 Chevrolet Venture. I was told by the service tech that GM is now producing a better gasket to fix the problem. That's great!! I would like GM to pay the $798.67 bill for having to replace the first gasket that was not properly tested by engineering. This problem is very common, and should be a recall item.”
NHTSA complaint #10104037, filed 2004-12, 110,000 miles“Vehicle taken in for routine oil change at 39000 miles. Mechanic informed us that there was a manifold intake leak that would cost $600+ to fix.I did not do the repair, but have since been informed that there is damage to the engine and that not repairing could cause sudden engine failure. Something known and common like this is shameful for a car 3000 miles out of warranty. I suspect the problem was present at the oil change prior to 36k.”
NHTSA complaint #10120561, filed 2005-05, 39,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10246631Sep 1, 2013Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 | 7% |
| 2004 | 9 | 7% |
| 2003 | 23 | 12% |
| 2002 | 42 | 19% |
| 2001 | 44 | 20% |
| 2000 | 82 | 23% |
| 1999 | 114 | 33% |
| 1998 | 111 | 27% |
| 1997 | 85 | 20% |
Other parts of the 1998 Chevrolet Venture
59 complaintsSteering
36 complaintsElectrical system
31 complaintsBody and structure
30 complaintsFuel system
28 complaintsAir bags
27 complaintsBrakes
23 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
23 complaintsSeat belts
21 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
17 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
16 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Chevrolet Venture
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology