1998 Chevrolet Venture Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 36about this part
- Share
- 9%of 409 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 36 complaints about the steering of the 1998 Chevrolet Venture, 9% of the 409 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have a 1998 chevy Venture van that is displaying the same defects of the rack and pinion recall for the same listed vehicle and year. Chevy tells me that mine was not included in this. I feel that this is too much coincidence. The vehicle has only 76,000 miles on it.”
NHTSA complaint #10146093, filed 2005-12, 74,000 miles“Power steering is failing in my 1998 chevy Venture. It is displaying the same symptoms that are described in the recall for this vehicle, however, Chevrolet says that my vehicle is not included in the recall, even though the recall notices I've read include 1998 chevy ventures. I am upset that I have to pay for this our of pocket and then wait for my vehicle to be included in the recall, when it looks like it already is.”
NHTSA complaint #10047533, filed 2003-11, 64,500 miles“Had to replace the rack and pinion on my 1998 Chevrolet Venture, it has 64,000 miles on it. Doing research I see that many vans of this year are recalled for this same problem, but GM insists that mine is not one of them. I think they are just trying to get out of paying for the replacement of this faulty part. Power steering would stop working while making left turns. At times I was unable to turn the wheel at all, causing the vehicle to stop turning in the middle of a turn/intersection.”
NHTSA complaint #10049420, filed 2003-12, 64,000 miles“Steering makes noticeable thumping when you turn the steering wheel at times, especially when backing up and turning the steering wheel.my mechanic told me that's the problem..the steering is failing at this time....”
NHTSA complaint #10194040, filed 2007-06“The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Venture. The contact stated that while making a left turn at approximately 5 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09e005000 (steering). The failure mileage was 122,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10807166, filed 2015-11, 122,000 milesRelated recalls
- 02V286000Nov 4, 2002Certain passenger vehicles and mini vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped…Covers: Chevrolet Venture 1997–1998, Cavalier 1996–1998, Pontiac Sunfire 1996–1998 +4 more
Steering: other model years
Other parts of the 1998 Chevrolet Venture
111 complaintsExterior lighting
59 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 29, 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