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2001 Chevrolet Venture

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Chevrolet Venture do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 220.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

130 reports with mileage · 92 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports3 fire reports23 injury reports

What owners actually said

222 reports
35,000 miles · Nov 4, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

AT 35,000 MILES, INTAKE GASKET FAILURE, COOLANT LEAKED INTO INTAKE, REPAIR COVERED BY WARRANTY. AT 68,000 MILES INTAKE GASKET FAILURE ALONG WITH HEAD GASKET FAILURE, COOLANT LEAKED INTO CRANKCASE CONTAMINATING OIL. WAS RECOMMENDED BY MECHANIC AT THE REPAIR SHOP TO REPLACE ENGINE AND DID. THE NEW USED ENGINE HAD A INTAKE GASKET F…

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AT 35,000 MILES, INTAKE GASKET FAILURE, COOLANT LEAKED INTO INTAKE, REPAIR COVERED BY WARRANTY. AT 68,000 MILES INTAKE GASKET FAILURE ALONG WITH HEAD GASKET FAILURE, COOLANT LEAKED INTO CRANKCASE CONTAMINATING OIL. WAS RECOMMENDED BY MECHANIC AT THE REPAIR SHOP TO REPLACE ENGINE AND DID. THE NEW USED ENGINE HAD A INTAKE GASKET FAILURE ALONG WITH A HEAD GASKET FAILURE 36,000 MILES AFTER INSTALLATION. INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT A NEW GASKET KIT CAME OUT FOR THIS ENGINE TO FIX THE GASKET FAILURES WITH THE 3.4 LITER. BOTH ENGINES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THIS IS A ENGINEERING FLAW BY GM. I FEEL GM SHOULD COVER THE COST OF THIS GASKET FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10172628

72,000 miles · Sep 8, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET GM TO HONOR MY WARRANTY FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT IS BAD. I MADE THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR A PART TO BE ORDERED ON MARCH 15, 2006. ON JUNE 29, 2006, I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY GEICO BECAUSE I HAD A MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN INSURANCE ON MY VEHICLE AND THEY BASICALLY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING …

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I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET GM TO HONOR MY WARRANTY FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT IS BAD. I MADE THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR A PART TO BE ORDERED ON MARCH 15, 2006. ON JUNE 29, 2006, I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY GEICO BECAUSE I HAD A MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN INSURANCE ON MY VEHICLE AND THEY BASICALLY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO AT THIS TIME BECAUSE GM WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS NOW 5 1/2 MONTHS LATER AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. I COULD NOT GET AN INSPECTION STICKER DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WOULD FAIL THE EMISSIONS TEST REQUIRED BY EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, LOUISIANA. MY STICKER IS NOW EXPIRED AND HAS BEEN SINCE JUNE 30, 2006. I HAVE CONTACTED MR. TED TRIMBLE, EPA EMISSIONS AND WARRANTY DEPT, ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS BUT I CAN NOT GET A RETURN PHONE CALL CONCERNING MY PROBLEM. WHO DO I SPEAK TO NOW! MY VAN IS EMITTING TRASH INTO THE AIR. DOES ANYBODY THERE CARE? GM IS TELLING ME THAT THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PART IS ASKING TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THE PART AND GM DOESN'T WANT TO PAY IT. THAT IS FLAT OUT NOT HONORING A WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167707

59,000 miles · Sep 8, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRAKE DOES NOT ENGAGE. CAUSING THE CAR TO STILL MOVE WHEN YOU PRESS AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AND ACCIDENT AND KILL SOMEONE. I SAW ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THAT BETWEEN ALL THEM AND THE ONES STILL COMING IN, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10167662

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2006
Structure

FAULTY BRAKES DUE TO VEHICLE HOLDING MOISTURE 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10164081

106,000 miles · Jul 26, 2006
Air BagsCrash

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE IN FRONT MADE A U TURN WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IMPACTED THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE REAR LEFT SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO P…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE IN FRONT MADE A U TURN WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IMPACTED THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE REAR LEFT SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO PRESENT. UPDATED 08/29/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10163512

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

FAX FROM CONSUMER (OH) RE THE PROBLEM HE AND HIS WIFE HAD WITH THE HEAD GASKETS IN THEIR 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE. *NM THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE OIL SYSTEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10156276

57,241 miles · Mar 23, 2006
Steering

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A VIBRATION WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE KNUCKLE COLLAR AROUND THE FRONT TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WAS BROKEN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10153519

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

FAX FM (OH) RE THE PROBLEM HE AND HIS WIFE HAD W/THE HEAD GASKETS IN THEIR 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU & 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE. *TS ***REFERENCE 10154062*** THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE OIL SYSTEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10154072

50,860 miles · Jan 31, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING SLOW. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.

NHTSA ODI #10149096

77,000 miles · Jan 12, 2006
Exterior Lighting

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT CONTINUALLY BURED OUT. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TAIL LAMP HOUSING ON THE INBOARD SIDE AND THE PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10147665

Official recalls

9

07V349000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage

Aug 8, 2007

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, VARIATIONS IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OR EXPOSURE TO HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES MAY LEAD TO FRACTURE OF THE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE (ICV).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A FRACTURE MAY ALLOW FUEL VAPORS TO PASS THROUGH AND ALLOW DROPLETS OF FUEL TO ACCUMULATE ON THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN TWO PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON DECEMBER 4, 2007. THE SECOND PHASE WILL BE MAILED ON DECEMBER 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668. THE VEHICLE POPULATION INCLUDES BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND PONTIAC AZTEK VEHICLE BUILT IN MAY 2003; CHEVROLET VENTURE AND PONTIAC MONTANA VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST 2002; AND ALL VEHICLES REGISTERED IN NEVADA, ARIZONA, VIRGIN ISLANDS, PUERTO RICO, AND HAWAII.

04V597000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Dec 22, 2004

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS AND A POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A PASSENGER USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR COULD BE INJURED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A PASSENGER USES THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND HOLDS ONTO THE HANDLE WHILE IT IS BEING OPENED BY THE MOTOR, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY BE PUSHED INTO THE SEAT BACK OR ARMREST AND A WRIST OR LOWER ARM INJURY MAY RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OR MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER-SIDE, THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL ALSO BE REPLACED FOR APPEARANCE REASONS. NOTE: BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, GM ADVISES OWNERS TO NOT USE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE DRIVER CAN OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR FROM SWITCHES AT THE DRIVER'S POSITION OR BY USING THE REMOTE KEY FOB. THE DRIVER SHOULD TELL PASSENGERS TO USE THE SWITCH LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE DOOR TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT. THE DRIVER SHOULD USE THE OVERRIDE SWITCH TO PREVENT OPERATION OF THE POWER DOOR BY CHILDREN OR BY OTHERS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ITS USE. THE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER MAILING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON MAY 31, 2005. THE SECOND PHASE MAILING BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. PHASE 2 BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. PHASE 3 (FINAL PHASE) BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2005, TO ALL REMAINING CUSTOMERS. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668; OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

03V250000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Jul 15, 2003

CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. THIS SUPPLEMENT DESCRIBES AND SHOWS THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE VEHICLE AND ON THE CHILD RESTRAINT OR BOOSTER CUSHION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

02V329000 · Air Bags:frontal

Dec 9, 2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CHECK VALVE PIN. AN AIR BAG WITHOUT THE CHECK VALVE PIN COULD PRODUCE INCREASED PRESSURE AT THE ONSET OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND REDUCED PRESSURE AFTERWARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD INCREASE THE SEVERITY OF INJURY TO A PERSON WHO WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND WHO WAS CLOSE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. IT COULD ALSO REDUCE THE AB8ILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT A RESTRAINED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT #3.

01V383000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

Dec 13, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN MINI VANS BUILT WITH SECOND ROW 50/50 SPLIT BENCH SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SEAT LATCH ANCHOR WIRE DIAMETER IS GREATER THAN 6.1 MM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE CONNECTOR FOR A LATCH-TYPE CHILD RESTRAINT IS NOT ATTACHED CORRECTLY TO THE ANCHORAGE POINTS, THE RESTRAINT WILL NOT PROPERLY PROTECT A CHILD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LATCH ANCHOR WIRES AND REPAIR THOSE WITH AN IMPROPER DIAMETER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 10, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

01V264000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Aug 21, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1997-2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA/TRANSPORT, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS THAT WERE SERVICED IN CAMPAIGN 01013 (01V-067) FROM APRIL TO AUGUST 2001. ALSO 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS ASSEMBLED IN JANUARY THROUGH APRIL 2001. THESE VEHICLES HAVE INADEQUATE FRONT WELDS. IF A FRONT WELD FAILS, THE ACTUATOR CAN JAM IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION AND, WHEN THE SLIDING DOOR CLOSES, IT WILL NOT BE LATCHED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE. AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, INSTALL A NEW POWER SLIDING DOOR UNLATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

01V067000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Mar 8, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS. THE DOOR CLOSES BUT MAY NOT BE LATCHED. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW UN-LATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN CONTINUED UNDER SAFETY RECALL 01V-264. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

01V026000 · Air Bags:frontal

Feb 1, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINIVANS. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GENERANT, WHICH PRODUCES THE GAS THAT FILLS THE AIR BAG. SOME WERE BUILT WITH A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT AND SOME WERE BUILT WITHOUT GENERANT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT WOULD TRIGGER A PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT CAN CAUSE THE INFLATOR MODULE TO EXPLODE. IF THE AIR BAG MODULE EXPLODES, METAL AND PLASTIC DEBRIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANT. A MODULE WITH NO GENERANT WOULD NOT INFLATE THE AIR BAG, AND THE OCCUPANTS COULD RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE. TELEPHONE CALLS WERE MADE TO OWNERS ON JANUARY 29, 2001. FOLLOW UP OWNER MAILING BEGAN ON APRIL 17, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000.

00V228003 · Seat Belts

Aug 7, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE04064 · POWER-SLIDING Door

Opened Sep 17, 2004 · Closed Dec 22, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:door

SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE WITH AN OPTIONAL POWER SLIDING DOOR.THE INTERIOR HANDLE IS ORIENTED IN THE VERTICAL POSITION IN THE DOOR PANEL AND LINES UP AT THE ELBOW LEVEL WHEN THE OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE 2ND-ROW OUTBOARD POSITION.IF THE OCCUPANT HOLDS THE INTERIOR HANDLE IN THE THUMB UP POSITION DURING POWER-ASSISTED OPENING, THE ARM/WRIST CAN BE PUSH BACK WITH FORCE AGAINST THE 2ND-ROW BUCKET SEAT OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIR SEAT BACK CREATING A RISK OF INJURY (OTHER SEATING CONFIGURATIONS HAVE AMPLE SEAT TO DOOR CLEARANCE TO AVOID ENTRAPMENT OF THE LOWER ARM).AMONG THE 103 TOTAL REPORTS, THERE WERE 102 ALLEGED INJURIES INCLUDING ARM/WRIST, THUMB AND SHOULDER INJURIES.A COUNT OF INJURIES REVEALS THAT 76 INJURIES WERE A FRACTURED OR A BROKEN ARM/WRIST REQUIRING AN IMMOBILIZING CAST FOR FOUR-TO-SIX WEEKS.ALL INJURIES INVOLVE THE RIGHT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR.THE LEFT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR IS ON FAR FEWER VEHICLES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT PRODUCES LESS FORCE.GM NOTIFIED THE AGENCY BY LETTER DATED DECEMBER 21, 2004, THAT IT WILL RECALL MODEL YEAR 1997 THOUGH EARLY 2005 GM U-VAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A RIGHT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND WITH 2ND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN CHAIRS (NHTSA RECALL #04V597).AS PART OF THE RECALL REMEDY, GM WILL REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE WITH A FLUSH MOUNTED HANDLE THAT WILL PREVENT AN OCCUPANT FROM GRASPING THE HANDLE WITH THE PALM BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND DOOR PANEL (THUMB UP ORIENTATION) AND THUS ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR ARM/WRIST ENTRAPMENT.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.