Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Elevated complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Exterior Lighting:headlights — runs 1.9× the fleet median for that category across the 719 model-years tracked on this site.
409Complaints
10Recalls
27Crashes
3Fires
39Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Exterior Lighting:headlights (11.5% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Exterior Lighting:headlights complaints here are 1.9× the median for that category across the 719 model-years tracked on this site.
1 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 5 rest on owner reports alone.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe
16 · 3.9%
No official action
—
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE16 · 3.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN14 · 3.4%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH14 · 3.4%
AIR BAGS14 · 3.4%
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM14 · 3.4%
Percentages are the share of the 409 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
WHEN ACTIVATING THE RELEASE MECHANISM TO ROLL A BUCKET SEAT FORWARD, A CUSTOMER'S FINGER(S) COULD BE SEVERELY INJURED OR SEVERED IN THEY ARE NOT KEPT CLEAR OF THE MECHANISM. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park itPark outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“I SPOKE TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CHEVROLET AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT IN FOR A RECALL FOR MOISTURE BEING IN THE LIGHTS OR…”NHTSA complaint 723890 — filed 06/11/2000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
“EXCESSIVE WATER VAPOR IN HEADLIGHTS REDUCES LIGHT. CURRENT FIX WAS TO DRILL HOLES. EXCESSIVE WATER VAPOR IN FRONT TURN SIGNALS INCREASES GLARE AND CONFUSES TRAFFIC…”NHTSA complaint 723134 — filed 05/24/2000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
“A SEAL ON THE HEADLIGHTS BROKE, CAUSING WATER TO ENTER INTO THE HEADLIGHTS, AND RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY.”NHTSA complaint 858154 — filed 03/08/2000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Venture?
Exterior lighting:headlights issues are the most-reported category, cited in 47 of 409 NHTSA complaints (11.5%), followed by engine and engine cooling (31), engine and engine cooling:engine (29), structure:body:door (25). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1998 Chevrolet Venture have?
409 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 27 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, and 39 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 1998 Chevrolet Venture have any recalls?
Yes — 10 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E005000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1998 Chevrolet Venture's reported problems?
1 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page is backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
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