IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
2004 Chevrolet Venture
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Venture do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 220.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Venture years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
1625–50K
1850–75K
1675–100K
13100–150K
9150K+
90 reports with mileage · 34 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports2 fire reports16 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
9 reportsHEADLIGHTS ARE DANGEROUSLY DIM AT NIGHT. NEW BULBS, NEW HEADLIGHT LENSES, NO SOLUTION. SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 1999 CHEVY VENTURE.
WATER ENTERS THE HEADLIGHTS. CONDENSATION COVERS THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT LENSES AND REDUCES LIGHT OUTPUT. *TR
LIGHTS IN FRONT KEEP SHORTING OUT(TURN SIGNAL AND NIGHT). ASSEMBLY FELL APART (BOTH FRONT). REAR LIGHTING ASSEMBLY INSIDES BURNED UP 3 OF THE 6 CONNECTORS. HAVE REPLACED LIGHTS, FUSES, ETC AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH FOR THE LAST YEAR FOR THE FRONT LIGHTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN IT WOULD RAIN, WATER WOULD ENTER THE HEAD LIGHT AND DIRECTIONAL TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS. THE BULBS WERE CONTINUOUSLY BURNING OUT DUE TO CONDENSATION FROM THE WATER. THE FRONT RIGHT DIRECTIONAL BULB CAUSED THE SOCKET AND WIRES TO OVERHEAT. THE DEALER STATED THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN IT WOULD RAIN, WATER WOULD ENTER THE HEAD LIGHT AND DIRECTIONAL TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS. THE BULBS WERE CONTINUOUSLY BURNING OUT DUE TO CONDENSATION FROM THE WATER. THE FRONT RIGHT DIRECTIONAL BULB CAUSED THE SOCKET AND WIRES TO OVERHEAT. THE DEALER STATED THE FAILURE WAS COMMON AND RECOMMENDED DRILLING A SMALL HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO ALLOW THE WATER TO FLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,143.
DURING ANNUAL VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HEADLIGHTS WHERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR INSPECTION RULES. HEADLIGHTS FILLING WITH MOISTURE BEHIND CLEAR PLASTIC LENSES OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS. CHROME REFLECTIVE MATERIAL ON REFLECTOR OXIDIZING IN BACK OF HEADLIGHT. TWO HEADLIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR VEHICLE TO PA…
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DURING ANNUAL VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HEADLIGHTS WHERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR INSPECTION RULES. HEADLIGHTS FILLING WITH MOISTURE BEHIND CLEAR PLASTIC LENSES OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS. CHROME REFLECTIVE MATERIAL ON REFLECTOR OXIDIZING IN BACK OF HEADLIGHT. TWO HEADLIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR VEHICLE TO PASS SAFETY INSPECTION. *TR
HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ON MY 2004 CHEVY VENTURE VAN FILLED WITH WATER REDUCING THE LIGHT COMING FROM THE ASSEMBLIES AT NIGHT. *TR
I HAVE BEEN STOPPED & WARNED BY OTHERS CONSTANTLY SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE ABOUT HAVING NO BRAKE LIGHTS, EXCEPT FOR THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, ABOVE THE REAR GLASS. I REPLACED TWO BULBS 3057 IN THE TAIL EIGHTS AT LEAST EVERY 3 WEEKS. THE BULBS LOOKED FINE. I HAVE TO REMOVE, SOMETIMES REPLACE, SOMETIMES JUST RESET THE BULBS…
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I HAVE BEEN STOPPED & WARNED BY OTHERS CONSTANTLY SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE ABOUT HAVING NO BRAKE LIGHTS, EXCEPT FOR THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, ABOVE THE REAR GLASS. I REPLACED TWO BULBS 3057 IN THE TAIL EIGHTS AT LEAST EVERY 3 WEEKS. THE BULBS LOOKED FINE. I HAVE TO REMOVE, SOMETIMES REPLACE, SOMETIMES JUST RESET THE BULBS. BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP COUNTLESS TIMES ,TO NO AVAIL! VERY FRUSTRATING & DANGEROUS. WILL CAUSE CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL - GENERALLY THE FIRST WARNING I HAVE TO ALERT ME OF THE TAIL LIGHT FAILURE. JUST WAITING TO BE REAR ENDED!*AK
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET VENTURE WITH 65000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD WAS BAD ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHTS FOUR TIMES, AND HAS HAD FOUR DIFFERENT MECHANICS CHECKING AT THE VEHICLE, AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTA…
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TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET VENTURE WITH 65000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD WAS BAD ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHTS FOUR TIMES, AND HAS HAD FOUR DIFFERENT MECHANICS CHECKING AT THE VEHICLE, AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
Official recalls
307V349000 · 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.
04V177000 · Equipment:other:labels
Apr 8, 2004
CERTAIN MINIVANS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 213, "CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE TEXT AND FORMATTING ON THE WARNING LABEL ATTACHED TO THE AVAILABLE SECOND-ROW INTEGRAL CHILD RESTRAINT AS SPECIFIED BY AMENDMENTS TO THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH REPLACEMENT LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
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
1PE04064 · 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.