2004 Chevrolet Venture

AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR ON DRIVER SIDE OPENS BY ITSELF. I WILL CLOSE THE DOOR USING THE KEYLESS REMOTE OR THE BUTTON ON THE INSIDE OF DOOR FRAME BUT DOOR WILL REOPEN. HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES IN A SINGLE ATTEMPT TO CLOSE DOOR. SLOPE OF VEHICLE IS NOT A FACTOR AS IT WILL REOPEN WHEN VAN IS PARKED ON EVEN GROUND. COLD WEATHER MAY BE FACTOR. THERE IS ALWAYS A LOUD "KACHUNK" AS I ASSUME THE MECHANISM IS TRYING TO WORK. TO FINALLY GET IT TO STOP REOPENING IN SINGLE INCIDENT, I WILL ENGAGE THE LOCK OR WILL TURN OFF AUTOMATIC OPTION. HAVE MADE NUMEROUS CALLS TO DEALER AND HAVE TAKEN VAN IN TWICE TO BE INSPECTED. EACH TIME MECHANICS ARE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND END UP "CLEANING" THE TRACK AND ADJUSTING STRIKER. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE DOOR IS NOT LATCHING PROPERLY AND MAY POSE DANGER OF INJURY TO MY SMALL CHILDREN IN ACCIDENT.*AK

WE RENTED A 2004 CHEVY VENTURE MINIVAN FROM AVIS AT PHILA AIRPORT. THE MINIVAN COMES EQUIPPED WITH A REMOTE-CONTROLLED POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WE WONDERED IF THE DOOR HAD AN AUTO-REVERSE TO PREVENT IT FROM CLOSING ON SOMETHING. WE COULD IMAGINE THAT WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL, SOMEONE ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VAN OR INTHE DRIVER'S SEAT COULD CLOSE THE DOOR WITHOUT SEEING THAT THERE WAS A CHILD, FOR EXAMPLE, SITTING OR LYING ACROSS THE DOORWAY. SO WE DECIDED TO TEST IT. WE HELD A 1/2 INCH THICK STICK AGAINST THE DOORFRAME AND CLOSED THE DOOR WITH THE REMOTE. IF THERE IS AN AUTO-REVERSE, IT DID NOT OPERATE! THE DOOR CLOSED ON THE STICK WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT PULLED THE STICK OUT OF THE TESTER'S HAND AND CRUSHED THE STICK AGAINST THE DOORFRAME. IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD DO TO A CHILD'S HAND OR LEG! OR NECK, GOD FORBID! WHAT IS THIS MINIVAN DOING ON THE MARKET????*AK

THE AUTOMATIC REVERSE SAFETY FEATURE OF BOTH POWER SIDE SLIDING DOORS REQUIRES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO ACTIVATE. THIS RESULTS IN POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY TO SMALL CHILDREN, WEAK ADULTS OR SENIOR ADULTS UNABLE TO EXERT ENOUGH FORCE TO ACTIVATE THE REVERSING MECHANISM. COMPARE EFFORT REQUIRED TO THIS SAFETY FEATURE IN TYPICAL HOME GARAGE DOORS OR THE HONDA ODYSSEY FOR EXAMPLE. *JB

I HAVE A 2004 (BOUGHT NEW) CHEVY VAN. WE STOPPED ON DAY AND THE BACK WHEEL WAS SMOKING. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND TOOK IT IN TO BE CHECKED AND THEY TOLD US THAT THE BACK BRAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN ATTACHED. WE WERE RUNNING ONLY ON FRONT BRAKES. WE JUST CAME BACK FROM A TRIP AND TO THINK WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I WAS FURIOUS THAT SUCH A THING COULD HAPPEN. THEY DID ATTACH THE BACK BRAKES AND I FEEL THAT SINCE WE WERE RUNNING ON ONLY FRONT BRAKES, THAT THE FRONT BRAKES SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THEM.*AK

ON JULY 8-15, 2004 I RENTED A 2004 CHEVROLET VENTURE FROM HERTZ RENTAL AT THE SAN DIEGO AIRPORT. WE LOADED 4 SMALL CHILDREN, AGES 1-5 YEARS OLD INTO THE VAN. AS WE WERE STRAPPING ALL OF THEM INTO THEIR CAR SEATS, MY 3 YEAR OLD PUSHED A BUTTON THAT WAS JUST INSIDE THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS BUTTON WAS TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE AUTOMATIC DOOR, AND THE DOOR BEGAN TO CLOSE WITH MY SON STANDING AT THE PART OF THE SLIDING DOOR THAT LATCHES (THE FORWARD MOST PART OF THE DOOR). AS THE DOOR HIT HIS BODY AND DID NOT STOP, ONE OF THE ADULTS INSIDE OF THE VAN PULLED HIM INTO THE VAN AND TO SAFETY. THE DOOR WAS NOT GOING TO STOP AND WOULD HAVE INJURED HIM. A DAY LATER, MY BROTHER WAS STRAPPING MY SON INTO HIS CAR SEAT AND SOMEONE ACCIDENTLY PUSHED THE AUTO DOOR CLOSE THAT WAS ON THE KEY CHAIN. AGAIN, THE DOOR BEGAN TO CLOSE AND DID NOT STOP FOR MY BROTHER (WHO IS A 6 FOOT 3 INCH MAN), AND HE HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE WAY. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN AND WERE VERY CAREFUL THE REMAINDER OF OUR WEEK LONG RENTAL. HOWEVER, WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT ANOTHER CHILD, OR ADULT, IS GOING TO BE INJURED IN THIS VAN'S AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR. WE WERE CURIOUS JUST HOW FAR THE DOOR WOULD GO BEFORE IT WOULD BOUNCE BACK OPEN SO WE PUT A STUFFED ANIMAL IN THE DOOR AND HIT THE AUTO DOOR CLOSE BUTTON. I HAVE TO SAY, THE STUFFED ANIMAL DID NOT FARE WELL. WE ALSO PUT A LARGE CARROT AND A BANANA IN THE DOOR, IN AN ATTEMPT TO SIMULATE A SMALL CHILD'S ARM. THE CARROT WAS SLICED RIGHT IN HALF, AND THE BANANA WAS SMASHED AND OOZING OUT OF ITS PEEL. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A CHEVROLET VENTURE AFTER OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE VAN, BUT I DO FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THE AUTOMATIC DOOR NEEDS TO BE CHANGED SO THAT IT SENSES WHEN SOMETHING IS IN IT'S WAY AND BOUNCES BACK OPEN, OTHERWISE CHILDREN'S SAFETY, AS WELL AS ADULT'S SAFETY, IS AT STAKE. I DO HAVE SEVERAL VIDEOS DEMONSTRATING HOW THE DOOR DOES NOT BOUNCE BACK. *AK

THE SLIDING DOOR DOESN'T STAY LOCKED IN THE OPEN POSITION, EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS ON A FLAT SURFACE. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN A TODDLER BEING CRUSHED BETWEEN THE DOORS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT A SLIDING DOOR ATTACHMENT NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. *AK THE PASSENGERS LEFT SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE. *SC *JB