2004 Chevrolet Venture: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 124 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (26% of complaints); the 2005 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Feb 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 124 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Venture. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, when a police officer ran the red traffic light and crashed into the driver's side door, and pushed the vehicle into a school bus. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated she has a broken right foot and did seek medical attention at the hospital and was waiting for a pending surgery. The police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to towing lot. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,072.”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2021
“Tl* the contact owned a 2004 chevrolet venture. While the contact's vehicle was at a complete stop, it was rear ended by another vehicle traveling approximately 50 mph. None of the air bags deployed. The contact was pregnant and had to be transported to the hospital via ambulance. A police report was filed. The driver of the other vehicle was intoxicated. There were two passengers who also had to be hospitalized and transported via ambulance. The vehicle was totaled and towed to a junk yard. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 270,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2019
“(xxxxxxxxx) craigslist lemon law parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Jul 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet venture. After the vehicle was fueled, there was a strong odor of fuel coming from the vehicle. The contact observed a puddle of fuel under the rear driver side of the vehicle. The failure recurred continuously. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 07v349000 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jul 2015
“Cigarette lighter shorted with the phone charger plugged in. The fuse did not blow, which caused an electrical fire which totaled the van. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet venture. The contact stated that there was a fuel odor present coming from the vehicle. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 07v349000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who diagnosed that the vent tube at top of fuel tank was corroded and that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 43,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Nov 2014
“I cannot fill the gas tank unless gas spills out of the defective connection that goes to the fuel tank via the hose that is connected from the fuel injection system unto the gas tank. I had to have it repaired by a mechanic that has dealt with this type of vehicle in the past and he told me that this is and has been a manufactured from the beginning concerning this particular mini van (chevy venture). As long as the tank is half full there's no leaks, however I can still smell a mild scent of fumes from the defect of the vehicle's fuel system. *tr”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet venture. The contact stated that the ABS light continuously illuminated and the power windows failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Aug 2014
“Fuel gauge wouldn't measure, and the car when stopped, quit... The fuel gauge had been intermittently not measuring gas correctly, (I even filled a complaints with 2 gas stations thinking it was their gas pump that was wrong.) this was an ongoing problem over a long period of time. Then the car had to be towed to my residence... I live in a desert and it's very hot, the towing company suggested the fuel pump went along with the fuel pressure gauge. So I had to have them replaced....I have never had this kind of problem with other makes of cars. *js”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jun 2014
“Headlights are dangerously dim at night. New bulbs, new headlight lenses, no solution. Same problem with my 1999 chevy venture.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jun 2014
When filing, owners marked a crash in 6 of these complaints and injuries in 21 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.
Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-2492 AND PRESS 5.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Venture by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Venture reliable?
NHTSA has 124 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2004 Chevrolet Venture. The most complained-about area is electrical system (26% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Venture problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 69,000 miles or less.
Does the 2004 Chevrolet Venture have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, other:storage:tank assembly:pressure relief devices. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.