Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 235 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Venture, and it carries 6 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 34 | 14% |
| Air bags | 19 | 8% |
| Fuel system | 16 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 16 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 15 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | 6% |
| Structure | 14 | 6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 5% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 9 | 4% |
| Seat belts | 7 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Venture. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, a fuel odor was detected inside the cabin of the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of fu
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
BLOWN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AN OVERHEATING ISSUE, AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. DROVE ACROSS A STEEP 7 MILE HILL, TEMP GAUGE STARTED MOVING ABOVE NORMAL. I STOPPED AND LET IT CO
NHTSA complaint: Engine
SUDDENLY MY VEHICLE HAD A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WHEN I WALKED UP ON IT IN THE MORNING I SMELLED IT 3 FEET AWAY FROM MY VEHICLE. IT HAPPENED JUST LIKE THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN. I SCHEDULED MY INSPECTION WITH MY MECHANIC AND I
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
FUEL FILLER NECK CRACKED WHERE IT IS ATTACHED TO THE GAS TANK. FUEL LEAKING OUT OF NECK.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS STRONG FUEL ODOR EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A PUDDLE OF FUEL WAS SEEN ON THE GROUND. THE CO
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TAKATA RECALL I WAS DRIVING AND RAN OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD AND OVER CORRECTED MYSELF AN HIT AN EMBANKMENT HEAD ON AND MY FACE WENT INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN WAS THROWN FOR THE VAN OUT THE BACK PASSENGER WINDOW A
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
FUEL LEVEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK EVER SINCE I HAD THIS VAN AND FUEL PUMP UNEXPECTEDLY WENT BAD AT ABOUT 83000 MILES
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING SNAPPED AND DISENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. BASED UPON
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2002 Chevrolet Venture. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
Risk: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: 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 D
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND A
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
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.
Risk: 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
Fix: 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
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).
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 CON
| Reliability raw | 68 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 73 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 62 | average |
| Performance | 56 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 235 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 34 of them (14%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 68/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 73/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2002 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.