2004 Chevrolet Venture

The 2004 Chevrolet Venture is a minivan that offered a spacious interior and comfortable ride, making it a popular choice for families. It was available with a 3.4L LA1 V6 engine, producing 185 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 4T65-E 4-speed automatic transmission. Owners generally appreciated the Venture for its passenger and cargo capacity, but common complaints included issues with reliability, particularly with the electrical system, transmission, and some engine components.

Engine

3.4L LA1 V6

• Intake Manifold Gasket Failure
  • Description/Symptoms: Coolant leak, overheating, rough idle, and potential coolant mixing with oil.
  • Solution: Replace the intake manifold gasket.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $300 - $600+
  • Recalls: None Found
• Fuel Injector Failure
  • Description/Symptoms: Rough running engine, misfires, poor gas mileage.
  • Solution: Replace the faulty fuel injector.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $150 - $300+ per injector (depending on location and shop rates)
  • Recalls: None Found
• Head Gasket Failure
  • Description/Symptoms: Overheating, white smoke from the exhaust, coolant loss, milky oil.
  • Solution: Replace the head gasket. Requires extensive labor and machining of the head.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $1500 - $3000+
  • Recalls: None Found

Transmission

4T65-E 4-Speed Automatic

• Hard Shifting/Slipping
  • Description/Symptoms: Delayed engagement of gears, harsh shifts, slipping between gears, transmission not shifting. Often due to worn-out clutches or valve body issues.
  • Solution: Rebuild or replace the transmission. Sometimes a valve body replacement can address specific shift issues.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $300 - $800+ (valve body), $2000 - $4000+ (rebuild/replace)
  • Recalls: None Found
• Torque Converter Failure
  • Description/Symptoms: Shuddering or vibrations, especially during acceleration. Stall when stopping.
  • Solution: Replace the torque converter.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $800 - $1500+
  • Recalls: None Found

Suspension

• Rear Leaf Spring Sagging
  • Description/Symptoms: Rear end of the van sits lower than normal, reduced load-carrying capacity, poor ride quality.
  • Solution: Replace the rear leaf springs.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $400 - $800+ (depending on brand and labor)
  • Recalls: None Found
• Worn Struts and Shocks
  • Description/Symptoms: Bouncy ride, excessive body roll in turns, poor handling, premature tire wear.
  • Solution: Replace the struts and/or shocks.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $300 - $800+ (depending on parts and labor)
  • Recalls: None Found

Electrical

• Power Door Issues
  • Description/Symptoms: Power sliding doors not opening or closing properly, getting stuck, or making unusual noises. This often relates to the door motor, actuator, or wiring harness.
  • Solution: Diagnose and repair or replace the faulty door motor, actuator, or wiring.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $200 - $800+ (depending on the specific issue and part)
  • Recalls: None Found
• Instrument Panel Problems
  • Description/Symptoms: Gauges malfunctioning (speedometer, fuel gauge, etc.), warning lights illuminating incorrectly, complete instrument panel failure.
  • Solution: Repair or replace the instrument cluster. Sometimes a ground issue can cause problems.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $200 - $600+ (repair/replacement)
  • Recalls: None Found
• Window Motor Failure
  • Description/Symptoms: Power windows not working.
  • Solution: Replace the window motor.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $150 - $300+
  • Recalls: None Found

Exterior

• Rust on Rocker Panels and Wheel Wells
  • Description/Symptoms: Rust forming on the lower body panels, especially around the rocker panels and wheel wells.
  • Solution: Rust repair or panel replacement.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $300 - $1000+ per panel (depending on severity and shop rates)
  • Recalls: None Found

Interior

• Headliner Sagging
  • Description/Symptoms: The fabric headliner detaching from the roof and sagging down.
  • Solution: Replace or re-glue the headliner.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $200 - $500+
  • Recalls: None Found
• Power Window Switch Failure
  • Description/Symptoms: Power windows not working.
  • Solution: Replace the power window switch.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $50 - $200+
  • Recalls: None Found

Summary

The 2004 Chevrolet Venture, while offering practicality for families, is prone to a range of issues, particularly relating to the engine (intake manifold leaks, head gaskets), transmission (slipping, hard shifting), and electrical system (power doors, instrument panel). Suspension components, particularly leaf springs, also tend to wear out. The severity of these issues ranges from minor inconveniences to major repairs that can be costly. Potential buyers should be aware of these common problems and factor in potential repair costs when considering purchasing this vehicle.