CarBrief

The 2004 Venture has 124 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, The 2004 Venture has 124 owner complaints on file with NHTSA[1]. It also has 3 recalls, including one for the interior handle of the passenger-side sliding door[2][3].. It also has 3 recalls, including one for the interior handle of the passenger-side sliding door[2][3].

124owner complaints[1]
3recalls[2]
18–20MPG combined (EPA)[4]

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 124 owner complaints for this van[1]. Six mention a crash and 2 a fire, and the complaints report 21 injuries in total[1]. No deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified owner reports, one complaint can name several components, and the counts are not adjusted for how many vans were sold.

Component group Complaints Injuries Median miles at failure
Electrical system[5] 37 0 80,000
Structure[6] 21 12 36,500
Latches/locks/linkages[7] 12 2 29,000
Engine[8] 11 1 53,500
Exterior lighting[9] 9 0 49,835
Brakes[10] 8 0 30,000
Visibility[11] 7 0 69,500
Fuel/propulsion system[12] 7 0 123,932

Power sliding doors. The structure group has 21 complaints and 12 injuries, more injuries than any other group[6]. In the sample of structure complaints we read, 11 of 12 describe the power sliding door[6]. Owners describe an arm or wrist caught while the door opened, a door that did not stop when it met a person, and a door that would not stay latched open[6]. The latches group tells a similar story. In the sample we read, 10 of 12 involve a power sliding door[7]. Seven of those 12 describe a door closing on a child or a hand without stopping[7]. Three describe a door that opened or closed on its own while the van was moving[7].

Electrical faults. This is the largest group at 37 complaints[5]. In the sample we read, 6 of 12 describe an instrument cluster that misbehaves[5]. Owners describe a speedometer or temperature gauge that jumps, sticks or stops working. Two of the 12 describe lights that keep failing after repairs[5].

Engine. The engine group has 11 complaints, with 1 crash, 1 fire and 1 injury[8]. In the sample we read, 6 of 10 describe the engine stalling while driving[8]. In 4 of those 10, dealers could not reproduce the fault[8]. Three of the 10 describe overheating[8].

Exterior lighting, brakes, visibility and fuel/propulsion each have fewer than 10 complaints and report no crashes, fires or injuries, so we do not treat them as patterns[9][10][11][12].

Recalls

NHTSA shows 3 recalls for the 2004 model year[2]. Newest first:

The population notes above describe which vans are covered, so ask the seller whether the work was done on the van you are looking at.

Fuel economy

EPA lists two versions, both with a 3.4L 6-cylinder engine, Automatic 4-spd and regular fuel[4][15].

Version City Highway Combined Annual fuel cost
Front-wheel drive[4] 17 MPG 24 MPG 20 MPG $3,350
All-wheel drive[15] 16 MPG 22 MPG 18 MPG $3,700

The all-wheel-drive version costs about $350 more per year to fuel by EPA's estimate[4][15]. EPA's cost figure uses current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the van was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA lists the 2004 Venture as not rated in its 5-Star Safety Ratings[16].

Engine and size

Both EPA ratings list a 3.4L 6-cylinder engine[4][15]. Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US vans.

Version Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
4DR FWD (Value Van, Value Plus, Base, LS)[17] 187 in 72 in 68 in 112 in 3,699 lb
Extended wheelbase, FWD (LT)[18] 201 in 72 in 68 in 120 in 3,838 lb

How 2004 compares with other years

1997: 432 complaints, 6 recalls19971998: 409 complaints, 7 recalls19981999: 349 complaints, 4 recalls19992000: 350 complaints, 5 recalls20002001: 222 complaints, 9 recalls20012002: 220 complaints, 3 recalls20022003: 185 complaints, 5 recalls20032004: 124 complaints, 3 recalls12420042005: 42 complaints, 1 recalls2005
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Venture model year. The 2004 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19974326
19984097
19993494
20003505
20012229
20022203
20031855
20041243
2005421

Among the nine Venture model years in NHTSA's data, 2004 has the second lowest complaint count at 124[2]. Only 2005 is lower, with 42[2]. The earlier years range from 185 complaints for 2003 up to 432 for 1997[2]. For recalls, 2004 has 3, the same as 2002[2]. Only 2005 has fewer, with 1[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so read this as a rough comparison within the same model.

Should you buy a used 2004 Venture?

The record is mixed. Complaints are lower than in any earlier Venture year listed, but in the sample of complaints we read, power sliding doors come up in the structure group, which has 12 injuries[6]. If you are shopping for one, test the sliding doors in person and ask whether the door handle recall (04V597) and the fuel tank recall (07V349) were done, since both name a dealer replacement[3][13]. Electrical complaints are the biggest group, and in the sample we read, gauges and lights come up, so check the instrument cluster on a test drive[5].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Chevrolet Venture?
Electrical system is the largest complaint group with 37 of 124 complaints[5][1]. Structure has 21 complaints and 12 injuries, and in the sample we read, 11 of 12 texts describe the power sliding doors[6].
Does the 2004 Chevrolet Venture have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls: fuel tank inlet check valve (07V349), power sliding door interior handle (04V597) and a child restraint label (04V177)[2][13][3][14]. Dealers replace the fuel tank and the handle, and owners get replacement labels[13][3][14].
What is the gas mileage of the 2004 Chevrolet Venture?
EPA rates the front-wheel-drive version at 17 city, 24 highway and 20 combined MPG[4]. The all-wheel-drive version is rated 16, 22 and 18[15].
Is 2004 a good year for the Chevrolet Venture?
It has fewer complaints than every year from 1997 to 2003 and more than 2005[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat this as a rough guide[2].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 124 owner complaints on file for the 2004 Chevrolet Venture (6 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 21 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Chevrolet Venture model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. Recall 04V597, filed December 22, 2004: Latches / Locks / Linkages › Doors › Latch. NHTSA recall database
  4. EPA rating for Venture FWD, 3.4L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  5. 37 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 80,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 21 complaints name the structure component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 12 injuries, median mileage at failure 36,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 12 complaints name the latches/locks/linkages component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 29,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 11 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 53,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 9 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 49,835). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 8 complaints name the brakes component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 30,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 7 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 69,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 7 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 123,932). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. Recall 07V349, filed August 8, 2007: Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 04V177, filed April 8, 2004: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
  15. EPA rating for Venture AWD, 3.4L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  16. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  17. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, VENTURE 4DR FWD VALUE VAN/VALUE PLUS/BASE/LS: length 187 in, width 72 in, height 68 in, wheelbase 112 in, curb weight 3,699 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  18. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, VENTURE EXTENDED W/B 4DR FWD /LT: length 201 in, width 72 in, height 68 in, wheelbase 120 in, curb weight 3,838 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.