1996 Chevrolet Astro complaints

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO ACTUATE, STOP ACTUATING DURING INTERMITTENT MODE, OR DO NOT ACTUATE UNLESS TOGGLED ON/OFF SEVERAL TIMES.*AK

WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WINDSHEILD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP ON TIME. WHILE ROLLING THE ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON. *AK

WHILE PARKING VEHICLE TORSION BAR SNAPPED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF ANY PROBLEM. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. TORSION BAR IS REPAIRABLE, BUT NOT UNDER WARRANTY. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP & INFORMED HAVE KIT TO REPAIR THE TORSION BAR.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

FRONT OF VEHICLE HAS COLLAPSES WHILE PARKED IN DRIVWAY. THIS WAS DUE TO TORSION BAR AND CROSSMEMBER BAR BREAKING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

SPEED SENSOR WIRES ARE TOO CLOSE TO THE BRAKE PADS. BRAKE PADS RUB ON THEM, CAUSING THEM TO WEAR OUT. *AK

WIPERS OFTEN QUIT AND WON'T START BACK MANY TIMES DURING A RAINSTORM. *AK

WE ALSO OWN A 1995 S10 PICKUP AND WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. IT WAS CORRECTED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V150001. *AK

ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP MAKES HIGH PITCH NOISE. YH

TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED DRIVING DOWN ROAD. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED. *AK

LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING OUT. REPLACED AT 33,000 MILES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER WASHER INTERMITTENTLY WOULD STOP WORKING DURING OPERATION OR NOT OPERATE AT ALL. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING DURING OPERATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD, THIS ONE HAS FAR TOO MANY EQUIPMENT FAILURES. I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THIS CAR WOULD BE CONSIDERED A LEMON BY MOST PEOPLE. WHEN WE FIRST GOT IT THE BRAKES WOULD SLOW YOU DOWN AND AT 10 MPH AS YOU WERE APPROACHING THE STOP OR THE REAR END OF ANOTHER CAR, THEY WOULD FAIL TO STOP YOU COMPLETELY. THE DEALER WHO SOLD US THE CAR AGREED TO FIX THAT. NEXT THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY IT WOULD THROW THE CUPS OUT OF THE HOLDERS IN THE FRONT OF THE VAN. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED THEM. ONLY 10,000 MILES LATER WE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK IN TO HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED AGAIN AS THEY WERE WARPED AGAIN. THEY UNJUSTLY ACCUSED ME OF RIDING THE BRAKES, WHICH I DO NOT DO. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS ON THE FRONT DISC BRAKES. I REQUESTED THAT THEY DO THAT THE FIRST TIME AND THE REFUSED TO DO SO. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE, NOR HAVE THEY MADE MUCH EFFORT TO FIND THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER RELAY. I AM WORRIED ABOUT MY CHILDRENS SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE GIVEN THE NUMBER OF NUMEROUS FAILURES OF VARIOUS EQUIPMENT ON THIS ONE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND RESULTING IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DRIVER REAREND VEHICLE IN FRONT WITH A 35MPH - 40 MPH IMPACT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DRIVER'S SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK UP, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION AND INJURIES. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT DISENGAGE FROM THE HOUSING MECHANISM, THUS PREVENTING ANY USAGE OF THE SEAT BELT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, PARTS HAS YET TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THIS IS THE SECOND GMC VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED THAT HAS HAS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAPPENING WHEN A VEHICLE HAS BEEN MISTREATED, OR IS HIGH MILEAGE. BUT, AT 55,000 MILES, THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. FORD HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN THEIR 3.8 L, AND THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF IT. I WOULD HOPE THE NHTSA WOULD CHECK TO SEE HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEM. THE COST IS ABOUT $ 900 FOR BOTH GASKETS. *AK

UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED CAUSING FRONT END OF VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. NLM

WIPER WOULD NOT TURN ON BECAUSE OF WIPER CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. YH

FUEL PUMP FAILURE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. MAJOR EXPENSE FOR THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. *AK

CONTROL ARM BROKE, CAUSING THE FRONT END TO DROP WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. ALSO, IDLER ARM BROKE 5 TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. MAMUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. SOMETIMES WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON, AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. THEY WILL WORK ON HIGH SPEED FOR A LITTLE WHILE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY . DEALER REPLACED CIRCUIT AND MODULES . *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN IN USE. WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY ON DIFFERENT MODE SETTINGS. SOMETIMES STOPPED ON THEIR OWN & THEN RESTARED ON THEIR OWN. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO HAVE POOR VISIBILITY DURING RAIN. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY DURING RAIN STORMS, THEY WILL JUST SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

ON 05/09/1999 ACCELEATOR CABLE BROKE, TOWED MONTY CHEV IN VICTORVILLE. 05/11/1999 FIXED. COST $154.16 TOW $105.00. 05/24/1999 LOST POWER ON FREEWAY TOWED BACK TO SAME DEALER AND FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER REPLACED $336.48 TOW $12 0.00. NEXT DAY CAR STALLED DEALER TOWED BACK TO SHOP KEEP IT TWO DAYS AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY THING WRONG. CAR HAS NOT RAN THAT WELL SINCE THEY WORKED ON IT, JUST RENT A CAR IF I NEEDED TO GO FAR. 9/16/1999 HAD TO HAVE ALL FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED AND TUNE-UP DONE ON IT $978.39 RAN GOOD FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATED THE AIR INTAKE SENCOR WAS BAD REPLACED, CAME ON AGAIN. WAS SENT TO CAR CLINIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC ON SYSTEM 10/11/1999 FOUND CAT, CONVERTER IS COMPLETELY PLUGGED $80.00. HAVING REPLACED TODAY 10/11/1999 $150.00. APRIL OF THIS YEAR THE AIR CONDITIONING THAT RUNS TO THE REAR AIR HAD A LEAK IN THE LINE THAT RUNS BACK THERE CAUSED BY THE INSULATION RUBBING ON THE LINE. HAD THE REPAIRED AND FILLED BACK UP. $220.00

SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ON THE REAR BENCH SEATS ON THE DRIVER SIDE DO NOT RETRACT. DEALER HAS REPLACED , AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALSO, DEALER PUT IN WRONG SEATBELTS.

WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED DURING A RAIN STORM THEY WORK SOMETIMES. BUT WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING THEY WORK FINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CURRENTLY HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING FOR WEEKS. DEALER SAYS THEY ARE NOT ON RECALL. *AK

WE BOUGHT THIS VAN AS A CONVERSION VAN. WE HAVE BEEN VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE PEROFRMANCE OF THE VAN. WE HAVE HAD THE AIRCONDITING REPAIRED TWICE. THE BATTERY FAILED MANY TIMES. ONE TIME THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CLONKING NOISE WHEN BRAKING THAT THE DEALER CAN IDENTIFY. THE TIRES WORE OUT JUST AFTER THEY WERE A YEAR OLD. THE VAN HAS ALSO BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NUMEROUS OTHER REPAIRS.( DOT NUMBER: )

WIPERS HAVE QUIT OPERATING APPROX SIX TIMES OVER PAST 2 MONTHS--NO CAUSE FOUND. PC BOARD REMOVED AND REINSTALLED, WIPERS THEN OPERATE NORMALLY FOR A FEW DAYS.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER PUSHING ON THE GAS.DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND FIXED THE VEHICLE ,BUT THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED.*AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF PERFORMANCE. THIS WOULD HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACED MODULE. *AK

ON AUGUST 19,1999, I WAS BACKING MY 1996 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN OUT OF MY PARENTS' GARAGE WHEN I NOTICED THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT WITH THE VAN. I THEN DROVE IT DOWN THE ROAD A FEW BLOCKS. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE VAN WAS NOT DRIVING AS IT NORMALLY DOES. THE VAN WAS ROCKING AND SITTING LOWER TO THE GROUND. AFTER I PULLED OVER, I LOOKED TO SEE IF ONE OF THE TIRES WERE FLAT. IT WAS THEN THAT I NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VAN WAS HANGING VERY LOW. I THEN CALLED LEON'S AUTO LAB, GAVE THEM A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM AND ASKED IF THEY THOUGHT IF IT WAS SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE IT TO THEIR SHOP WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A FEW MORE BLOCKS DOWN THE ROAD. THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT VERY SLOWLY TO THEIR SHOP. WHEN I GOT THERE, THEY PUT THE VAN ON A HOIST AND FOUND THAT THE TORISION BAR WAS BROKEN. THEY COULDN'T FIX IT SO I HAD TO TAKE TO SPEEDY'S TMA. THEY ARE LOCATED IN ABERDEEN, SD 57401 (1-605-229-1025). THEY WERE ABLE TO GET REPLACEMENT PARTS AND FIX IT THERE. I KEPT THE BROKEN TORISION BAR. THE MECHANICS TOLD MY FATHER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY DESIGN. I AM FRIGHTENED TO THINK WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH AND THE TORISION BAR WOULD'VE BROKEN. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, TAMARA L. WASSER

A VEHICLE WITH 45,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE A WIPER MOTOR FAILURE.

FRONT TORSION BAR CRACKED AND BROKE, COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

NO SUMMARY

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE INOPERATIVE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WAS ADVISED BY MANUFACTURER (GM) THAT TORSION BAR BREAKAGE IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, NOR DESIGN FAULT. REASON GIVEN WAS "ROAD DEPREE BUILDUP KNOWN AS WEAR AND TEAR MAINTENANCE ISSUE". GM HESITATE TO PROVIDE ME HARDCOPY OF GIVEN REASON FOR TORSION BAR FAILURE.

WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WILL ONLY TURN ON THE WIPERS IN THE FAST MODE & SOMETIMES WILL OPERATE IN THE DELAY MODE AFTER AFTER A SHORT TIME

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE TIE ROD BOLT THAT CONNECTS TO THE U-JOINT SLIPPED OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING, WHEEL WAS JUST SPINNING FREELY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THE FAILURE OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO WORK PROPERLY (WHEELS LOCK UP), HAS CAUSED ME TO SLIDE INTO AN INTERSECTION AND ALMOST GET BROADSIDED, AND IT HAS CAUSED ME TO NEARLY SLIDE INTO A TRUCK IN A PARKING LOT. THE FRONT ROTORS HAVE HAD TO BE TURNED 7 TIMES - 6 IN THE LAST 13 MONTHS. THE BRAKES WILL PULSATE BECAUSE THE ROTORS WARP ABOUT EVERY 2 MONTHS. *AK

THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED. IF FAILURE OCCURRED AT 70MPH THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF DEATH. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER DOESN'T COME ON ALL THE TIME UNTIL YOU HIT A BUMP.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

WE WERE DRIVING WEST ON I-80 NEAR GARY, IN AFTER MIDNIGHT. 2 OF OUR 4 CHILDREN ARE BELTED IN THE BACK, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE HAVE NO STEERING - THE WHEEL IS SPINNED FREELY. WE DRIFTED AT 65 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL. THANKFULLY THERE WAS A GUARDRAIL, AS ABOUT 100 YARDS FURTHER WEST, 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC ARE MERGING FROM THE RIGHT, THERE WAS NO GUARDRAIL, AND A VERY STEEP DITCH (AS THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR LATER POINTED OUT TO US.) 100 YARDS PREVIOUS, WE HAD GONE OVER AN OVERPASS WITH LITTLE SHOULDER - WE SURELY WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED, HAD WE CRASHED THERE. THE NEXT DAY, THE MECHANIC SAYS THE BOLT HOLDING THE STEERING COLUMN INTO THE KNUCKLE WAS GONE - IT MUST HAVE WORKED ITSELF LOOSE. HE REPLACESDTHE BOLT, SHOWED US HOW TO CHECK TO SEE IF IT'S TIGHT, AND WE DRIVE HOME TO DAVENPORT, IA. (THERE IS BODY DAMAGE.) I MAY HAVE SOME OF THE DETAILS WRONG; FOR EXAMPLE, MY MILEAGE FIGURES ARE APPROXIMATE. I'M ENTERING THIS FROM WORK, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS REPORT GETS INVESTIGATED. IT SEEMS TO ME THIS SORT OF THING SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN - THERE SHOULD BE SOME WARNING, OR THERE SHOULD BE MORE THAN JUST ONE BOLT, OR SOMETHING. I BELIEVE IT'S ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT WE ARE STILL ALIVE, BUT BECAUSE NO ONE WAS KILLED, OR EVEN INJURED, CHEVROLET WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO CHANGE THEIR DESIGN. WE TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALER FOR THE REPAIR ESTIMATES, AND THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID, JOKINGLY, "CHEVY'S PAYING FOR THIS, RIGHT?" PERHAPS THEY WILL - I SUPPOSE THAT'S BETWEEN OUR CAR INS