Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE ,AND PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TIRES DUE TO DEFECTIV EFRONT IDLE ARMS. VEHICLE CAN NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. DEALER INDICATED THAT IDLE ARMS AND TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, A FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. *AK
VAN WOULD NOT DECELERATE WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM ACCELARATOR.. FELT AS IF CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. VAN HAS NO CRUISE CONTROL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH ALL INTERESTED PARTIES. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY DO NOT WORK. HAS HAPPENED DURING ALL SORTS OF CONDITIONS. WHEN STOPPED, MOVING, ETC.. LAST TIME FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN A DRIVING RAINSTORM. WHEN CHEVROLET WAS CONTACTED ON JUNE 30, 1999, THEY STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS FOR THE PULSE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND THE NUMBER IS 97V043. WHEN THEY CHECKED OUR VIN, I WAS INFORMED IT DID NOT APPLY TO OUR VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION IS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. SEVERAL OTHER CHEVY ASTRO OWNERS HAVE STATED THEY ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS SIMILIAR TO THIS. *AK
SOMETIMES WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. ALSO, OCCASIONALLY WIPERS QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS WINDSHIELD WIPER RECALL INDICATED, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN #. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TO HAVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPAIRED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
IT ALL STARTED WITH THE REAR AXLE. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET DEALER TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. DEALER STATED WAIT UNTIL IT GETS WORSE SO WE CAN SEE THE PROBLEM.PROBLEM DISCOVERED BY DEALER. DRIVE AWAY WITH CAR AND THE REAR AXLE FELL OUT. NOW DEALER AGREES TO REPLACE REAR END GEAR BOX. NOW TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO FAIL. TOO FAR AWAY FROM DEALER TO GET TOW. LEFT IT IN A TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSTIC CENTER. MY QUESTION IS TO YOU IS CAN THE PROBLEMS THAT I WAS HAVING WITH THE REAR END & THE WHEEL FALLING OFF CAUSE DAMAGE NOW TO THE TRANSMISION
RANDOM FAILURE OF POWER BOOSTER ON BRAKING SYSTEM. COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, TORSION BAR SNAPPED AND BROKE. *AK
THIS VEHICLE HAS A BAD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR THAT CAUSES THE WIPER TO WORK INPROPERLY. WHEN THE WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED THEY SOMETIMES WILL NOT MOVE/THEY WILL GO VERY FAST, OR STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHENEVER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE IN USE, THEY CAN BE USED ONLY IN HIGH POSITION. AFTER VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP, WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY IN THE RAIN. THE MORE MOISTURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE, THE WORSE THE WIPERS WORK OR STOP COMPLETELY. WHEN PARKED IN GARAGE & HEATER DRYS OUT WIPERS,THEY WORK FINE ON HIGH, BUT NOT ON LOW. *AK
WHENEVER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-65MPH VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. WOULD HAVE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER ON NUMEROUS TIMES & HAD DIFFERENT PARTS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE VIBRATION PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER KNOWS ABOUT VIBRATION. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK 80% OF THE TIME. THE WIPERS COME ON AND THEN STOP. SOMETIMES THEY GO FASTER THAN THEY SHOULD. SOMETIMES THE WATER DOES NOT COME OUT. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
HEATER AND A/C CONTROL SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS, CAUSING INJURIES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
ACCLERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION DUE TO THE FRAYED THROTTLE CABLE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY, AND BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD NOT SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP. DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE, BUT DID NOT KNOW THE REASON WHY IT FELL APART. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
I AM ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY WIPER MOTOR IT DOES NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. SIGNAL LIGHT SWITCH ALSO WORKS SOMETIMES. *AK
IDLER ARMS FAILED CAUSING VIBRATION AND PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TIRES.
SEAT BELT ON PASSENGERS SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT FAILED TO RETRACT PROPERLY. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE CONSUMER FOR REPLACMENT/REPAIRS. *AK *SLC
DIFFERENTIAL UNIT FAILED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER INTERMITTENTLY WOULD HEAR A CLONKING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE; VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. DIFFERENTIAL IS INOPERATIVE, AND DEALER REPAIRED PROBLEM, PAID PART OF THE COST. *AK *ML
WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD STOPPED WORKING FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. CURRENTLY, THEY DON'T WORK FOR 5 DAYS STRAIGHT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
THE LIFTGATE IN OPEN POSTION MALFUNCTIONED, SLAMMING DOWN THE LIFTGATE ONTO THE OCCUPANT WHICH CAUSED INJURIES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
BRAKES FAILED INTERMITTANTLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE BRAKING, REPLACED ALL PARTS OF BRAKING SYSTEM WITH LITTLE OR NO IMPROVEMENT.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
KNOCK TRANSMITTED TO STEERING WHEEL FROM EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING COLUMN. DEALER WILL NOT ADDRESS PROBLEM, BUT VERFIES IT.
WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, SUDDENLY NO STEERING, THE STEERING WHEEL WENT DEAD, NO CONTROL, NO BRAKES ON VEHICLE, HAVING VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RESIDENCE AND IT WAS THE SERPETINE/TENSIONER THAT FAILED.*JB
THE HYDRAULIC AIR SHOCK ON THE BACK HATCH OF THE VAN DOES NOT HOLD PRESSURE. THE HATCH DOOR SLAMMED DOWN SHUT WITH NO WARNING. *AK
RECALL NOTICE ON THE IGNITION COIL WIRE RECEIVED AFTER FAILURE OCCURED RESULTING IN BURNING OF OTHER COMPONENTS.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65MPH AT NIGHT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY, LEAVING CONSUMER VEHICLE WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS APPROXIMATELY FOR 45 MINUTES. HE HAS TO STOP VEHICLE AND WAITED FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME BACK ON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
RIGHT AND LEFT IDLE HAS TOO MUCH TO GIVE, CAUSING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
OWNER WAS INVOLVED IN A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT TRAVELING AT 35 TO 45 MPH IN WHICH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. PROBLEM WITH BRAKES ARE ALSO IN QUESTION. *AK
MULTIPLE FAILURES REPORTED.
ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE. . *AK
WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK AND HAVING TO MAKE A PANIC STOP, APPLYING FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. HAS TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE TRUCK WILL STOP. *AK
REAR HEATER FAN SWITCH FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING THE BELT TENSIONER CAME OFF, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
UNSPECIFIED.
THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN INTER-SECTIONAL CRASH, TRAVELING ABOUT 50-55 MPH WITH DAMAGES TO THE CENTER RIGHT FRONT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY PULL TO THE RIGHT.
ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE PROPERLY WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH SURFACE (GRAVEL) CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
ABS BRAKE FAILURE. CLAIMS THAT ENGINEERS IN DETROIT INDICATED THA TFAILURE WAS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. *AK
WHEN STOPPING THE TRUCK IT TAKES ABOUT 1 MINUTE FOR THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO DOWN, AND USUALLY IT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD OF THE TRUCK AND LOSES ALL OF THE BRAKING POWER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT EVER SINCE THE POWER ASSIST BRAKES WERE CHANGED FROM VACUUM TO A HYDRAULIC BOOSTER, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS DIFFICULT TO OPERATE AND WEAK, THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE SHIFTED TO PARK UNTIL THE ENGINE IS STARTED AND THE ROLLING SPEED IS SUFFICIENTLY SLOW, AND WHEN STOPPED ON A GREDE WITH THE MOTOR OFF, THE FOOT OPERATED BRAKES WILL FAIL. *SLC
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED.
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP.
AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED.
FUEL INJECTORS FAILED.
FUEL PUMP FAILED.
MUFFLER FAILED.
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Chevrolet Astro → · Every Astro year → · How the figures are calculated →