1997 Chevrolet Astro

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/1997· STEERING

  ANTI THEFT DEVICE IS DRAINING BATTERY OF POWER, SEVERAL BATTERY REPLACEMENTS DUE TO FAILURE.

• 12/28/2000· STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  POWER BOOST HAS GONE OUT 3 TIMES. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

• 12/28/1999· POWER TRAIN,VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS ICE UP WITH JUST A TINY BIT OF SNOW OR SLEET. *AK

• 12/28/1999· POWER TRAIN

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

• 12/27/2004· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  FUEL GAUGE READS FULL ALL THE TIME. I REALIZE THAT IT IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS OTHER THINGS. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER THE WARRENTY RAN OUT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VECHICALS AND NOT WITH JUST THE ASTRO VANS. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT PEOPLE NORMALY JUST USE THERE TRIP ODOMETER. THE REASON I WAS GIVEN WAS THAT IT WAS A $500 FIX. I KNOW 5 OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE OR HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. MOST JUST GET BY UNTIL THEY GET RID OF THE VECHICAL.*AK

• 12/24/2003· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FOUND DEFECTIVE.*MR THE WIPER MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THE WIPER MOTORS. *PH *NM

• 12/15/2003· VISIBILITY

  WINDOW MOTORS STOPPED WORKING ON BOTH SIDES.*AK

• 12/11/2003· SUSPENSION

  WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH REAR END FAILED, AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME WITH NO PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

• 12/11/1998· SUSPENSION

  WHEN DRIVING 50MPH OR ABOVE THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AS IF THE TIRES ARE NOT BALANCED,CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENITFY THE PROBLEM. *AK.ET.

• 12/11/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE PEDAL EXTENSION IS INOPERATIVE; OTHER: AIR BAG NON-WORKABLE FOR CONSUMER'S WIFE WHO IS LESS THAN 57 INCHES IN HEIGHT AND WEIGHS LESS THAN 57 POUNDS. *AK

• 12/11/1996· STEERING

  POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED TWICE.

• 12/09/1997· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT GUIDE STRUCK PASSENGER WHILE RELEASING THE BACK SEAT.

• 12/07/2004· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  ONE AFTERNOON WE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AFTER DOING SOME SHOPPING TO FIND BOTH DOORS COMPLETELY AJAR. WE KNEW THAT WE HAD CLOSED THEM BEFORE LEAVING SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS VERY STRANGE. WE GOT IN THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE DOORS AND THEY KEPT SWINGING OPEN. NEITHER DOOR WOULD CLOSE. WE HAD TO DRIVE HOME HOLDING THE DOORS CLOSED. ONCE HOME WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE DOORS TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING IT. THE DRIVER DOOR TURNED OUT TO BE FIXABLE, FOR THE TIME BEING, THE THING THAT LATCHES THE DOOR WAS STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION SO WE JUST OPENED IT AND IT WAS FINE. THE PASSENGER DOOR, WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT AT ALL. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE DRIVER DOOR STOPPED CLOSING ALL TOGETHER AS WELL. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE DOORS FIXED BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO JUST TAKE IT IN AND HAVE IT DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

• 12/07/2000· STRUCTURE

  CONSUMER'S SLIDING DOOR GOT STUCK. THEN AFTER SHE GOT IT OPENED, COULD NOT OPEN IT AGAIN. *AK

• 12/06/1999· EQUIPMENT

  WHILE PARKED AIR CONDITIONER EXPLODED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 12/05/2001· VISIBILITY

  BOTH WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY, RESULTING IN REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. DEALERSHIP HAS YET TO EXAMINE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

• 12/05/2001· VISIBILITY

  POWER WINDOWS IN DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER'S DOORS HAVE FAILED ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALERSHIP HAS MADE REPAIRS FOR BOTH INCIDENTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

• 12/04/1998· SUSPENSION

  ON OCCASIONS WHILE TURNING LEFT THE VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD CRACK NOISE AND EXPERIENCES A SLIGHT CHANGE IN STABILITY, UNABLE TO DETERMINE FAILURE IN SUSPENSION.

• 12/02/1999· STRUCTURE

  EVERYTIME THE SLIDING DOOR IS OPENED IT FALLS OFF THE TRACK. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SIX TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 12/01/2000· VISIBILITY

  I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD RECALLED 1995 AND 1996 MODELS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW OF TWO OTHER VANS THAT ARE THE SAME MODEL AS MINE, AND THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR WIPERS ALSO. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THESE WIPERS WILL STOP!*AK

• 11/28/2007· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT APPLY AND SHE ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT FAILURE EVER SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BRAKES AT THE COST OF $125, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKES TO WORK, SHE HAS TO SLAM HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THIS SOLUTION IS NOT ALWAYS GUARANTEED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,800 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED GROSSMAN CHEVROLET REPAIRED THE CHEVY VAN AGAIN ON NOV. 30, 2007 AT THE COST OF $979. THE CONSUMER FURTHER STATED IN 2005 SHE REAR ENDED A VEHICLE AT 5MPH BECAUSE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED RIGHT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, REPAIRED FRONT COVER GASKET, REPLACED FRONT PINION, AND REPLACED SERPENTINE BELT. UPDATED 12/31/07 *TR

• 11/28/2001· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK *YH

• 11/24/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PLEASE SEND ME FRONTAL IMPACT STATS AND SIDE IMPACT STATS IF AVAILABLE--HOW DOES THIS CAR RATE????NO AFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

• 11/21/2000· VISIBILITY

  SWITCH FOR REAR AC/HEAT BURNED AND SMOKED WHEN I TURNED IT ON. PREMIER MOTOR COACH INSTALLED IT. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE. LAST SUMMER, IT DIDN'T BLOW ANY AIR. I SPOKE WITH PREMEIR AS THE LATEST MOTOR LASTED 13000 MILES. HAD I PUT THE HEAT ON AND LEFT THE CAR, A FIRE WOULD HAVE STARTED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE ELSE I CAN TURN TO. PREMIER COULD CARE LESS. THEY ARE LOCATED AT 205 COMPLEX DR, LAKELAND FLORIDA 33801. THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND DO NOT BACK IT UP FOR SAFETY. MY CAR WAS SMOKING AND BURNING UNTIL I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF. I CAN NOT USE IT UNTIL IT IS REPLACE, AT MY EXPENSE, NOT PREMIER. I AM FURIOUS THAT MY FAMILY AND I WERE SUBJECTED TO A DANGEROUS PRODUCT. PREMEIR MOTOR COACH STATES THEY HAVE NEVER HAD ANY FAILURE AND BLAME THE DEALER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN FAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ISSUE A CONSUMER COMPLAINT WITH ALL NECESSARY AGENCIES. ANY SUGGESTIONS. I DO BELIEVE THIS PRODUCT WOULD HAVE STARTED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. PLEASE HELP ME AND OTHER. *AK

• 11/13/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH WHEN HE SMELLED SMOKE, AND PULLED OVER TO EXIT. THE DOORS AND WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPEN. CONSUMER HIT THE GLASS WITH HIS SHOULDER AND HAND TO GET OUT, BUT THEN HE HAD TO BREAK THE GLASS TO EXIT. NOTICE LIGHT COMING FROM THE TIRES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND THEN SAW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. CONTACTED THE DEALER TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/12/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TAKING OFF, PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR IT STOPPED WITH A KINK IN IT, THEN PRESSED A LITTLE MORE, IT LURCHED TO GET PAST THAT POINT. DEALER CONTACTED AND STATED THEY WILL REMEDY THE PROBLEM BY SPRAYING THE THHROTTLE. *AK

• 11/10/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHEN APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. TOOK TO DEALER, TOLD IT WAS A NORMAL MAINTENANCE PROBLEM THAT COULD BE REPAIRED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK *ML

• 11/09/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I'VE GONE THRU 4 SETS OF BRAKES - FRONT & REAR. THEY ARE ONLY LASTING 6-8 MONTHS- TOLD REAR ARE EXPIERCING HIGH HEAT & CRACKING.

• 11/08/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/03/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER,STRUCTURE

  THE GAS INDICATOR FAILS TO REGISTER THE CORRECT FUEL LEFT IN VEHICLE. OWNER RAN OUT OF GAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE INDICATOR. THE DOOR HINGES ON THE DUTCH DOORS ALLOW DOORS TO SWING WIDE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TO REPAIR HINGES, BUT THE FUEL INDICATOR COULD NOT BE FIXED. *AK *ML

• 10/31/2000· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST FIRST GEAR THEN FOURTH GEAR WAS LOST. *AK FINALLY THE REVERSE GEAR FAILED. *YH

• 10/28/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  1997 CHEVROLET ASTROVAN WITH ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCKS. PULLED INTO SHEETZ GAS AND GO AND WENT TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND IT DID NOT OPEN. TRIED TO PUSH THE MANUAL INSIDE DOOR LOCK BUT IT WAS TOTALLY FROZEN AND WOULD NOT ACTUATE. NEXT TRIED ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCK SWITCH. NO RESPONSE ON DRIVERS DOOR BUT THERE WAS WEAK SOUND FROM PASSENGER DOOR LOCK SOLENOID. IT WAS AS IF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IT WAS SUFFERING FROM INSUFFICIENT VOLTAGE. CRAWLED OUT OF PASSENGER SEAT AND GOT OUT OF CAR. ' TOOK IGNITION KEY AND INSERTED IT INTO DRIVERS DOOR LOCK. KEY WOULD TURN TO LOCK (FELT THE DETENT OF THE ) AND BACK TO NEUTRAL... KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO UNLOCK POSITION ...WOULD MOVE A LITTLE AND THEN FREEZE. I DID NOT TRY HARDER TO TURN AS I FELT THERE WAS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THE KEY WOULD BREAK AND LEAVE ME STRANDED 40 MILES FROM HOME... NO BACKUP IGNITION KEY. IGNITION KEY WORKS THE DOOR LOCKS IN THIS MODEL. WENT TO NTSTB WEB SITE AND SEARCHED FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME TYPE PROBLEM. NO LUCK. WENT TO GOOGLE AND DID SAME SEARCH CHEVROLET ASTROVAN DOOR WON'T OPEN AND GOT A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT HAD NOT REACHED NTSTB.. CHEVROLET HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF THIS MODEL HAS FLIP UP STEERING WHEEL, THIS WOULD NOT BE THE PROBLEM IT IS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR OLDER AND LARGER PROBLEM TO CLIMB OUT OF THE BUCKET SEAT AS THE STEERING WHEEL TRAPS YOUR LEGS WHEREAS A BENCH SEAT YOU SIMPLY SLIDE SIDEWAYS. THIS IS AN ENTRAPMENT ISSUE!!!!!! WILL SEE DEALER IN HOUR. *TR

• 10/26/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE HAS AN ONGOING STALLING PROBLEM. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON NINE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE FOUND FOR REPAIR. *AK *ML

• 10/23/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH ENGINE WAS MAKING NOISE. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE AFFECTED.TECHNICIAN SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH IDLER PULLEY AND TENSION PULLEY.*AK AFTER EXPLOSION LIKE SOUND UNDER THE HOOD, THE TENSIONER PULLEY DISINTEGRATED CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. *YH

• 10/18/1999· VISIBILITY

  THE LATCHES ON THE LEFT HAND PASSENGER'S WINDOW: DOOR HINGE WILL NOT LOCK OVER CENTER. THIS CAUSES THE WINDOW TO SLAM SHUT WHEN OTHER VEHICLES ARE PASSING BY. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECTED. *AK

• 10/16/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  EVERY THOUSAND MILES, SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE RUNS VERY ROUGH, JETS HAVE BEEN CLEANED 4 TIMES ON THE ENGINE. DEALER WAS BLAMING IT ON CHEVRON GAS. CHEVRON HAS SENT A LETTER STATING IT WAS THE POPPET VALVE. DELAER CHANGED ALL 6 POPPET VALVES AND CLEANED THE FUEL INTAKE SYSTEM, AND IT WORKED FOR 5 MONTHS. PROBLEM HAS COME UP AGAIN. *SLC

• 10/15/2001· STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY, RESULTING IN A CRASH. GMC KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FIX IT UNTIL ENOUGH PEOPLE DIE. MY FAMILY WAS ALMOST KILLED. ANYONE WHO HAS HAD A FAMILY MEMBER HURT OR KILLED IN A GM VAN SHOULD SUE GMC. *AK

• 10/14/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  ADDITONAL FAILURE DATES / MI: 8-11-99 @20544 MI., 12-2-99 @ 21932 MI., 6-30-00 @24992MI, 10-13-00 @26737 MI., AS YOU CAN SEE THE PROBLEM REPETES AT ABOUT EVERY 2000 - 2500 MILES. CHEVY SAYS ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS BLENDS IN CA & NY ONLY? IF THIS IS TRUE THEN WHY ARE THEY NOT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ALL OF THERE ENGINES? THE INJECTION PORTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX RO REPALCE THEM. INSTED THEY BRING THE VAN IN FOR A "INJECTOR CLEANING" PER CHEVY BULLETIN. THE ENGINE RUNS SO ROUGH IT SHAKES THE WHOLE VAN! THE FUEL INJECTOR DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED/RECALLED!

• 10/13/1998· AIR BAGS

  FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.*AK

• 10/12/2000· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT IN WHICH AIR BAGS EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED DUE TO THE AIRBAGS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *SLC

• 10/11/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FRO ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 10/10/1997· POWER TRAIN

  AXLE ASSEMBLY OVERHEATED AND FAILED AXLE SEALS/BEARINGS. *AK

• 10/09/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, PULSTATING BRAKES, FRONT ROTOR/GROOVED, SQUEAKING/SCREAMING NOISE, ALL HAVING BEEN DIAGNOSED AND BEING TOLD ON SOME OCCASIONS THAT THEY ARE FINE. AFTER THE CONSUMER HAD SEEN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT ROTOR, THE MECHANIC HAD SHOWN THE COMPARISON WITH THE AFTERMARKET ROTOR, THE DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY WAS IMMEDIATELY APPARENT THAT THE BACKGROUND IS AEROSPACE MACHINING/MANUFACTURING. AFTER A REPLACEMENT OF THE ROTORS, FRONT BRAKE PADS, SKIM MACHINE THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS/ADJUST THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, IT WAS TOLD TO THE CONSUMER BY THE OWNER OF THE SERVICE STATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ROTOR DESIGN, SO THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO GO AHEAD W/THE WORK. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAS RETURNED TO THE EXPERIENCE OF WHEN HE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE DEALER. *SCC *DT

• 10/07/1998· TIRES

  GENERAL TIRES P215-75-R-15, EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TREAD ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE EVERY 6,000 MILES. NOTHING LEFT, NO TREAD LEFT, HIGHWAY TRAVELLING AND AROUND TOWN. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY WILL REPLACE THE TIRES, ATTEMPTED TO ORDER, STILL ON BACKORDER. *AK

• 10/05/1999· AIR BAGSCrash

  AIR BAGS DID NOT COME OUT ,THE VAN WAS TRAVLEING AT 50MPH ,WITH A FRONT END COLLISION.

• 10/03/2000· VISIBILITY

  BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, CONSUMER HAS TROUBLE SEEING. *SLC

• 10/03/1997· VISIBILITY

  WHEN DRIVING AND A BIG TRUCK PASSES THE ASTRO AND THE REAR SIDE QUARTER WINDOW SHUT ALL BY ITSELF, WHEN THE WINDOW IS OPENED THE LOCK ON THE WINDOW IS ADJUSTED SO THAT THE WINDOW COULD STAY OPEN. BUT FOR SOME REASON WHEN SOMETHING HEAVY WINDED COMES BY LIKE A BIG TRUCK, THE WINDOW WOULD SHUT WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. THE OWNER STATES THAT THERE ARE CHILDREN THAT SIT BACK IN THE REAR OF THE ASTRO, AND THAT THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR THE WINDOW TO SHUT LIKE THIS. *AK

• 10/01/2001· VISIBILITY

  THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED.

• 09/29/2002· VISIBILITY

  POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES. MR

• 09/29/1999· POWER TRAIN

  GEAR INDICATOR GETS STUCK WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, IT MAKES A LOUD THUMBING NOISE. *AK