1988 Chevrolet Astro Owner Complaints

FISSURE IN THE RADIATOR

NHTSA ID

10122555

Incident

Sep 8, 2000

Mileage

450,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES IDLER ARM TORE OFF THE FRAME, CAUSING STEERING TO THE FAIL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10031394

Incident

Jul 27, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, BUT WILL BE EASY TO START IT BACK UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8016867

Incident

Jul 29, 2002

OVERHEATING OF DOME/INSTRUMENT LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH AND PLUG IN FRONT OF IT CAUGHT FIRE. BURNED PARTS REPLACED. HAPPENED TWICE MORE (WITHOUT FIRE). OVERHEATING IN THIS AREA PERSISTS WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. ONE HEADLIGHT GETS EXTREMELY HOT. BURNED OUT FRONT FAN MOTOR AND A MONTH LATER FUEL PUMP BURNED OUT.

NHTSA ID

762846

Incident

Feb 15, 2002

BOLTS THAT GO THROUGH THE POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET INTO THE ENGINE HAVE BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME ON A 4.3L ENGINE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8008222

Incident

Apr 19, 2002

AFTER 1-2 HOURS OF TRAVELING TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN STATED THAT TORQUE CONVERTER AND VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND THEN TAKING OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, WHEN VEHICLE COOLS OFF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN, TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST STATED THAT THE VALVE BODY AND TORQUE CONVERTER HAD BEEN REDESIGNED SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

894138

I WAS GETTING READY TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE SEAT BACK IMMEDIATELY RECLINED. IT IS A GOOD THING THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME AS I WOULD OF LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VAN INTO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP (MEDVED CHEVROLET IN ARVADA, CO) AS THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WAS OUT OF BUSINESS. THE SERVICE DEPT. TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE AND IT WAS IN 1993 FOR THE SEAT TRACK AND NOT THE BOLT. THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT UNDER A RECALL. I KNOW THAT WHEN MEDVED DID THE ORIGINAL RECALL REPAIR/REPLACEMENT, THAT THE RECALL CLAIMED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD IMMEDIATELY FALL BACKWARDS AND COULD CREATE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS.*AK

NHTSA ID

745589

Incident

Apr 25, 2001

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL FOUR VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO POSSIBLE FAILURE AND BLOWOUT OF THE FIRESTONE P 215/70R15 TIRE, PRIOR TO ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ALL NEW TIRES (8-97), ONE WAS REPLACED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO ACCIDENT DUE TO WIRE THREADS STICKING OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS. THE FAMILY OF THE DRIVER OF THE ASTRO VAN IS SEEKING AN INVESTIGATE REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF THE TIRE BEING THE CAUSE INSTEAD OF THE CONSUMER, WHO IS NOW IN JAIL. *MJS

NHTSA ID

556913

Incident

Apr 18, 1998

VEHICLE BOTOM BOLT TO POWER STEERING BRACKET KEPT BREAKING. BEEN TO DEALER ON ONE OCCASIONS, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE. *AK THE BRACKET BROKE AGAIN ONE YEAR AFTER BEING REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ID

871350

Incident

Jun 15, 1996

RIGHT REAR TIRE, BEARING AND AXEL SHOW EXTREME WEAR OVER A SHORT PERIOD IF TIME. HAVE HAD TWO BLOWOUTS OF THE TIRE AND FOUR OTHER TIRE FAILURES IN THE RIGHT REAR POSITION. HAD TO REPLACE THE AXEL AND WHEEL BEARING DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. THIS IS THE RESULT OF A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE MUFFLER HAS BEEN PLACED IN TOO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE RIGHT TIRE AND AXEL HOUSING. HEAT FROM THE MUFFLER CAUSE THE TIRE TO SMELL LIKE OVERHEATED RUBBER AFTER A HIGH SPEED RUN. ESPECIALLY IN HOT WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT A DUAL REAR AXEL AND WHEN THE TIRE BLOWS LOSS OF CONTROL MAY WELL KILL PASSENGERS AND COLLIDE WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE CURED THIS PROBLEM IN MY VEHICLE BY WRAPPING THE MUFFLER WITH HEADER TAPE AND ENCLOSING IT ALL IN STOVE PIPE HELD IN PLACE WITH LARGE HOSE CLAMPS. THIS WORKS QUITE WELL. THERE ARE OTHERS ON THE ROAD AND THE OWNERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE DANGER.

NHTSA ID

729385

THE ONE PIECE ACESSORY MOUNTING BRACKET CRACKS AND FAILS WHICH CAUSES THE POWER STEERING PUMB TO BEND FORWARD AND THE SINGLE SERPENTINE BELT TO BE THROWN. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY THE COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AND YOU COULD TELL THAT ONE THE BRACKET CRACKED, IT PUT A STRAIN ON THE LOER 2 MOUNTING BOLTS AND SNAPPED THE HEADS OFF THE BOLTS. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED ANOTHER CHEVY WITH THE 305 ENGINE AND THAT BRACKET ALSO FAILED. I HAVE ALSO SEN MANY OF THESE BRACKETS ON USED ENGINS AT SALVAGE YARDS WITH CRACKS IN THE SAME PLACE. WHEN THE BRACKET BRAKES, YOU LOSE ALL POWER ASSIST WHICH COULD PUT THE VEHICLE AND PASSENGERS AT RISK. I AM AN ENGINEER BY EDUCATION AND HAVE ALSO OWNED AN AUTO REPAIR GARAGE. I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE PART NEEDS AN ADDITIONAL GUSSET WELDED SO THAT IT CANNOT FLEX AND ULTIMATELY FAIL.

NHTSA ID

720171

TILT STEERING COLUMN BECAME LOOSE. ON TWO OCCASIONS REPAIR SHOP HAD TO REPLACE THE STREERING COLUMN. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

854338

Incident

Nov 29, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

714048

Incident

Aug 12, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END, AS IF SOMETHING WAS FALLING OUT. DIFFERENTIAL HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA ID

848920

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS

NHTSA ID

545762

Incident

Apr 24, 1999

POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE. STOPING DISTANCE OF VEHICLE IS LONGER THAN EXPECTED. WITH A FULL PASSENGER LOAD, VEHICLE DOE NOT WANT TO STOP WITHIN RESONABLE DISTANCE. HAS RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER 3 DIFFERENT TIMES, AND EVERY PART EXCEPT BRAKE LINES AND PROPORTIONING VALVE HAS BEEN REPLACED. VAN BRAKES CONTINUE TO UNDER PERFORM. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER OF 10 YEARS SAID THAT 1985 THROUGH 1988 ASTRO'S WERE WELL KNOWN FOR POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE. I WILL NOT LET ANYONE OTHER THAN MYSELF DRIVE THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

702917

Incident

Nov 10, 1997

EXPERIENCING POOR INSTRUMENT PANEL VISIBILITY WHENEVER SUN IS FACING CONSUMER WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER UNABLE TO SEE SPEEDOMETER . DEALER NOTIFIED, SAYS THAT IT IS BAD DESIGN. *AK

NHTSA ID

832876

Incident

Sep 15, 1998

THE DEFECTIVE PLATE THAT HOLDS THE POWER STEERING PUMP CRACKED, CAUSING THE STEERING BELT TO JUMP OFF, RESULTING IN NO STEERING ABILITY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

824892

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

ENGINE FIRE.(OHIO POLICE REPORT).

NHTSA ID

535705

Incident

Apr 16, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID

604789

Incident

Oct 1, 1992

FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE HARD TO UNLATCH WHILE EXITING VEHICLE. ALSO, CHILD RESTRAINTS IN REAR OF VEHICLE DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

816921

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH THE RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE. OWNER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES FIBERGLASS VEHICLE SPRING BROKE AND FELT LIKE A BLOWOUT, CONSUMER REPLACED SPRING AND VEHICLE HANDLES FINE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

816418

Incident

Aug 26, 1997

SERPENTINE BELT CONTINUALLY COMES OFF PARTICULARLY WHEN RAINING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING ABILITY.

NHTSA ID

515506

SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF APPROXIMATELY EVERY 6 WEEKS, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OVERHEATING.

NHTSA ID

520694

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIPER SWITCH, CAUSED SWITCH TO START SMOKING, RESULTING IN THE WIPERS STAYING UNTIL CONSUMER REMOVED FUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

810515