1989 Chevrolet Astro Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1989 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER DIED AT THE SCENE AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY, MEMORY LOSS, BACK, LEFT ARM, AND LEFT LEG INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. MA 10/25/15

NHTSA ID

10759138

Incident

Feb 1, 1994

RUSTED METAL BRAKE LINE FROM THE OE BRAKE LINE SPLICE FORWARD OF THE FUEL TANK TO THE LINE SPLITTER AT THE REAR AXEL ALLOWED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. AS THE LINE WAS REMOVED TO REPLACE, SEEPAGE ON THE RUSTED LINE TO THE LEFT BRAKE FROM THE SPLITTER WAS OBSERVED. AS A PRECAUTION, THE RIGHT REAR LINE WAS REMOVED WHICH DISINTEGRATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10433940

Incident

Nov 10, 2010

Mileage

44,594 mi

THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPACE AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. THE POWER STEERING BRACKET, OR BRACE, GM PART # 10045287 6.006 BROKE AND THE POWER STEERING UNIT, BELT, AND OTHER ITEMS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY AND THE DEALER TOWED IT IN AND REPAIRED EVERYTHING AT NO CHARGE. SINCE THEN THE SAME BRACKET HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN FOUR OR FIVE TIMES, AND WAS REPLACED EACH TIME WITH A NEW ONE, MOST RECENTLY IN JULY OF 2004. THE PARTS DEPARTMENT ADMITS THEY SELL A LOT OF THESE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10086889

Incident

Jul 30, 2004

BRAKES WENT OUT AND STARTED ON FIRE. BAFFLES ON ENGINE EXHAUST RUSTED OUT AND LAYED ON FRAME TOUCHING STARTER MOTOR ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH STARTED BRAKE FLUID ON FIRE FROM OTHER SIDE OF VEHICLE. BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY SAME TIME AS BAFFLE RUSTED OUT. MASTER CYLINDER WAS BUBBLING FROM THE HEAT AS BRAKE FLUID WAS ON FIRE. FIRE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT OUT. BUCKETS OF WATER WOULD NOT EXTINGUISH FLAMES. ONLY A HOSE COULD REACH THAT AREA OF THE FIRE.*AK*AK

NHTSA ID

764159

Incident

Jun 15, 2002

THIS IS THE FOURTH POWER STEERING PUMP WE HAVE PUT ON THE VEHICLE IN A YEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

761652

Incident

May 5, 2002

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT, RIGHT POWER SEAT MOUNT IS BROKEN. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH SEAT WILL NOT BE RETAINED. SEARCH FOR A REPLACEMENT INDICATED THAT OTHER LIKE VEHICLES ARE ALSO SUFFERING CRACKS IN THE SAME PART. THE FAILURE OF THE PART WILL CAUSE THE SEAT TO NO LONGER SUPPORT THE DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY. MULTIPLE VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM INDICATE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE PART.

NHTSA ID

752750

Incident

Sep 15, 2001

NONE OF THE SAT BELTS WORK. NLM

NHTSA ID

561563

DRIVER/ PASSENGER/ REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERABLE. SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT IN HOUSING MECHANISM. MOST OF THE SEAT BELTS ARE DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

880427

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE NOT RETRACTING CORRECTLY. THEY DO NOT HOLD CONSUMERS TIGHTLY IN SEATS, THEY ARE LOOSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

875753

Incident

Nov 30, 1999

RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE FIREHAWK TIRE P235/60R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, TIRE WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD. *SLC

NHTSA ID

871262

Incident

Sep 14, 2000

THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AS REPLACEMENTS TO THE ORIGINAL . I WAS TRAVLING SOUTHBOUND ON HWY 99 WHEN THE TREAD CAME OFF OF THE TIRE. I WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. AND FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE SKID AND SLIDE ENOUGH TO GET STOPPED IN THE CENTER DIVIDER OF THE HWY. THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE, EVEN AFTER SLIDING FORWARD AND SIDEWAYS, HOWEVER IT DID THROW MOST FO THE TREAD OFF . THE CHP HAD TWO UNITS RESPOND FROM PASSERBY CALL IN. I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO MY INSURANCE CARRIER, THE AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, FOR THEIR SCRUTINIZATION.( DOT NUMBER: HYUL R5A TIRE SIZE: P205/75R15 )

NHTSA ID

731632

Incident

Sep 15, 2000

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND BEGAN TO SMOKE, ONCE THE HOOD WAS OPENED THEY FOUND THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD CAUGHT FIRE IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE CONSUMER RECEIVED BURNS TO THE FACE. NLM

NHTSA ID

553870

Incident

Jan 9, 2000

POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE OFF THE BASE. ALSO, STEERING BELT BROKE. IN ADDITION, AIR CONDITIONER BELT/ ALTERNATOR AND ABS BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

864075

Incident

Jun 22, 2000

PEELING PAINT ON TOP, FRONT AND SOME ON ALL SIDES. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

721805

ENGINE BOLTS SHEERING AT POWER STEERING UNIT MOUNTING PLATE, THUS STEERING UNIT FLEXES FORWARD ,SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF, LOSS OF STEERING, ALTERNATOR, COOLING SYSTEM, AND A/C OCCOURS. THIS WAS MENTIONED TO LOCAL MECHANICS AT DEALERSHIP, THEY STATE THIS OCCOURS OFTEN WITH THIS VEHICLE TYPE.

NHTSA ID

715627

Incident

Jun 24, 1999

SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BECOME VERY LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED ABOUT ONCE A YEAR. CURRENTLY IT HAS BECOME LOOSE FOR THE SECOND TIME AND WILL NEED TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

715552

Incident

Nov 1, 1999

I APOLOGIZE IF THIS IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE FORM FOR A PAINT DEFECT, BUT ICOULD FIND NO OTHER COMPLAINT FORM ON YOUR WEBSITE. MY COMPLAINT IS PROMPTED BY A RECENT ARTICLE IN CONSUMER REPORTS THAT MENTIONS A PAINT DEFECT IN 1988-1992 CHEVROLETS THAT DESCRIBES OUR PROBLEM; IT REFERENCES BULLETIN 331708, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS AND CANNOT FIND IT ON YOUR WEBSITE. THE PAINT ON THE CARGO DOOR OF OUR VAN 7 OR 8 YEARS AGO BEGAN FADING BADLY, UNLIKE THE REST OF THE VAN, WHICH LOOKS FINE. WE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER, CHEVROLET, AND GM, BUT ONLY GOT FORM LETTER RESPONSES THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS THE WARRANTED HAD EXPIRED. THIS WAS AN OBVIOUS PAINT PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR ONLY; I SENT A PHOTO AS WELL, WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THE DEALER HAS CHANGED HANDS SEVERAL TIMES; IT WAS ORIGINALLY CARPENTERS CHEVROLET. LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE.

NHTSA ID

713120

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE SAME BOLTS HAVE BROKEN CAUSING THE BELT TO COME OFF. EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE GOES OUT, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. MY WIFE HAS HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING TWO TIMES PRIOR TO THIS ONE, CARRYING OUR THREE SMALL CHILDREN WITH HER. SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED, FROM A COUPLE, WE NEED TO KNOW IF THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. DURING THE REPAIR OF THE SECOND INCIDENT, WE FOUND 2 BRAND NEW BELTS UNDER THE BACK SEAT OF THE VAN, ASSUMING THE COUPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WE'RE EXPERIENCING. PLEASE ADVICE. THIS IS GETTING COSTLY AND AT THIS POINT WE WILL NEVER BUY A CHEVY PRODUCT AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

707184

Incident

Jun 3, 1999

DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING POWER STEERING HYDRAULIC HOSE WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE PART WILL FAIL AND NEEDS TO REPLACED EVERY 12- 15 MONTHS. *AK

NHTSA ID

838561

WHILE TRAVELLING IN OUR '89 CHEVY ASTRO MINIVAN THE SEATBELTS (LAP BELTS IN THE MIDDLE AND REAR SEATS) SEEM TO EASILY BECOME LOOSE AS OUR CHILDREN SQUIRM AROUND WHILE DRIVING (IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH MOVEMENT ON THEIR PART IN ORDER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN). WE OFTEN NEED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO RE-TIGHTEN THEIR SEAT BELTS. WE FEEL THAT THIS ASPECT IS HIGHLY UNSAFE.

NHTSA ID

700805

WHEN DRIVING AT 55 PMH ANOTHER CONSUMER NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHCILE, AND WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER THE SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE VENTS AND THE RADIO. WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND THEY THOUGHT THAT THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE FUEL LINE CRACKED. *AK

NHTSA ID

829834

Incident

Oct 18, 1998

SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE. BELIEVED THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT FOR THIS VEHICLE WITH 71000 OF WEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST IS TO CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID

828039

Incident

Mar 1, 1998

THIS VAN IN NOW CURRENTLY SITTING IN MY YARD AS I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX IT AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE MECHANICS AT THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP STATED IF WOULD BE OVER $600.00 TO REPAIR. I KNOW THIS HAS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT FOR IT TO HAVE HAPPENED TO US ON 5 OCCASIONS, NECESSITATING A WRECKER SERVICE CALL EACH TIME. I PAID $35.00 FOR THE WRECKER THIS TIME AND $48.50 TO GET IT OUT OF THE SHOP UNREPAIRED TO BRING IT HOME TO SIT IN THE YARD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THE BELT SLIPS OFF OF THE SYSTEM IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO CONTROL AND STEER OF THE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED EARLY IN THE MORNING AND THERE WASN'T ANY TRAFFIC ALONG THE HIGHWAY I WAS DRIVING ON.

NHTSA ID

540229

Incident

Aug 16, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING VIBRATION. WHEN RELEASING FOOT OFF GAS VIBRATION STOPS. *AK

NHTSA ID

539602

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

FRONT SUSPENSION AREA ON THE FRAME WHERE THE IDLER ARM ATTACHES, RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE FRAME. RESULTED IN AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 2 X 3 INCHES BEING PULLED COMPLETELY OUT OF THE FRAME, LEAVING A HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE FRAME. A COMPLETE LOSS OFF STEERING RESULTED AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. REAR DOOR FAILS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 18 TO 24 MONTHS. THE REAR DOOR LATCH HAS BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. DEALER HAD TO BREAK INTO THE REAR DOORS IN ORDER TO GET THEM OPEN.

NHTSA ID

535883

Incident

Mar 1, 1998