1990 Chevrolet Astro Owner Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT QUICKLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID A DEER. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN IN THE DIRECTION OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN SHE DEPRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE WHEEL BEARINGS FREEZE AND THE VEHICLE STEERS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR NEW TIRES AND AN ALIGNMENT, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SWAY BAR FAILED, AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD NEVER HAVE PASSED INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAD NO INTERNAL LIGHTS, BUT THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIR. THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED OCCASIONALLY, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE PLACES FOUR QUARTS OF OIL IN THE VEHICLE EVERY DAY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SINCE THE HEADLIGHTS AND SWAY BAR FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 184,583 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,083. UPDATED 10/14/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELTS NEED TO BE REPAIRED. UPDATED 10/15/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10223109

Incident

Feb 25, 2008

Mileage

182,083 mi

THE DRIVER'S SEAT UNDERSIDE FRAME TRACK RUNNERS THAT ATTACH TO THE AUTOMATIC SEAT ADJUSTMENT MOTORIZED SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO MAINTAIN ITS PROPER FUNCTION. THE RIGHT SIDE RUNNER WAS MADE FROM AN ALLUMINUM ALLOY AND THE LEFT SIDE RUNNER WAS MADE FROM A STEEL ALLOY. THE STEEL ALLOY HAS HELD UP AND MAINTAINED ITS POSITION THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. HOWEVER, THE ALLUMINUM ALLOY RUNNER ON THE LEFT UNDERSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAS BROKEN AND LOST ALL FUNCTIONALITY. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO SEVERLY LEAN TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND BACK. ALONG WITH THE CURRENT SAFTEY RECALLS ABOUT THE INTERAL FRAME OF THE SEAT DESIGN. OTHER 1990 CHEVROLET ASTRO VANS THAT HAVE THE CURRENT PROBLEM COULD HAVE A VERY SERIOUS INJURY, IF NOT A FATALITY UPON EVEN A MODERATELY LOWSPEED COLLISION FROM ANY DIRECTION. IN 1993, WE BROUGHT THE VAN BACK TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE SEAT REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE SAME PROBLEM HAS ACCURED ONCE AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY, THE MANUFACTURERS PART DESIGN HAS A CLEAR DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10066507

Incident

Apr 19, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS MODIFIED INTO A CONVERSION VAN. DRIVER'S SEAT BUSTED AND FELL BACKWARDS. *AK THE PART WHICH SUPPORTS THE BACK OF THE SEAT FAILED. *JG

NHTSA ID

8007396

HAD PLACED CHILD SEAT IN VEHICLE, THREADED SEAT BELT THROUGH AND LOCKED IT. SEAT BELT FAILED TO BE CINCHED TIGHT ENOUGH TO KEEP CHILD SEAT FROM TIPPING OVER WHEN ROUNDING CORNERS.*AK

NHTSA ID

8004112

ABS BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE QUICKLY ENOUGH WHEN APPLIED. CAN HEAR ABS MOTOR CATCHING AND THEN RELEASING. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MANUFACTURER.*AK

NHTSA ID

898221

TIRE BUBLED TO ABOUT TWICE NORMAL SIZE ON ABOUT HALF OF TIRE. (TIRESIZE: P205/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/75R15 )

NHTSA ID

741432

Incident

Feb 22, 2001

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THEY CAUSED A THUMPING SOUND, AND BRAKES WOULD MOMENTARILY LOCK UP AT A STOP POSITION. ALSO, SUDDEN STOP WOULD CAUSE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP AS WELL. ALL CONDITIONS WOULD HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN TO A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON 3-4 OCCASIONS, AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

869096

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

IN DRIVING AROUND TOWN I'VE NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM ON ALMOST EVERY OLDER VAN. I HAVE AN "84" PICK-UP AND I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

723843

Incident

Mar 17, 1997

MY HUSBAND WAS GOING TO BACK THE VAN UP OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT WAS IN "PARK". HE STARTED THE IGNITION AND AS SOON AS THE VAN STARTED, IT BACKED UP EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN PARK. IT WENT SEVERAL FEET BEFORE MY HUSBAND HAS TO STOP IT BY SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION. IF A CHILD HAD BEEN BEHIND THE VAN OR ANOTHER VEHICLE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THE PROBLEM IS THE "TORQUE - CONVERTER". I WILL NEVER DRIVE THE VAN AGAIN. I REALIZE THE VAN HAS HIGH MILEAGE AND UNDERSTAND THAT ANYTHING CAN GO WRONG WITH A VEHICLE THAT OLD, BUT I CAR POOL SMALL CHILDREN. IT THAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME AT SCHOOL, I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE'S CHILD. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING, BUT OUR MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT HE HAS HAD IT HAPPEN TO HIM ONE TIME. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS. *AK

NHTSA ID

721509

Incident

Apr 14, 2000

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, HIT BLACK PIECE OF ICE, SWERVED AND HIT A TREE. DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT FAILED. AS A RESULT, DRIVER'S FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK

NHTSA ID

859762

Incident

Jan 2, 2000

SHOULDER STRAP FAILED AS RESULT HIT FACE ON STEERING WHEEL. TWENTY STITCHES. *AK

NHTSA ID

721077

Incident

Jan 2, 2000

STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSFER CASE, CAUSING FLUID EXPULSION/ DRIVESHAFT SEPARATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ID

858181

WHILE DRIVING HEARD CLICKING NOISE, VEHICLE STOPPED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. BY THE TIME FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID

858144

Incident

Mar 1, 2000

ABS FAILURE RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. YH

NHTSA ID

548855

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND HAS STAYED ON SINCE THEN. DEALER HAS TO REPLACE THE ABS. *AK

NHTSA ID

842982

CAN I REQUEST THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL OF CHEVROLET ASTRO VANS FOR ABS BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

708985

Incident

Jun 16, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, SEAT BROKE FROM THE BOTTOM AND FELL BACK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

842588

Incident

Jul 18, 1999

THE BATTERY & THE ALTERNATOR JUST WENT DEAD, AND I HAD TO BE TOWED TO BRITTS TIRE SERVICE IN BETHLEHEM PA. *AK

NHTSA ID

705847

Incident

May 14, 1998

INSTALLED A 15A FUSE INTO FUSE HOLDER FOR FACTORY FOG LAMPS AND TURNED ON FACTORY SWITCH AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER DASH BY WIRING HARNESS. WHEN SEEN SMOKE, TURNED OFF THE FOG LIGHTS. NO BURN MARKS SEEN. TRIED STANDARD HEADLIGHTS, THEY DON'T WORK. TRIED TO START VEHICLE, NO START. BATTERY WENT DEAD. CHECKED SWITCH FOR HEADLAMPS. CONTACT POINTS BURNED. FUSE DID NOT BLOW WHEN SMOKE HAPPENED. 15A FACTORY SPEC. 15A INSTALLED. NO OTHER FUSE'S BLEW EITHER. TOOK TO AUTO ELECTRIC SHOP. INVESTIGATING. BRYANS AUTOMOTIVE OLYMPIA, WA (360)459-7235. ALL OTHER POWER ITEMS STILL APPEAR TO FUNCTION. CL MODEL ASTRO. 2 DR AWD. GM NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEM! *AK

NHTSA ID

702564

Incident

Jan 24, 1999

THE PAINT BEGAN TO "BUBBLE" APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE.

NHTSA ID

781701

Incident

May 15, 1992

THE PAINT STARTED TO BUBBLE ABOUT A YR AFTER WE HAD BOUGHT THE VAN. THEN AFTER THE PAINT BUBBLED IT JUST PEELED OFF. WE FINALLY SANDED THE HOOD & PUT PRIMER ON IT, THE REST OF THE BODY IS DOING THE SAME. WE CAN'T WASH IT WITHOUT THE PAINT COMING OFF! PLEASE HELP!!!!!

NHTSA ID

700610

Incident

May 15, 1992

STEERING WHEEL TILT WAS LOOSE, CONSUMER TIGHTENED IT. VIBRATION CAUSES THE BOLTS TO COME OUT WHEN DRIVING 60-65 MPH. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. INCIDENT OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THEN A LOCK WASHER WAS APPLIED. ALSO STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

830749

Incident

Nov 1, 1998

THE DOOR LATCH ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ON LONGER WORKS. PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING SIDE DOOR STICKS IN THE CLOSED POSITION.

NHTSA ID

540356

Incident

Aug 20, 1998

THE INSIDE OF THE VAN BURNED UP WHILE BEING PARKED OVERNIGHT. THE FIRE MARSHALL STATED THE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VAN TO BURN. THE VAN HAS BEEN TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

823687

Incident

Mar 19, 1998

SIDE CARGO DOOR OPENS INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ID

533584