1991 Chevrolet Astro Problems

BEGINNING ABOUT A YEAR AGO, HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT HARD PEDAL WHEN BRAKING. OCCURS RARELY, WITHOUT WARNING. NO ABS LIGHT SEEN BUT SUSPECT POSSIBLE ABS MALFUNCTION. PEDAL DOES NOT PULSATE BUT A FAINT GROWLING, GRINDING, OR BUZZING NOISE IS HEARD. MAY BE ABS MOTOR CYCLING. DURING FAILURE BRAKES ARE BARELY OPERATIVE. USUALLY RETURNS TO NORMAL OPERATION AFTER 2-3 PEDAL PRESSES. SOMETIMES PULLS SHARPLY LEFT, OCCASIONALLY RIGHT, ON BRAKE APPLICATION. THERE IS NO LOSS OF POWER STEERING. OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT FREEWAY SPEED BUT HAS ALSO OCCURRED AT SLOWER SPEEDS. HAS OCCURRED BOTH IN SUDDEN, HARD BRAKING AND IN VERY LIGHT USE. HAVE HAD ALL POWER COMPONENTS, ALL RUBBER HOSES, POWER STEERING PUMP, AND BOTH FRONT WHEEL BRAKE COMPONENTS PROFESSIONALLY REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS FRONT DISC/REAR DRUM AND HYDROBOOST. MECHANIC USUALLY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT HAS DONE SO ONCE AND HAS NO EXPLANATION FOR IT. SEEKING TO LEARN POSSIBLE REASONS AND CURE.

REPEATED TOTAL FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM RESULTING IN THREE SEPARATE REAR END ACCIDENTS OVER 13 YEAR PERIOD. ORIGINAL OWNER. WHEN BRAKING FOR SUDDEN EMAERGENCY STOP,AFTER INITIAL BRAKING BEGINS, BRAKE PETAL GOES DOWN TO FLOOR AND BRAKES COMPLETELY RELEASE, RESULTING IN NO BRAKE STOPPAGE OF VECHICLE AND SUSEQUENT REAR ENDING OF VEHICLE IN FRONT. DEALER DENIES SYTEM RECORD OF BRAKE FAILURE AFTER SECOND OCCURRANCE. WHEN HEARD ABOUT RECALL, DEALER SAYS DOES NOT APPLY IN CANADA, AND NOT APPLICABLE TO THE 1991 MODEL YEAR.

THE BACK DOUBLE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN ANYMORE. I CAN NOT GET INTO THE VAN TO PLACE MY SONS WHEEL CHAIR INTO IT. THE SPACE IN THE REAR WAS THE REASON WHY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE SIDE DOOR WILL NO LONGER LOCK, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN. *TS *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770142

CAR PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. UPON TURNING KEY TO START, SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING FROM UNDER DASH. SHUT OFF KEY, DISCONNECTED BATTERY AND AIRED VEHICLE. FOUND MELTED/ BARE WIRING. CONTACTED CHEVERLOT CUSTORMER SERVICE (#990501Z66, CONTACT KIM HILL). INDIVIDUAL REPORTED NOTHING GM COULD DO TO DEFRAY COSTS OF REPAIR. DEALER ESTIMATE AT $2,240. *AK

THE DOOR HANDLES ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE BROKE OFF. THE SLIDING SIDE DOOR LOCK ENGAGED BEFORE THE DOOR FULLY CLOSED BREAKING THE LOCKING MECHANISM. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL ASTRO AS WELL AS SAFARI VANS WITH MISSING HANDLES. I AM HAVING TROUBLE FINDING REPLACEMENT DOORS. *TR

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING PINS IN STEERING COLUMN SHEARED, CAUSING STEERING TO DROP. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL A TOW TRUCK. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOME, AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM HIMSELF. ALSO, DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF, ALL ALMOST AT THE SAME TIME, WITHIN A WEEK APART. CONSUMER REPLACED THEM ON HIS OWN. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED TO RETRACT ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTACT THE DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED TO CLICK IN AND HOLD. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT NOTHING WAS RESOLVED. *AK *TC

ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURRED IN CIRCUIT TO INTERMITTEN IGNITION SWITCH, DAMAGING IGNITION SWITCH AND FUSING OTHER CIRCUITS TOGETHER.

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE DASH HAS BEEN INOPERATIVE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER HAS FIXED. *AK

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING PINS IN STEERING COLUMN SHEARED, CAUSING STEERING TO DROP. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL A TOW TRUCK. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOME, AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM HIMSELF. ALSO, DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF, ALL ALMOST AT THE SAME TIME, WITHIN A WEEK APART. CONSUMER REPLACED THEM ON HIS OWN. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS 4 TO 5 INCHES OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO WOBBLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BOTH BLOWOUTS HAD THE APPEARANCE (TO A NON-EXPERT) OF A TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEM. *AK (DOT NUMBER: MKM3 TRHR TIRESIZE: P215/70R)

FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES(P215 75 R15)EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

DEFECT IN DESIGN OF ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CAUSED FRAME TO RIP AND BREAK IN SEVERAL PLACES IN LEFT FRONT MAKING THE VEHICLE UN-REPAIRABLE ALSO BROKE RIGHT FRONT DRIVE SHAFT . VEHICLE HAS BEEN USED FOR ON-ROAD USE ONLY ,

THE FRONT AXLE AND CV JOINT THERE IS A VIBRATION FREEWAY SPEED DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT . TT

THIS ASTROVAN SHOWS SEVERE RUSTOUT OF ALL UNDERBODY COMPONENTS, PARTICULARLY STEEL BRAKE LINES, CALIPERS, DRUMS, ROTORS, ETC. SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ALSO HAVE RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY INFLUENCE VEHICLE SAFETY. DEALER ASSERTS THAT THIS IS DUE TO IMPROPER STORAGE OR SUBMERSION IN SALT WATER BUT VAN KEPT ON ASPHALT PAVEMENT AND NEVER USED IN WATER. CONDITION EXISTED FROM FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. INDEPENDENT MECHANICS ASSEERTED RUSTOUT IS CHARACTERISTIC OF ALL ASTROVANS THEY HAVE SEEN. TO DATE HAVE REPLACES OVER $2000 OF BRAKE, RUNNING GEAR AND EXHAUST COMPONENTS IN 45000 MILES. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.*AK

EXCESSIVE AND RAPID TIRE WEAR CAUSED BY INFERIOR FRONT SUSPENSION THAT IS ORIGINAL FACTORY EQUIPMENT. *AK

IE97031; AIR CONDITIONER FAN SWITCH WIRING MELTED, AND ELEFT AN ODOR WHICH MAY START A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

WHEN TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITIONER ON THERE IS A BAD ODOR IN THE TRUCK . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN WEATHER IS RAINY. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY FOR DRIVER. *AK

GRINDING NOISE IN THE BRAKES, THEN ABS LIGHT CAME ON, REPLACED SOME PARTS. TT

CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES WITHOUT PEDAL OR CONTROL APPLICATION. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM IN 1994, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER NOT AWARE OF CURRENT SITUATION. *AK

VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE SHIFTING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE. TT

THIS ASTROVAN SHOWS SEVERE RUSTOUT OF ALL UNDERBODY COMPONENTS, PARTICULARLY STEEL BRAKE LINES, CALIPERS, DRUMS, ROTORS, ETC. SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ALSO HAVE RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY INFLUENCE VEHICLE SAFETY. DEALER ASSERTS THAT THIS IS DUE TO IMPROPER STORAGE OR SUBMERSION IN SALT WATER BUT VAN KEPT ON ASPHALT PAVEMENT AND NEVER USED IN WATER. CONDITION EXISTED FROM FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. INDEPENDENT MECHANICS ASSEERTED RUSTOUT IS CHARACTERISTIC OF ALL ASTROVANS THEY HAVE SEEN. TO DATE HAVE REPLACES OVER $2000 OF BRAKE, RUNNING GEAR AND EXHAUST COMPONENTS IN 45000 MILES. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.*AK

GRINDING NOISE IN THE BRAKES, THEN ABS LIGHT CAME ON, REPLACED SOME PARTS. TT

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION TRANSFER CASE HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM FRAME OF VEHICLE . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER ONCE STOPPED, STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND CAR MADE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE BACK, LIKE SOMETHING WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE. THEN GOT INTO PLACE, NOISE STOPPED UNTIL STOP AND GO AGAIN. IT WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY COULDN'T HEAR THE CLUNKING. *AK

GRINDING NOISE IN THE BRAKES, THEN ABS LIGHT CAME ON, REPLACED SOME PARTS. TT

THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AND STUCK A PARKED VEHICLE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS