1992 Chevrolet Astro Owner Complaints

WAS DRIVING AND A TRUCK PULLED OUT OF DRIVE WAY IN FRONT OF ME. HIT THE BRAKES AND THEY WORKED FOR A SPLIT SECOND BUT THEN WENT OUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SINCE THAT THEY BRAKE TIGHT AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND CONTINUES TO STAY ON AT ALL TIMES NOW. I DO HAVE BRAKES JUST NOT ANTI-LOCK. HAVE CHECKED THE WHOLE SYSTEM TO FIX AND FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE ABS MODULE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE SO CAN NOT REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. I LIVE IN A STATE THAT HAS SAFETY AND EMISSIONS TESTS THAT IT WILL NOT PASS. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE TO TRY TO GET FIXED AND PARTS FOR HOURS TO NO REVEAL. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE A RECALL DUE TO THE DANGER OF FAILURE AND NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. ALSO MOST PEOPLE WILL NOT REPORT THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE BRAKES STILL WORK JUST NOT THE ANTI-LOCK PART OF IUT AFTER ALL MY BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT SPONGY OR LOW IN ANYWAY ACTUALLY THEY ARE GOOD. I CANNOT EVEN FIND A GOOD ONE IN THE JUNK YARDS AS I HAVE BOUGHT 2 UNITS AND BOTH WERE BAD SO HAD TO RETURN THEM. WHAT A WASTE OF 8 HOURS TOTAL TO FIND THAT THEY HAD SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE 192354 MILES ON IT NOW AND STILL RUNS STRONG. I FEEL THAT EACH TIME I DRIVE IT I AM TAKING A RISK OF HURTING OTHER PEOPLE INCLUDING MYSELF. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS VEHICLE SO IT IS LIKE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WHEN DRIVING. GM NEEDS TO FIX THESE VEHICLES BEFORE ANY ONE DIES AND THEY GET SUED (IF THIS HASN'T ALREADY HAPPENED). LIKE I SAID IT HAS BEEN A GREAT RELIABLE VEHICLE OTHER THAN THIS PROBLEM. SO EVERYONE THAT DOES HAVE THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO REPORT IT SO GM IS FORCED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10469227

Incident

Sep 7, 2005

Mileage

122,740 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 10 - 15 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED WHILE MAKING A TURN; HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO LEAKING FLUID BEHIND THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND HAVE IT TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THERE WERE NO DEATHS, INJURIES OR POLICE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36000. UPDATED 09/25/08 *BF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES WERE LEAKING DUE TO RUST. UPDATED 10/01/08.*JB

NHTSA ID

10232194

Incident

Jun 22, 2008

Mileage

36,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ABS WOULD NOT WORK AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF BRAKING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD EXTEND TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP A FEW TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. WHEN THE MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, IT ALWAYS PERFORMED PERFECTLY. THE REPAIR SHOP DISCONNECTED THE ABS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID

10205862

Incident

Nov 1, 2005

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHEN THE CONSUMER UNLATCHED THE HARNESS BUCKLE THE SHIELD CAME UP TOO FAST. ONE TIME THE SPRING BROKE AND THE SHIELD WOULD NOT STAY ATTACHED. *NM *SC

NHTSA ID

10113708

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

THE TORSION BAR ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PRPOBLEM WAS NOT A RECALL, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK

NHTSA ID

10087134

Incident

Jul 29, 2004

Mileage

196,000 mi

THE TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10040166

Incident

Sep 17, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE LEFT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10034459

Incident

Aug 12, 2003

WHILE DRIVING SPARE TIRE FEEL OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10027003

Incident

Jun 17, 2003

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. STATED THAT FRONT SUSPENSION WILL RUST OUT AND THEN BREAK. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT HE WILL HAVE TO CHANGE NOT ONLY THE FRONT ONE BUT TWO OTHER EXTRAS ONES THAT THE VEHICLE COMES WITH.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026800

LEAKING ROOF, BRAKES,HEATER AND A C DEFECTIVE,PAINT, TIRE AND WIRING DEFECTIVE. NLM

NHTSA ID

767185

C.P.I. FUEL INJECTOR HAS FAILED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 40,000 MILES RESULTING IN ENGINE SHUT DOWN, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, ETC. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I'M TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE LEAKING FUEL AT THE C.P.I. FUEL INJECTION UNIT IS ALSO A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. CHEVROLET DENIES KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH FAILURES, BUT THERE IS ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER FAILURES ON THE INTERNET AT ALLDATA, CARPOINT.MSN, CONSUMER REPORTS, ETC. MY FAMILY IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS, LOSS OF CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BEING STRANDED IN DARK, FREEZING WEATHER, ETC. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID

762796

Incident

May 31, 2002

I HAD THIS STEERING COMPONENT ( FORGED PART ) BREAK ON LEFT SIDE LAST YEAR AND NOW THE RIGHT SIDE. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT 70 MPH AND THIS COMPONENT BREAK THEN I SUSPECT THAT WE WOULD BE DEAD FOR BOTH INCIDENTS. I SUSPECT SOME FAULTY PARTS MANUFACTURED BY OEM. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE SHOULD NOT OCCUR. I SUSPECT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE IN JEOPARDY IF THEY HAVE SIMILAR VEHICLES AND PARTS. I THINK SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION. PLEASE KEEP ME ADVISED AS TO WHAT YOU FIND OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID

762626

Incident

Jun 3, 2002

WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE THERE IS A DELAY BEFORE IT WILL ACTUALLY GOES INTO REVERSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

8003315

STEEL CABLE ON DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY HAS BROKEN COMPETELY OFF, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

899705

STEEL CABLE ON DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ASSSEMBLY HAS BROKEN COMPLETELY OFF, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

899642

HAD TAKEN VEHICLE FOR SERVICE WHEN THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED. WOULD HAVE BRAKING ABILITY. MECHANIC INDICATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM OR RECALLS ON BRAKES.*AK THE BRAKE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING, DEALER REPLACED THE OIL FILTER ADAPTER O RINGS AND GASKETS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

898501

Incident

Oct 8, 2001

FIBERS ON REAR LEAF SPRING HAVE BEEN COMING APART OVER PAST COUPLE YEARS. CONSUMER PERFORMED REPAIR WORK, AND HAS PROBLEM COMPONENTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

896758

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING INTO DRIVEWAY. GM AND DEALER FAIL TO ADMIT THE DESIGN DEFECT WHICH WAS CORRECTED ON 1997 VECHICLES AND IS NOW REQUIRED FOR REPAIRS. NO TORSION BAR SEALS WERE EVER INSTALLED PER GM'S MANUAL ACCORDDING TO MY DEALER MECHANIC. THIS SEAL WAS INTENDED TO PREVENT ROAD DEBREE AND WATER FROM ENTERING THE SUPPORT TUBE AND CAUSING THE RUST, STRESS CORROSION AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE TORSION BAR. THE FACT IS THAT GM CORRECTED THE DESIGN DEFECT ON 1997 MODELS WITHOUT ADMITTING TO THE DESIGN PROBLEM, THUS ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF OWNERS OF SUCH VECHICLES. FURTHERMORE, GM FAILED TO SUGGEST ANY TYPE OF MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS SEAL IN ANY OF THEIR OWNERS MANUALS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS DESIGN FLAW HASN'T RESULTED IN DEATHS AND LAW SUITS. THE NHSA DATA BASE SHOWS APPROXIMATELY 90 CUSTOMER FAILURES FROM 1992 THRU 1996 WITH FAILURE NUMBER PEAKING AT 35 IN 1995. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION AND SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

751731

Incident

Jul 20, 2001

AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED RIGHT SIDE OF CAR BEGAN TO RISE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED FOR REPLACING TORSION BAR. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

893982

Incident

Dec 1, 2000

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CABLE THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE SNAPPED, CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO FLY OFF VEHICLE. NO DAMAGE , NO INJURIES. CABLE HAD RUSTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

893723

Incident

Jul 5, 2001

VEHICLE HAS 2 IDLER ARMS THAT ARE FAILING AFTER 2 YEARS OF USE. MANUFACTURER MODIFIED THIS MODEL VEHICLE IN 1994 TO USE ONE IDLER ARM INSTEAD OF TWO.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

892280

Incident

Jun 26, 2001

EMISSIONS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM PROBLEM WITH 1992 ASTRO VAN MODELS? *AK

NHTSA ID

747351

Incident

Jul 29, 1992

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED TWICE. FIRST TIME DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR TO OPERATE PROPERLY WHILE TRAVELING AT 10 TO 15 MPH, AND 20 MPH SECOND TIME. EACH INCIDENT CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING AND CONTROL OF BRAKES DUE TO BRAKES RUNNING THROUGH THIS POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS VEHICLE IS UNMANAGABLE WHEN POWER STEERING IS LOST DUE TO BEING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND STEERING BEING HARD TO HANDLE. *AK CONSUMER STATES STEERING IS LOST COMPLETELY AT TIME OF STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

889614

Incident

May 28, 2001

FUEL INJECTOR SPIDER WENT OUT 88000 MILES, AND VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEABLE, ALSO, FUEL PUMP WAS CHANGED AT 88,000 AND 115,000 MILES. HOWEVER, BOTH FAILED AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

889394

Incident

Mar 30, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

743227

Incident

May 1, 1996