1994 Chevrolet Astro Owner Complaints

ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 2011, I WAS DRIVING MY ASTRO VAN ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME APPLIED THEIR BRAKES. I ALSO APPLIED MY BRAKES, BUT MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. I ATTEMPTED 4 TIMES IN A PANICKED STATE TO TRY AND RE-APPLY MY BRAKES WITH NO SUCCESS. I STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER CONSIDERING WHAT HAD HAPPENED THAT DAY AND LOOKING AT THE BRAKE PEDAL SIZE IN THE VEHICLE IT IS NO WONDER I COULDN'T READILLY RE-APPLY THE BRAKE. I MEASURED THE BRAKE PEDAL SURFACE AREA. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 4 SQ. INCHES. I HAVE SINCE BEEN LOOKING AT OTHER VEHICLES AND THE SIZE OF THEIR BRAKE PEDAL SURFACE AREA. I HAVE YET TO DATE FOUND SUCH A SMALL BRAKE PEDAL IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS VAN THOUSANDS OF MILES AND KNOW WITHOUT MUCH CONSIDERATION THE PEDALS LOCATION WITHOUT LOOKING, BUT IN A PANICED STATE I FOUND YOU LOOSE THAT REFERENCE AND IT SIMPLY COMES DOWN TO AN INCREASED OR DECREASED CHANCE OF HITTING THAT PEDAL GIVEN SURFACE AREA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436820

Incident

Nov 21, 2011

Mileage

162,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT FELL FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION PIN WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO FIND OUT IF THE DIFFERENTIAL COULD BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 27,000. UPDATED 01/06/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PREVIOUSLY, TRANSMISSION PAN HAD TO BE REPLACED AS IT WAS LEAKING DUE TO RUST. THE CONSUMER STATED NO FURTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AS THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED NOT WORTH FIXING AFTER ASSESSING THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DO THE ADVANCE RUST CONDITION. UPDATED 03.02.11

NHTSA ID

10359445

Incident

Oct 5, 2010

Mileage

27,000 mi

I HAVE A 1996 CHEVY ASTRO VAN. DURING A HEAVY RAIN,WITH THE WIPERS ON HIGH THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10299712

Incident

Aug 10, 2008

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET FAILED. WITHIN A THREE MONTH PERIOD, THE BRACKET HAS FAILED TWICE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FIND A REPLACEMENT COMPONENT AT A JUNKYARD AND WAS INFORMED BY THE JUNKYARD DEALER THAT HE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REQUESTS FOR THAT PARTICULAR COMPONENT DUE TO FREQUENT FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS OVER 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10246372

Incident

Oct 15, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE TORSION BAR ON THIS 1994 CHEVY ASTRO AWD VAN. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO. I HAVE DONE A SEARCH AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF REPORTS OF THE TORSION BARS FAILING WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN BOTTOMING OF THE SUSPENSION. FORTUNATELY, IT FAILED WHEN I WAS PARKED BOTH TIMES IT HAS FAILED BUT COULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233701

Incident

Jul 5, 2008

Mileage

163,951 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET ASTRO. BEFORE THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HER VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS LAYING ON THE GROUND. SHE DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. SIX YEARS AGO, THE CONTACT NEEDED TO HAVE THE TORSION BAR REPLACED AT 80,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10230737

Incident

Jun 11, 2008

Mileage

180,000 mi

WE OWN A 1994 CHEVY ASTRO VAN. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY WHEN ONE OF THE TORSION BARS BROKE, DROPPING THE VAN DOWN ONTO THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING THE VAN WITH OUR FAMILY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. TWO DAYS LATER, THE OTHER TORSION BAR BROKE, AGAIN IN OUR DRIVEWAY. IN LOOKING AT THE WAY THE TORSION BAR IS MOUNTED TO THE CROSS MEMBER, IT APPEARS THAT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT CREATED A PROBLEM WHERE SNOW, SALT, RAIN AND DIRT ACCUMULATED INTO THE CYLINDER SHAPED TUBE THAT THE BAR IS MOUNTED INTO, TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE TORSION BAR, MADE OF SPRING STEEL, RUSTED AND BROKE IN TWO. THE TORSION BAR IS PART OF THE SUSPENSION THAT KEEPS THE FRONT OF THE VAN UP OFF OF THE FRONT TIRES. AFTER READING SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS, IT APPEARS THAT THIS SAME DEFECT HAS CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AND NEAR ACCIDENTS TO OTHER ASTRO VAN OWNERS. WHETHER REPORTED OR NOT REPORTED, THE DESIGN OF THE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR THE TORSION BAR WAS MOST LIKELY USED THIS WAY SO THE MANUFACTURED COULD USE ONE SIZE OF TORSION BAR FOR SEVERAL VEHICLES AND THEN MODIFY THE MOUNT ON EACH VEHICLE TO ACCEPT THE SAME SIZE BAR. WE HAVE PURCHASED REPLACEMENT TORSION BARS (GM PARTS) FOR $462.00 AND NEED TO ALSO PAY TO HAVE THEM INSTALLED. THE REPLACEMENT TORSION BARS ARE NOW 3 INCHES SHORTER, PROVING THAT THE MANUFACTURE BECAME AWARE THIS PROBLEM AND CORRECTED IT WITH THE REPLACEMENT PARTS - NOW WITHOUT THE EXTRA 3 INCHES OF OPEN CYLINDER TO COLLECT SALT AND SNOW. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THAT THESE PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY ON ALL VANS WITH THIS SIZE OF TORSION BAR. WE REGULARLY DRIVE THE INTERSTATE AND HAD IT BROKE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SLAMMING ON YOUR BREAKS (AS THE FRONT OF THE VAN DROPPED DOWN ONTO THE TIRE) AND SUDDENLY LOSING ANY STEERING ABILITY OR WAY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, WE DIDN'T HAPPEN TO BE DRIVING IT WHEN IT BROKE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10164660

Incident

Jul 21, 2006

Mileage

126,112 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE METAL BRAKE LINE HAD BURST ON THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VAN WITHOUT ANY PRIOR INCIDENT. THE LINE BROKE AS THE BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THE CONSUMER AVOIDED A COLLISION AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LINES. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE. SINCE THE REPAIR, THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. *AK (11/29/05) *SC

NHTSA ID

10141435

Incident

Oct 15, 2005

Mileage

140,000 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM ON 1994 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WINDSHIELD FUNCTIONS FAILED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED GM, AND THEY REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO NHTSA. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR AROUND SIX MONTHS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT COME ON IMMEDIATELY WHEN TURNED ON. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD A DELAY REACTION WHEN THE SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FIXED TODAY.*AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10137059

Incident

Jun 7, 2005

Mileage

74,000 mi

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING WHILE RAINING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING. CONTACT STATES IF LIFTING THE HOOD AND MOVING THE MOTOR THEY WILL START WORKING AGAIN. IF THE VEHICLE GOES OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING AGAIN. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE, BUT CONSUMER'S SPECIFIC VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, BUT CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE WIPERS FAIL ED TO OPERATE EACH TIME WHEN RAINING, AND NEED TO BE USED.*AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10128924

Incident

May 1, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FOR 1995 CHEVORLET PICKUP. HE ALSO OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET ASTRO WHICH ACTUALLY HAS THE PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL MENTIONS BUT THAT PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED. HAS BEEN HAVING THE PROBLEM OVER A YEAR. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD TO TAP IT TO KEEP IT WORKING. CONSUMER FEELS THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER THIS PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10126808

Incident

Mar 3, 2004

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY, LATER THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO FIND THE VEHICLE LEFT FRONT LEANING OVER. THE CONSUMER WENT UNDER THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED, THE TORSION BAR WAS BROKEN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10113534

Incident

Mar 4, 2005

Mileage

140,000 mi

FAILURE OF LINEAR EGR VALVE ON MY 1994 CHEVROLET ASTRO MINI VAN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10107943

Incident

Jan 23, 2005

Mileage

102,000 mi

RECALL 03V159000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT CONDITIONS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10106984

Incident

Jul 20, 2004

Mileage

105,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER MUST TURN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON AND OFF MANY TIMES TO ACTIVATE THEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10091670

Incident

Sep 4, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP BY PUMPING THE BRAKES MORE THAN ONCE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10087788

Incident

Aug 12, 2004

CONSUMER HAD THE SAME THE PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALL 03V159000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOMING INOPERABLE AND RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10087333

Incident

Aug 6, 2004

WHILE DRIVING OR STARTING UP VEHICLE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10081812

Incident

May 5, 2004

Mileage

11,320 mi

I WAS GOING AROUND A SHARP CURVE HEADING TOWARD ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN THE STEERING WOULD NOT CORRECT. I WENT AT NO FAULT OF MINE UP BEHIND A MAILBOX HEADED STRAIGHT TOWARD A HUGE TREE AT WHICH TIME GOD ALMIGHTY HAD A HAND ON ME NO DOUBT, AND VEERED BARELY TO THE LEFT OF TREE, MAILBOX I DAMAGED WITH MIRROR WENT UP AN EMBANKMENT CROSSED LADIES DRIVEWAY, WENT UPON ANOTHER EMBANKMENT AND BACK DOWN INTO DITCH. THE TIE ROD CAME COMPLETELY OFF. *MR

NHTSA ID

10073241

Incident

Jun 14, 2003

Mileage

141,700 mi

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE STABILIZER BAR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THREE WEEKS AND ONE DAY LATER, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND DUE TO THE STABILIZER BAR. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10073827

I BOUGHT A SET OF 119679 FIREHAWK INDY 500 P225/70R15 TLRWLPS TIRES FROM A FIRESTONE DEALER IN WARNER ROBINS GEORGIA. THE 1ST TIME I TOOK IT TO THEM FOR BOUNCING AND THEY REPLACED 1 TIRE SAYING IT WAS CAKING,I HAVE KNOW IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A COUPLE OF THE TIRES STILL BOUNCING LIKE AN OUT OF BALANCE TIRE. I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO HAVE THEM CHECKED AGAIN SOON. IT JUST SEEMS A LITTLE STRANGE THAT I GET 4 TIRES AND AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WHAT SEEMS LIKE ALL FOUR TIRES. IS THERE A PROCESS THAT CHECKS TIRES FOR DEFECTS ? MAKES ONE WONDER WHY FIRESTONE IS HAVING ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THERE TIRES. THANKS FOR LISTENING. WILLIAM B.COLEMAN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10064515

Incident

Mar 14, 2004

Mileage

100,084 mi

FOR ALL OF YOU 1994 CHEVROLET ASTRO OWNERS AND ANY OTHERS THAT HAVE THE OLDER 4.3L VORTEC ENGINE. I HAVE THE SOLUTION TO YOUR LEGR VALVE CARBON CLOGING PROBLEM. MY 1994 EXT VAN HAS 150,000 MILES AND I HAD BEEN GETTING THE ROUGH IDLE AND STALLING WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT PROBLEM. IT HAS DONE THIS BEFORE TO ME EVERY 6MONTHS OR SO AND I JUST PULLED OFF MY EGR VALVE, KNOCK OUT THE CARBON CHUNK THAT IS STUCK IN IT AND 20 MIN LATER IM ON MY WAY. WELL IT HAS COME BACK BAD AND IT IS CLOGING EVERY 20 MILES WITH LOTS OF CARBON CHUNKS. CHEVY TELLS ME THAT THE LOWER INTAKE NEEDS TO BE EMOVED AND BEAD BLASTED TO REMOVE THE CARBON BUILD UP. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THERE WAS A EGR RECALL THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS CLEANING IF IT HAPPENED THE 1ST 7 YEARS OR 75,000 MILES OF THE VAN. WELL THEY WONT DO IT FOR ME AND THE DEALER WANTS $500-$1000 TO DO THIS. I FANALY FOUND THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM THAT EVERY CHEVY OWNER THAT HAS THE 4.3L VORTEC ENINGE. THIS IS CALLED THE KLEAN SCREEN. IT IS A REPLACEMENT EGR GASKET THAT HAS A HIGH TEMP SCREEN AT THE EGR INPUT OPENING THAT WILL STOP LARGE CHUNKS OF CARBON FROM ENTERING THE EGR VALVE AND WHEN IT GETS WARMED UP THE SCREEN WILL BREAK THE CHUNKS UP INTO SMALL PEICES THAT WILL PASS THE EGR POPPET. THEY COST ABOUT 13.50 EACH AT AUTO ZONE AND THE COMPANY IS NAMED TOMCO INC. WWW.TOMCO-INC.COM. IT HAS BEEN 1 WEEK SINCE I HAVE INSTALLED THE GASKET ON THE ORIGINAL EGR VALVE THAT CAME WITH THE VAN NEW 150,000 MILES AGO AND IT RUNS GREAT SO FAR. TH GM PART NUMBER FOR THIS GASKET IS 2-1357. I BOUGHT MINE AT THE LOCAL AUTOZONE BY MY HOUSE IN VIRGINIA. YOU CAN ALSO BUY RIGHT FROM THE COMPANY AT 10.50 EACH WITH A 5 ORDER MIN. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE WAYNE JORDAN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10062518

Incident

Mar 18, 2004

Mileage

150,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, AND RESULT IN POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER INDICATED WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT RECALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10061044

Incident

Mar 1, 2004

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED ONLY WHEN THEY FELT LIKE IT. TOOK IN TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE MODULE. COST ME $125.71.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058571

Incident

Oct 5, 2003

Mileage

117,923 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND GO OFF INADVERTENTLY. ALSO, THE DOOR LATCHES DID NOT OPERATE CONSISTENTLY.*AK *JB *NM

NHTSA ID

10046229

Mileage

150,000 mi