1994 Chevrolet Astro Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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.

INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING A 1994 ASTRO AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR. THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER MOTORIST AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB *NLM

AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH AND THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. *JB

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

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

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.

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

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

TIRE SIDEWALL BLOW-OUT. *MR THE RIGHT FRONT SIDEWALL HAD BLOWN OUT. THE TIRE WAS 1 1/2 YEARS OLD WITH A 2-3 INCH GASH IN A LINE FROM THE HUB TO THE OUTER TREAD IN THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL. THE DEALER REP STATED THAT THERE WAS A HISTORY OF BLOWOUTS WITH THESE TIRES. DURING AN OIL CHANGE THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE RIGHT SIDE IDLER ARM WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE IDLER ARM MAY HAVE CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO BECOME CHOPPY ALSO RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. (THE TIRE ONLY HAD 12500K MILES AT THE TIME) (FIRESTONE FT70CTUWSPS) *SCC *JB

THE BOLT NEEDED TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM IS MISSING. ALSO HOLE WHERE THE BOLT SHOULD GO DOES'NT HAVE ANY THREADS IN IT. THEREFORE ONE CANNOT USE IT.*AK

SEAT BELT INSERTS IN BUCKLE BUT FAILS TO LATCH.

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

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH VEHICLE SHUTDOWN; TOWED TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A FUEL PUMP FAILURE, AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH ALTERNATOR BRACKET BROKE, AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. *AK

INTERMINTTENT MISSING AND STALL, CUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES ON THE WAY FROM WORK AND UNABLE TO RESTART, ACID GOT IN THE CONNECTION BEHIND THE BATTERY AND ATE UP THE TERMINAL

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

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION HAD BLOWNOUT. *AK

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

TIRE SIDEWALL BLOW-OUT. *MR THE RIGHT FRONT SIDEWALL HAD BLOWN OUT. THE TIRE WAS 1 1/2 YEARS OLD WITH A 2-3 INCH GASH IN A LINE FROM THE HUB TO THE OUTER TREAD IN THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL. THE DEALER REP STATED THAT THERE WAS A HISTORY OF BLOWOUTS WITH THESE TIRES. DURING AN OIL CHANGE THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE RIGHT SIDE IDLER ARM WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE IDLER ARM MAY HAVE CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO BECOME CHOPPY ALSO RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. (THE TIRE ONLY HAD 12500K MILES AT THE TIME) (FIRESTONE FT70CTUWSPS) *SCC *JB

WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS USED, IT WOULD BE MUSHY & GO TO FLOOR. THIS CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, GAS GAUGE INDICATOR WOULD FLOP OFF AND ON/ AIR CONDITIONER & ELECTRIC WINDOWS FAILED TO WORK,AND ABS BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. HAD TO SHUT DOWN VEHICLE & THEN RESTART IT. AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT WAS GETTING WORSE. SPEED HAS NOT PLAYED A FACTOR IN PROBLEM. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK

A/C COMPRESSOR AND HOSE ROUTING FAILURES OF DUAL AIR UNDER WARRANTY LEADS TO EXPENSIVE CLOGGING OF A/C CORES OUT OF WARRANTY.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCES HIGH IDLING. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *MR

LOW IDLE, IDLE FLUCTUATES, ENGINE DIES INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS TIMES OF DAY, FALSE COMPUTER CODES, NO CODES DURING STALL, BRAKES/STEERING DIE, VERY DANGEROUS/CONTROL LOSS, AGENCY CAN'T FIND OR FIX PROBLEM, AGENCY SAID THEY REPLACED IAC & CPI, OLD PARTS NOT RETURNED TO ME, AGENCY SAYS GAS QUALITY IS PROBLEM, HAVE TRIED ALL DIFFERENT BRANDS & OCTANES WITH NO CHANGE IN SYMPTOMS

CARGO SIDE DOOR STICKS CLOSED. DT

REAR DOORS LEAK DESPITE REPEATED REPAIRS. *AK

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

TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING @ 30MPH ($400), LFT TORSION BAR BROKE IN DRIVEWAY ($364), "CLUNK" IN REAR WHILE ACCELERATING FROM STOP AND OCCASIONALLY WHILE SHIFTING (HIGH/LOW GEAR IN DIFFERENTIAL UNIT-$1500), 9 MOS LATER THE "CLUNK" IS BACK. MECHANICS SAYS DISCONNECT DRIVE TRAIN FROM REAR TO MAKE VAN 2WD

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

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S LEFT REAR TIRE CAME OFF AND STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN THE NEXT LANE. NAR 07/02/2003. *MR *NM