1994 Chevrolet Astro Steering Problems

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

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

NHTSA ID

10022512

Incident

Dec 31, 2001

Mileage

12,500 mi

BENT AND TWISTED FINGERS. FINGERS ARE BENT AND TWISTED TO CONFORM TO THE STEERING WHEEL, DUE TO THE STIFF STEERING. THE TEXTURE WORE OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND BECAME VERY SLIPPERY AND HAD TO GRIP WHEEL HARD TO STEER VAN. NOTICED THIS RECENTLY. INDEX, MIDDLE AND RING FINGERS OF BOTH HANDS ARE BENT/TWISTED, THUMBS BENT OUTWARD FROM HANDS. CRIPPLING EFFECT LIMITATIONS ON FINGER MOVEMENTS DUE TO TENDONS BEING OFF NATURAL POSITION. DT

NHTSA ID

769509

Incident

Jan 1, 1994

WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID. DEALER REPLACED HOSE AND FLUID. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

896789

Incident

Sep 23, 2001

RIGHT AND LEFT IDLER ARMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN A TWO YEAR PERIOD. THREE TO FOUR GAS STATIONS ATTENDANTS HAVE STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

863480

WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES FAIL TO OPERATE WHEN ACTUATED. VEHICLE OPERATOR MUST OPEN HOOD AND POUND ON WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IN ORDER FOR IT TO WORK. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ALSO MAY QUIT OPERATING AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING. IDLER ARMS; BOTH FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT IDLER ARMS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN INABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ON UNEVEN SURFACES, SUCH AS ENCOUNTERING A CRACK IN THE ROAD OR PAVEMENT SEAM. LOSS OF CONTROL WAS WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE OPERATED OTHERWISE NORMALLY EXCEPT FOR A SLIGHT DRIFT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AT LOW SPEEDS, VEHICLE COULD CHANGE LANES WITHOUT NOTICE. REPLACEMENT PERTS SUPPLIER INFORMED ME THAT OE PARTS WEAR OUT VERY RAPIDLY, AND MUST BE REPLACED AT LEAST EVERY 2 YEARS FOR SAFETY SAKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

717197

Incident

Sep 21, 1999

BRAKES FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

550116

IDLER ARMS AND BALL JOINTS BREAK FREQUENTLY. WHEN PROBLEM IS FIXED, IT RETURNS FREQUENTLY. DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

827624

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK, RESULTING IN LACK OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

823495

IDLER ARM MAKING THE TIRES GO BAD AND CAN CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING; ALSO, VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE IS IN FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

809202

Incident

Feb 14, 1997

WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF IDLER ARM, WHEN SELF LOCKING NUT UNSCREWED, CAUSING STEERING LINKAGE TO FALL OFF, RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY.*AK CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS VEHICLE, AFTER SECOND REPAIR, THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO HEAR A NOISE AGAIN ONLY 3 HOURS AFTER REPAIRS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

803088

THE POWER STEERING UNIT LEAKS. TT

NHTSA ID

974145

Incident

Nov 7, 1994

TIE RODS, BALL JOINTS AND IDLER ARMS FAILED, CAUSING BALD TIRES AND VEHICLE TO SWAY UNDER WINDY CONDITIONS. *TW

NHTSA ID

483806

Incident

Mar 1, 1995