1995 Chevrolet Astro Suspension Problems

TAKATA RECALL UPON LEAVING MY CONDOMINIUM PARKING LOT, THERE IS A SLIGHT CURB YOU MUST DRIVE OVER BEFORE EXITING. THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM CAME LOOSE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A LOCAL CITY STREET. RESULTING IN THE VEHICAL TO COLLAPSE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR. THE FRAME IS RESTED ON THE FRONT LEFT TIRE, ALSO DAMAGING THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AS A RESULT. CONSIDERING THE FACTS, THE CAR WAS THEN COMPLETELY IMMOBILE. I HAD TO CALL A TOW COSTING $100 IN ORDER TO MOVE IT ABOUT 150 FT. BACK TO MY DESIGNATED PARKING SPACE. RECALL # 95V175000. THIS HAPPENED ON 07/05/2017.

NHTSA ID

11003667

Incident

Jul 5, 2017

Mileage

187,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TORSION BAR FAILED, WHICH INCREASED THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE DRIVER SIDE TORSION BAR WAS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE WHEEL SCRAPES AGAINST THE FENDER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY UPGRADED THE PART BECAUSE THE BAR WAS TOO LONG. THE TORSION BAR FOR HIS VEHICLE HAS A NEW SIZE, THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES. HE IS NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 175,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10193568

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

135,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS NOT A GENERAL MOTORS DEALERSHIP. THEY DETERMINED THE LOWER ARM WAS DISENGAGED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO MATERIAL FATIGUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO INDICATED THE VEHICLE MUST BE TAKEN TO ANY GENERAL MOTORS DEALERSHIP TO PRODUCE A DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE GM DEALERSHIP YET. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL # 95V175000 AND A RECALL LETTER NEVER RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE.

NHTSA ID

10173399

Incident

Nov 7, 2006

Mileage

97,000 mi

I HAD JUST PARKED MY CHEVROLET ASTRO AWD IN THE GARAGE AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE DRIVERS SIDE TORSION BAR SNAPPED. THE FRONT END WAS SITTING ON THE SUSPENSION STOPS. I AM LUCKY THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN 10 MINUTES EARLIER WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN THE GARAGE AWAITING REPAIR. THE UPDATED PARTS ARE GOING TO RUN ME $600 PLUS INSTALLATION. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE BROKEN TORSION BAR. I VEHICLE RESIDED IN UTAH AND DID NOT SEE WISCONSIN SALT UNTIL COUPLE YEARS AGO. THE BAR APPEARS TO BE SEVERELY CORRODED/PITTED AT THE BREAK. *NM

NHTSA ID

10137501

Incident

Sep 22, 2005

Mileage

99,132 mi

DT: THE TORSION BARS ARE BREAKING AND IT DROPS THE SUSPENSION. DO NOT HAVE ANY STEERING. CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS COMING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE TORSION BAR. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED GM, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CAUSE. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE SALT ON ROADWAY CAUSED THEM TO RUST. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 15, 2002. DID HAVE BOTH BARS REPAIRED AND SOLD THE VEHICLE.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10136168

Incident

Jun 15, 2002

Mileage

100,000 mi

DT: WITHOUT WARNING THE TORSION BAR BROKE AND DROVE ITSELF INTO THE AXLE SHAFT WHICH ALSO HAD TO REPLACED.. THE DEALER FIXED THE PART, AND SAID IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE REPAIR INCLUDED ALL FOUR OF THE TORSION BARS AND THE BRACKETS THEY FIT INTO. *AK THE FRONT LEFT SIDE AXLE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. (THE FRONT LEFT OF THE VAN DROPPED TO THE GROUND) *SC

NHTSA ID

10125471

Incident

Jun 8, 2005

Mileage

66,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH TORSION BAR BROKE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10095228

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE TORSION BAR SNAPPED ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO DROP ON ONE CORNER, MAKING IT UNDRIVEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE BAR SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN TAKEN OFF-ROAD OR OTHERWISE ABUSED. HAD THE BAR FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT OR INJURY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10038835

Incident

Sep 6, 2003

Mileage

87,126 mi

BOTH TORSION BARS OF MY VAN FAILED WITHIN 2 HOURS OF EACH OTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE STREET BESIDE THE CURB. A LOUD POP WAS HEARD BEFORE THE VEHICLE DROPPED ON THE FRONT TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED BOTH TORSION BARS HAD FAILED. REPAIRS ARE ESTIMATED TO BE $700.00 INCLUDING PARTS ($520.00) PURCHASED AT THE CHEVROLET DEALER. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS ITEM?

NHTSA ID

10036764

Incident

Aug 17, 2003

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS LEANING TO ONE SIDE DUE TO THE TORSION BAR SNAPPING. *AK THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER DIDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. *SCC *JB *JB

NHTSA ID

10024359

Mileage

120,000 mi

WAS BACKING OUT OF GARAGE WHEN I HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE AND THE DRIVER SIDE OF VAN WENT DOWN LIKE A TIRE HAD BLOWN. GOT OUT AND DISCOVERED THAT TIRES WERE OK, BUT FRONT END WAS SAGGING DOWN WITH HARDLY ANY ROOM IN WHEEL WELLS FOR TIRES TO TURN. CALLED TOW TRUCK AND HAD THEM TOW TO DEALERSHIP FOR INVESTIGATION OF PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT BOTH TORSION BARS HAD BROKEN AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ~$700. I CONSIDER MYSELF REAL LUCKY BECAUSE I HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A TRIP OF OVER 900 MILES, PULLING A BOAT. IF THE BARS WOULD HAVE BROKEN WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 65 - 70 MPH THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AS FAR AS A ACCIDENT IS CONCERNED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD AND THE COST SHOULD BE PAID BY THE MANUFACTURE. THANKS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023929

Incident

Jun 14, 2003

Mileage

98,399 mi

RIGHT TORSION BAR FAILED. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH BARS SINCE GM REDESIGNED THEM. COST $725. POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BE AFFECTED, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT PIN POINT PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023290

Incident

Jun 16, 2003

Mileage

146,000 mi

FRONT LEFT SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE SITTING IN THE GARAGE. DROVE THE VEHICLE THE DAY BEFORE. WIFE GOT INTO VEHICLE ON 6-2-03 AND FRONT END HAD SAGGED ON THE LEFT SIDE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR FACILITY AND REPORTED THAT TORSION BAR HAD BROKEN. WHEN A GM DEALER WAS CONTACTED FOR PARTS, IT WAS STRESSED THAT BOTH SIDES BE REPAIRED DUE TO HISTORY OF THIS ISSUE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10020976

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

MY FAMILY AND I HAD JUST DRIVEN ABOUT 50 MILES AND WERE GOING TO EAT DINNER, WHILE TURNING RIGHT OFF A STREET WE HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF THE VAN FELL. I ASSUMED WE HAD BLOWN A TIRE, BUT WHEN I GOT OUT TO LOOK, THE TIRE WAS STILL UP. AFTER JACKING UP THE VAN AND LOOKING AT THE BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS, ETC., I REALIZED THAT TORSION BAR HAD SNAPPED. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED AT A LOW SPEED AND DID NOT CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VAN - 2 MINUTES EARLIER AND IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A DIFFERENT STORY. THE FIRST DEALER I CONTACTED TOLD ME THE PART WAS DISCONTINUED AND I SHOULD TRY A JUNKYARD TO GET THE PART I NEEDED. THE SECOND DEALER I CONTACTED TOLD ME THERE WAS A CONVERSION KIT I COULD BUY, BUT I HAD TO CONVERT BOTH SIDES, AND THE COST WAS "AT LEAST" $500. IF I HAD KNOWN I NEEDED ANOTHER $500 AND WAS RISKING THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY, I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. HOW ABOUT SOME HELP GM?*AK

NHTSA ID

10020762

Incident

May 26, 2003

I HAVE A 1995 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. ON THE WAY HOME, I HEARD A LOUD BANG, LIKE A TIRE HAD BLOWN. WHEN I PARKED THE CAR AT HOME, I NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WAS VISIBLY SAGGING. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE TORSION BAR HAD BROKE. HE ALSO SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE. I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN AND THERE IS NOT. I HAVE TO BUY TWO NEW TORSION BARS BECAUSE THERE IS AN UPDATE TO THE VERSION. THE REPAIRS ARE $700.00. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016163

Incident

Apr 16, 2003

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHY HASN'T THIS COMPONENT BEEN RECALLED WHEN WE HAVE HEARD THAT MANY HAVE BROKE AND WHEN REPLACING YOU HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES BECAUSE THERE IS A NEW DESIGN. DT

NHTSA ID

770527

Incident

Nov 24, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE AND FELL ON THE TIRE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIRS SHOP. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ID

8019223

Incident

Aug 22, 2002

VAN WAS SITTING ON DRIVEWAY WE HEARD A POP AND FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DROPPED ONTO THE TIRE. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER, DRIVER SAID THIS WAS THE 2ND ONE THAT WEEK. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE TORSION BAR AND THEY NEEDED TO CHANGE BOTH. ADAPTERS WERE ON 1 WEEK BACK ORDER. WAS TOLD THAT THE DESIGN HAD CHANGED. TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER ASTRO OWNERS - THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

766034

Incident

Jul 21, 2002

WHILE DRIVING TORSION BAR BROKE, AND BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS BROKE, RESULTING IN FRONT END FALLING DOWN. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015195

Incident

Jul 29, 2002

VEHICLE WAS PARKED .CONSUMER REALIZED VEHICLE WAS DROPPING. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC STATED TORSON BAR WAS CORRODED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE DROPPING. *AK

NHTSA ID

8013199

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHILE PURSUING TO DRIVE VEHICLE AND FRONT TIRES STARTED TO RUB AGAINST FRONT FRAME. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, MECHANIC STATED TORSION BAR WAS CORRODED. *TT

NHTSA ID

8013127

Incident

Jul 3, 2001

THE FRONT LEFT TORSION BAR BROKE AFTER WE CAME HOME. A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER THE RIGHT FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE SO THAT WE COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT THE BODY OF THE VAN HITTING THE TIRES. WE FEEL EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, AS IT WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY HAVE BLOWN THE FRONT TIRES AND WE COULD HAVE HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT. AFTER HAVING OUR VAN HAULED ON A FLATBED WRECKER WE WERE ADVISED THAT THESE VANS HAVE A HISTORY WITH THE TORSION BARS BREAKING. BOTH THE AUTO REPAIR PLACE AND THE WRECKER SERVICE SAID THEY WERE REALLY SURPRISED THAT THERE WASN'T A RECALL AS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS OTHER PEOPLE, LIKE OURSELVES, HAVE NO IDEA THAT THE WHOLE FRONT OF THESE VANS CAN JUST DROP DOWN ON THE TIRES WHILE DRIVING WHEN THESE TORSION BARS BREAK. AGAIN WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT OURS BROKE AFTER WE RETURNED HOME FROM CHURCH SUNDAY AND NOT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY!*AK

NHTSA ID

763603

Incident

Jun 23, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, TORSION BARS BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL, MAKING IT HARD TO STEER VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FOR CHEVROLET TO MAKE PAYMENT FOR THE FAILURE THAT OCCURED WITH THE VEHICLE. *JG

NHTSA ID

8012267

Incident

Jun 2, 2002

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 5 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT OF VEHICLE DROPPED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, TORSION BAR SNAPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011451

Incident

Jun 6, 2002

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT OF VEHICLE DROPPED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER ONE DAY LATER, BY THAT TIME DRIVER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE HAD DROPPED, AS WELL. DEALER DETERMINED THAT TORSION BAR HAD BROKEN ON BOTH SIDES, IT WAS RUSTED THROUGH. A NEWLY DESIGNED TORSION BAR WAS INSTALLED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8010822

Incident

May 28, 2002