1996 Chevrolet Astro Owner Complaints

PIN HOLES IN STEEL BRAKE LINES CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. FORTUNATELY VEHICLE WAS SITTING WHEN BRAKE PETAL WAS APPLIED FOR STARTING. WHEN PRESSING BRAKE TO START VEHICLE, PETAL WENT COMPLETELY TO FLOOR. WHEN CHECKING UNDER VEHICLE TO ANALYZE PROBLEM, PIN HOLES LEAKS WERE OBSERVED IN VARIOUS PLACES FROM FRONT TO REAR IN STEEL LINES. I FEAR WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN IN MOTION, AROUND PEDESTRIANS, AND/OR, ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

10816261

Incident

Dec 15, 2015

Mileage

120,227 mi

I JUST GOT HOME & WAS BACKING AROUND TO WHERE I PARK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTED VIBRATING. I DID MANAGE TO PARK. THE NEXT DAY THE VIBRATING STOPPED WHEN A GRATING NOISE WAS MADE. SUDDENLY THE BRAKE PEDAL CAME WAY UP. IT DOES HAVE SOME BRAKES BUT THEY ARE HARD TO DEPRESS. SUDDENLY MY POWER STEERING IS GONE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF PROBLEMS WITH EITHER BEFOREHAND. THIS VAN JUST PASSED INSPECTION IN MID-AUGUST, AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. *JS

NHTSA ID

10538376

Incident

Aug 31, 2013

Mileage

235,059 mi

1996 CHEVY ASTRO LF TORSION BAR BROKE. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED AFTER MY WIFE WENT ON AN 800 MILE TRIP. DEALER REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED SHORTER BAR. FRONT NOW A LOT LOWER THAN ORIGINAL. DEALER DID NOT REQUIRE OR INSIST THE OTHER ONE BE FIXED AT THIS TIME. THEY ADJUSTED THE CAMBER OF THE WHEEL TO OFFSET THE LOWER LF OF THE CAR. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS BOARD IT WAS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY GM. THEY KNEW--OR AT LEAST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT--OTHERWISE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE REDESIGNED THE PART. THEY SHOULD PAY FOR REPLACEMENTS ON BOTH SIDES. WHAT DOES IT TAKE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10329317

Incident

Apr 26, 2010

1996 CHEVROLET ASTRO WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE PART THAT FAILED WAS THE SUNSHELL. HE HEARD THAT IF THIS PART FAILS, THE REVERSE AND SOME FORWARD GEARS WILL BE LOST. *KB

NHTSA ID

10219525

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL NOTICE INSIDE THE VEHICLE FROM WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED. THE RECALL LETTER PERTAINS TO THE IGNITION COIL WIRE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10194152

Incident

Jun 25, 2005

Mileage

180,000 mi

ELECTRICAL FAILURE. REPEATED IN A 1996 CHEVY ASTRO. LEADING TO STARTER ENGAGE WHILE ENGINE RUNNING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10179261

Incident

Nov 14, 2006

Mileage

132,000 mi

DT: 1996 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE ON AUGUST 11, 2005. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SWITCH OR THE PLUG FOR THE REAR AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER MELTED. ALSO, MELTED THE FIRST SIX INCHES OF THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE IS STILL DRIVABLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND TURN IT OFF. HE CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO FLAMES. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10133390

Incident

Aug 11, 2005

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE TORSION BAR SNAPPED IN HALF. THIS BAR WAS INADEQUATE TO THE VEHICLE, AND GM HAS A MODIFIED VERSION FOR THIS. THE BAR BROKE WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS GOING 10 MPH, WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND THIS CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT TO DROP DOWN ABOUT 8 TO 10 INCHES AND WAS A VIOLENT DROP. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS. THERE WERE NO WRECKS INVOLVED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE IN TO THE MIDAS DEALER AND HAVE THE TORSION BARS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT REPLACED WITH THE NEW MODIFIED VERSION. THE FRONT SHOCK ALSO BROKE, AS A RESULT OF THE BAR BREAKING. THE TOTAL OF FIXING THIS WAS $1,000.00 AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *TT *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10122345

Incident

May 25, 2005

Mileage

71,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MILES PER HR. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY VAN, IT LOOKED LIKE THE VAN WAS ON FIRE, I LOST ALL POWER TO THE VAN, AND HAD NO PICK-UP OR SPEED. I HAD TO DIVERT THE VAN TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD I FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION CABLE HAD COME UNATTACHED, AND I HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE GROUND. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS WHATSOEVER. TRANSMISSION FLUID SPRAYED ALL THE WAY TO MY BACK WINDSHIELD OF THE VAN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10112236

Incident

Feb 26, 2005

Mileage

110,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR CAME OFF DUE TO DEFECTIVE PLASTIC. *AK

NHTSA ID

10087453

Incident

Jun 8, 2004

Mileage

58,903 mi

PART#15990701 FAILED,BROKE.CAUSING LEFT CORNER OF VECHICLETO DROOP ALMOST TO INTERFERING WITH LEFT FRONT WHEEL.THIS PART IS COMMINLY KNOWN AS A TORSION BAR AND SHOULD NOT BE FAILING/.THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT.THIS VECH.IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED.REPARING THIS IS GOING TO BE COSTLY;OVER 1000.00 DOLLARS.BECAUSE THEIR ARE NO ORIGINAL PARTS.THE PARTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED AND ALL NEW PARTS FOR BOTH SIDES OF THE VECH. MUST BE USED.THIS TELLS ME THEIR WAS BAD ENGINEERING IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. NOW THAT THEY'VE FIXED THE PROBLEM THEY WANT THE CUSTOMER TO PAY THE BILL. THANK YOU. RESPECTFULLY RICHARD WAGNER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10086319

Incident

Aug 4, 2004

Mileage

80,222 mi

1)AC COMPRESSOR STOPPED WORKING 2)COMPRESSOR SEIZED UP, ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, AND VEHICLE STOPPED ON HIGH TRAFFIC HIGHWAY 3)SORT BELTED SERPENTINE BELT . *AK

NHTSA ID

10078330

Incident

Jul 1, 2002

Mileage

120,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT WORK. FUEL GAUGE SHOWED FULL, HALF FULL OR EMPTY. CONSUMER'S SISTER RECEIVED A RECALL CONCERNING FUEL GAUGE FAILURE, BUT HE HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. ALSO, CONSUMER'S WIFE RAN OUT OF FUEL BECAUSE OF FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE READING OF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK. IT WOULD COST OVER $500.00 TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE IF IT WAS NOT ON RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10071608

Incident

Apr 26, 2004

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT WHAT I FEEL IS/WAS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT WITH MY 1996 CHEVROLET ALL WHEEL DRIVE ASTRO VAN [XXX]. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BAR SNAPPED, COLLAPSING THE SUSPENSION, DROPPING THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE ON TOP OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND TIRE PULLING DRASTICALLY TO THE RIGHT ACROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, AND I WAS TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED -ABOUT 40 KM/HR IN A POSTED 50KM ZONE AS I HAD JUST ENTERED THE 4-LANE ROADWAY. I MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VAN AND STEER IT TO THE SIDE OF THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUDDER AT THE THOUGHT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY OR FREEWAY. THE LICENSED JOURNEYMAN MECHANIC THAT LOOKED AT THE VAN INDICATED THIS WAS QUITE COMMON ON 90-96 ALL WHEEL DRIVE VANS STATING THAT THE TORSION BAR ACTUALLY RUSTS OR CORRODES AT ALMOST THE EXACT SAME SPOT (NEAR THE ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY) AND EVENTUALLY SNAPS COMPLETELY BREAKING THE TORSION BAR INTO 2 PIECES! WHILE HE MENTIONED IT WAS USUALLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE (MINE WAS PASSENGER SIDE) HE INDICATED GM HAD RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND ACTUALLY COMPLETELY CHANGED THE DESIGN OF BOTH THE TORSION BAR AND THE ADJUSTER MECHANISM! HOWEVER AFTER CONTACTING A COUPLE OF LOCAL GM DEALERS, THEY ALL TOLD ME WAS THAT THIS WAS NOT A PRODUCT SERVICE BULLETIN RELATED ITEM OR AN OFFICIAL SAFETY RECALL! YET THEY ALL HAD HEARD OF IT AND JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE ALL OF THE PARTS IN STOCK TO THE TUNE OF $1000 (YOU HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES WITH THE REDESIGNED ITEMS). I FOUND IT SURPRISING THAT THEY JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE 6 TORSION BARS AND 6 ADJUSTERS IN-STOCK; WHEN I RECENTLY HAD TO SPECIAL ORDER THE REAR DOOR HANDLE THAT HAD BROKEN. I WAS TOLD THEY ONLY STOCK COMMONLY REPLACED ITEMS AT THAT TIME. THE FACT THAT IT WAS REDESIGNED TELLS ME SOMETHING. A COMPONENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO WEAR SHOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF PUBLISHED INSPECTION PROCESS, WEAR MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE OR EVEN A REGULARLY SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT INTERVAL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATI

NHTSA ID

10071346

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

No narrative was included with this report.

NHTSA ID

10069428

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

TORSION BAR BROKE, DEALER CLAIMS THAT IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE TORSION BAR, THE BAR WAS TO LONG. NOW THEY HAVE A SHORTER BAR. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES WITH THE NEW DESIGN BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL PART WAS DISCONTINUED.

NHTSA ID

10069243

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

92,000 mi

MY WIFE WENT TO MOVE OUR 1996 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN AND WHEN SHE BACKED UP THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS RUBBING ON THE WHEEL WELL. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE TORSION BARS BROKE. *AK WHEN I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER I FOUND THE PARTS WERE READILY AVAILABLE BUT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN "UPDATED". THE PARTS ALONE WERE OVER $500.00. WHEN I REMOVED THE OLD TORSION BARS I FOUND OUT WHAT HAD CAUSED IT TO BREAK, THE RECEIVER TUBE THAT THE END OF THE BAR WENT INTO HAD FILLED WITH DIRT AND ROAD CRUDE CAUSING THE BAR TO RUST AND EVENTULLY BREAK. THIS OCCURED FOUR DAYS BEFORE WE WERE LEAVING ON A 2500 MILE TRIP. IF THIS HAD OCCURED WHEN WE WERE GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 75MPH OR IN THE MOUNTAINS WHILE ON VACATION IT COULD HAVE BEEN DIASATEROUS. MY LAST COMPLAINT IS THAT I WAS REQUIRED TO REPLACE BOTH TORSION BARS BECAUSE THE NEW ONE WOULD NOT MATCH THE OLD. YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BROKEN AND IF THEY DO REQUIRE YOU TO DO SO THE MANUFACTURER IS ADMITTING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE OLD DESIGN. I CHECKED IN YOUR RECORDS AND FOUND THAT THE ASTRO AND SAFARI VANS BUILT FROM 1992-1996 HAD ALMOST 200 CASES OF THESE TORSION BARS BREAKING AND A COMPLAINT BEING FILED. WHO KNOWS HOW MANY OTHER ONES HAVE BROKEN AND GONE UNREPORTED.THE 1997 MODELS DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CAME OUT WITH THE UPDATED PARTS.

NHTSA ID

10046024

Incident

Jul 29, 2002

Mileage

83,000 mi

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 50 MPH . UPON IMPACT, VEHICLE WAS PUSHED FORWARD, AND REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10046222

Mileage

130,000 mi

THE GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND THEN ACCELERATED. THE PEDAL STICKING WAS CONSISTENT AND RELEASED AFTER PRESSING HARDER ON PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR STICKING. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT IT WAS REPAIRED. VEHICLE NOT ON RECALL. IT WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW. CURRENTLY, DEALERSHIP INDICATED WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND WOULD NOT DO REPAIRS. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10032282

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE TO WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD. *MR FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD CRACKED AND CAUSED THEM TO FAIL. RECALL#03V159000 *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10038359

FRACTURE OF RIGHT SIDE TORSION BAR CAUSED BODY TO DROP ONTO WHEEL, IMMOBILIZING VEHICLE. REPAIRS COST $797.12 PLUS $40 TOWING AND LOSS OF USE FOR THREE DAYS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10033453

Incident

Aug 19, 2003

Mileage

127,261 mi

I HAVE A 1996 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. I'VE REPLACED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR'S FOUR TIMES, EACH. OUR COMPANY HAS 26 VEHICLES, ALL ASTRO VAN'S AND ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I JUST RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE WIPER MOTOR ON THIS VEHICLE. THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR DEFINITELY IS MORE OF A PROBLEM. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. IN THE WINTER, YOU'LL BEING DRIVING, LOWER THE WINDOW AND ALL OF A SUDDEN CAN'T GET IT UP. IT'S EVEN MORE OF A PROBLEM WHEN IT RAINS. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS. I FIRST REPLACED THE MOTOR ON BOTH SIDES @ 19,000 MILE, THAN 39,000 MILES AND SO ON. WHEN I CALLED GM TO COMPLAIN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WAS STONE COLD; COULDN'T CARE LESS! IF YOU CHECK INTO THIS YOU'LL SEE IT'S A MAJPOR PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10030645

Incident

Jun 15, 1997

Mileage

39,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME FAILURE ON VARIOUS WEB SITES. FORTUNATELY, MY TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE HAD IT OCCURED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA ID

10030630

Incident

Aug 2, 2003

CONSUMER HAD RECALL 01V123000 "AUDIBLE WARNING" REMEDIED ON 6/13/03. A FEW DAYS LATER HE BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHEN THE INTERIOR CABIN LIGHT WAS TURNED ON THE RADIO WOULD COME ON INSTEAD. ALSO, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST POWER WINDOWS, THE VEHICLE'S ALARM WOULD ENGAGE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING CHECKED BY DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10024804

Incident

Jun 13, 2003

SLIDING DOOR HAS BEEN SCRAPING SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED, AND CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE TRACK TODAY. MECHANIC SAYS IT IS MISSING A STOP TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING, AND THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN A SLIDING DOOR COME OFF COMPLETELY BEFORE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023347

Incident

Jun 18, 2003

Mileage

190,000 mi