EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1997 Chevrolet Astro
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 360 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Astro, most frequently naming the brakes, visibility and fuel system categories. 7 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 47 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2000 | 6 | 186 |
| Sep 2000 | 10 | 196 |
| Oct 2000 | 7 | 203 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 204 |
| Dec 2000 | 3 | 207 |
| Jan 2001 | 5 | 212 |
| Feb 2001 | 3 | 215 |
| Mar 2001 | 4 | 219 |
| Apr 2001 | 5 | 224 |
| May 2001 | 7 | 231 |
| Jun 2001 | 3 | 234 |
| Jul 2001 | 9 | 243 |
| Aug 2001 | 7 | 250 |
| Sep 2001 | 4 | 254 |
| Oct 2001 | 2 | 256 |
| Nov 2001 | 3 | 259 |
| Dec 2001 | 2 | 261 |
| Jan 2002 | 2 | 263 |
| Feb 2002 | 2 | 265 |
| Mar 2002 | 5 | 270 |
| Apr 2002 | 6 | 276 |
| May 2002 | 2 | 278 |
| Jun 2002 | 3 | 281 |
| Jul 2002 | 3 | 284 |
| Aug 2002 | 4 | 288 |
| Sep 2002 | 5 | 293 |
| Oct 2002 | 1 | 294 |
| Jan 2003 | 2 | 296 |
| Feb 2003 | 3 | 299 |
| Mar 2003 | 7 | 306 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 307 |
| May 2003 | 2 | 309 |
| Jun 2003 | 5 | 314 |
| Jul 2003 | 3 | 317 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 318 |
| Dec 2003 | 3 | 321 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 322 |
| Mar 2004 | 2 | 324 |
| Apr 2004 | 2 | 326 |
| Jun 2004 | 3 | 329 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 330 |
| Sep 2004 | 3 | 333 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 334 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 335 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 336 |
| Mar 2005 | 5 | 341 |
| May 2005 | 3 | 344 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 345 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 346 |
| May 2007 | 1 | 347 |
| Nov 2007 | 1 | 348 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 349 |
| Aug 2008 | 1 | 350 |
| Jun 2010 | 2 | 352 |
| Jan 2011 | 2 | 354 |
| Jul 2011 | 1 | 355 |
| Aug 2012 | 1 | 356 |
| Oct 2013 | 1 | 357 |
| May 2014 | 2 | 359 |
| Jun 2014 | 1 | 360 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Brakes6713.4%
- Visibility6212.4%
- Fuel system438.6%
- Transmission428.4%
- Steering408.0%
- Engine387.6%
- Body & structure326.4%
- Driver assistance306.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
7 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10607100
- Incident
- Jun 4, 2014
- Mileage
- 184,000 mi
ON 4 NOVEMBER 2013, I PURCHASED 4 GOODYEAR WRANGLER SR-A TIRES FROM THE SEARS AUTO STORE AT 3000 TOWN EAST MALL IN MESQUITE, TX. APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS LATER AND LESS THAN 300 MILES ON THE TIRES, THE LEFT REAR TIRES COMPLETELY CAME A PART WHILE DRIVING ON LBJ FREEWAY WESTBOUND IN DALLAS, TX. MY APPROXIMATELY SPEED WAS BETWEEN 55-65 MPH. HAS THERE BEEN ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE BRAND AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER? *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10593871
- Incident
- Dec 13, 2013
- Mileage
- 203,000 mi
I BOUGHT 4 GOODYEAR WRANGLER SR-A TIRES FROM THE SEARS AUTO STORE AT 3000 TOWN EAST MALL ON 4 NOVEMBER 2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:50AM. THE TIRE DESCRIPTION: P2 235\70R15. THREE WEEKS LATER ON ABOUT 13 DECEMBER 2013 THE LEFT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY CAME A PART WHILE DRIVING ON LBJ FREEWAY WESTBOUND AT HIGHWAY 75. MY SPEED WAS BETWEEN 60-64 MPH. JUST THREE WEEKS ON THE ROAD AND LESS THAN 300 MILES ON THE TIRES. HAS THERE BEEN ANY INCIDENTS WITH THIS TIRE? HAVE THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THIS TIRE? *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10593870
- Incident
- Dec 13, 2013
- Mileage
- 203,000 mi
1997 CHEVROLET ASTROVAN WITH ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCKS. PULLED INTO SHEETZ GAS AND GO AND WENT TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND IT DID NOT OPEN. TRIED TO PUSH THE MANUAL INSIDE DOOR LOCK BUT IT WAS TOTALLY FROZEN AND WOULD NOT ACTUATE. NEXT TRIED ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCK SWITCH. NO RESPONSE ON DRIVERS DOOR BUT THERE WAS WEAK SOUND FROM PASSENGER DOOR LOCK SOLENOID. IT WAS AS IF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IT WAS SUFFERING FROM INSUFFICIENT VOLTAGE. CRAWLED OUT OF PASSENGER SEAT AND GOT OUT OF CAR. ' TOOK IGNITION KEY AND INSERTED IT INTO DRIVERS DOOR LOCK. KEY WOULD TURN TO LOCK (FELT THE DETENT OF THE ) AND BACK TO NEUTRAL... KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO UNLOCK POSITION ...WOULD MOVE A LITTLE AND THEN FREEZE. I DID NOT TRY HARDER TO TURN AS I FELT THERE WAS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THE KEY WOULD BREAK AND LEAVE ME STRANDED 40 MILES FROM HOME... NO BACKUP IGNITION KEY. IGNITION KEY WORKS THE DOOR LOCKS IN THIS MODEL. WENT TO NTSTB WEB SITE AND SEARCHED FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME TYPE PROBLEM. NO LUCK. WENT TO GOOGLE AND DID SAME SEARCH CHEVROLET ASTROVAN DOOR WON'T OPEN AND GOT A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT HAD NOT REACHED NTSTB.. CHEVROLET HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF THIS MODEL HAS FLIP UP STEERING WHEEL, THIS WOULD NOT BE THE PROBLEM IT IS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR OLDER AND LARGER PROBLEM TO CLIMB OUT OF THE BUCKET SEAT AS THE STEERING WHEEL TRAPS YOUR LEGS WHEREAS A BENCH SEAT YOU SIMPLY SLIDE SIDEWAYS. THIS IS AN ENTRAPMENT ISSUE!!!!!! WILL SEE DEALER IN HOUR. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10549828
- Incident
- Oct 26, 2013
- Mileage
- 137,560 mi
JUST BEFORE STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION THE BRAKE PEDAL LIFTED SLIGHTLY. THERE WAS A MOANING SOUND FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE VAN DRIFTED INTO THE CROSSWALK ( LOST BRAKING ). I THREW IT INTO REVERSE TO STOP. AFTER REPLACING THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, HYDRO BOOSTER, POWER STEERING PUMP AND GEAR AND HOSES, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON AN ON-LINE FORUM WHO SUGGESTED DISABLING THE ABS BY PULLING THE FUSE. PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY WENT AWAY WHEN ANTI -LOCK BRAKE WAS DISABLED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10469913
- Incident
- Jul 11, 2012
- Mileage
- 229,760 mi
I OWN A 1997 CHEVY ASTRO VAN WITH 151K MILES. SUNDAY, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT. WHEN IT DID SO, THE BRAKES TURNED MUSHY WITH LITTLE BRAKING POWER. WE WERE LUCKY AS WE HAD JUST COME DOWN A STEEP DRIVEWAY. IF THEY HAD FAILED THEN OUR CHOICES WOULD HAVE BEEN TO RUN INTO THE BACK OF A CAR IF WE COULD HAVE TURNED, RUN INTO A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THEN CONTINUED DOWN A STEEP HILL INTO BRUSH AND FOREST WITH LIKELY CASUALTIES. LUCKILY, WE HAD JUST STARTED UP TO LEAVE AND NOTICED THE PROBLEM. WE SHUT DOWN AND THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN A PART. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD US THAT TO THIS DAY, MANY CHEVY VANS AND TRUCKS HAVE THE SAME SYSTEM WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP ACTS AS A BOOSTER PUMP FOR THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THAT LACK OF INDEPENDENCE BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS IS AN ENGINEERING ERROR AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10410205
- Incident
- Jun 26, 2011
- Mileage
- 151,300 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE CHANGING ONE OF THE TIRES THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CABLE WHICH HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PERFORMING HIS OWNS REPAIR TO REPLACE THE CABLE, IT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10376220
- Incident
- May 11, 2010
- Mileage
- 140,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO MINIVAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS WHEN THE ANTI BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER ID: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK) BUT THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT HIS VEHICLE AS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 346,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10373959
- Incident
- Dec 27, 2010
- Mileage
- 346,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT
This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to Unlock Delco Radio with Theftlock.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details.
EQUIPMENT
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 9 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 48.0 |
| 2003 | 62 | 3 | 0 | 50.3 |
| 2002 | 70 | 3 | 1 | 57.1 |
| 2001 | 91 | 3 | 1 | 56.9 |
| 2000 | 175 | 2 | 0 | 52.9 |
| 1999 | 133 | 4 | 0 | 54.3 |
| 1998 | 241 | 6 | 0 | 54.3 |
| 1997Viewing | 360 | 7 | 1 | 56.5 |
| 1996 | 263 | 7 | 1 | 55.0 |
| 1995 | 446 | 7 | 3 | 63.5 |
| 1994 | 328 | 6 | 1 | 60.9 |
| 1993 | 135 | 5 | 0 | 53.3 |
| 1992 | 132 | 5 | 1 | 62.6 |
| 1991 | 95 | 6 | 5 | 66.1 |
| 1990 | 68 | 7 | 6 | 67.9 |
| 1989 | 57 | 6 | 1 | 60.9 |
| 1988 | 56 | 5 | 7 | 63.5 |
| 1987 | 29 | 5 | 7 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 23 | 4 | 6 | 65.4 |
| 1985 | 5 | 6 | 5 | — |
| 1984 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.