RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet Astro Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
32
Latest Oct 28, 2013
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 360 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Chevrolet Astro submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 32 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

The 25 most recent of 32, in the owner's own words

Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Oct 28, 2013

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
Body & structure
Filed Jan 11, 2011

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
Body & structureEngineInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Mar 29, 2005

THE CONSUMER'S 1987 AND 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO VANS HAD FAULTY ENGINE'S.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAME LOOSE, THE REAR DOOR HATCH BROKE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER SLIPPING AND VALVE BODY WEAR (90000 MILES). *NM

NHTSA ID
10117266
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Mileage
30,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 5, 2004

PAINT IS PEELING AND CRACKING ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE UNDER WARRENTY THE ROOF WAS REPAINTED. SOON IT STARTED TO CRACK BUT DEALER WOULD NOT HELP. AS A OWNER OF SEVERAL GM VEHICLES I FEEL MY VAN SHOULD BE REPAINTED FOR FREE SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF GM. ALL I AM ASKING FOR IS FOR GM TO PAY TO HAVE MY VAN FULLY REPAINTED. THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. ANTHONY O. HOOPER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10074844
Incident
Jun 4, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Aug 11, 2003

DOOR HANDLE ON REAR DOOR HAS BROKEN. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10032564
Incident
Nov 1, 2002
Mileage
78,000 mi
Body & structureDriver assistanceElectrical+3 more
Filed Mar 13, 2003

I HAVE A 1997 ASTRO, IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH 54,202 MILES ON IT, WHICH STARTED GIVING US PROBLEMS AT ABOUT 53,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH IDLER ARMS AT 25,680 MILES. HAD SEAT BELT CHIME FIXED (RECALL), DRIVER SEAT FEELS LOOSE WHEN STOPPING DEALERSHIP CLAIMS TO HAVE TIGHTENED IT, STILL FEELS LOOSE. THE VAN HAS ALWAYS IDLED ROUGH TOOK IT IN 3 TIMES FOR THAT AND CAN'T SEEM TO FIX THAT. SLIDING DOOR RATTLE THEY TRIED TO FIX THAT ALSO STILL RATTLES. THE GAS PEDAL STICKS WHEN I TAKE OFF OR WHEN I GO IN REVERSE WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TAKE OFF SMOOTHLY. I HAD AN ASTRO AND A SAFARI IN THE PAST AND NEVER HAD AS MANY PROBLEMS AS I HAD WITH THIS ONE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10010394
Incident
Oct 4, 2002
Mileage
53,000 mi
Body & structureEngineTransmission
Filed Apr 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND THERE IS HARSH SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. DEALER FOUND TORQUE CONVERTER AND VALVE BODY NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID
564840
Body & structure
Filed Jul 19, 2001

CRACKS DEVELOPED IN THE FRAME HOILDING THE SIDE DOOR WHICH STARTED RATTLING AND IF UNCHECKED COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF A DOOR IN TRAFFIC. CHEVROLET DEALER THAT SOLD THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAS MAINTAINED IT FOR 60,000 MILES OF WARRANTY SAYS THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER SORKMANSHIP OR POOR ENGINEERING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE DOOR WEIGHS APPROX 100 POUNDS AND THE LOOS OF IT ON A HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.*AK

NHTSA ID
748732
Incident
Jul 18, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Jul 2, 2001

HATCHBACK HYDRAULIC LIFTERS HAVE FAILED TWICE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
891859
Body & structureSuspensionVisibility
Filed May 23, 2001

THE REAR HATCH DOOR WILL NOT STAY UP THE CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD THE HATCH OPEN. NLM

NHTSA ID
561316
Incident
Nov 10, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Jan 22, 2001

THE LIFT GATE FELL ON CONSUMER'S HEAD, THE 2 HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS FAILED, NO ONE WAS INJURED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
559102
Body & structure
Filed Dec 7, 2000

CONSUMER'S SLIDING DOOR GOT STUCK. THEN AFTER SHE GOT IT OPENED, COULD NOT OPEN IT AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
876162
Incident
Nov 21, 2000
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+6 more
Filed Oct 3, 2000

BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH. *SLC

NHTSA ID
555327
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningFuel system+2 more
Filed Sep 13, 2000

CHEVROLET DOESN'T CARE ABOUT USING CHEAP PARTS- AFTER WARRANTY THEY SAY TRADE IT IN .NUMEROUS THINGS WRONG WITH VAN AND HAVE TALKED TO CHEVROLET MANY TIMES. CAN'T USE BACK DOOR OF VAN, RUN OUT OF GAS, KNOBS FALL OF INTERIOR DEVICES, ASKED CHEVY TO HELP SINCE 37,000 AND PROBLEMS STILL HAPPENING AS I GO, CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX AND CAN'T AFFORD TO TRADE. ANOTHER NICE SHOVE IT JOB BY CHEVROLET THEY DON'T STAND BY THEIR PRDUCT AND THEIR PRODUCT IS NOT SAFE PLEASE RESPOND. *AK

NHTSA ID
731284
Body & structureEngine
Filed Jul 20, 2000

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER AND STOP IN TRAFFIC. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. ALSO, CONSUMER NOTICED A WHITE PASTY FUNGUS GROWING WHICH IS EATING THROUGH THE METAL AND CARPET.*AK

NHTSA ID
865738
Body & structureElectricalFuel system+2 more
Filed May 4, 2000

RADIO BROKE DOWN. YH

NHTSA ID
552104
Body & structure
Filed Dec 2, 1999

EVERYTIME THE SLIDING DOOR IS OPENED IT FALLS OFF THE TRACK. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SIX TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
853592
Body & structureFuel system
Filed Nov 3, 1999

THE GAS INDICATOR FAILS TO REGISTER THE CORRECT FUEL LEFT IN VEHICLE. OWNER RAN OUT OF GAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE INDICATOR. THE DOOR HINGES ON THE DUTCH DOORS ALLOW DOORS TO SWING WIDE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TO REPAIR HINGES, BUT THE FUEL INDICATOR COULD NOT BE FIXED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
852491
Incident
Oct 22, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Sep 20, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
711660
Incident
Sep 9, 1997
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningElectrical+1 more
Filed Sep 20, 1999

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH ALL OF THIS VAN. PLEASE CONTACT TO EXPLAIN IN FULL.

NHTSA ID
711659
Incident
Oct 13, 1998
Body & structure
Filed Jun 22, 1999

THE ROLLERS ON THE SLIDING DOOR IS MAKING THE DOOR TO DROP, NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR TO CLOSE PROPERLY, AND IT WILL NOT LOCK. *AK

NHTSA ID
840695
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+7 more
Filed Jun 4, 1999

TRIM ON TWO REAR BENCH SEATS FELL OFF WHICH WAS REPLACED. *YC

NHTSA ID
545963
Body & structure
Filed Feb 16, 1999
1 injury reported

REAR HATCH STRUT ROD FAILED RESULTING IN HATCH FALLING ON CONSUMERS HEAD.

NHTSA ID
543878
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Feb 1, 1999

KEYLESS ENTRY TRANSMITTERS FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
609940
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Body & structure
Filed Feb 1, 1999

REAR HATCH SUPPORT ROD FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID
609392
Incident
Dec 22, 1998

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .