1997 Chevrolet Astro Brakes Problems

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

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

HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SUDDENLY SLOWED DUE TO AN ACCIDENT AHEAD. THE STEEL BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR BRAKES FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST DURING AN EMERGENCY STOP ON HIGHWAY. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE WITH NO CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES. STEERING WAS ALSO VERY DIFFICULT DURING THE STOP POSSIBLY DUE TO ABS ACTION, BUT NO WHEEL LOCK EVER OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227898

Incident

May 1, 2008

Mileage

131,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT APPLY AND SHE ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT FAILURE EVER SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BRAKES AT THE COST OF $125, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKES TO WORK, SHE HAS TO SLAM HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THIS SOLUTION IS NOT ALWAYS GUARANTEED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,800 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED GROSSMAN CHEVROLET REPAIRED THE CHEVY VAN AGAIN ON NOV. 30, 2007 AT THE COST OF $979. THE CONSUMER FURTHER STATED IN 2005 SHE REAR ENDED A VEHICLE AT 5MPH BECAUSE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED RIGHT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, REPAIRED FRONT COVER GASKET, REPLACED FRONT PINION, AND REPLACED SERPENTINE BELT. UPDATED 12/31/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10210170

Incident

Jul 29, 1997

Mileage

50,888 mi

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN RECENT ARTICLES FOR GM MODEL YEAR 2000 AND LATER. NEAR COLLISIONS WITH VEHICLES AND PROPERTY AT LOW SPEEDS. PROBLEM IS STILL NOT CORRECTED, ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM TEMPORARILY DISABLED TO MAKE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

10120947

Incident

Sep 10, 2004

Mileage

111,900 mi

BRAKE PROBLEMS ON 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THAT MORE BRAKE WORK WAS NEEDED. THE BRAKES HAD RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE TURNED, THE A/C WAS NOT BLOWING COLD AND THERE WAS A HEATING CONCERN. *SC THE REAR AXLE SEALS AND DIFFERENTIAL GASKETS WERE LEAKING.. *JB

NHTSA ID

10092588

Incident

Jul 2, 2003

Mileage

18,796 mi

THE PEDAL POSITIONS AND DRIVERS FOOT ROOM ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO CONTRIBUTED TO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A DRIVEWAY WHICH I COULD SEE WAS ICED OVER. I WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND BRAKING WHEN I ENTERED THE DRIVEWAY AND FELT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES BEGIN TO FUNCTION. THE BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY DROPPED DOWN AND THE VAN NO LONGER DECELERATED. IN FACT THE VAN ACCELERATED THE HARDER I STOOD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AT WHICH POINT I REALIZED MY RIGHT FOOT WAS PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AS WELL AS THE BRAKE. AS I TRIED TO MOVE MY RIGHT FOOT FURTHER LEFT MY SIZE 12 RIGHT SHOE GOT TANGLED WITH MY SIZE 12 LEFT SHOE IN THE DRIVERS FOOT WELL. BY THE TIME I CORRECTLY POSITIONED MY FEET AND WAS ABLE TO PRESS EXCLUSIVELY ON THE VERY SMALL BRAKE PEDAL THE VAN CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE, PENETRATING THE DOOR AND COMING TO A STOP AS IT MET THE RESISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. IT HAPPENED SO FAST AT FIRST I FELT LIKE AN IDIOT FOR HAVING AN ACCIDENT UNTIL I ANALYZED THE CHAIN OF EVENTS. I DISCOVERED THE WAY I NORMALLY POSITION MY FEET, OUT STRETCHED IN THE FOOT WELL IS UNSAFE. I NOTICED WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE WITH THE BALL OF MY RIGHT FOOT DURING NORMAL STOPS THE OVERALL WIDTH OF MY SHOE HOVERS OVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS IS NORMALLY OF NO CONSEQUENCE BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL HITS BOTTOM ABOVE THE HEIGHT OF WHERE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RESTS DURING NON-ABS STOPS. HOWEVER WHEN THE PEDAL DROPS DOWN DURING ABS ASSIST THE FOOT ROOM IS TOO TIGHT. THIS REQUIRES ME TO REST MY LEFT FOOT LEG BENT ON THE LEFT WHEEL WELL. ALTHOUGH THIS IS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ME I BELIEVE I WILL NEED TO DRIVE THIS WAY FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. SHORT OF GM REENGINEERING THIS POOR DESIGN, ADULT MEN NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL WHILE DRIVING THESE VANS. THERE ARE A LOT OF ASTROS AND GMC SAFARIS ON THE ROAD. I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010398

Incident

Mar 13, 2003

Mileage

177,821 mi

THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, PULSTATING BRAKES, FRONT ROTOR/GROOVED, SQUEAKING/SCREAMING NOISE, ALL HAVING BEEN DIAGNOSED AND BEING TOLD ON SOME OCCASIONS THAT THEY ARE FINE. AFTER THE CONSUMER HAD SEEN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT ROTOR, THE MECHANIC HAD SHOWN THE COMPARISON WITH THE AFTERMARKET ROTOR, THE DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY WAS IMMEDIATELY APPARENT THAT THE BACKGROUND IS AEROSPACE MACHINING/MANUFACTURING. AFTER A REPLACEMENT OF THE ROTORS, FRONT BRAKE PADS, SKIM MACHINE THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS/ADJUST THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, IT WAS TOLD TO THE CONSUMER BY THE OWNER OF THE SERVICE STATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ROTOR DESIGN, SO THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO GO AHEAD W/THE WORK. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAS RETURNED TO THE EXPERIENCE OF WHEN HE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE DEALER. *SCC *DT

NHTSA ID

567782

Incident

Feb 28, 2001

MY MINI VAN ALWAYS STARTS SHAKING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED I WENT THROUGH SIX TIME FIXING PROBLEM , I PUT NEW DISCS DRUMS SHOE PADS SHOCKS ALIGNMENT REBALANCE EVERYTHING WE COULD DO I'AM VERY DISAAPOINTED AT CHEVROLET FOR THEIR VEHICLE PERFORMANCE I EVEN PUT A NEW GEAR BOX, THE FUEL GAGE DOES'NT WORK THEY TOLD AT CROPPERS CHEVROLET IN NOGALES AZ.I NEED TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP THEY COULD NOT FIX THE GAGE I AM SO DISSAPOINTED I BOUGHT A TOYOTA AND AS SOON AS I CAN I'LL TRADE THIS VEHICLE . ONE THING I LEARNED IS GO WITH AN IMPORT VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

767364

Incident

Nov 11, 2001

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK ON A HILL, COUPLE OF HOURS LATER VEHICLE WILL MOVE FOUR CAR LENGTHS. CAUSE UNKNOWNN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018220

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PRESS DOWN ON BRAKE PEDAL. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSDE AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AKI

NHTSA ID

8013987

Incident

Jun 28, 2002

I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE: BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT POWER WINDOR MOTORS; REPLACE THE KEY REMOTE, BOTH IDLER ARMS,FRONT BRAKE PAD AT 37,000 MILES, SERPENTIME BELT, POWER STEERING PUMP - REPLACED TWICE, HAD TO FIX OIL COOLER LINES TWICE, REPLACED DISTRIBUTOR/ROTOR; REPLACED LOWER GASKET DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK, AND FUEL PUMP MODUAL. ALL OF THIS WAS DONE BEFORE MY CAR HAD 57,000 MILES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY FAIR AND REPAIRED AT LOW OR NOW COST. I HAVE HAD TWO TRIPS SHORTENED DUE TO BREAKDOWNS AND HAVE SPENT OVER $1,500 ON REPAIRS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY OR BY THE DEALER. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO NORMAL MAINTENANCE (OIL AND FILTER,FOUR NEW TIRES,AND TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER). I AM CONCERNED AS TO "WHAT IS NEXT" AND WHEN THE DEALER WHEN NO LONGER BE ABLE TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS AT LOW COST TO ME.*AK

NHTSA ID

763263

Incident

Jun 16, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKES ARE LEAKING FLUID WHILE DRIVING.*JB

NHTSA ID

8010431

Incident

Apr 15, 2002

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

8008840

WHEN T BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8008838

Incident

Apr 29, 2002

THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT MISSING 1ST AND GOING RIGHT INTO 2ND GEAR.FRONT END OF VEHICLE SHAKES AT 40 MPH. HAD TIRES REPLACED AND ALIGNMENT DONE. INTERIOR LIGHT STAY S ON UNLESS MANUAL OVERRIDE IS TURNED OFF.BRAKES MAKE NOISES WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP OR YOU ARE STOPPING SLOWLY. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME BROUGHT TO MECHANIC EVERY TIME TO GET ANALYZED.

NHTSA ID

759704

MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE IN THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. SUDDENLY, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK IN AN OPEN POSITION. CLOSE TO HOME AND UNCERTAIN WHAT TO DO, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO GET IN OUR DRIVEWAY AT HOME. THE NEW REAR BRAKES INSTALLED A WEEK BEFORE WERE RUINED. I HAD MECHANIC REPLACE THEM AND A REAR BRAKE CYLINDER ALSO. THE STRESS APPARENTLY CAUSED THE CYLINDER TO START LEAKING. MY MECHANIC ALSO INVESTIGATED THE THROTTLE PROBLEM. A FACTORY WIRING HARNESS STRAP HAD BROKEN AND FLIPPED AROUND INTO THE THROTTLE LINKAGE. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA AND TRAFFIC WAS NOT VERY HEAVY. MY ENGINE ON THE OTHER HAND IS NOT SO FORTUNATE. IT SEEMS THAT IT RAN AT TOO HIGH AN RPM FOR TOO LONG. IT HAS DEVELOPED A SEVERE ENGINE KNOCK. GM DOES NOT SEEM VERY INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT MY SAFETY CONCERNS AND APPEAL FOR REPAIR COMPENSATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

759596

Incident

Mar 12, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

758469

ROTORS RUSTED FROM BRAKE HUB. WHEN CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE VEERED INTO ANOTHER OF TRAFFIC LANE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003095

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY, RESULTING IN A CRASH. GMC KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FIX IT UNTIL ENOUGH PEOPLE DIE. MY FAMILY WAS ALMOST KILLED. ANYONE WHO HAS HAD A FAMILY MEMBER HURT OR KILLED IN A GM VAN SHOULD SUE GMC. *AK

NHTSA ID

753254

Incident

Aug 30, 2001

UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, WITHOUT NOTICE WARNING OR INDICATION, BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA ID

9004524

Incident

Aug 30, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING 30-40MPH APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP AND HAD NO BRAKES, PEDAL WAS HARD AND RESISTED, DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, LOST ALL POWER STEERING HOWEVER, ENGINE STILL RUNNING, HAD TO SHUT DOWN VEHICLE AND RESTART IT. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, BUT NO SOLUTION WAS FOUND. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

895983

Incident

Aug 30, 2001

CONSUMER RELEASED EMERGENCY BRAKE AND STARTED DRIVING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, HE NOTICED THAT PARK BRAKE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. STOPPED VEHICLE, AND LIFTED PEDAL OFF FLOOR TO GET LIGHT TO GO OFF. DEALER SAID CABLE HAD SNAPPED.*AK

NHTSA ID

894544

Incident

Aug 1, 2001

IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS, IMAGINE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON A HWY WITHOUT BRAKE AND STEERING CONTROL. I WAS LUCKY IT WENT OUT ON ME WHILE IN THE DRIVEWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

745032

Incident

May 1, 2001

DURING COLD WEATHER BRAKES WILL LOCK UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE ON SNOW OR ICE. NO ACCIDENT TO REPORT. *AK

NHTSA ID

882296

Incident

Mar 1, 2001