1997 Chevrolet Astro Driver assistance Problems

DT: WHILE TURNING A CORNER AND PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR IT BECAME STUCK CAUSING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE FASTER. THE CONSUMER PUMPED THE GAS PEDAL WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE GO FASTER. THE CONSUMER THEN PLACED HER OTHER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH MADE THE REAR TIRES SPIN. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. TRIPLE A WAS AFRAID TO TOW THE VEHICLE DUE TO ACCELERATION ISSUE BUT FINALLY DECIDED TO TOW IT TO DEALER. DEALER WAS WILLING TO REPAIR UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. GMC WOULD OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10119963

Incident

Apr 8, 2005

Mileage

65,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR CABLE SHREDDED. THE SECOND TIME THE GUIDES BROKE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 90 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING. THE CONSUMER APPLIED PRESSURE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND REPORTED INCIDENT TO CHEVROLET. *AK *SC

NHTSA ID

10083936

Incident

Mar 29, 2004

Mileage

87,689 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10059698

Incident

Feb 24, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AND THEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 40 MPH. CONSUMER SHUT OFF IGNITION TO STOP VEHICLE. MECHANIC DETERMINED A PLATE INSIDE THROTTLE BODY HAD TWO RIVETS THAT CAME LOOSE AND GOT STUCK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10030088

Incident

Jun 26, 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

THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH DEVELOPING A CONDITION WHERE THE THROTTLE PEDAL STICKS. HIGH PEDAL EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO OVER COME THIS CONDITION BUT THIS PRACTICE IS UNSAFE BECAUSE THE RESULT IS A RAPID ACCELERATION OR LURCH WHEN THE PEDAL BECOMES UNSTUCK . PROBLEM IS CHRONIC AS IT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED AT LEAST ANNUALLY BY CLEANING THE INTERNALS OF THROTTLE BODY. THE CLEANING IS SUCCESSFUL IN REMOVING THE PROBLEM INITIALLY, BUT THE CONDITION ALWAYS RECURS AFTER ABOUT A YEAR (10,000 MILES) OF DRIVING. ALTHOUGH CLEANING THE THROTTLE BODY ON A REGULAR BASIS IS A RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE ITEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010101

Incident

Nov 3, 2002

WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A STOP THERE IS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION, THE GAS PEDAL WILL BE REALLY HARD TO PRESS THEN IT WILL UNEXPECTEDLY RELEASE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND CAN POSSIBLY HIT SOMEONE. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8008157

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES BEYOD 60 MPH UNEXPECTEDLY. DEALER CALLS IT SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT WORK ON AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

760513

Incident

Jun 1, 1997

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

THROTTLE FREEZES. MUST PRESS EXTREMELY HARD TO MOVE. CAUSES VEHICLE TO JUMP. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR $700 + LABOR COST.*AK

NHTSA ID

759181

DRIVEN VAN ABOUT 30 MILES STOPPED AND WHEN WE STARTED TO TAKE OFF VAN LURCHED FOREWARD WITH ALOUD BANG ONLY DOES THIS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. WHEN TRANSMISSION IS COLD DOES NOT DO THIS ONLY WHEN HOT. *AK

NHTSA ID

749307

Incident

Jul 7, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH WITH SPEED CONTROL ENGAGED VEHICLE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE SPEED CONTROL WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL. INSTEAD, IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, PULL VEHICLE OVER , AND TURN OFF IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSEPECTION. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

892249

Incident

Jul 3, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL LOCK UP/STICK WHEN APPLYING PEDAL TO GO. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

891998

Incident

Feb 27, 1998

WHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL WENT DOWN, AND DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL ENGINE JUST REVVED, AND SHE HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK BEFORE IT WOULD STOP.*AK

NHTSA ID

885601

Incident

Apr 10, 2001

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW WILL NOT STAY OPEN, CLIPS THAT SHOULD HOLD IT UP ARE BLOCKED BY MATERIAL, WINDOW SLAMS SHUT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 45000 MILES. *AK OIL LEAK, DEALER ORDERED AXLE OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE CUTTING AND WOULD CRANK, BUT WOULD NOT STAR. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE ERRATIC, DEALER REPLACED OIL PRESSURE SENDER. FRONT BRAKES AND PADS WERE REPLACED, ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS PLAY IN THE STEERING, DEALER REPLACED BOTH IDLER ARMS AND RESET TOE IN. POWER DOOR LOCKS INOPERABLE, DEALER REPLACED POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH. POWER WINDOW INOPERABLE, DEALER REPLACED POWER WINDOW SWITCH. SHIFTER WAS HARD TO MOVE, DEALER REPLACED SHIFT CABLE. GAS PEDAL BINDS AT TIMES, DEALER ORDERED THROTTLE CABLE AND REPLACED ACCELERATOR CABLE. DRIVER SETA SEEMS LOOSE WHEN BRAKING, DEALER ORDERED DRIVER SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY AND REPLACED DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTER. PCM FUSE KEPT BLOWING OUT, DEALER REMOVED ENGINE COVER AND TRACED WIRE HARNESS, REPAIRED SHORTED HARNESS AT THE REAR OF THE TRANSMISSION. *SLC

NHTSA ID

879935

Incident

Aug 25, 1997

WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK JUST DROPPED MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN OFFF NOT EVEN 5 MIN AGO - WAS DRIVING DOWN RT 97 TOWARDS ANNAPOLIS GOING ABOUT 60 - 65 MPH WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED TO GET A LITTLE HEAVY I NEEDED TO APPLY MY BRAKE AND IT DIDNT WORK I THEN NOTICED THE VAN WAS SPEEDING UP ALL BY ITSELF I CHECKED THE CRUISE CONTROLL AND IT WASNT ON THE VAN KEPT SPEEDING UP I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC - I TURNED MY FLASHERS ON AND DID EVERYTHING I COULD I FINALLY MANAGED TO GET THIS VAN TO THE SHOULDER I HAD MY FOOT PRESSING DOWN AS HARD AS I COULD ( AT THIS POINT MY BODY WAS LIFTED FROM THE SEAT I WAS PRESSING THE BREAK SO HARD I WAS STILL GOING 45-50 MPH ) LUCKILLY AFTER 10 ? MIN OF THIS AND MANY NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES I FINALLY GOT SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH TO THROW IT INTO PARK THE ENGINE WAS SO LOUD I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF OUT OF PARK I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE KEY OFF - I WAS LUCKY MY KIDS WERENT THERE AND I WASNT DRIVING IN A RESIDENTILAL AREA I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR EVN WORSE SEVERAL OTHERS SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK TIS OUT IMMEDIATLET Y THE DEALERSHIP HAS FIXED THIS A T A COST OF 950.00 AND I HAVER REPORTED IT TO CHEVY - HOWEVER SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE THIS PART JUST BROKE??? NO WARNING NO NOTHING JUST ALL THE SUDDEN DECIDED IT WANTED TO KILL ME. *AK

NHTSA ID

739681

Incident

Jan 17, 2001

THE VAN WENT FROM 60 MPH TO 85MPH ALL BY ITSELF AS IF CRUISE WAS ON BUT IT WASNT THE THROTTLE JUST BROKE NO WARNING NO NOTHING THE ENGINE IDLED SO HIGH THE BRAKES WOULDNT WORK IT TOOK 10 MIN TO GET THIS THING TO STOP MY BRAKE WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR AND I WAS STILL GOING 45 MPH IT WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA WITH TRAFFIC SIGNALS IT WAS ALSO LUCKY MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS COMPLAIN IMMEDIATELY. *AK

NHTSA ID

739592

Incident

Jan 17, 2001

BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH. *SLC

NHTSA ID

555327

Incident

Oct 1, 1998

VERY FAST IDLE, INTRMITTENT, WILL ACCELLERATE VEHICLE BEYOND 60 MPH WITH NO GAS PEDAL. CARRIED VEHICLE DATA RECORDER FOR 3 WEEKS, RECORDED 4 EVENTS. DEALER CLAIMS NORMAL FAST IDLE DURING DECELERATION AS EMISSION FEATURE. MY QUESTION, ACCEL BEYOND 60MPH WITH NO PEDAL IS NOT EMISSION CONTROL, IT IS UN-SAFE. IT REQUIRES BRAKES TO MAINTAIN 50MPH ON FLAT GROUND WHEN THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM KICKS IN. I HAVE HAD 3 YEARS OF DEALER EXCUSES, AS THEY DO NOT WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX EVEN UNDER EXTENDED 100.000 MILE WARANTY. THEY CLAIM TO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AS THERE IS NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT OR STORED CODES. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL DRIVING CONCERN INCIDENTS AND 2 VERY CLOSE CALLS WHEN IT DECIDES TO KICK IN.*AK

NHTSA ID

732609

Incident

Jun 1, 1997

HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING MORE THAN A NUISIANCE SO FAR, BUT WE BELIEVE IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. THE GAS PEDAL STICKS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. STARTING OFF IN A CONTROLLABLE MANNER IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. RELIABLE CHEVROLET IN TULSA REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES, AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS STARTING AGAIN. AS THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE, IT STARTS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN, I.E. EVEN AFTER THE VAN HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE INSTEAD OF JUST AFTER STARTING. THE GAS PEDAL JUST STICKS WHEN THE THROTTLE IS CLOSED. IT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF PRESSURE TO UNSTICK IT, AND WHEN IT FINALLY MOVES, IT OPENS THE THROTTLE MORE THAN INTENDED, AND THE VAN STARTS OFF IN LEAPS AND SPURTS INSTEAD OF GRADUALLY AND GRACEFULLY.

NHTSA ID

731668

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH OR MORE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD TWICE. ALSO, FUEL GAUGE MOVED FROM FULL TO EMTPY AND CONTINUED TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE FUEL TANK SENDER UNIT HAS MELTED DOWN, AND COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE IN THE TANK. *AK

NHTSA ID

865233

Incident

Jul 3, 2000

GAS PEDAL STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. TRANSMISSION ALSO WENT OUT. *ML

NHTSA ID

859242

Incident

Mar 1, 2000

I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR A YEAR AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE SINCE THEN. TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED DUE TO FAULTY COOLANT HOS A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE AND NOW TRNS. FLIUD PUMP IS SHOT. WINDOW MOTORS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND NIETHER ARE POWER LOCKS. FRIEND OWNS 97' SAFARI AND HAS SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. IS COSTING ME MORE THAN VAN IS WORTH

NHTSA ID

711459

Incident

Jun 29, 1998

GAS PEDAL STICKS TO THE FLOOR. * ET

NHTSA ID

782879

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

706707