1998 Chevrolet Astro Body & structure Problems

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY ASTRO 2WD WE BOUGHT WITH 23K MI. IN 2000. ROUGHLY 2 YEARS AGO WE HAD ALL NEW BRAKES (HEAD TO TOE, FRONT & BACK) INSTALLED AGAIN. WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES WITH OUR ABS MAINLY WHEN TRAVELING UNDER 15 MPH, WHEN YOU TRY AND STOP IT GRABS HEAVILY OR SOMETIMES ALMOST NOT AT ALL. JUST LAST YEAR WE HAD THE FRONT BRAKES RE-DONE AGAIN AND STILL THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. WE ONLY TRAVEL 12-14K MILES A YEAR WITH THE VEHICLE AND MOST OF THE DRIVING IS ON COUNTRY ROADS. WE NOTICE IT THE MOST WHEN WE ARE DROPPING THE KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL OR PICKING THEM UP OR PULLING INTO OR OUT OF THE GARAGE. THE JERKING ACTION HAS CAUSED MAJOR FRONT END ASSEMBLY DAMAGE TO THE VAN WHERE WE HAD TO REPLACE MOST OF THOSE PIECES AS WELL. AFTER DUMPING ALMOST $2200 INTO THE VAN AND STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, THIS IS WHY I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE, CAUSE IT IS DANGERING THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY AND OTHER AROUND US. I BELIEVE IT IS A BAD SENSOR. WE WILL ALSO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ILLINOIS LISA MADIGAN AS THIS IS MORE THAN JUST ONE INCIDENT ACROSS THE U.S. FEEL FREE TO CALL OR EMAIL ME ASAP AS WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. IF THE ECONOMY WAS BETTER WE MIGHT OF JUST WENT TO BUY ANOTHER VAN BUT WE ARE LIKE THE REST OF AMERICA AT THIS POINT AND SEE NO POINT IN TRYING TO GET RID OF A VEHICLE THAT PERFORMS WELL EXCEPT FOR THE ABS. WE HAVE RECORDS OF ALL WORK DONE TO THE VAN AND WILL SHARE IF NEED BE. DISSATIFIED VEHICLE OWNER TOM K. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258732

Incident

Jul 1, 2007

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

ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED ,AND WOULD NOT ALLOW CONSUMER OUT OF VEHICLE UNTIL SOMEONE ARRIVED WITH A REMOTE UNLOCKING DEVICE. *AK DOOR LOCKS FAILURE WAS DUE TO A BLOWN UP FUSE. *YH

NHTSA ID

883134

Incident

Mar 14, 2001

SIDE SLIDING DOOR MECHANISM CAN NOT SUPPORT WEIGHT OF DOOR , RESULTING IN AN UNEXPECTED RELEASE OF SLIDING DOOR WHEN IN THE OPEN POSITION AND PARKED FACING DOWN HILL THE DOOR HAS UNEXPECTEDLY SLAM SHUT , SEVERAL TIMES AND ON TWO OCCASIONS CAUSING MINOR BRUISES PLUS SWOLLEN FINGERS

NHTSA ID

740109

Incident

Sep 12, 2000

ROBLEMS THAT I HAVE LISTED ARE ONLY THE ICING ON THE CAKE. I HAVE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS AND SUCH AS : OIL COLLER INLET, REAR MAIN SEAL, EXTENTION HOUSING LEAKING.MY FRONT END ALIGNMENT WANDERS, PROBLEMS WITH KEYLESS REMOTE AND FACTORY ALARM.ROOF RACK WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED, CIGARETTTE LIGHTER FALLS OUT, GLOVE BOX LIGHT SWITCH DEFECTIVE,RAIDO SPEAKERS NOT PROPERTLY INSTALLLED. WHEN TENSIONER FAILED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT END,SO I DECIDED TO GET OFF THE BUSY ROAD TO FIND OUT WHERE THE NOISE CAME FROM. MY STEERING ALSO WENT OUT;I HAD MY CHILDREN WITH ME ON A BUSY ROAD SPEED LIMIT 45.I WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HAD TURN AND HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN TURNING MY WHEEL. I HAD TO UNBUCKLE MY SEATBELT; TO PULL ON THE STEERING WHEEL WITH ALL MY BODY WEIGHT, AND STILL COULDN'T MAKE THE TURN, I HAD TO BACK UP AND TRY TO TURN AGAIN.I CONTINUE TO HAVE FRONTEND,WINDOW,FUEL INJECTION, DOORS NOT WANTING TO LOCK AND UNLOCK PROPERLY AND I STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. I FEEL THAT THIS CHEVROLET, ASTRO IS A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVING. ANY INFO YOU CAN GIVE ME ON THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE GREATLY APPERICATED. THANK YOU LAURIE HOEKZEMA. *AK

NHTSA ID

715876

Incident

Jul 30, 1998

VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. MECHANIC LEFT VEHICLE RUNNING & SHUT DOORS. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN DOOR AREA & LOCKED IT. BROKE WINDOW TO ENTER & PUT FLAMES OUT. NO WORK BEING DONE ON DOOR AT TIME OF FLAMES. MECHANIC WILL CHECK FOR CAUSE OF FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

847444

Incident

Jul 8, 1999

SLIDING DOOR FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

606292

Incident

Sep 1, 1998

SLIDING DOOR ON SIDE OF VEHICLE IN 1997 AND 1998 MODELS DOES NOT HAVE A MECHANISM TO ENSURE THE DOOR STAYS OPEN UNTIL NEEDED TO BE SHUT. IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A SLOPE OR IF SOMEONE USES THE DOOR AS LEVERAGE TO CLIMB INTO THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR SHUTS ON THEM, CAUSING LOSS OF BALANCE AND/OR BEING CRUSHED BY THE DOOR. THE 1996 MODEL HAD A LATCH THAT ENGAGED WHEN THE DOOR WAS FULLY OPENED, AND WAS DISENGAGED BY THE DOOR HANDLE. DEALER STATED THE 1997 AND 1998 WERE DESIGNED WITHOUT THE LATCH. I HAD A 1996 WHICH I TRADED IN BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. I TRANSPORT 4 AND 6 YEAR OLD CHILDREN IN THE VAN DAILY. WHEN THEY ARE BOARDING, I AM AT THE SIDE DOOR TO ENSURE IT DOES NOT SLAM ON THEM. WHEN I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, THE SERVICE PERSON THOUGHT THE LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE, AND INDICATED HE COULD FIX IT AT THE 3000 MILE CHECK. WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE, HE REALIZED THE MODEL MODIFICATIONS. THESE CAUSE A SAFETY PROBLEM WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE BOARDING PASSENGER TO LOOSE THEIR BALANCE WHEN THE DOOR STARTS CLOSING, OR BE SLAMMED INTO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE DOOR SHUTS ON THEM.

NHTSA ID

700200