Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Chevrolet Astro submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 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.
The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE MOTOR COVER FOR HIM TO MANEUVER HIS FEET. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT HE COULD POSSIBLY GET HIS FOOT CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MOTOR COVER IN THE EVENT THAT HE NEEDED TO APPLY THE BRAKES QUICKLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 114,000. UPDATED 04-20-09 *BF UPDATED 04/24/09.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 88,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000*AK.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT LOW SPEEDS, THE PEDAL WAS HARDER TO DEPRESS AND HAD A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.
WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP AT ABOUT 2 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM STARTED RAPIDLY CYCLING, NO BRAKES WERE GRABBING BECAUSE OF THE RAPID CYCLING, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE SLIGHTLY, AND THE VEHICLE WAS HEADED FOR EITHER TWO PEDESTRIANS OR A BUILDING. TO STOP THE VEHICLE, I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. AFTER ANOTHER BRAKE ATTEMPT THE BRAKES RESPONDED. I WENT TO AN ISOLATED STREET WITH SOME ICE AND DRY PAVEMENT, AND THIS ANTI-LOCK BRAKING FAILURE OCCURRED IN 1 OUT OF 5 BRAKING ATTEMPTS. I NEVER RECEIVED AN ANTI-LOCK WARNING LIGHT AND THE SYSTEM COMPLETED ITS SELF TESTS PROPERLY ON EACH ENGINE START UP. I REMOVED THE 60 AMP FUSE TO DISABLE THE SYSTEM AND I AM NOT SURE I CAN EVER TRUST THIS SYSTEM AGAIN. *JB
COMMENTS: I READ WHERE NHTSA HAS STARTED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A 1998 ASTRO AWD PASASENGER VAN WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS (STARTED AT 50,000 MILES, CURRENTLY HAS 67,000 MILES. I PULLED THE FUSE SO I AT LEAST HAVE BRAKES AT SLOW SPEEDS. I NEARLY RAN INTO MY GARAGE AND AM CONCERNED BECAUASE WE LIVE NEAR RAILROAD TRACKS. HAVE ROLLED INTO INTERSECTIONS BEACAUSE OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. ABS ENGAGES AT SLOW SPEED WHICH ALLOWS VEHICLE TO KEEP GOING (RENDERS TO BRAJES USELESS) THERE IS A TSB BY GM ON THIS SHOWN BELOW. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT LISTED IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. BRAKES - ANTILOCK BRAKE ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS FILE IN SECTION: 05 - BRAKES BULLETIN NO.: 02-05-25-006A DATE: DECEMBER, 2002 TECHNICAL SUBJECT: ANTILOCK BRAKE (ABS) ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS (CLEAN WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE) MODELS: 1999-2000 CADILLAC ESCALADE 1995-1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO (OLD STYLE) 1995-2000 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, TAHOE (OLD STYLE) 1995-2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN, BLAZER, S10 1995-1999 GMC SIERRA (OLD STYLE) 1995-2000 GMC YUKON, YUKON XL (OLD STYLE) 1995-2001 GMC ENVOY, JIMMY 1995-2003 GMC SAFARI VAN, SONOMA 1995-2001 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO CHANGE MODEL INFORMATION. PLEASE DISCARD CORPORATE BULLETIN NUMBER 02-05-25-006 (SECTION 05 - BRAKES). CONDITION SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS USUALLY BELOW 8 KM/H (5 MPH). UPON INVESTIGATION, THE TECHNICIAN WILL FIND NO DTCS SET. CAUSE THE CAUSE OF THIS CONDITION MAY BE AN INCREASED AIR GAP BETWEEN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THE HUB RELUCTOR RING DUE TO RUST AND DEBRIS BUILT UP ON THE SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE. CORRECTION
WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEED THE ABS WOULD CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR REPLACED. LEFT FRONT WINDOW HANGS WHEN GOING UP. WINDOW TRACKE LUBED. PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED. RER BRAKE ADJUSTED. BRAKE PEDAL KICKED UP WHEN ALMOST TO A STOP. REPLACED BRAKE CALIPERS/ROTORS/ BACKING PLATES AND REMOVED SENSORS AND CLEANED RUST BUILD UP ON SENSOR AND HUB ASSEMBLIES. BOTH IDLER AMRS AND FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED DUE TO FRONT END PLAY. *TT
SLID OUT IN SNOW LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. ALMOST HIT LARGE TREE AFTER FAILURE. MECHANIC SAIT PS HYDROBOOST PUMP BROKE INTERNAILLY. *AK
CANNOT GET AIR THROUGHT VENTS IN DASH, ALL CONTROLS WORK PROPERLY VACUUM ACTUATOR MOVES, THERE IS VACUUM AT THE SWITHC, NO ONE KNOWS THE ANSWER PAINT ON GAS DOOR BUBBLING AND LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL OFF TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD INTO 2ND GEAR SINCE WE BOUGHT IT ( 54000KMS) FINALLY STARTED TO SLIP , BOUGHT USED TRANS AND HAD IT INSTALLED, QUOTED 3000.00 TO REBUILD, DEALER WAS PAST EVEN BELIEF. ABS COMES ON WHEN COMING TO A STOP EVERY TIME . LF FRONT SENSOR READS O MPH WHEN OTHER SENSORS READ MOVEMENT CAUSING IT TO ASSUME A SKID SITUATION, REPLACED SENSOR AT 205.00 NO BETTER, DOES NOT SET CODE IN COMPUTER ACCORDING TO MECHANIC. PULLED FUSE. HAS HAD VIBRATION IN DRIVELINE SINCE PURCHASED NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING SUGEESTION RANGE FROM REPLACE ALL U JOINTS, DID SOME OF THEM NO BETTER TO REPLACE REAR END. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE IN NOVA SCOTIA TO OBTAIN A BLASTING PERMIT TO BLOW UP YOUR CAR EVEN IF YOU TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND HIRE A PROFESSIONAL. I HAVE NEVER IN 40 YEARS OF DRIVING SOME BAD STUFF FROM OLD ENGLISH CARS TO TRANSPORT TRUCKS WITH MORE MILES THAN THERE ARE NUMBERS, EVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM, MOST THINGS CAN BE FIXED. YOU HAVE NEVER LIVED UNTIL YOU HAVE TAKEN THE WHOLE DASH APART ON ONE OF THESE, THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED BY MADMEN.
BELT TENSIONER CASING CRACKED/BROKEN AROUND MOUNT BOLT, CAUSING LOSS OF BELT TENSION, POWER ASSISTED STEERING, AND POWER ASSISTED BRAKING. THROTTLE CONTROL PEDAL "STICKS" AND EXCESSIVE PRESSURE MUST BE APPLIED TO OVERCOME RESISTANCE. BRAKE PEDAL COULD NOT BE DEPRESSED UNTIL EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED WITH BOTH FEET, OCCURRED TWICE AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS WHILE CRESTING A SHORT STEEP INCLINE AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT TO PARK, CAUSE YET UNKNOWN. DT
BRAKE PEDAL WOULD PUSH ITSELF BACK UP INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLIED AND CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 7/10 MILES AND THEN PARKING IT SMELLS LIKE BURNING BRAKES. WHEN WE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THE PADS WERE LOOSE AND GLAZED. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES PADS 2 TWICE SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE TIME FRAME FROM THE 1ST TIME TO THE LAST TIME WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AND WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECK AGAIN FOR THE SAME REASON. *AK
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED SUDDENLY CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MGR. @ DAMASCUS CHEVROLET THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN THIS BRAKING SYSTEM BEFORE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH EITHER THE STEERING OR THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND COMPLETE. I HAVE LOCATED ONE ADDITIONAL OWNER OF THE SAME MODEL VAN WHO EXPERIENCED A SIMULAR FAILURE. IN BOTH CASES IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE FAILURE WAS AT A LOW SPEED. CHEVROLET INFORMED ME THAT SINCE THE VEHILCE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD MAKE NO EFFORTS TO ASSIST ME WITH THE REPAIR ($800). I FEEL THAT A BRAKING SYSTEM THAT SUFFERS FROM THIS TYPE OF FAILURE FROM TIME TO TIME ( AS STATED BY THE CHEVY SERVICE MGR.) IS A THREAT TO ANYONE WHO MAY OPERATE OR BE IN PROXIMITY OF THE OPERATION OF THESE VEHICLES.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY WOULD GRAB, TOOK TO DEALER WHO FOUND EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD BEEN FUSED TO BRAKES. TOOK 2 VISITS TO DEALER BEFORE PROBLEM WAS FOUND. ALSO, IDLER ARM/TIE ROD ENDS HAD TO BE REPLACED. TIRES HAD BEEN WEARING UNEVEN, VEHICLE WAS SHAKING BADLY. *AK
WHEN THE CONSUMER CHANGES THE GEAR INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE JUMPS INTO GEAR HARDER THAN IT SHOULD. *SLC
COOLANT LEAKING FROM RADIATOR AND VEHICLE OVERHEATS. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GETS HARD, AND GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK THE HOLD DOWN SPRING FOR REAR BRAKE RUSTED DUE TO WET WEATHER. *YH
WHILE DRIVING STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REDUCE SPEED OR STOP VEHICLE, BUT VEHICLE WON'T STOP. HAD TO STEP WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK
ON WET DAYS IF BRAKES WERE TOUCHED SLIGHTLY VEHICLE JERKED ENOUGH TO FEEL LIKE CONSUMER WAS GOING THROUGH THE WINDOW. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE & SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, MADE A REAR ADJUSTMENT. *AK
BRAKE ROTORS OUT OF ROUND. MANUFACTURER WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS CONDITION. BRAKING WHILE TURNING VEHICLE HAS POOR STEERING CONTROL OF STEERING CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE WHEEL VIBRATION. DRIVER CAN PUMP BRAKE TO STABLIZE CONTROL. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP OR NORMAL STOP BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO TRAVEL . BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AGAIN VEHICLE WOULD STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, VAN PULLED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE VAN HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR 50 MILES. ALSO, BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES IN 40,000 MILES. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
ONGOING /INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH REAR WHEELS LOCKING UP WHEN WHEN COMING TO A STOP POSITION OR TAKING OFF FROM A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO NOT STOP, WHICH RESULTED IN OWNER HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK
EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT COMPLETELY DISENGAGE, WEARING DOWN THE BRAKE SHOES ON REAR DRIVERS SIDE. DEALER CAN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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