1998 Chevrolet Astro Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE BEGAN TO DRIVE IN REVERSE AND THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHERE THEY STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED FROM THE WIRING HARNESS AND INTO THE ENGINE COMPUTER. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE COMPUTER AND THE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 245,000.

NHTSA ID

10561879

Incident

Dec 26, 2013

Mileage

245,000 mi

DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND DIDN'T PROVIDE WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE BOOK STATES THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON TO INDICATE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND SERVICE IS REQUIRED. MALFUNCTIONS OFTEN WILL BE INDICATED BY THE SYSTEM BEFORE ANY PROBLEM IS APPARENT. THIS SYSTEM IS ALSO DESIGNED TO ASSIST YOUR SERVICE TECHNICIAN IN CORRECTLY DIAGNOSING ANY MALFUNCTION. NONE OF THIS WORKED ON THE VAN. *KB

NHTSA ID

10452404

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN HEAT EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING THE FAILURE, THERE WERE NO VISIBLE FLAMES OR SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,349. UPDATED 04/27/12*LJ UPDATED 04/27/12

NHTSA ID

10452205

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

Mileage

92,349 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BUILT- IN DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND DID NOT PROVIDE WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AND CAUSED ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE MOTOR ABNORMALLY. THE ENGINE MOTOR AND THE INTAKE GASKETS WOULD BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE BUILT-IN DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S AGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000. UPDATED 08-07-12 *BF

NHTSA ID

10450272

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

Mileage

92,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. THE BRAKES FAILED, AND POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE BELT TENSIONER FELL OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

10081471

Incident

Nov 2, 2003

REQUEST ANOTHER VEHICLE (VAN/SUV) AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR RENTAL CARS DUE TO THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *PH THE SAME DAY THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HE DROVE TWO BLOCKS AND THE VAN STOPPED, THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WALKED BACK TO CAR LOT AND THE WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE THAT THE MECHANIC HAD CHECKED OVER EVERYTHING COMPLETELY AND TO JUST FILL THE VEHICLE UP WITH GAS. WHEN THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD, ALSO THE FRONT SHOCKS AND IDLER ARMS WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10066869

Incident

Feb 11, 2004

Mileage

70,365 mi

"CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON THE AUTOMOBILE NEVER WENT OFF, WHEN I PURCHASED AUTOMOBILE FROM USED DEALER,LIGHT WAS ON,TOOK IT TO MEINKE, PAID 2,000.00 TO GET SERVICED LIGHT STILL STAYED ON. WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY, NO PROBLEM WITH ENGINE, 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT AUTO , BLEW HEAD, WITH NO, NO , NO INDICATION THAT THE CAR WAS EVEN RUNNING HOT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10062087

Incident

Feb 6, 2004

Mileage

70,365 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10071372

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

150,000 mi

VAN SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND REALY HARD. WHEN I TRIED TO GET IT REPAIRED NOTHING WAS DONE EXCEPT FOR A FLUID CHANGE. THE VAN STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. I ONLY ATTEMPED TWO TIMES BECAUSE I CANT AFORD TO PAY THAT MUCH MONEY AND THE PROBLEM TO NOT GET FIXED. THE AIR AND HEAT ONLY BLOWES OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.

NHTSA ID

10068732

Incident

May 15, 2001

Mileage

89,000 mi

MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR HAS A SHORT SERVICE LIGHT. THIS SENSOR BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION AROUND 52000 MILES, SENDING A CODE TO THE OBD LL SYSTEM RESULTING IN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS IS WAY TOO SOON FOR THIS TYPE OF COMPONENT TO FAIL, AND THE COMPONENT IS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH GENERAL MOTORS DEALERS AT A LOFTY PRICE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041752

Incident

Apr 1, 2003

Mileage

51,891 mi

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE TRAVELING 80 MPH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10017492

Incident

Apr 22, 2003

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

NHTSA ID

770222

Incident

Nov 1, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

760718

Incident

Nov 5, 2001

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

TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REBUILT DUE TO BAD SHIFTING. ALSO, ENGINE ROD BEARING WAS MAKING A KOCKING SOUND THAT FORCED REPLACEMENT. *AK CRACK IN COOLING SYSTEM HAD TO REPLACE SEAL.*JB

NHTSA ID

889009

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

BATTERY FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

560311

Incident

Aug 15, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

869167

Incident

Jul 1, 2000

THE VEHICLE'S CONTROL ARMS FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

552960

TENSIONER ARM HOUSING BROKE OFF OF ENGINE BLOCK RENDERING VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. TRANSMISSION SLIPPED BETWEEN 2 & 3 & 4 GEARS. REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH NEW GM TRANS. NO MONETARY RELIEF FROM GM WAS RECEIVED.

NHTSA ID

720797

Incident

Feb 15, 2000

SECURITY LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. THEN CAR WOULD NOT START, THEN TOOK TO DEALER ,AND THE FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE CHANGED. ONE WEEK LATER, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN , CHANGED THE SENSOR . TWO WEEKS LATER, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ONCE AGAIN. TOWED TRUCK TO DEALER, AND THEY TOOK OUT THE DASH AND REPLACED A SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID

854822

Incident

Jul 10, 1999

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

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-70 MPH VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY LOSE ALL POWER AND SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

851094

SPRING LOADED BELT TENSIONER FELL OFF OF VEHICLE CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. MJS

NHTSA ID

548431

Incident

Jun 12, 1999

PLASTIC PULLEY ON BELT TENSIONER DESENTEGRADED CAUSING ARM TO BUST OFF ENGINE BLOCK WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE IN MIDDLE LANE. SURPRISED BY LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL WHILE PULLING OVER TO EMERGENCY LANE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC! GLAD MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING THE VAN AT THIS TIME. MY OPINION IS THAT NOT ONLY IS THIS A CHEAP PART , BUT POSSIBLY DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS. NOT TO MENTION STRANDED 40 MILES FROM HOME.

NHTSA ID

710129

Incident

Apr 7, 1999

FAN BELT FAILED TWICE. *YC

NHTSA ID

609373

Incident

Nov 16, 1998