1998 Chevrolet Astro Visibility Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD CAUSES THE WIPERS NOT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. IF VISIBILITY IS REDUCED WHILE DRIVING THE RISK FOR VEHICLE CRASH AND SERIOUS INJURY ARE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPAIRED. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND WAS INFORMED BY A REPRESENTATIVE THAT THERE WERE NO EXISTING RECALLS FOR HIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL.. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,877. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10282365

Incident

Aug 17, 2009

Mileage

129,877 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10200178

Incident

Jun 10, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR THE OUTSIDE SIDE VIEW MIRROR. THE FAILURE CAUSED HEAT DAMAGE THAT IGNITED A FIRE IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE ENTIRE VAN WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE OCCURRED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10195283

Incident

Jun 22, 2007

Mileage

130,000 mi

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 CHEVY ASTRO VAN IN A HEAVY RAIN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC NEAR WASHINGTON D.C. LAST WEEK. SHE TURNED THE WIPERS ON. THE WIPERS RANDOMLY WORKED AND DIDN'T WORKED AND IT ALMOST CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS RANDOM "WORK/DOESN'T WORK" EVEN HAS STARTED HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY SINCE ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO. IN DOING RESEARCH ON THE WEB, APPARENTLY GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CIRCUIT BOARD PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10129004

Incident

Jul 14, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THEY CAME ON WHEN THE CONSUMER DIDN'T NEED THEM, BUT WHEN SHE NEEDED THEM THEY WOULDN'T COME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TWO ASTROS THAT THE CONSUMER HAS OWNED. THE FIRST ONE WAS A 1995 CHEVY ASTRO VAN AND THE SECOND ONE IS A 1998 ASTRO VAN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND MOTOR TO THE WIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE OWNER WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT GM REPLACED THE MOTOR ON THE WIPERS ON THE MODELS BEFORE THE OWNERS VAN. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE 1998 VANS. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 2003. THE OWNER HAS NOT HAD THIS LOOKED AT BY A TECHNICIAN. THE OWNER STATED THAT SHE USUALLY SHE PULLS OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, POPS THE HOOD AND TAPS ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO GET THE WIPER TO WORK, AND MOST TIMES THIS WORKS. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TALKED TO THE DEALER BUT HAS TALKED WITH GM. THE PERSON AT GM SAID THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. THE OWNER JUST KEEPS TAPPING ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE OWNER IS TAKING HER VAN IN FOR RECALL WORK ON THE SIDE MIRROR TOMORROW. SHE IS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND SHOW THEM THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FROM THE NHTSA. *NM

NHTSA ID

10128413

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

I HAVE OWNED 3 CHEVY ASTRO VANS. 1995/2001/1998/ IN THE 1995 AND IN THE ONE I HAVE NOW 1998 THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO WORK. THEY COME ON WHEN THERE IS NO RAIN AND DON'T COME ON WHEN IT RAINS. I SPOKE TO A SERVICE MAN AND HE TOLD ME THAT MANY OF THE ASTRO VANS HAVE THAT PROBLEM. A DELAY IN WINSHIELD WIPERS

NHTSA ID

10128390

Incident

May 1, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

10110976

Incident

Nov 11, 2004

Mileage

87,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE AT TIMES WHEN SWITCHED ON. WHEN THEY DID OPERATE, THE WIPER HIGH SPEED FUNCTION WOULD NOT WORK. THIS IS THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM THAT EXISTED WITH MY 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE BLAZER WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR A FAULTY WIPER CONTROL MODULE, WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. BOTH VEHICLES USE THE SAME TYPE OF WIPER CONTROL MODULE, WHICH APPEARS TO LOSE A CONNECTION ON THE MODULE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10110106

Incident

Feb 5, 2005

Mileage

97,490 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10103180

Incident

Oct 14, 2004

Mileage

8,000 mi

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK....WIPERS FAILED TO WORK BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE WIPER MOTOR PULSE BOARD. VISIBILITY IS IMPAIRED DURING A RAIN STORM. THIS PART WAS RECALLED ON PREVIOUS ASTRO VAN MODELS, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE 1998 MODELWITH SAME PART. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101928

Incident

Aug 3, 2004

Mileage

95,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED IN THE RAIN, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR CHECK UP, AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL 03V159000 FOR THE 1997 YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. *AK. CIRCUIT BOARD ON WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED-SAME PART AND PROBABLY W/RECALLED VEHICLES. NEW ONE COST $54.00. WHY WAS RECALL NOT EXTENDED TO ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101802

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

195,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10094795

Incident

Sep 30, 2004

WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10087242

Incident

Jul 30, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

I OWN A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE CHECKED ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS NOT. I HAVE CONTACTED A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $140 TO FIX THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, THERE IS THE RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE FOR THE 1995 TO 1997 MODELS. THINK THE 1998 MODEL SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THE ISSUE IS OBVIOUSLY THE SAME AS THE OTHER MODEL AND I AM SURE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 1998 MODEL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10086112

Incident

Jul 29, 2004

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10075522

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

Mileage

99,000 mi

PASSENGER FRONT POWER WINDOW FAILED. DRIVER SIDE FRONT POWER WINDOW INTERMITTENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10056225

Incident

Jan 28, 2004

Mileage

86,500 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10055817

Mileage

59,000 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN USE. THERE WAS A RECALL #03V159000 W ON THE MAKE/MODEL AND YEAR, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10050510

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE TURNED OFF, THE BLADES STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO, WASHER FLUID DID NOT EJECT LIKE INTENDED. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS MOVING UP OR DOWN ON DEMAND. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE WINDOWS GOT STUCK IN THE UP POSITION OR IN THE DOWN POSITIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10055501

Incident

Feb 19, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO WORK INTERMITTANTLY, AND CREATE AN OVIOUS DANGEROUS RISK OF LIFE, LIMB, AND/OR PROPERTY!! FROM THE "LITTLE" AMOUNT OF RESEARCH I'VE DONE, (20 MIN.), THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND IT'S A SHAME IT MIGHT TAKE A DEATH OR A LAWSUIT TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT!!!!!!!!!! WHO KNOWS?, MAYBE IT ALREADY HAS! *AK

NHTSA ID

10053197

Incident

Jan 14, 2004

WIPER CONTROL INTERMITTENT DURING WET WEATHER, WIPERS ON AND STAY ON WHEN SWITCH PLACED TO OFF. WASHER MOTOR INOPERABLE. COMBINATION SWITCH REPLACED WITH NO HELP. REFERENCE RECALL FOR 1997 MODELS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10052329

Incident

Jan 4, 2004

Mileage

88,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THIS SOMETIMES FORCED THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10046055

Incident

May 20, 2003

THE VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03 V 159 000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER AND MODEL YEAR WERE OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE. *NLM *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10040645

Mileage

20,000 mi

FIRST, THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW WORKS ONLY SOMETIMES. SECOND, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY PART OF THE TIME. IT MAY TAKE 5-10 MINUTES TO COME ON AND THEN MIGHT ONLY SWIPE 2-3 TIMES. LASTLY, ROUGH SHIFTING IN TRANSMISSION. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041020

Incident

Sep 30, 2003

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT HELP THE CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10040322

Incident

Sep 9, 2003

Mileage

117,000 mi