1999 Chevrolet Astro Owner Complaints

WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED OFF DROPPING THE FRONT END TO THE GROUND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10666969

Incident

Nov 19, 2014

Mileage

251,470 mi

I HAVE 2- CHEVY ASTRO VANS. 1-1998, 1-1999. THE 1999 HAS CORRODED BRAKE LINES AND GAS LINES. THE MAIN BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODED INTO. I WAS COMING BACK FROM A LONG TRIP YESTERDAY AND I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE SOFT. WHEN I GOT HOME UPON INSPECTION I CHECKED THE BREAK FLUID AND IT WAS LOW. I FILLED IT. I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FLUID BY THE BACK TIRE. AND LOOKED, I DISCOVERED ALL OF THE BRAKE AND GAS LINES WERE EAT UP WITH CORROSION. GM NEEDS TO TAKE THIS AS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND FIX IT IMMEDIATELY. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED , OR I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF THE BRAKES FAILED TO HOLD. I INSPECTED THE 1998 ASTRO VAN TO SEE IF IT HAD A PROBLEM TO. AND UPON DOING SO DISCOVERED IT IS FINE, NO PROBLEMS. I HAVE PICS OF BOTH VANS THE PICS WILL SHOW THAT MY STATEMENT IS TRUE. I BOUGHT THE 1999 VAN (THE ONE WITH CORRODED LINES) IN THE STATE OF OHIO. AND I BOUGHT THE 1998 VAN IN ALABAMA.I DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS IS, BUT I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH A FAULTY GM PRODUCT WITH CORROSIVE BRAKE AND GAS LINES. I AM VERY THANKFUL I DISCOVERED THIS BEFORE TRAGEDY HAPPENED. THIS IS A POTENTIAL DEADLY PROBLEM, AND GM NEEDS TO RESOLVE THIS BEFORE SOMEONE LOOSES THEIR LIFE, NOT AFTER. ANY HELP WITH GETTING THIS RESOLVED IS GREATLY APPRECIATED! I JUST WANT TO LET UNSUSPECTING GM OWNERS KNOW ABOUT THIS DANGER! *TR

NHTSA ID

10609436

Incident

Jul 8, 2014

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT APPROACHED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT STATING THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO ON ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566809

Incident

Feb 27, 2014

Mileage

230,000 mi

HAD CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED PRIOR TO ENTERING A REDUCED SPEED AREA AND IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. AFTER DEPARTING THE REDUCED SPEED AREA, I ENGAGED THE RESUME FUNCTION AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED PAST THE SET SPEED AND KEPT SPEEDING UP. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITH BRAKES ALTHOUGH THEY GOT VERY HOT AND SMOKED SEVERELY. ATTEMPTS TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED, AS WELL AS TURNING OFF AND REMOVING THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER SUCCESSFULLY STOPPING THE VEHICLE, I CONTINUED ATTEMPTS TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT ANY ATTEMPT TO START THE ENGINE RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE RACING OF THE ENGINE. I EXAMINED THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND DISCOVERED THAT FUSE NUMBER 6 WAS LABELED "CRUISE MODULE, CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, ELECTROMECHANICAL MIRROR". THE FUSE WAS REMOVED BUT THE ENGINE RACED UPON ATTEMPTING TO START IT. I THEN DISCOVERED THAT FUSE NUMBER 18 WAS LABELED "VCM-IGN 3, VCM-BRAKE, 4WAL, CRUISE STEPPER MOTOR SIGNAL". UPON REMOVING THIS FUSE, I WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE, AND IT REMAINED IN NORMAL PARAMETERS. I DID NOTICE THAT THE ANTILOCK LIGHT WAS ON, BUT BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED TO THE VCM-BRAKE LABEL ON THE CIRCUIT BREAKER. I WAS THEN ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME, AND WILL BE CONTACTING THE REPAIR SHOP TO DISABLE/REMOVE THE CRUISE STEPPER MOTOR, AS I REFUSE TO CHANCE ANOTHER UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10439322

Incident

Dec 11, 2011

Mileage

103,412 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASS LOCK MODULE THAT TURNED OFF THE GAS TO THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD START UP BRIEFLY BUT THEN SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT IT WAS NOT RELATED TO ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

NHTSA ID

10358308

Incident

May 11, 2008

Mileage

110,000 mi

AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN AN APPROX. 50 MPH HEAD-ON CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347238

Incident

Aug 3, 2010

Mileage

133,000 mi

WILL NOT START WHEN WEATHER IS DAMP. WILL TAKE 3 OR 4 DAYS TO DRY OUT BEFORE STARTING AGAIN. NO MECHANIC HAS BEEN ABLE TO PIN POINT THE PROBLEM. TOWED TO SHOP VAN SITS INSIDE THE BAY DRIES OUT AND STARTS WITHIN 2-3 HOURS. HAPPENS EVERY TIME IT GETS DAMP. 10 YEARS BEEN DOING THE SAMETHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297104

Incident

Dec 25, 2009

ANTI THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM FAILURE. LOCKS OWNER OUT FROM STARTING VEHICLE IN WET WEATHER. BAD PLACEMENT OF COMPUTER SYSTEM PLACED UNDER BATTERY. CORROSION OF SECURITY SYSTEMS COMMUNICATIONS WIRING CAUSED LOCK OUT AND CAR WILL NOT START. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218981

Incident

Jul 28, 2007

Mileage

97,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. HE THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS FAILURE WITHIN THE POWERTRAIN. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE CONNECTED TO THE SAME UNIT, CAUSING BOTH TO FAIL SIMULTANEOUSLY. HE CALLED GM AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE BRAKES SHOULD HAVE WORKED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10206772

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THROUGH SNOW AND ICE, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SLID OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE THEN STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HIM AND HE STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE WOUND TOOK 24 STITCHES TO CLOSE. MOST OF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $4,500. THE MANUFACTURER'S INVESTIGATOR CONCLUDED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY AT 25 MPH. THE ARKANSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT FILED REPORT NUMBER 07-00343. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,661 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

10205366

Incident

Jan 31, 2007

Mileage

125,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER ASSIST STEERING & POWER ASSIST BRAKES SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER, HOWEVER, AFTER SOME RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED, CAUSING LACK OF PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND STEERING. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE SHAFT IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP SNAPPED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10169412

Incident

Sep 24, 2006

Mileage

57,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE AND A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHICH RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION. THE OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO BE DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE. THE POLICE WERE NOT ALERTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE PUMP HIMSELF AND DISCOVERED THE SHAFT WAS BROKEN IN THE PUMP. WHEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, IT CAUSED THE POWER BRAKES TO FAIL AS WELL. UPDATED 10/04/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166699

Incident

Aug 24, 2006

Mileage

63,500 mi

PULLING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY IN THE EVENING THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT. AS I TRIED TO STOP OUR VAN I NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE ALSO GONE CAUSING US TO ROLL INTO THE CORNER OF OUR HOME (BRICK) AT APPROXIMATELY 3 - 4 MPH WHICH CAUSED APPROXIMATELY $2500 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VAN. NO ONE WAS INJURED. IT COST $300 TO GET THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AND ANOTHER $75 JUST TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR FAN AND SHROUD SO THE VEHICLE COULD BE MADE DRIVABLE AGAIN. AFTER CONTACTING SEVERAL SERVICE AGENCIES I FIND THAT THE BRAKE BOOST SYSTEM HAS BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE POWER STEERING PUMP, HENCE, IF YOU LOSE YOUR POWER STEERING, YOU LOSE YOUR BRAKES! I CONTACTED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE (CASE #1-383499552) AND THEIR ANSWER WAS, "YOU SHOULD STILL HAVE SOME BRAKES IF YOU PUSH HARD ENOUGH." I'M 5'10" TALL AND WEIGH 200 LBS. I HAD BOTH FEET PUSHING ON THE PEDAL TRYING TO STOP. IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS HAPPENED TO SOMEONE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC OR IF THEY WERE COMING OFF OF THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MILES PER HOUR TRYING TO STOP THEIR VEHICLE. GM NEEDS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS HAPPENING. NOTHING IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL ABOUT IT. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE GM TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES TO OUR VEHICLE CAUSED BY US NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10149638

Incident

Dec 3, 2005

Mileage

73,290 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS AN OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING A LITER AND A HALF OF OIL PER WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE SYSTEM WHICH WAS DUE TO THE MATERIAL THAT WAS USED DURING ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ,AND THEY EXPLAINED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THAT SPECIFIC PART. *AK

NHTSA ID

10147265

Incident

Dec 3, 2005

Mileage

93,000 mi

WE HAVE A 1999 CHEVY ASTRO VAN. WE HAD A FACTORY RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS SUPPLIED BY GUARANTY CHEVROLET ON 8-30-02, INSTALLED. THE VAN HAD 67,532 MILES. WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND NEVER TOWED ANYTHING. WE ALSO PAID TO HAVE A SEPARATE NEW COOLING SYSTEM INSTALLED FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND ALSO HAD THE DRIVESHAFT REBUILT AND BALANCED. NOW, OUR 2ND TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AT 44,547 MORE MILES SINCE INSTALLED IN 2002. WE HAVE SPENT $5,700.00. OUR TRANSMISSION PLACE WROTE GM. MARK DOWLER OF CHEVY CALLED ME AND SAID SORRY, WE WON'T HELP YOU. WE ARE GOING TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF NEED BE. THANK YOU. *JB

NHTSA ID

10140249

Incident

Sep 13, 2005

Mileage

67,532 mi

DT: THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL GAUGE SENSOR. THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED HAPPENING ON 3-21-05. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC THEY TOLD HER THAT THEY HAD TO FIX TWO OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AS OF YET. *AK *MR

NHTSA ID

10135745

Incident

Mar 21, 2005

Mileage

95,000 mi

COMMENTS: WHY DID EVERYONE MISS THE 1999 CHEVY ASTRO VAN WITH AWD? I ALREADY HAD THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED (AT MY COST) EARLIER THIS YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM!!! PARTS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE, BUT LOCAL FIRESTONE GARAGE PERFORMED THE MAINTENANCE, AND HAS THE RECORDS OF THE SERVICE. NEAR-MISS TOO MANY TIMES AT LOW SPEED STOPPING PROBLEMS. SOME ONE NEEDS TO INCLUDE THE CHEVY & GMC MINI-VANS!!! *JB

NHTSA ID

10134869

Incident

Dec 31, 2004

Mileage

89,000 mi

DT: ON FRIDAY THE BATTERY WENT DEAD AND THE OWNER COULDN'T OPEN THE BACK DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. THE OWNER COULD NOT OPEN THE BACK DOORS TO GET TO HIS TOOLS. THE OWNER WAS CONCERNED THAT IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED NO ONE COULD GET OUT OF THE BACK DOORS. THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT. THE OWNER FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE OWNER WAS NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE BATTERY GOING DEAD, JUST ABOUT THE BACK DOOR NOT OPENING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10133871

Incident

Aug 19, 2005

DT: THE VEHICLES FUEL LINE FELL APART. THERE WAS A SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE HOUSE SO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE LINES CAME APART WHILE DRIVING, THE FUEL LINE BUSTED AND GASOLINE SPEWED. THE MECHANIC INSTRUCTED THE OWNER THAT THE FUEL LINE CAN BE SNAPPED BACK TOGETHER. SO THE OWNER SNAPPED IT BACK TOGETHER. OWNER HAS SPOKEN WITH A DEALERSHIP THAT INSTRUCTED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10127266

Incident

Jun 26, 2005

DT: CALLER SAYS THE ACCELERATOR STICKS ON VEHICLE. WHEN GETTING IN AND HITTING ACCELERATOR IT WILL NOT MOVE. WHEN PUSH ING HADER IT WILL GO FASTER THAN EXPECTED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10125907

Incident

Jun 2, 2005

Mileage

74,800 mi

THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. *NM THE WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10109745

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

WHILE DRIVING AT APPOXIMATELY 10 MPH POWER STEERING WENT OUT, WHICLE LEFT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT BRAKES OR ANY POWER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10109235

Incident

Jan 10, 2005

Mileage

63,000 mi

1999 ASTRO BLOWS FUSES IN CIG. LIGHTER SOCKET. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, REAR DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK AND WINDOWS WILL NOT OPERATE. THIS CAN HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES INA SINGLE DAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10100630

Incident

Nov 27, 2004

THIS WAS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE TO LATCH. ORIGINAL FAILURE WAS REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10100136

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

49,600 mi

ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10094329

Incident

Sep 24, 2004