FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2003 Chevrolet Astro
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 62 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Astro, most frequently naming the brakes, electrical and suspension categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 403 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2003 | 3 | 3 |
| May 2003 | 2 | 5 |
| Nov 2003 | 1 | 6 |
| Mar 2004 | 1 | 7 |
| Apr 2004 | 2 | 9 |
| May 2004 | 2 | 11 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 12 |
| Sep 2004 | 1 | 13 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 14 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 15 |
| Apr 2005 | 1 | 16 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 17 |
| Jun 2005 | 2 | 19 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 20 |
| Oct 2005 | 2 | 22 |
| Nov 2005 | 2 | 24 |
| Dec 2005 | 1 | 25 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 26 |
| Mar 2006 | 2 | 28 |
| Apr 2006 | 2 | 30 |
| Jun 2006 | 1 | 31 |
| Jul 2006 | 2 | 33 |
| Aug 2006 | 1 | 34 |
| Oct 2006 | 1 | 35 |
| Jan 2007 | 1 | 36 |
| Feb 2007 | 1 | 37 |
| Mar 2007 | 1 | 38 |
| May 2007 | 2 | 40 |
| Aug 2007 | 1 | 41 |
| Sep 2007 | 1 | 42 |
| Feb 2008 | 1 | 43 |
| Aug 2008 | 1 | 44 |
| Sep 2008 | 1 | 45 |
| Jan 2009 | 2 | 47 |
| May 2009 | 1 | 48 |
| Jan 2010 | 1 | 49 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 50 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 51 |
| Mar 2011 | 1 | 52 |
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 53 |
| May 2011 | 1 | 54 |
| Aug 2012 | 1 | 55 |
| Jul 2013 | 1 | 56 |
| Oct 2013 | 1 | 57 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 58 |
| May 2014 | 1 | 59 |
| Jul 2015 | 1 | 60 |
| Oct 2017 | 1 | 61 |
| Apr 2021 | 1 | 62 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Brakes2735.5%
- Electrical911.8%
- Suspension810.5%
- Steering67.9%
- Transmission56.6%
- Interior & seats56.6%
- Engine33.9%
- Fuel system33.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
3 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V328000 (SUSPENSION) WHILE PERFORMING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY STEERING KNUCKLE AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. MYRTLE BEACH CHEVROLET (1785 US-501, MYRTLE BEACH, SC 29577) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NO LONGER MADE AND THERE WERE NO AFTER MARKET PARTS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 392,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11414648
- Incident
- Apr 30, 2021
- Mileage
- 392,000 mi
FRONT SUSPENSION ISSUES, ELECTRICAL GAUGES, REPLACEMENT OF FUEL TANK PUMP, DOOR LATCHES FAILING TO OPEN ON SLIDING SIDE DOOR MAKING EXITING OF VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE, RECALL OF 02V328000 UNABLE TO BE CONFIRMED AS HANDLED BY ANY DEALERS.
- NHTSA ID
- 11040456
- Incident
- Sep 12, 2017
- Mileage
- 118,000 mi
2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO CARGO VAN AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT TIME OF COLLISION. ASTRO VAN WAS HIT ON PASSENGER SIDE, FRONT WHEEL WELL & BUMPER. DRIVER WHO HIT VAN WAS EXCEEDING SPEED LIMIT, APPROXIMATELY DOING CLOSER TO 40 MPH IN A 25 MPH ZONE WHEN THEY HIT OUR VAN. WE WERE JUST STARTING TO PROCEED AFTER A STOP SIGN, BARELY DOING 10 - 15 MPH. THE ASTRO VAN WAS DRAGGED APPROXIMATELY 6-7 FEET INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED, DRIVER WAS INJURED RIGHT SIDE BACK & RIBS BRUISED AND POSSIBLE CONCUSSION HEAD INJURY TO LEFT SIDE OF HEAD DUE TO FORCE OF IMPACT.
- NHTSA ID
- 10744951
- Incident
- Nov 5, 2014
- Mileage
- 206,000 mi
I WAS DRIVING PULLING A TRAILER ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRAFFIC STOP. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT A SAFE DISTANCE WHEN SUDDENLY MY BRAKES WHEN ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR I APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND STOP. I HAD TO GO THRU THE EMERGENCY LANE. I TOLD MY SON TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE I WAS UNDERNEATH AND THE BRAKE LINES BROKE. THEY WHERE ALL RUSTED OUT. I HAD TO GET A WRECKER TO TAKE IT HOME.IF YOU NEED TO SEE MY VAN CALL ME SO YOU CAN SEE THE BRAKE LINES. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10594005
- Incident
- May 23, 2014
- Mileage
- 96,500 mi
MY SPOUSE WAS DRIVING AND WE WERE STOPPED AT A YARD SALE. WE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND STARTED TO BACK OUT WHEN SHE NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. THEN WHEN SHE WANTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES WERE EXTREME HARD TO OPERATE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH WE LEARNED OF HUNDREDS OF BRAKE MALFUNCTIONS ON SIMILAR VEHICLES AND OTHER CARS THAT USE SIMILAR BRAKE BOOSTER TECHNOLOGY. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10577639
- Incident
- Apr 5, 2014
- Mileage
- 150,000 mi
I AM COMPLAINING OF THE SAFETY ISSUES REGARDING THE ABS COMPUTER SYSTEM. I HAVE PUT MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP TO BE CHECKED OUT BY A FEW CAR REPAIR FACILITIES AND ALL HAVE SAID THE SAME THING MY ABS CPU. MY VAN IS HESITATING TERRIBLY AND CAUSING THE VAN TO NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. I HAVE NEARLY BEEN IN THREE ACCIDENTS SINCE THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING. I HAVE ALSO DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE VIA INTERNET AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ACROSS THE USA. AND GM IS BLAMING IT ON THE WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE NORTH BUT THE PROBLEMS ARE HAPPENING TO ASTRO VANS(2003) ACROSS THE ENTIRE US. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT 20MPH OR LESS, THE ABS ACTIVATED WITH AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED WHICH INDICATED A FAILURE IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THIS VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS THIS ISSUE, AND WAS CHECKED BY A REPAIR SHOP. THEY DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM UNDETECTABLE; THE RECALL WAS ON MODELS UP TO 2002. IT SEEMS THAT IT CARRIED OVER TO THIS MODEL, CAN THE DEALER ASSIST IN REPLACING THE PARTS. I WOULD PAY THE LABOR BUT THE PARTS INVOLVED ARE ABOUT $1500.00 FROM THE DEALER ALONE. CAN I GET HELP FROM THE NHTSA TO GET THIS CRITICAL ISSUE RESOLVED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10547421
- Incident
- Oct 9, 2013
- Mileage
- 50,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE WHEELS WERE TURNED TO THE LEFT. A MECHANIC LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS LOCATED NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD BURNED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10526083
- Incident
- Jul 14, 2004
- Mileage
- 67,000 mi
COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUSTING BRAKE LINES. THE PREVIOUS DAY THIS VEHICLE WAS PULLING A SMALL TRAILER ON A MICHIGAN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND A WET AREA WAS VISIBLE ON THE CONCRETE. IT WAS BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND THAT HAD DRIPPED FROM THE RUSTED BRAKE LINE AND DRAINED THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN MOVING THE VEHICLE TO TRY AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FLUID LEAK. THE BRAKE LINE HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH! FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN THE PREVIOUS DAY AS IT COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN FATAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE GM DEALERSHIP. THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE BRAKE LINES AND NONE ARE AVAILABLE IN THE AFTERMARKET. THE DEALER WANTED OVER $1700 TO REPLACE THE LINES AND SAID THERE MAY BE MORE ITEMS TO REPLACE - POSSIBLY ANOTHER $700 OR MORE. PLUS, FUEL LINES WERE ALSO RUSTING AND THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED TOO. THIS COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN A FATAL INCIDENT OR EXTREME DAMAGE AS THE BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY USELESS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND I HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE TO STOP IT, EVEN AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. I HAVE HAD OTHER VEHICLES FOR A MUCH LONGER TIME - INCLUDING GM - AND NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10471363
- Incident
- Aug 13, 2012
- Mileage
- 80,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 9 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 48.0 |
| 2003Viewing | 62 | 3 | 0 | 50.3 |
| 2002 | 70 | 3 | 1 | 57.1 |
| 2001 | 91 | 3 | 1 | 56.9 |
| 2000 | 175 | 2 | 0 | 52.9 |
| 1999 | 133 | 4 | 0 | 54.3 |
| 1998 | 241 | 6 | 0 | 54.3 |
| 1997 | 360 | 7 | 1 | 56.5 |
| 1996 | 263 | 7 | 1 | 55.0 |
| 1995 | 446 | 7 | 3 | 63.5 |
| 1994 | 328 | 6 | 1 | 60.9 |
| 1993 | 135 | 5 | 0 | 53.3 |
| 1992 | 132 | 5 | 1 | 62.6 |
| 1991 | 95 | 6 | 5 | 66.1 |
| 1990 | 68 | 7 | 6 | 67.9 |
| 1989 | 57 | 6 | 1 | 60.9 |
| 1988 | 56 | 5 | 7 | 63.5 |
| 1987 | 29 | 5 | 7 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 23 | 4 | 6 | 65.4 |
| 1985 | 5 | 6 | 5 | — |
| 1984 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.