Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 28 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Van, most frequently naming the brakes, engine and suspension categories. 2 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 1997 | 2 | 2 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 3 |
| Nov 1997 | 2 | 5 |
| Dec 1997 | 2 | 7 |
| Jan 1998 | 1 | 8 |
| Mar 1998 | 1 | 9 |
| Aug 1999 | 2 | 11 |
| Jan 2000 | 1 | 12 |
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 13 |
| Apr 2000 | 1 | 14 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 15 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 16 |
| Mar 2001 | 3 | 19 |
| Apr 2001 | 1 | 20 |
| Aug 2001 | 2 | 22 |
| May 2002 | 1 | 23 |
| May 2003 | 1 | 24 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 25 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 26 |
| Jul 2006 | 2 | 28 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS GASOLINE SPILLING OUT OF THE FILLER NECK OF THE REAR FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE PUMP IN THE REAR TANK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 93V125000, PERTAINING TO THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HARNESS THAT CONNECTS THE POWER TO THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP FAILED CAUSING ARCING THAT BURNS THE CONNECTOR. THIS MELTED THE PLASTIC ON THE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TWO FUEL PUMPS WERE INSTALLED. AFTER THE SECOND FUEL PUMP WAS INSTALLED, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CONNECTOR WAS BAD.
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BLINDING TO OTHER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 10 TIMES.*AK
2 MULTI PORT INJ 1INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET
1996 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY INTERSTATE 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COLLAPSED. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND GOT THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND OFF OF THE ROAD, MY ENTIRE FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WE LEARNED THAT IT WAS A TORSION BAR AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON DESIGN PROBLEM AND THAT THE DESIGN WAS CHANGED IN 1997. THEREFORE WE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES AT A COST OF OVER 1,000 DOLLARS. IT IS STILL MAKING A NOISE AND I DON'T FEEL IT IS RELIABLE. *NLM
WHILE PARKED WITH NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION CHILD ACCIDENTLY PUT VEHICLE INTO GEAR WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES VEEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD, AND HIT A CEMENT BEAM, INJURING PARENT WHO WAS TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
HEARD A NOISE, FELT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE FALL DOWN ON THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE, HEARD TIRE RUBBING, STOPPED VEHICLE, GOT OUT TO INSPECT. FENDER PARTS RUBBED ON TIRE, COULD NOT TURN WHEEL OR DRIVE , HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. REPLACE TORSION BAR AND RELATED PARTS.
PRIOR TO COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE ON JULY 29, 2001, THERE IS MINIMUM OF NINE DOCUMENTED SERVICE REPORTS WITH THE DEALER FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS BEGINNING IN MAY OF 1997. TO DATE, THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THERE IS SEVERE PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND WHEEL VIBRATION UPON QUICK OR HEAVY APPLIANCE OF BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT WORK AND HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY FROM THE BEGINNING; THUS, THE FRONT BRAKES MUST HANDLE THE LOAD. THE FRONT BRAKE LINING MUST BE REPLACE EVERY SIX MONTHS. THE BACK BRAKE LINING HAS BEEN REPLACED ONLY ONCE. THE DEALER INDICATED THE RECENT BRAKE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF THE ROTARS RUSTING AND SPLITTING IN HALF (A FIRST THEY SAY). THIS OCCURRED ONLY THREE MONTHS AFTER HAVING THIS VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO CHECK THE BRAKES AGAIN! THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED IN NOV. OF 1997, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FEB. 2000, THE IDLER ARMS (WHICH CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF TIRES) HAD TO BE REPLACED IN APRIL OF 2000 AND CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED IN FEB. 2001 (AGAIN AFFECTING TIRE WEAR, ALIGNMENT, ETC), TORTION BARS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FEB. 2001, ENGINE LEAK HAD TO BE ADDRESSED IN FEB. 2001. HARSH SHIFTING AND JERKING OF VEHICLE LET TO FAULTY TCC SOLENOID & HARNESS ASSY AND PINION SEAL REPLACEMENT IN APRIL 2001. THIS VEHICLE IS A HAZARD ON THE HIGHWAY AND TO THE OCCUPANTS. THE DEALER PERSONALLY CALLED CHEVROLET IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISCUSS A BUY BACK OR CREDIT. THEY WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. APPARENTLY, SOMEONE HAS TO DIE FIRST. RETAIL ON THIS VEHICLE IS $12,800. THE DEALER IS OFFERING $8,000 BECAUSE HE IS AFRAID TO SELL IT OFF HIS LOT BUT WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO AUCTION. I AM SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR CHEVROLET'S ENGINEERING AND DEFECT PROBLEMS EITHER MONETARILY OR WITH MY LIFE OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS. HELP!*AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.