FaultScore

1991 Chevrolet Astro brake problems

54 of the 121 complaints about the 1991 Chevrolet Astro are about the braking system — 45% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 258,900 miles.

F

54

Complaints

9

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 40 74.1%
ABS Warning Light 3 5.6%
Master Cylinder 1 1.9%
Foundation Components 1 1.9%
Disc 1 1.9%
Conventional 1 1.9%
Pads 1 1.9%
Differential Proportional Valve 1 1.9%
Wheel Cylinders 1 1.9%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings 1 1.9%

Brakes across every Chevrolet Astro year

1990 37 4.7%
1991 54 6.9%
1992 61 7.8%
1993 46 5.9%
1994 112 14.3%
1995 124 15.9%
1996 44 5.6%
1997 72 9.2%
1998 44 5.6%
1999 27 3.5%
2000 68 8.7%
2001 37 4.7%
2002 26 3.3%
2003 30 3.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 258,900 miles Fresno, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

BEGINNING ABOUT A YEAR AGO, HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT HARD PEDAL WHEN BRAKING. OCCURS RARELY, WITHOUT WARNING. NO ABS LIGHT SEEN BUT SUSPECT POSSIBLE ABS MALFUNCTION. PEDAL DOES NOT PULSATE BUT A FAINT GROWLING, GRINDING, OR BUZZING NOISE IS HEARD. MAY BE ABS MOTOR CYCLING. DURING FAILURE BRAKES ARE BARELY OPERATIVE. USUALLY RETURNS TO NORMAL OPERATION AFTER 2-3 PEDAL PRESSES. SOMETIMES PULLS SHARPLY LEFT, OCCASIONALLY RIGHT, ON BRAKE APPLICATION. THERE IS NO LOSS OF POWER STEERING. OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT FREEWAY SPEED BUT HAS ALSO OCCURRED AT SLOWER SPEEDS. HAS OCCURRED BOTH IN SUDDEN, HARD BRAKING AND IN VERY LIGHT USE. HAVE HAD ALL POWER COMPONENTS, ALL RUBBER HOSES, POWER STEERING PUMP, AND BOTH FRONT WHEEL BRAKE COMPONENTS PROFESSIONALLY REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS FRONT DISC/REAR DRUM AND HYDROBOOST. MECHANIC USUALLY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT HAS DONE SO ONCE AND HAS NO EXPLANATION FOR IT. SEEKING TO LEARN POSSIBLE REASONS AND CURE.

NHTSA complaint #11286510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Calgary, UN Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

REPEATED TOTAL FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM RESULTING IN THREE SEPARATE REAR END ACCIDENTS OVER 13 YEAR PERIOD. ORIGINAL OWNER. WHEN BRAKING FOR SUDDEN EMAERGENCY STOP,AFTER INITIAL BRAKING BEGINS, BRAKE PETAL GOES DOWN TO FLOOR AND BRAKES COMPLETELY RELEASE, RESULTING IN NO BRAKE STOPPAGE OF VECHICLE AND SUSEQUENT REAR ENDING OF VEHICLE IN FRONT. DEALER DENIES SYTEM RECORD OF BRAKE FAILURE AFTER SECOND OCCURRANCE. WHEN HEARD ABOUT RECALL, DEALER SAYS DOES NOT APPLY IN CANADA, AND NOT APPLICABLE TO THE 1991 MODEL YEAR.

NHTSA complaint #10071394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa ANA, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS BRAKES IN FRONT LOCK UP WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR NUMEROUS MILES AND NOW HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE CONTROL MODULE FOR THE KELSEY HAYES ABS SYSTEM. ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE DUE TO SAFETY HAZARD. THIS APPARENTLY IS A RECALL FOR SEVERAL YEARS, HOWEVER, NOT 1991. I CAN NOT TAKE MY CHILDREN IN A VEHICLE THAT MAY LOSE ITS BRAKES BECAUSE OF AN ABS CONTROL PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #736494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cortlandt Manor, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

THIS ASTROVAN SHOWS SEVERE RUSTOUT OF ALL UNDERBODY COMPONENTS, PARTICULARLY STEEL BRAKE LINES, CALIPERS, DRUMS, ROTORS, ETC. SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ALSO HAVE RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY INFLUENCE VEHICLE SAFETY. DEALER ASSERTS THAT THIS IS DUE TO IMPROPER STORAGE OR SUBMERSION IN SALT WATER BUT VAN KEPT ON ASPHALT PAVEMENT AND NEVER USED IN WATER. CONDITION EXISTED FROM FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. INDEPENDENT MECHANICS ASSEERTED RUSTOUT IS CHARACTERISTIC OF ALL ASTROVANS THEY HAVE SEEN. TO DATE HAVE REPLACES OVER $2000 OF BRAKE, RUNNING GEAR AND EXHAUST COMPONENTS IN 45000 MILES. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.

NHTSA complaint #731278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cortlandt Manor, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

THIS ASTROVAN SHOWS SEVERE RUSTOUT OF ALL UNDERBODY COMPONENTS, PARTICULARLY STEEL BRAKE LINES, CALIPERS, DRUMS, ROTORS, ETC. SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ALSO HAVE RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY INFLUENCE VEHICLE SAFETY. DEALER ASSERTS THAT THIS IS DUE TO IMPROPER STORAGE OR SUBMERSION IN SALT WATER BUT VAN KEPT ON ASPHALT PAVEMENT AND NEVER USED IN WATER. CONDITION EXISTED FROM FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. INDEPENDENT MECHANICS ASSEERTED RUSTOUT IS CHARACTERISTIC OF ALL ASTROVANS THEY HAVE SEEN. TO DATE HAVE REPLACES OVER $2000 OF BRAKE, RUNNING GEAR AND EXHAUST COMPONENTS IN 45000 MILES. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.

NHTSA complaint #731278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laguna Nigul, CA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, BUT THEN IT RELEASED AND KEPT GOING, CONSUMER RAN INTO ANOTHER CAR. TOOK TO DEALER , AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #870110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Philadelphia, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ALTHOUGH BOTH THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ARE ON THE BRAKES APPEAR TO FUNCTION PROPERLY . THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS CHECKED AND IS WORKING PROPERLY . THE CODE SCANNER READS A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED ME I WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL FOR FAILED BRAKE SYSTEMS.

NHTSA complaint #723314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hicksville, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS LIGHT APPEARED,DEALER SAID ABS NOT FUCTIONING.

NHTSA complaint #723210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Delta, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE ABS BRAKES WERE NOT OPERATIONAL AFTER BEING APPLIED. THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP & THEN SLIDE. THIS IS AN EVERYDAY PROBLEM. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME AT 87,000 MILES. NOW THEY HAVE FAILED AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #852614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salisbury, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL REMAINS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, CAUSING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #851368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tucson, AZ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT

91 MODEL VEHICLE WAS NOY INCLUDED IN RECALL FOR THE ALBS COMPUTER WHICH CAUSES THE ABS LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.

NHTSA complaint #548568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Henderson, NC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL STIFFENS HALF WAY, AND VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. ALSO THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLICKING NOISE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, BUT COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #847914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harrisburg, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE STARTS TO SHIMMY. ALSO, RESULTS IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.

NHTSA complaint #846100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pace, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKED UP CAUSING TO VEHICLE SKID. ABS SYSTEM WENT OUT THREE TIMES; DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE.

NHTSA complaint #843285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Homested, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES PEDAL BRAKES WOULD FADE AWAY,RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #843311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wylie, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ,THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, DEALER HAS REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER .

NHTSA complaint #842978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wylie, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ,THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, DEALER HAS REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER .

NHTSA complaint #842978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elon College, NC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN MAKING PANIC STOPS ABS KICKS IN AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. ALSO, ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON EVERYTIME THIS HAPPENS. VEHICLE HAS TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO RESET THE ABS COMPUTER. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.

NHTSA complaint #838217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Wayne, IN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ANTI LOCK BRAKES REPLACED FOUR TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #517126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aliquippa, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

AFTER A STOP, VEHICLE OFF, I DROVE FOR 1/2 MILE TO A STOP SIGN, ROAD COMPLETELY DRY, NO SAND, DIRT, ETC, 55 DEGREES SUNNY, AND BRAKES WORKED NORNAL AS I SLOWED FROM ABOUT 20,,THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES,,AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR,,AND I PUSHED HARDER IN PANIC,,WENT THRU STOP SIGN,,AND TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKES, AND PUMPED PEDAL,,AND THEY NOW WORKED NORMAL. I MADE A LEFT TURN DOWNHILL TO ANOTHER STOP SIGN,,SAME EXACT THING, THIS TIME I WENT OUT INTO A 4 LANE HI WAY..WAS ABLE TO STEER BACK INTO RIGHT LANE,,,AND STOP VEHICLE LIKE BEFORE,,I TESTED BRAKES AGAIN,,AND THEY AGAIN WORKED NORMAL. I DROVE VERY SLOWLY 10 TO 15 MPH AND MADE A LEFT TURN INTO SHOPPING CENTER ,,UPHILL,,AND TRIED BRAKES..AGAIN FAILED. I STOPPED, CHECKED FLUID RESERVOIRS UNDER HOOD, BOTH FRONT AND REAR GOOD,,,,I WIGGLED WIRES ON BOTTOM FRONT OF UNIT,,,RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND THEY NOW WORKED,,BUT I AM AFRAID TO USE THEM OR IT.. NOW WHAT..PARK IT ?? HELP

NHTSA complaint #700102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Augusta, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS SYSTEM FAILED. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AT THE STOP SIGN, LEAVING THE SUBDIVISION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE DRIVER COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, WENT INTO THE TRAFFIC WITHOUT STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN. ALSO, REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS AND HYDRAULIC DISTRIBUTION VALVE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #781337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Augusta, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS

ABS SYSTEM FAILED. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AT THE STOP SIGN, LEAVING THE SUBDIVISION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE DRIVER COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, WENT INTO THE TRAFFIC WITHOUT STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN. ALSO, REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS AND HYDRAULIC DISTRIBUTION VALVE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #781337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Augusta, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE

ABS SYSTEM FAILED. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AT THE STOP SIGN, LEAVING THE SUBDIVISION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE DRIVER COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, WENT INTO THE TRAFFIC WITHOUT STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN. ALSO, REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS AND HYDRAULIC DISTRIBUTION VALVE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #781337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beverly HI, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #534854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cary, NC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR.

NHTSA complaint #525402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beverly Hills, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN ABS BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. OWNER NOTES THERE WAS NO BRAKING POWER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERS,BUT DEALERS NOTED THAT ENTIRE ABS UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED.(KELSEY HASE)..

NHTSA complaint #820895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warren, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS ENGAGED WHEN GOING DOWN HILL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL REACHING LEVEL GROUND. THE BRAKE PUMP WENT 3 TIMES IN 36K MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHOES EVERY 8K MILES.

NHTSA complaint #817851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warren, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

ABS ENGAGED WHEN GOING DOWN HILL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL REACHING LEVEL GROUND. THE BRAKE PUMP WENT 3 TIMES IN 36K MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHOES EVERY 8K MILES.

NHTSA complaint #817851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Waldorf, MD Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS: SLAMMED ON BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, BRAKES DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER MOVING VEHICLE, NO WARNING, BRAKES HAVE NOT BEEN CHECKED, VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA complaint #817508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denver, CO Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS BRAKES FAILED, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A CRASH/INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #520862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1991 Chevrolet Astro problems

← Full 1991 Chevrolet Astro report