FaultScore

1997 Chevrolet Astro body problems

34 of the 563 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Astro are about the body and structure — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 78,000 miles.

A

34

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Door 14 41.2%
Support Device/Strut 6 17.6%
Body 4 11.8%
Hatchback/Liftgate 3 8.8%
Hinge AND Attachments 2 5.9%
Frame AND Members 2 5.9%
Structure 2 5.9%
Hinge AND Attachments 1 2.9%

Body & Structure across every Chevrolet Astro year

1991 10 10.1%
1995 21 21.2%
1996 17 17.2%
1997 34 34.3%
2000 17 17.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 137,560 miles Linden, VA

STRUCTURE:BODY

1997 CHEVROLET ASTROVAN WITH ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCKS. PULLED INTO SHEETZ GAS AND GO AND WENT TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND IT DID NOT OPEN. TRIED TO PUSH THE MANUAL INSIDE DOOR LOCK BUT IT WAS TOTALLY FROZEN AND WOULD NOT ACTUATE. NEXT TRIED ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCK SWITCH. NO RESPONSE ON DRIVERS DOOR BUT THERE WAS WEAK SOUND FROM PASSENGER DOOR LOCK SOLENOID. IT WAS AS IF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IT WAS SUFFERING FROM INSUFFICIENT VOLTAGE. CRAWLED OUT OF PASSENGER SEAT AND GOT OUT OF CAR. ' TOOK IGNITION KEY AND INSERTED IT INTO DRIVERS DOOR LOCK. KEY WOULD TURN TO LOCK (FELT THE DETENT OF THE ) AND BACK TO NEUTRAL... KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO UNLOCK POSITION ...WOULD MOVE A LITTLE AND THEN FREEZE. I DID NOT TRY HARDER TO TURN AS I FELT THERE WAS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THE KEY WOULD BREAK AND LEAVE ME STRANDED 40 MILES FROM HOME... NO BACKUP IGNITION KEY. IGNITION KEY WORKS THE DOOR LOCKS IN THIS MODEL. WENT TO NTSTB WEB SITE AND SEARCHED FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME TYPE PROBLEM. NO LUCK. WENT TO GOOGLE AND DID SAME SEARCH CHEVROLET ASTROVAN DOOR WON'T OPEN AND GOT A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT HAD NOT REACHED NTSTB.. CHEVROLET HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF THIS MODEL HAS FLIP UP STEERING WHEEL, THIS WOULD NOT BE THE PROBLEM IT IS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR OLDER AND LARGER PROBLEM TO CLIMB OUT OF THE BUCKET SEAT AS THE STEERING WHEEL TRAPS YOUR LEGS WHEREAS A BENCH SEAT YOU SIMPLY SLIDE SIDEWAYS. THIS IS AN ENTRAPMENT ISSUE!!!!!! WILL SEE DEALER IN HOUR.

NHTSA complaint #10549828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles Kennewick, WA

STRUCTURE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE CHANGING ONE OF THE TIRES THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CABLE WHICH HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PERFORMING HIS OWNS REPAIR TO REPLACE THE CABLE, IT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10376220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Olympia, WA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

THE CONSUMER'S 1987 AND 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO VANS HAD FAULTY ENGINE'S.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAME LOOSE, THE REAR DOOR HATCH BROKE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER SLIPPING AND VALVE BODY WEAR (90000 MILES).

NHTSA complaint #10117266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EWA Beach, HI

STRUCTURE

PAINT IS PEELING AND CRACKING ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE UNDER WARRENTY THE ROOF WAS REPAINTED. SOON IT STARTED TO CRACK BUT DEALER WOULD NOT HELP. AS A OWNER OF SEVERAL GM VEHICLES I FEEL MY VAN SHOULD BE REPAINTED FOR FREE SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF GM. ALL I AM ASKING FOR IS FOR GM TO PAY TO HAVE MY VAN FULLY REPAINTED. THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. ANTHONY O. HOOPER.

NHTSA complaint #10074844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles Waynesboro, VA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DOOR HANDLE ON REAR DOOR HAS BROKEN. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10032564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,000 miles Clinton Township, MI

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

I HAVE A 1997 ASTRO, IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH 54,202 MILES ON IT, WHICH STARTED GIVING US PROBLEMS AT ABOUT 53,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH IDLER ARMS AT 25,680 MILES. HAD SEAT BELT CHIME FIXED (RECALL), DRIVER SEAT FEELS LOOSE WHEN STOPPING DEALERSHIP CLAIMS TO HAVE TIGHTENED IT, STILL FEELS LOOSE. THE VAN HAS ALWAYS IDLED ROUGH TOOK IT IN 3 TIMES FOR THAT AND CAN'T SEEM TO FIX THAT. SLIDING DOOR RATTLE THEY TRIED TO FIX THAT ALSO STILL RATTLES. THE GAS PEDAL STICKS WHEN I TAKE OFF OR WHEN I GO IN REVERSE WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TAKE OFF SMOOTHLY. I HAD AN ASTRO AND A SAFARI IN THE PAST AND NEVER HAD AS MANY PROBLEMS AS I HAD WITH THIS ONE.

NHTSA complaint #10010394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Middletown, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER STATED WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR DOOR. (CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS VEHICLE)

NHTSA complaint #564840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, AR

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

CRACKS DEVELOPED IN THE FRAME HOILDING THE SIDE DOOR WHICH STARTED RATTLING AND IF UNCHECKED COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF A DOOR IN TRAFFIC. CHEVROLET DEALER THAT SOLD THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAS MAINTAINED IT FOR 60,000 MILES OF WARRANTY SAYS THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER SORKMANSHIP OR POOR ENGINEERING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE DOOR WEIGHS APPROX 100 POUNDS AND THE LOOS OF IT ON A HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #748732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Covin, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

THE REAR HATCH DOOR WILL NOT STAY UP THE CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD THE HATCH OPEN. NLM

NHTSA complaint #561316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bayport, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

HATCHBACK HYDRAULIC LIFTERS HAVE FAILED TWICE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #891859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Covina, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

THE LIFT GATE FELL ON CONSUMER'S HEAD, THE 2 HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS FAILED, NO ONE WAS INJURED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #559102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kaaawa, HI

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER'S SLIDING DOOR GOT STUCK. THEN AFTER SHE GOT IT OPENED, COULD NOT OPEN IT AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #876162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Princeville, IL

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #555327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CHEVROLET DOESN'T CARE ABOUT USING CHEAP PARTS- AFTER WARRANTY THEY SAY TRADE IT IN .NUMEROUS THINGS WRONG WITH VAN AND HAVE TALKED TO CHEVROLET MANY TIMES. CAN'T USE BACK DOOR OF VAN, RUN OUT OF GAS, KNOBS FALL OF INTERIOR DEVICES, ASKED CHEVY TO HELP SINCE 37,000 AND PROBLEMS STILL HAPPENING AS I GO, CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX AND CAN'T AFFORD TO TRADE. ANOTHER NICE SHOVE IT JOB BY CHEVROLET THEY DON'T STAND BY THEIR PRDUCT AND THEIR PRODUCT IS NOT SAFE PLEASE RESPOND.

NHTSA complaint #731284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orlando, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER AND STOP IN TRAFFIC. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. ALSO, CONSUMER NOTICED A WHITE PASTY FUNGUS GROWING WHICH IS EATING THROUGH THE METAL AND CARPET.

NHTSA complaint #865738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Verona, PA

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE SUNVISOR IS UPSIDE DOWN. YH

NHTSA complaint #552104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Verona, PA

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE SUNVISOR IS UPSIDE DOWN. YH

NHTSA complaint #552104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fayetteville, NC

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

EVERYTIME THE SLIDING DOOR IS OPENED IT FALLS OFF THE TRACK. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SIX TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #853592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flat Wood, KY

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

THE GAS INDICATOR FAILS TO REGISTER THE CORRECT FUEL LEFT IN VEHICLE. OWNER RAN OUT OF GAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE INDICATOR. THE DOOR HINGES ON THE DUTCH DOORS ALLOW DOORS TO SWING WIDE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TO REPAIR HINGES, BUT THE FUEL INDICATOR COULD NOT BE FIXED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #852491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Colton, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

REAR HATCH SUPPORT ROD FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #609392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wausau, WI

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH ALL OF THIS VAN. PLEASE CONTACT TO EXPLAIN IN FULL.

NHTSA complaint #711659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wausau, WI

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #711660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Corona, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #607210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Osos, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

KEYLESS ENTRY TRANSMITTERS FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #609940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Leavenwort, KS

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. ALSO THE REAR DUTCH DOOR WILL NOT RELEASE, RESULTING IN FAILURE. REPAIRS WERE DONE.

NHTSA complaint #545963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pawcatuck, CT

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

THE ROLLERS ON THE SLIDING DOOR IS MAKING THE DOOR TO DROP, NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR TO CLOSE PROPERLY, AND IT WILL NOT LOCK.

NHTSA complaint #840695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norwalk, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

REAR DOOR SHOCKS FAILED. MJS

NHTSA complaint #608020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mission VI, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #607776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Garden Grove, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

HATCHBACK DOOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #607045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Silver BAY, MN 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

REAR HATCH STRUT ROD FAILED RESULTING IN HATCH FALLING ON CONSUMERS HEAD.

NHTSA complaint #543878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Chevrolet Astro problems

← Full 1997 Chevrolet Astro report