1998 Chevrolet Astro problems

STEERING

WHAT IS THE REAL IS HARD TO TURN IN MY ALTERNATOR WENT OUT

NHTSA complaint #11039948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHAT IS THE REAL IS HARD TO TURN IN MY ALTERNATOR WENT OUT

NHTSA complaint #11039948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE BEGAN TO DRIVE IN REVERSE AND THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHERE THEY STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED FROM THE WIRING HARNESS AND INTO THE ENGINE COMPUTER. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE COMPUTER AND THE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 245,000.

NHTSA complaint #10561879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE BEGAN TO DRIVE IN REVERSE AND THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHERE THEY STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED FROM THE WIRING HARNESS AND INTO THE ENGINE COMPUTER. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE COMPUTER AND THE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 245,000.

NHTSA complaint #10561879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #10521373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND DIDN'T PROVIDE WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE BOOK STATES THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON TO INDICATE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND SERVICE IS REQUIRED. MALFUNCTIONS OFTEN WILL BE INDICATED BY THE SYSTEM BEFORE ANY PROBLEM IS APPARENT. THIS SYSTEM IS ALSO DESIGNED TO ASSIST YOUR SERVICE TECHNICIAN IN CORRECTLY DIAGNOSING ANY MALFUNCTION. NONE OF THIS WORKED ON THE VAN.

NHTSA complaint #10452404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN HEAT EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING THE FAILURE, THERE WERE NO VISIBLE FLAMES OR SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,349. UPDATED 04/27/12*LJ UPDATED 04/27/12

NHTSA complaint #10452205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BUILT- IN DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND DID NOT PROVIDE WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AND CAUSED ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE MOTOR ABNORMALLY. THE ENGINE MOTOR AND THE INTAKE GASKETS WOULD BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE BUILT-IN DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S AGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000. UPDATED 08-07-12

NHTSA complaint #10450272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY ASTRO VAN THAT QUALIFIES FOR A EXPIRED WARRANTY FOR GM THAT IS RELATED TO A DEFECT IN THEIR FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THAT CAUSES THEM TO STICK OPEN OR CLOSED. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY CHEVY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WAS NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC UNTIL THIS YEAR. THE BULLETIN/WARRANTY NUMBER IS: 99066E AND IT STATES THAT ALL REPAIRS RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE COVERED NO CHARGE TO THE VEHICLE OWNER AS LONG AS IT'S WITHIN 10 YEARS OR 200,000 MILES. SO, I'M 3 YEARS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAVE 217,000 MILES. IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT THAT CHEVY NEVER CONTACTED ME ABOUT THIS AND I'VE HAD TO PAY FOR NUMEROUS REPAIRS RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM IN THIS VEHICLE OVER THE YEARS WITHOUT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I HAD MY FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FIXED. THESE VANS ARE KNOWN TO RUN UP TO 450,000 MILES. THE OPERATION OF MY VEHICLE IS VITAL IN THIS ECONOMY. I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE THIS WARRANTY EXTENDED TO ME. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVY/GM AND THEY JUST READ THE WARRANTY BACK AND DENY ME REPAIR OR TELL ME TO GET IT FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A REPAIR THAT THERE IS A WARRANTY THAT STATES THAT THEY ARE AT FAULT AND IT'S RELATED TO FUEL DEPOSITS IN CALIFORNIA FUEL?

NHTSA complaint #10400943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD CAUSES THE WIPERS NOT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. IF VISIBILITY IS REDUCED WHILE DRIVING THE RISK FOR VEHICLE CRASH AND SERIOUS INJURY ARE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPAIRED. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND WAS INFORMED BY A REPRESENTATIVE THAT THERE WERE NO EXISTING RECALLS FOR HIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL.. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,877. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10282365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE MOTOR COVER FOR HIM TO MANEUVER HIS FEET. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT HE COULD POSSIBLY GET HIS FOOT CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MOTOR COVER IN THE EVENT THAT HE NEEDED TO APPLY THE BRAKES QUICKLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 114,000. UPDATED 04-20-09 *BF UPDATED 04/24/09.

NHTSA complaint #10263601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY ASTRO 2WD WE BOUGHT WITH 23K MI. IN 2000. ROUGHLY 2 YEARS AGO WE HAD ALL NEW BRAKES (HEAD TO TOE, FRONT & BACK) INSTALLED AGAIN. WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES WITH OUR ABS MAINLY WHEN TRAVELING UNDER 15 MPH, WHEN YOU TRY AND STOP IT GRABS HEAVILY OR SOMETIMES ALMOST NOT AT ALL. JUST LAST YEAR WE HAD THE FRONT BRAKES RE-DONE AGAIN AND STILL THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. WE ONLY TRAVEL 12-14K MILES A YEAR WITH THE VEHICLE AND MOST OF THE DRIVING IS ON COUNTRY ROADS. WE NOTICE IT THE MOST WHEN WE ARE DROPPING THE KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL OR PICKING THEM UP OR PULLING INTO OR OUT OF THE GARAGE. THE JERKING ACTION HAS CAUSED MAJOR FRONT END ASSEMBLY DAMAGE TO THE VAN WHERE WE HAD TO REPLACE MOST OF THOSE PIECES AS WELL. AFTER DUMPING ALMOST $2200 INTO THE VAN AND STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, THIS IS WHY I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE, CAUSE IT IS DANGERING THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY AND OTHER AROUND US. I BELIEVE IT IS A BAD SENSOR. WE WILL ALSO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ILLINOIS LISA MADIGAN AS THIS IS MORE THAN JUST ONE INCIDENT ACROSS THE U.S. FEEL FREE TO CALL OR EMAIL ME ASAP AS WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. IF THE ECONOMY WAS BETTER WE MIGHT OF JUST WENT TO BUY ANOTHER VAN BUT WE ARE LIKE THE REST OF AMERICA AT THIS POINT AND SEE NO POINT IN TRYING TO GET RID OF A VEHICLE THAT PERFORMS WELL EXCEPT FOR THE ABS. WE HAVE RECORDS OF ALL WORK DONE TO THE VAN AND WILL SHARE IF NEED BE. DISSATIFIED VEHICLE OWNER TOM K.

NHTSA complaint #10258732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA complaint #10200178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 88,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000*AK.

NHTSA complaint #10189617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT LOW SPEEDS, THE PEDAL WAS HARDER TO DEPRESS AND HAD A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #10175158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE FUEL FILTER WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE FUEL FILTER AND TANK ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10157180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP AT ABOUT 2 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM STARTED RAPIDLY CYCLING, NO BRAKES WERE GRABBING BECAUSE OF THE RAPID CYCLING, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE SLIGHTLY, AND THE VEHICLE WAS HEADED FOR EITHER TWO PEDESTRIANS OR A BUILDING. TO STOP THE VEHICLE, I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. AFTER ANOTHER BRAKE ATTEMPT THE BRAKES RESPONDED. I WENT TO AN ISOLATED STREET WITH SOME ICE AND DRY PAVEMENT, AND THIS ANTI-LOCK BRAKING FAILURE OCCURRED IN 1 OUT OF 5 BRAKING ATTEMPTS. I NEVER RECEIVED AN ANTI-LOCK WARNING LIGHT AND THE SYSTEM COMPLETED ITS SELF TESTS PROPERLY ON EACH ENGINE START UP. I REMOVED THE 60 AMP FUSE TO DISABLE THE SYSTEM AND I AM NOT SURE I CAN EVER TRUST THIS SYSTEM AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10150622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

MASTERCRAFT "SENSYS" TIRES. 215/70R15. A COMPLETE SET OF FOUR TIRES HAD THE TREADS SEPARATE. RESULTING IN A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHEN A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE WHOLESALE SUPPLIER WILLIAMS TIRE (OF 3995 DORCHESTER ROAD, CHARLESTON, SC. 843-554-0700 FAX=5541334) THEY STATED THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS---BUT THEY CONFUSED ME WITH SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAD ALSO COMPLAINED---LEADING ME TO REALIZE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MATTER. I FEEL THAT MY 4 TIRES CANNOT BE THE ONLY ONES. THERE MUST BE MORE OF THESE DANGEROUS TIRES ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10141294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 CHEVY ASTRO VAN IN A HEAVY RAIN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC NEAR WASHINGTON D.C. LAST WEEK. SHE TURNED THE WIPERS ON. THE WIPERS RANDOMLY WORKED AND DIDN'T WORKED AND IT ALMOST CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS RANDOM "WORK/DOESN'T WORK" EVEN HAS STARTED HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY SINCE ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO. IN DOING RESEARCH ON THE WEB, APPARENTLY GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CIRCUIT BOARD PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10129004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THEY CAME ON WHEN THE CONSUMER DIDN'T NEED THEM, BUT WHEN SHE NEEDED THEM THEY WOULDN'T COME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TWO ASTROS THAT THE CONSUMER HAS OWNED. THE FIRST ONE WAS A 1995 CHEVY ASTRO VAN AND THE SECOND ONE IS A 1998 ASTRO VAN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND MOTOR TO THE WIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE OWNER WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT GM REPLACED THE MOTOR ON THE WIPERS ON THE MODELS BEFORE THE OWNERS VAN. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE 1998 VANS. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 2003. THE OWNER HAS NOT HAD THIS LOOKED AT BY A TECHNICIAN. THE OWNER STATED THAT SHE USUALLY SHE PULLS OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, POPS THE HOOD AND TAPS ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO GET THE WIPER TO WORK, AND MOST TIMES THIS WORKS. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TALKED TO THE DEALER BUT HAS TALKED WITH GM. THE PERSON AT GM SAID THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. THE OWNER JUST KEEPS TAPPING ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE OWNER IS TAKING HER VAN IN FOR RECALL WORK ON THE SIDE MIRROR TOMORROW. SHE IS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND SHOW THEM THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FROM THE NHTSA.

NHTSA complaint #10128413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

I HAVE OWNED 3 CHEVY ASTRO VANS. 1995/2001/1998/ IN THE 1995 AND IN THE ONE I HAVE NOW 1998 THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO WORK. THEY COME ON WHEN THERE IS NO RAIN AND DON'T COME ON WHEN IT RAINS. I SPOKE TO A SERVICE MAN AND HE TOLD ME THAT MANY OF THE ASTRO VANS HAVE THAT PROBLEM. A DELAY IN WINSHIELD WIPERS

NHTSA complaint #10128390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.