FaultScore

Chevrolet Astro acceleration problems

137 of the 3,757 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Astro are about the throttle and cruise control — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.

137

Complaints

4%

Share of all complaints

22

Crashes

1

Fires

Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year

1985 Astro 1 0.7%
1986 Astro 2 1.5%
1987 Astro 2 1.5%
1988 Astro 2 1.5%
1989 Astro 2 1.5%
1990 Astro 4 2.9%
1991 Astro 2 1.5%
1992 Astro 2 1.5%
1993 Astro 6 4.4%
1994 Astro 6 4.4%
1995 Astro 11 8.0%
1996 Astro 7 5.1%
1997 Astro 32 23.4%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

1998 Astro 18 13.1%

Median failure at 84,000 miles

1999 Astro 15 10.9%

Median failure at 74,800 miles

2000 Astro 11 8.0%

Median failure at 101,000 miles

2001 Astro 4 2.9%

Median failure at 132,334 miles

2002 Astro 6 4.4%

Median failure at 172,777 miles

2003 Astro 2 1.5%

Median failure at 120,418 miles

2004 Astro 2 1.5%

Median failure at 40,250 miles

What owners said

2002 Chevrolet Astro at 258,300 miles Bosie, ID

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Astro. The contact stated that while driving at an undetermined speed, the accelerator throttle cable fractured in the stuck open position, causing the vehicle to accelerate to approximately 100 MPH independently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 258,300.

NHTSA complaint #11490984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chevrolet Astro at 258,300 miles Bosie, ID

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:THROTTLE

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Astro. The contact stated that while driving at an undetermined speed, the accelerator throttle cable fractured in the stuck open position, causing the vehicle to accelerate to approximately 100 MPH independently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 258,300.

NHTSA complaint #11490984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Astro at 70,000 miles Akeley, MN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ONCE OR TWICE PER YEAR WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL, WHEN I TOUCH BRAKE TO DEACTIVATE CRUISE, IT DOESN'T DISENGAGE. I THEN HAVE TO STAND ON BRAKE WITH ALL MY EFFORT TO STOP VAN AND PULL OVER TO PUT IN PARK. ENGINE CONTINUES RACING TIL I TURN KEY OFF. THEN EVERYTHING OK TIL NEXT TIME MAYBE MONTHS LATER. SWITCK ON BRAKE PETAL IS OK. ONCE IN THE WINTER, CRUISE CONTROL PUSHED ME INTO AN INTERSECTION. LUCKILY OTHER TRAFFIC REALIZED I COULDN'T STOP. NO CODES SHOW UP TO IDENTIFY CAUSE. BEEN DOING THIS 4 OR 5 YEARS INTERMITTENTLY. EVEN THO THIS VAN IS 16 YEARS OLD, IT ONLY 6HAS 90000 MILES ON IT. I TRY NOT TO DRIVE IT MUCH BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. MY BEST GUESS IT'S MECHANICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM BUT SINCE IT HAPPENS SO SELDOM HARD TO DIAGNOSE.I HAVE ANOTHER ASTRO 5 YR OLDER WITH 230000 ON IT AND CRUISE WORKS LIKE IT SHOULD. I HAVE NO MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #11321778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Chevrolet Astro at 103,412 miles Lexington Park, MD

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

HAD CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED PRIOR TO ENTERING A REDUCED SPEED AREA AND IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. AFTER DEPARTING THE REDUCED SPEED AREA, I ENGAGED THE RESUME FUNCTION AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED PAST THE SET SPEED AND KEPT SPEEDING UP. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITH BRAKES ALTHOUGH THEY GOT VERY HOT AND SMOKED SEVERELY. ATTEMPTS TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED, AS WELL AS TURNING OFF AND REMOVING THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER SUCCESSFULLY STOPPING THE VEHICLE, I CONTINUED ATTEMPTS TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT ANY ATTEMPT TO START THE ENGINE RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE RACING OF THE ENGINE. I EXAMINED THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND DISCOVERED THAT FUSE NUMBER 6 WAS LABELED "CRUISE MODULE, CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, ELECTROMECHANICAL MIRROR". THE FUSE WAS REMOVED BUT THE ENGINE RACED UPON ATTEMPTING TO START IT. I THEN DISCOVERED THAT FUSE NUMBER 18 WAS LABELED "VCM-IGN 3, VCM-BRAKE, 4WAL, CRUISE STEPPER MOTOR SIGNAL". UPON REMOVING THIS FUSE, I WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE, AND IT REMAINED IN NORMAL PARAMETERS. I DID NOTICE THAT THE ANTILOCK LIGHT WAS ON, BUT BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED TO THE VCM-BRAKE LABEL ON THE CIRCUIT BREAKER. I WAS THEN ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME, AND WILL BE CONTACTING THE REPAIR SHOP TO DISABLE/REMOVE THE CRUISE STEPPER MOTOR, AS I REFUSE TO CHANCE ANOTHER UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENT.

NHTSA complaint #10439322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet Astro at 168,058 miles Slidell, LA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THROTTLE CABLE STICKING DUE TO OUTER LAYER OF BRAIDED CABLE BEING FRAYED. ROUTING OF CABLE CAUSED A KINK IN THE OUTER JACKET THAT FRAYED THE OUTER LAYER OF A BRAIDED CABLE FROM THE GAS PEDDLE TO THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO OPEN AND REMAIN AT WHAT EVER POINT IT WAS BY THE PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION. THE CABLE WAS ROUTED BELOW A HOSE AT THE FIREWALL PUSHING THE OUTER JACKET DOWNWARD AND WAS THAT WAY FROM THE FACTORY AS FAR AS I AM AWARE. NO HOSES HAVE BEEN CHANGED. REPLACED THE THROTTLE CABLE AND ROUTED IT ABOVE THE HOSE AT THE FIREWALL TO ELIMINATE THE DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE OUTER JACKET AND ALL IS OPERATING PROPERLY. DEALER HAD NO INTEREST IN FIXING OR INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM WITHOUT COST BEING INCURRED BY ME. MADE THE REPAIR MYSELF WITH A NEW THROTTLE CABLE OBTAINED THROUGH A DEALER PARTS DEPARTMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10393529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Chevrolet Astro at 108,000 miles Medford, MA Fire

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE IN A RUN-AWAY MODE. VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY STOPPED THROUGH COMBINATION OF BRAKES AND TRAVELING INTO MUD. UPON STOPPING IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE FLAMING - MOST LIKELY DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT.

NHTSA complaint #10320625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Chevrolet Astro at 130,000 miles Gray, ME

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THERE WAS AN EXTREMELY LOUD ROARING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITH AN INCREASE IN THE RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS RAPIDLY APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL POSITION. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO A STOP WITH VERY LIMITED BRAKING POWER. AFTER SEVERAL MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CPU (CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT) AND OPTICAL WHEEL SENSORS WERE INTERMITTENTLY FAULTY WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE SENSORS WERE CLEANED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER THAT ADVISED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE CPU. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000. UPDATED 4/26/10 *CN UPDATED 06/17/10

NHTSA complaint #10319064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chevrolet Astro at 172,777 miles Riverview, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. WHILE DRIVING 30 TO 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN BY APPLYING THE BRAKES WHICH FORCED THE CONTACT TO SHIFT GEARS INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO THIRD GEAR. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO ENGAGE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO LOOSEN THE THROTTLE; HOWEVER, WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE RPM'S INCREASED RAPIDLY. THE POLICE HELPED THE CONTACT PUSH THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RAPID ACCELERATION WAS DUE TO A FRAYED ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND ADJUSTED THE IDLE AND THROTTLE PLATE. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING NORMALLY. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THE PARTS FROM THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LONGER AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,777.

NHTSA complaint #10299850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet Astro at 72,778 miles Tuscon, AZ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH THE THROTTLE CABLE STUCK, AND ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHED 40 MPH, THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH CONTINUED TO IDLE HIGH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE AT HOME THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO IDLE HIGH, AND THE THROTTLE CABLE SHEARED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE CABLE. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR INVOICES. *AK UPDATE 4/23/07

NHTSA complaint #10183248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chevrolet Astro at 132,334 miles Shreveport, LA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

WHEN AUTO SHIFTED INTO DRIVE-AUTO ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY- WITH BRAKE PEDDLE FULLY PUSHED AUTO OVER-POWERED BRAKES AND CRASHED INTO MY GARAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10169692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Chevrolet Astro at 63,310 miles Saegertown, PA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE PUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT DID NOT STOP; IT ACCELERATED WHEN SHE HIT THE BRAKE AND SHE HIT TWO PARKED CARS ON 7-23-05. SHE WAS GOING APPROX. 3-5 MPH. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. PREVIOUSLY, THEY HAD FELT SOME PULSATING IN THE PEDAL, BUT IT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE FELT IT ACCELERATE. NO LIGHTS CAME ON PRIOR TO THIS OR PREVIOUSLY. THIS OCCURRED DURING NORMAL BRAKING, ON A DRY ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10129873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Chevrolet Astro at 74,800 miles Carrollton, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

DT: CALLER SAYS THE ACCELERATOR STICKS ON VEHICLE. WHEN GETTING IN AND HITTING ACCELERATOR IT WILL NOT MOVE. WHEN PUSH ING HADER IT WILL GO FASTER THAN EXPECTED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10125907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Astro at 10,500 miles ST Johnsbury, VT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

DT: WITHOUT WARNING THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL SHUT OFF WHEN THE CONSUMER HITS A BUMP. THE CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THE DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO TROUBLESHOOT, BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REIMBURSE THEM FOR THE COST. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE TEST RUN ON CAR. THE CONSUMER DOES NOT FEEL IT'S HIS PLACE TO PAY.

NHTSA complaint #10121133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Chevrolet Astro at 65,000 miles Riverside, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT: WHILE TURNING A CORNER AND PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR IT BECAME STUCK CAUSING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE FASTER. THE CONSUMER PUMPED THE GAS PEDAL WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE GO FASTER. THE CONSUMER THEN PLACED HER OTHER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH MADE THE REAR TIRES SPIN. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. TRIPLE A WAS AFRAID TO TOW THE VEHICLE DUE TO ACCELERATION ISSUE BUT FINALLY DECIDED TO TOW IT TO DEALER. DEALER WAS WILLING TO REPAIR UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. GMC WOULD OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10119963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Chevrolet Astro at 101,000 miles Longwood, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK. WHEN THE DRIVER TAPPED THE PEDAL TO RELEASE IT PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THE VEHICLE SPED TO 100 MPH. DRIVER HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10115480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Chevrolet Astro at 87,689 miles Windsor, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR CABLE SHREDDED. THE SECOND TIME THE GUIDES BROKE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 90 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING. THE CONSUMER APPLIED PRESSURE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND REPORTED INCIDENT TO CHEVROLET. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10083936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Chevrolet Astro at 84,000 miles Dewey, OK Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

CONSUMER STRUCK A TREE IN THE YARD WHILE PLACING FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. INSTEAD, CONSUMER'S FOOT STRUCK THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE PEDALS WERE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THEY NEED TO BE PLACED FURTHER APART.

NHTSA complaint #10083765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Chevrolet Astro Bremerton, WA Crash 3 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THEN, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THEY WERE INOPERATIVE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10081510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chevrolet Astro at 22,000 miles Redwood City, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITH OR WITHOUT THE AIR CONDITIONING BEING ON. DEALERSHIP TRIED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10075899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chevrolet Astro at 140,000 miles Holland, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

SAFETY ISSUE: GAS PEDAL STICKS WHEN FOOT IS INITIALLY APPLIED TO PEDAL. THE STICKING CAUSES SUDDEN AND UNCONTROLLABLE LURCHING OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10061907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chevrolet Astro problems