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Chevrolet Astro engine problems

225 of the 3,757 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Astro are about the engine — 6% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.

225

Complaints

6%

Share of all complaints

2

Crashes

13

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

1987 Astro 3 1.3%
1988 Astro 14 6.2%

Median failure at 450,000 miles

1989 Astro 5 2.2%
1990 Astro 3 1.3%
1991 Astro 2 0.9%
1992 Astro 6 2.7%
1993 Astro 12 5.3%

Median failure at 98,000 miles

1994 Astro 17 7.6%

Median failure at 102,000 miles

1995 Astro 31 13.8%

Median failure at 113,000 miles

1996 Astro 20 8.9%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

1997 Astro 43 19.1%

Median failure at 87,470 miles

1998 Astro 29 12.9%

Median failure at 92,000 miles

1999 Astro 11 4.9%

Median failure at 96,000 miles

2000 Astro 18 8.0%

Median failure at 72,500 miles

2001 Astro 4 1.8%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

2002 Astro 3 1.3%

Median failure at 13,032 miles

2003 Astro 3 1.3%

Median failure at 30,900 miles

2004 Astro 1 0.4%

Median failure at 133,000 miles

What owners said

2000 Chevrolet Astro at 1 miles Buffalo, NY

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING THE 2000 CHEVY ASTRO THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND NO BRAKES. HAPPENED TO ME IN TWO WEEKS. LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION.

NHTSA complaint #11372342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Chevrolet Astro at 184,000 miles Granada Hills, CA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.

NHTSA complaint #10607100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Astro at 133,000 miles Whittier, CA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE CONTACT PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WAITED TEN MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED ITS NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ASSURED THE CONTACT THAT AFTER PAYING FOR THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE WOULD BE RESOLVED. THE FUEL PUMP, STARTER, MOTOR MOUNTS, AND GENERATOR WERE ALL REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,249.

NHTSA complaint #10604713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Chevrolet Astro at 220,000 miles Anderson, AL

ENGINE

PULLED INTO SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT ( 35MPH SLIGHT RIGHT TURN) STARTED TO TURN LEFT TO PARKING SPACE AND ENGINE CUT-OUT SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. INCIDENT WAS RECORDED BY MY DASH CAM: HTTP://S247.PHOTOBUCKET.COM/USER/HCHICKPEA/MEDIA/VANPOWERCUTOUT_ZPSB0E071E6.MP4.HTML YOU CAN SEE THE FLASH OF A POLICE CAR GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT ALMOST THE EXACT TIME OF THE ENGINE STOPPING. NO APPARENT IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS, NO ENGINE CHUGGING OR SOUNDS, LIGHTWEIGHT KEYCHAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10569448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Chevrolet Astro at 245,000 miles Gresham, OR

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.

1998 Chevrolet Astro at 92,000 miles Little Rock, AR

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.

1998 Chevrolet Astro at 92,349 miles Little Rock, AR

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.

1998 Chevrolet Astro at 92,000 miles Little Rock, AR

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.

1999 Chevrolet Astro at 110,000 miles Arlington, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASS LOCK MODULE THAT TURNED OFF THE GAS TO THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD START UP BRIEFLY BUT THEN SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT IT WAS NOT RELATED TO ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

NHTSA complaint #10358308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chevrolet Astro at 152,000 miles Sweden, ME

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. DURING BRAKE APPLICATION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 152000.

NHTSA complaint #10296201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Chevrolet Astro at 100,000 miles Pontotoc, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET FAILED. WITHIN A THREE MONTH PERIOD, THE BRACKET HAS FAILED TWICE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FIND A REPLACEMENT COMPONENT AT A JUNKYARD AND WAS INFORMED BY THE JUNKYARD DEALER THAT HE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REQUESTS FOR THAT PARTICULAR COMPONENT DUE TO FREQUENT FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS OVER 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA complaint #10246372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Chevrolet Astro Port O Connor, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VAN WILL NOT START FOR ABOUT 15 MIN. AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AND SHUT OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10186685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chevrolet Astro at 90,000 miles Garden Grove, CA Crash

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2001 ASTRO VAN CHEVY PANIC STOP BRAKES NO RESPONSE TO FLOOR 1ST. TIME HAD LOOKED AT PASS. SIDE WEAR 1 SIDE BRAKE PAD WEAR REPAIR. 2ND TIME NEED TO STOP FAST HIT BRAKES TO FLOOR NO RESPONSE BOTH 35 MPH TO 45 MPH CALLED GM ACTED LIKE DON'T CARE . TURN SIGNAL SWITCH REPLACE 710.00 WILL NOT REIMBURSE ENGINE LIGHT ON AND OFF REPLACE SENSORS $275.00 CATALYTIC CONVERTER $1000.00 THEN MOTOR FAILURE DEALER COULD NOT PIN POINT PROBLEM NEW MOTOR 6538.00 BOUGHT VAN FROM DEALER SAID O.K. FOR 150000 TO 200000 HAD 47000 NOW 130000 WILL NOT BUY G.M.

NHTSA complaint #10152540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Chevrolet Astro at 93,000 miles EL Paso, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS AN OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING A LITER AND A HALF OF OIL PER WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE SYSTEM WHICH WAS DUE TO THE MATERIAL THAT WAS USED DURING ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ,AND THEY EXPLAINED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THAT SPECIFIC PART.

NHTSA complaint #10147265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet Astro at 30,900 miles Plano, TX Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2005 MY 2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE IN A PARKING LOT. THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE; THE FIREMEN DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLE. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO HUFFINES CHEVROLET IN PLANO, TX. THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT ACCORDING TO THE CHEVROLET MECHANICS IS AS FOLLOWS: 1) EVERY TIME THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, THE TIE RODS ETC. WOULD CHAFE AGAINST A BRACKET ON THE CHASSIS THAT HELD DOWN A BATTERY CABLE. 2) EVENTUALLY THE BRACKET FAILED. 3) THE BATTERY CABLE ARCED AGAINST THE BRAKE LINE. 4) THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED SPRAYING HYDRAULIC FLUID OVER THE HOT ENGINE MANIFOLD. 5) THE ENSUING FIRE BURNED THROUGH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE A/C HOSE CARRYING FREON. 6) WHEN THE A/C HOSED WAS SEVERED, THE FREON GAS ESCAPED CAUSING THE LOUD EXPLOSION THAT WE HEARD SOME DISTANCE AWAY. 7) THE SMOKE THAT WE SAW IN THE AIR WAS ACTUALLY THE ESCAPING FREON GAS. ALL WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED IN THREE WEEKS. ON NOVEMBER 8, 2005, THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE UNDER WAY. THE CHEVROLET MECHANICS STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS TRACED TO A SMALL PINHOLE CAUSED BY THE ARCING BATTERY CABLE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE FAILED. IF THIS STORY SEEMS PREPOSTEROUS TO YOU, IT DOES TO ME TOO BUT THIS IS THE STORY WE GOT FROM CHEVROLET. IN MY OPINION, MY 2003 CHEVY ASTRO VAN SUFFERS FROM A FATAL FLAW IN DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURER. IT IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD FOREVER.

NHTSA complaint #10142603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Chevrolet Astro at 82,000 miles Broadview Heights, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO, THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. IT DOES THIS OFF AND ON BY ITSELF. THIS STARTED ON AUGUST 1, 2005. THERE IS A RECALL, CHEVROLET IS STILL RECALLING, BUT NOT SURE AT THIS TIME IF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS INCLUDED.

NHTSA complaint #10135417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Chevrolet Astro Redding, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THERE WERE NO BRAKES. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS BEFORE THE STALLING, IT HAPPENED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY DID INFORM THE CONTACT THAT THIS SPECIFIC MODEL YEAR HAD INTERMITTENT STALLING PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE BRAKING CAPABILITY. THERE WAS FILE NUMBER 1-34-55-39614 WITH THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER. *AK UPDATED 02/07/06.

NHTSA complaint #10127278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet Astro RED Hook, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DT: 2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO, VEHICLE HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES, AROUND AT LEAST 12 TIMES, THIS HAPPENED ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS ENDANGERING THE CONSUMER AND HER FAMILY, THE CONSUMER HAS HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AROUND 5 OR 6 OF THESE TIMES, THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE USUALLY STARTS BACK UP AFTER AT LEAST 2-3 HOURS AFTER STALLING, VEHICLE ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES, CONSUMER HAS GOTTEN IN CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURE, CHEVROLET HAS YET TO GET BACK TO THE CONSUMER, THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WERE POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION , POWER CONTROL MODULE, POSSIBLE TRANSFERENCE PROBLEM, OR POSSIBLE OTHER PROBLEM, DEALER ALSO SAID THERE WAS A LOUD REAR CHATTER.

NHTSA complaint #10126373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1988 Chevrolet Astro at 450,000 miles Tlalnepantla, 00

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

FISSURE IN THE RADIATOR

NHTSA complaint #10122555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet Astro Bridgewater, ME

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

AFTER BALL JOINT RECALL, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH STEERING, BRAKING AND SUSPENSION. FRONT LEFT SIDE CONTINUALLY POPS AND GRINDS, SHOCK BOOT WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE SHOCKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE THIRD TIME MAY HAVE FIXED IT, JUST GOT THE VAN BACK TODAY. BRAKES ARE INTERMITTENT. HEARD LOUD BANG FROM REAR END, DEALERSHIP TIGHTENED BACKING PLATE. TRANSMISSION SLIPS, SHUDDER IS FELT FROM REAR END AT 30+ MPH. DEALERSHIP PUT BALANCES ON TORQUE CONVERTER AND THE DRIVE SHAFT, HAD TO CUT THE REAR SPRINGS TO DO THIS. SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT GONE, BUT LIVABLE. VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH AT IDLE, ALMOST STALLING, SERVICE MANAGER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AS WELL. SAID FUEL INJECTOR PORT WAS FILL WITH CARBON, BUT CLEANING IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DURING A TRIP, STAYED ON FOR THE 6 HOUR DRIVE HOME, THERE WAS NO HEAT AT ALL, SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE COULD NOT GET THE COMPUTER TO REPRODUCE THE CODE, BUT REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP AND TWO CLAMPS.

NHTSA complaint #10118710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chevrolet Astro problems

Chevrolet Astro brake problems 806 Chevrolet Astro window and wiper problems 425 Chevrolet Astro suspension problems 305 Chevrolet Astro transmission problems 278 Chevrolet Astro electrical problems 243 Chevrolet Astro steering problems 240 Chevrolet Astro fuel system problems 188 Chevrolet Astro body problems 164