IllustrationFRONT SEAT BELTS ARE HARD TO UNLATCH WHILE EXITING VEHICLE. ALSO, CHILD RESTRAINTS IN REAR OF VEHICLE DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
1988 Chevrolet Astro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Chevrolet Astro do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 69.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Astro years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 56 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports5 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
56 reportsWHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH THE RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE. OWNER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES FIBERGLASS VEHICLE SPRING BROKE AND FELT LIKE A BLOWOUT, CONSUMER REPLACED SPRING AND VEHICLE HANDLES FINE. *SLC
SERPENTINE BELT CONTINUALLY COMES OFF PARTICULARLY WHEN RAINING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING ABILITY.
SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF APPROXIMATELY EVERY 6 WEEKS, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OVERHEATING.
WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIPER SWITCH, CAUSED SWITCH TO START SMOKING, RESULTING IN THE WIPERS STAYING UNTIL CONSUMER REMOVED FUSE. *AK
RECALL RELATED, 93V187000, SEAT RECLINER BOLTS WIIL NOT HOLD, CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS, IN FOR REPAIRS AND DID NOT REPLACE THE SOFT JOINT. *AK
THE PLATE THAT ATTACHES TO THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRACKED, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO BECOME LOOSE.
ODOMETER FRAUD.
STEERING COLUMN LOOSE.
THE SMALL OF EXHAUST FUMES ARE COMING INTO VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
293V187000 · Seats
Nov 16, 1993
THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT FATIGUE AND EVENTUAL BOLT FAILURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULDALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.
91V102000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Jun 14, 1991
THE SEAT BELTS FOR THE FRONT AND MID-SHIP SEATS DID NOT REST ON PELVIS AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 209.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN SEAT OCCUPANT, AND COULDINJURE THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: RELOCATE SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS TO ADJUST BELTS FOR SEAT LOCATIONS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
7EA92022 · Seat Back Bolt Breakage
Opened Jun 24, 1992 · Closed Nov 19, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
PE92015 · Driver Seat Back Failure
Opened Feb 4, 1992 · Closed Jun 24, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
EA90023 · Power Steering Failure
Opened Apr 16, 1990 · Closed Apr 30, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE90039 · Spare Tire Carrier Failure
Opened Feb 5, 1990 · Closed Jun 29, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE90028 · Power Steering Failure
Opened Dec 15, 1989 · Closed Apr 16, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE89106 · Rear Axle Seal Failure
Opened Mar 23, 1989 · Closed Sep 19, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
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EA88039 · Rear A/c Unit
Opened Sep 12, 1988 · Closed Oct 31, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available