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1989 Chevrolet Astro

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 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

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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 57 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.

  • Steering. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports7 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

57 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 1998
Fuel System, GasolineFire

WHEN DRIVING AT 55 PMH ANOTHER CONSUMER NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHCILE, AND WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER THE SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE VENTS AND THE RADIO. WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND THEY THOUGHT…

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WHEN DRIVING AT 55 PMH ANOTHER CONSUMER NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHCILE, AND WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER THE SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE VENTS AND THE RADIO. WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND THEY THOUGHT THAT THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE FUEL LINE CRACKED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829834

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 1998
Power Train

SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE. BELIEVED THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT FOR THIS VEHICLE WITH 71000 OF WEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST IS TO CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828039

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 1998
Steering

THIS VAN IN NOW CURRENTLY SITTING IN MY YARD AS I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX IT AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE MECHANICS AT THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP STATED IF WOULD BE OVER $600.00 TO REPAIR. I KNOW THIS HAS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT FOR IT TO HAVE HAPPENED TO US ON 5 OCCASIONS, NECESSITATING A WRECKER SERVICE CALL EACH TIME. I PAID $35.00…

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THIS VAN IN NOW CURRENTLY SITTING IN MY YARD AS I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX IT AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE MECHANICS AT THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP STATED IF WOULD BE OVER $600.00 TO REPAIR. I KNOW THIS HAS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT FOR IT TO HAVE HAPPENED TO US ON 5 OCCASIONS, NECESSITATING A WRECKER SERVICE CALL EACH TIME. I PAID $35.00 FOR THE WRECKER THIS TIME AND $48.50 TO GET IT OUT OF THE SHOP UNREPAIRED TO BRING IT HOME TO SIT IN THE YARD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THE BELT SLIPS OFF OF THE SYSTEM IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO CONTROL AND STEER OF THE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED EARLY IN THE MORNING AND THERE WASN'T ANY TRAFFIC ALONG THE HIGHWAY I WAS DRIVING ON.

NHTSA ODI #540229

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 1998
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING VIBRATION. WHEN RELEASING FOOT OFF GAS VIBRATION STOPS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #539602

Mileage unknown · May 19, 1998
Latches/locks/linkagesSuspension

FRONT SUSPENSION AREA ON THE FRAME WHERE THE IDLER ARM ATTACHES, RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE FRAME. RESULTED IN AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 2 X 3 INCHES BEING PULLED COMPLETELY OUT OF THE FRAME, LEAVING A HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE FRAME. A COMPLETE LOSS OFF STEERING RESULTED AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. REAR DOOR …

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FRONT SUSPENSION AREA ON THE FRAME WHERE THE IDLER ARM ATTACHES, RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE FRAME. RESULTED IN AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 2 X 3 INCHES BEING PULLED COMPLETELY OUT OF THE FRAME, LEAVING A HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE FRAME. A COMPLETE LOSS OFF STEERING RESULTED AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. REAR DOOR FAILS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 18 TO 24 MONTHS. THE REAR DOOR LATCH HAS BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. DEALER HAD TO BREAK INTO THE REAR DOORS IN ORDER TO GET THEM OPEN.

NHTSA ODI #535883

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1998
Steering

THE BOLTS BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THAT HOLD THE ALTERNATOR AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR BROKE, WHICH CRACKED THE BRACKET. THE BRACKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES(6/93 AND 6/96) AND NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822134

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1998
Steering

TWO BOLTS BROKE BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSING THE BRACKET TO BREAK.

NHTSA ODI #534398

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 1998
Suspension

FRONT END FAILURE. LOWER CONTROL ARM RUSTED TO THE POINT IT AND THE HEAVY DUTY SPRING BROKE. WHEN FRONT END DROPPED VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED ALLOWING DRIVER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #532823

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 1998
Suspension

LOWER CONTROL ARM CORRODED AND BROKE.

NHTSA ODI #532780

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 1997
Seats

SAET: SCREW THAT BOLTS FRONT SEAT BROKE AND THE SEAT COLLAPSED AND WENT COMPLETELY BACKWARD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816846

Official recalls

3

93V187000 · 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.

91V164000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Sep 20, 1991

SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210.

Remedy: REPLACE NONCOMPLYING SOFA BAR WITH BAR THAT MEETS REQUIREMENTS.

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

1

EA92022 · 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