IllustrationTHE BATTERY & THE ALTERNATOR JUST WENT DEAD, AND I HAD TO BE TOWED TO BRITTS TIRE SERVICE IN BETHLEHEM PA. *AK
1990 Chevrolet Astro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 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: 2 of 68 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports6 fire reports4 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
6 reportsINSTALLED A 15A FUSE INTO FUSE HOLDER FOR FACTORY FOG LAMPS AND TURNED ON FACTORY SWITCH AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER DASH BY WIRING HARNESS. WHEN SEEN SMOKE, TURNED OFF THE FOG LIGHTS. NO BURN MARKS SEEN. TRIED STANDARD HEADLIGHTS, THEY DON'T WORK. TRIED TO START VEHICLE, NO START. BATTERY WENT DEAD. CHECKED SWITCH FOR HEADLAMPS. …
Read full complaint
INSTALLED A 15A FUSE INTO FUSE HOLDER FOR FACTORY FOG LAMPS AND TURNED ON FACTORY SWITCH AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER DASH BY WIRING HARNESS. WHEN SEEN SMOKE, TURNED OFF THE FOG LIGHTS. NO BURN MARKS SEEN. TRIED STANDARD HEADLIGHTS, THEY DON'T WORK. TRIED TO START VEHICLE, NO START. BATTERY WENT DEAD. CHECKED SWITCH FOR HEADLAMPS. CONTACT POINTS BURNED. FUSE DID NOT BLOW WHEN SMOKE HAPPENED. 15A FACTORY SPEC. 15A INSTALLED. NO OTHER FUSE'S BLEW EITHER. TOOK TO AUTO ELECTRIC SHOP. INVESTIGATING. BRYANS AUTOMOTIVE OLYMPIA, WA (360)459-7235. ALL OTHER POWER ITEMS STILL APPEAR TO FUNCTION. CL MODEL ASTRO. 2 DR AWD. GM NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEM! *AK
THE INSIDE OF THE VAN BURNED UP WHILE BEING PARKED OVERNIGHT. THE FIRE MARSHALL STATED THE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VAN TO BURN. THE VAN HAS BEEN TOTALLED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT FIRE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE LEFT. DEALER DID NOTHING. *AK
NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM DASHBORAD AREA. SMELLS LIKE ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNING. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET. SMELL STILL EXISTS.. (UNDER PE9702500)
VEHICLE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE SOMETIMES DURING THE NIGHT. THE WHOLE INTERIOR BURNED, NOTHING WAS LEFT OF THE DASH. *AK *JB
Official recalls
493V187000 · 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.
90V146000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Aug 13, 1990
FUEL RETURN HOSES MAY BREAK AT EITHER CRIMPED COUPLING, CAUSING A LEAKAGE OF FUEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A FUEL RETURN LINE SEPARATION, A FUELLEAK OCCURRING IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
Remedy: INSTALL A PROPERLY CRIMPED FUEL RETURN HOSE.
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
6PE97025 · Instrument Panel/dash Electrical Fire
Opened Jun 12, 1997 · Closed Nov 26, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
ALLEGED ELECTRICAL FIRES MAY OCCUR IN THE DASH AREA WHILE THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE BEING OPERATED OR WHILE PARKED.
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
DP92012 · Apv Fires
Opened Jun 9, 1992 · Closed Jun 25, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
APV FIRES
EA91028 · Brake Failure
Opened Jun 10, 1991 · Closed Jun 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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PE91052 · Brake Failure
Opened Feb 22, 1991 · Closed Jun 10, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE91038 · Sliding Door Hinge Failure
Opened Jan 23, 1991 · Closed May 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available