IllustrationWHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE TORSION BAR SPRING BROKE. #IE98048- PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AT DEALER. INFORMED BY MECHANIC ITS ON BACK ORDER. HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH TORSION BARS ON ASTROS BEFORE. *YC
1994 Chevrolet Astro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Astro years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Chevrolet Astro are substantially higher than 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: 33 of 328 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 91 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
43 crash reports3 fire reports27 injury reports
Suspension complaints
40 reportsTORSION BAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE, WHICH CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. *AK
TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON STREET AT APPROX. 30 MPH. VEHICLE INSPECTED BY DEALER SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE ORIGINAL TORSION BAR HAS BEEN REDESIGNED, AND THAT BOTH TORSION BARS AND SUPPORTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, REDESIGNED TORSON BARS ARE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. NO REASON WAS GIVEN FOR THE NEW DESI…
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TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON STREET AT APPROX. 30 MPH. VEHICLE INSPECTED BY DEALER SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE ORIGINAL TORSION BAR HAS BEEN REDESIGNED, AND THAT BOTH TORSION BARS AND SUPPORTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, REDESIGNED TORSON BARS ARE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. NO REASON WAS GIVEN FOR THE NEW DESIGN. COULD NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AND HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
LEFT FRONT (DRIVER SIDE)TORSION BAR SNAPPED, DROPPING THE BODY DOWN ONTO THE WHEEL, RENDERING VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS INCIDENT WOULD CAUSE TOTAL LOSE OF CONTROL. I TALKED WITH SERVICE MGR, AND WAS TOLD THIS IS COMMON FAILURE/DEFECT. HE CURRENTLY HAS 2 OF THESE VEHICLE…
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LEFT FRONT (DRIVER SIDE)TORSION BAR SNAPPED, DROPPING THE BODY DOWN ONTO THE WHEEL, RENDERING VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS INCIDENT WOULD CAUSE TOTAL LOSE OF CONTROL. I TALKED WITH SERVICE MGR, AND WAS TOLD THIS IS COMMON FAILURE/DEFECT. HE CURRENTLY HAS 2 OF THESE VEHICLES WAITING FOR PARTS. GM IS AWAIR OF THE DEFECT, BUT, HAS NOT PUT IT INTO RECALL STATUS YET. I WAS VERY LUCKY, I WAS PARKED WHEN THE TORSION BAR BROKE. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS DEFECT, AS OPPOSED TO LOOKING LIKE THE TORSION BAR BROKE BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS NOT A DEALER PROBLEM, IT IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. PART DEFECT. *AK
TORSION BAR BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FALL DOWN ON ALL THE TIRES. CONSUMER REPORTED PROBLEM TO DEALER. *AK
IDLER ARMS AND BALL JOINTS BREAK FREQUENTLY. WHEN PROBLEM IS FIXED, IT RETURNS FREQUENTLY. DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH BOTH TORSION BARS BROKE. VAN WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THE TORSION BARS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. *AK
VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT EVERY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *DH
DRIVING VEHICLE, MAKING TURN, BUS HIT & LIFT VEHICLE IN AIR, VEHICLE SLID, DOORS HAD NO INSIDE KNOBS, DRIVER & PASSENGERS TRAPPED, DOORS OPENED FROM OUTSIDE.
MICHELIN TIRES HAD NO TRACTION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL
Official recalls
294V177000 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint
Sep 14, 1994
THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BACK HEIGHT DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 202, "HEAD RESTRAINTS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: SEAT OCCUPANTS ARE SUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDD STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: SHERRY DESIGNS WILL PROVIDE AN ATTACHABLE HEADREST FOR THE DEALER OR CUSTOMER TO ADD TO THE SEATS.
94V087000 · Equipment:other:labels
May 9, 1994
THE MANUFACTURER'S CERTIFICATION LABEL AND/OR THE DRIVER AIR BAG ADVISORY LABEL MAY BE MISSING FROM THE VEHICLES, WHICH DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF 49 CFR 567.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: OWNERS OF VEHICLE WOULD BE UNAWARE OF THE LOAD CAPACITY OF THE VANS, THE VAN BUILD DATE, AND WOULD NOT HAVE ANY ASSURANCE THAT THE VANS MEET THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS.
Remedy: THE LABELS WILL BE FURNISHED TO OWNER'S FOR INSTALLATION ON THE VEHICLES.
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
1RQ99003 · Windshield Wiper
Opened Mar 8, 1999 · Closed May 31, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
No summary supplied.