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1996 Chevrolet Astro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Astro years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 22 of 263 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.
- Suspension. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
18 reportsWHEN MY VEHICLE WAS NEW I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ENGINE, NORTHSTAR CHEVROLET PUT IN NEW FUEL INJECTORS AT THAT TIME, BUT STATED THAT ALL ASTRO RAN THE SAME AS MINE, NO POWER AND HESITATION. NOW I FIND OUT THE FUEL INJECTORS LEAK, BREAKING DOWN THE OIL, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. CHEVY WILL NOT ADMIT TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE S…
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WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS NEW I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ENGINE, NORTHSTAR CHEVROLET PUT IN NEW FUEL INJECTORS AT THAT TIME, BUT STATED THAT ALL ASTRO RAN THE SAME AS MINE, NO POWER AND HESITATION. NOW I FIND OUT THE FUEL INJECTORS LEAK, BREAKING DOWN THE OIL, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. CHEVY WILL NOT ADMIT TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN TO ONE DEALER WHO KEEPS THE V6 VORTEC IN STOCK BECAUSE HE SELLS SO MANY OF THEM. CHEVY WANTS HEART CHEVROLET TO TEAR MY ENGINE APART BEFORE THEY WILL DO ANYTHING AND THEN IT WILL PROBLABLY ONLY ABOUT 20% OF A NEW ENGINE. I TAKE CARE OF MY CARS AND DON'T MISTREAT THEM. I WORK FOR A GARAGE. PLEASE HELP.*AK
DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE, IT SOUNDS AS IF AN EXPLOSION OCCURS IN THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THIS HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES, AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS TWICE. ALSO, FOUND A SHORT IN THE FUEL PUMP. HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THE LAST INCIDENT. *AK CONSUMER STATES BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY SOFT AND …
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DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE, IT SOUNDS AS IF AN EXPLOSION OCCURS IN THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THIS HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES, AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS TWICE. ALSO, FOUND A SHORT IN THE FUEL PUMP. HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THE LAST INCIDENT. *AK CONSUMER STATES BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY SOFT AND SOMETIMES GOES TO THE FLOOR, THE CALIPERS BREAK AND CAUSE A LOUD NOISE, CONSUMER STATES BRAKING POWER HAS BEEN LOST ON THREE OCCASIONS. VEHICLE STALLED ON ONE OCCASION. CONSUMER NO LONGER DRIVES THIS VEHICLE. LEFT SIDE DOOR LOCK INOPERATIVE, DEALER REPLACED THE ACTUATOR. RIGHT SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLTS LOOSE CAUSING NOISE, LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING U BOLT MISPOSITIONED HITTING AXLE TUBE, CAUSING KNOCKING NOISE. *SLC
ABS LIGHT IS ON, AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED STOPPING DISTANCE IS NOT NORMAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS ON VEHICLE, DIFFERENTIAL WAS OVERHAULED, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENLY, FULE INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED, IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, AS WELL AS ALTERNATOR, THE ENTI…
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ABS LIGHT IS ON, AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED STOPPING DISTANCE IS NOT NORMAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS ON VEHICLE, DIFFERENTIAL WAS OVERHAULED, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENLY, FULE INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED, IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, AS WELL AS ALTERNATOR, THE ENTIRE ABS SYSTEM HAS BEEN REBUILT, CONSUMER STATES RATTLE SOUND FROM FRONT OF ENGINE DRIVEBELT WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS TENSIONER, ALSO FULE/AIR FILTER WAS REPLACED. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. *JB
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE WOULD STALL, BUT START BACK UP. AFTER SO MANY TIMES FUEL PUMP WAS INSTALLED. FEW DAYS LATER IT REPEATED THE PROBLEM AGAIN. CONNECTOR WAS BURNT INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. DEALER WOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM.*AK
ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP MAKES HIGH PITCH NOISE. YH
THIS IS THE SECOND GMC VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED THAT HAS HAS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAPPENING WHEN A VEHICLE HAS BEEN MISTREATED, OR IS HIGH MILEAGE. BUT, AT 55,000 MILES, THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. FORD HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN THEIR 3.8 L, AND THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF IT. I WOULD HOPE THE NHTSA WOUL…
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THIS IS THE SECOND GMC VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED THAT HAS HAS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAPPENING WHEN A VEHICLE HAS BEEN MISTREATED, OR IS HIGH MILEAGE. BUT, AT 55,000 MILES, THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. FORD HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN THEIR 3.8 L, AND THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF IT. I WOULD HOPE THE NHTSA WOULD CHECK TO SEE HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEM. THE COST IS ABOUT $ 900 FOR BOTH GASKETS. *AK
FUEL PUMP FAILURE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. MAJOR EXPENSE FOR THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. *AK
ON 05/09/1999 ACCELEATOR CABLE BROKE, TOWED MONTY CHEV IN VICTORVILLE. 05/11/1999 FIXED. COST $154.16 TOW $105.00. 05/24/1999 LOST POWER ON FREEWAY TOWED BACK TO SAME DEALER AND FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER REPLACED $336.48 TOW $12 0.00. NEXT DAY CAR STALLED DEALER TOWED BACK TO SHOP KEEP IT TWO DAYS AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND …
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ON 05/09/1999 ACCELEATOR CABLE BROKE, TOWED MONTY CHEV IN VICTORVILLE. 05/11/1999 FIXED. COST $154.16 TOW $105.00. 05/24/1999 LOST POWER ON FREEWAY TOWED BACK TO SAME DEALER AND FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER REPLACED $336.48 TOW $12 0.00. NEXT DAY CAR STALLED DEALER TOWED BACK TO SHOP KEEP IT TWO DAYS AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY THING WRONG. CAR HAS NOT RAN THAT WELL SINCE THEY WORKED ON IT, JUST RENT A CAR IF I NEEDED TO GO FAR. 9/16/1999 HAD TO HAVE ALL FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED AND TUNE-UP DONE ON IT $978.39 RAN GOOD FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATED THE AIR INTAKE SENCOR WAS BAD REPLACED, CAME ON AGAIN. WAS SENT TO CAR CLINIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC ON SYSTEM 10/11/1999 FOUND CAT, CONVERTER IS COMPLETELY PLUGGED $80.00. HAVING REPLACED TODAY 10/11/1999 $150.00. APRIL OF THIS YEAR THE AIR CONDITIONING THAT RUNS TO THE REAR AIR HAD A LEAK IN THE LINE THAT RUNS BACK THERE CAUSED BY THE INSULATION RUBBING ON THE LINE. HAD THE REPAIRED AND FILLED BACK UP. $220.00
Official recalls
403V159000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Apr 28, 2003
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
01V123000 · Seat Belts:front:warning Light/devices
Apr 10, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE "FASTEN SAFETY-BELT" AUDIBLE WARNING OCCASIONALLY MAY NOT COME ON OR MAY TERMINATE IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ALARM MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
99V009000 · Child Seat
Jan 20, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED DUAL CHILD SEATS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY BE MISSING A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CLUTCH SPRING AND/OR PAWL SPRING IN THE CHILD SEAT. IF THE CLUTCH SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION AND COULD NOT BE USED. IF THE PAWL SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT WOULD CONTINUALLY PLAY OUT AND WOULD NOT LOCK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE CONDITIONS COULD INCREASE THE OCCUPANT'S RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS ON THE CHILD SEATS, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CHILD SEAT.
97V057000 · Seat Belts:rear/other
Apr 8, 1997
THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE RIGHT-HAND REAR BUCKET SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A VEHICLE CRASH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR ON THE REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME.
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
1EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure
Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.