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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 →

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

Steering complaints

16 reports
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235,059 miles · Sep 2, 2013
Service BrakesSteering

I JUST GOT HOME & WAS BACKING AROUND TO WHERE I PARK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTED VIBRATING. I DID MANAGE TO PARK. THE NEXT DAY THE VIBRATING STOPPED WHEN A GRATING NOISE WAS MADE. SUDDENLY THE BRAKE PEDAL CAME WAY UP. IT DOES HAVE SOME BRAKES BUT THEY ARE HARD TO DEPRESS. SUDDENLY MY POWER STEERING IS GONE. THERE WAS NO INDICAT…

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I JUST GOT HOME & WAS BACKING AROUND TO WHERE I PARK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTED VIBRATING. I DID MANAGE TO PARK. THE NEXT DAY THE VIBRATING STOPPED WHEN A GRATING NOISE WAS MADE. SUDDENLY THE BRAKE PEDAL CAME WAY UP. IT DOES HAVE SOME BRAKES BUT THEY ARE HARD TO DEPRESS. SUDDENLY MY POWER STEERING IS GONE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF PROBLEMS WITH EITHER BEFOREHAND. THIS VAN JUST PASSED INSPECTION IN MID-AUGUST, AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10538376

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2002
SteeringInjury

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE DROPPED, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE BOUNCED ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC, CHILD HIT HIS HEAD ON SIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALER DETERMINED THE TIE ROD BROKE ON PASSENGER SIDE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8017977

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2002
Steering

A METALLIC NOISE WAS HEARD FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. STEERING WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. CONSUMER FOUND THE STEERING MECHANISM HAD COME UNDONE, THAT THE BOLT AND NUT HAD COME UNSCREWED AND THE STEERING ARM UNCONNECTED FROM THE STEERING MECHANISM. DEALER HOWEVER, FOUND BROKEN IDLER STEERING ARM AND LOOSE UPPER BALL JOINTS, DEALE…

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A METALLIC NOISE WAS HEARD FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. STEERING WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. CONSUMER FOUND THE STEERING MECHANISM HAD COME UNDONE, THAT THE BOLT AND NUT HAD COME UNSCREWED AND THE STEERING ARM UNCONNECTED FROM THE STEERING MECHANISM. DEALER HOWEVER, FOUND BROKEN IDLER STEERING ARM AND LOOSE UPPER BALL JOINTS, DEALER ALSO STATED THAT A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #565153

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2002
Steering

POWER ASSIST:HYDROBOOST UNIT WILL CONTINUE TO GO OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPPENS VEHICLE WILL LOSE STEERING AND BRAKES. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #8004859

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
Steering

ON TWO OCCASIONS, VEHICLE ALMOST LOST STEERING, DUE TO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE IDLE ARM, CONSUMER STATES IDLE ARM FAILS EVERY 20000 MILES. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #895920

30,000 miles · Apr 9, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

THE OIL COOLER LINES LEAKED OIL ONTO THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED IT TO SMOKE. THE OIL COOLER LINES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 30,000 MILES. *NM THERE WAS NOISE IN THE FRONT END DUE TO A WORN RIGHT FRONT OUTER TIE ROD AND WHEN DAMP OR COLD OUT, A HARD SHIFT WOULD BE PRESENT WHEN MAKING TURNS. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #10055242

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

WHILE DRIVING STEERING AND BRAKES GO OUT AT SAME TIME. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #876699

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2000
Fuel System, GasolineSteeringSuspension

ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP MAKES HIGH PITCH NOISE. YH

NHTSA ODI #552703

Mileage unknown · Feb 29, 2000
SteeringSuspension

CONTROL ARM BROKE, CAUSING THE FRONT END TO DROP WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. ALSO, IDLER ARM BROKE 5 TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #857640

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 1999
Steering

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE TIE ROD BOLT THAT CONNECTS TO THE U-JOINT SLIPPED OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING, WHEEL WAS JUST SPINNING FREELY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843163

Official recalls

4

03V159000 · 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

1

EA02006 · 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.