IllustrationWINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS DUE TO CRACKS IN SOLDER JOINTS. *AK BECAUSE OF BAD DESIGN OF ELECTRICAL CABLE CONNECTION TO THE CIRCUIT BOARD, THERE WERE FREQUENT FAILURES OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *YH
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
What owners actually said
263 reportsWHILE DRIVING STEERING AND BRAKES GO OUT AT SAME TIME. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
BATTERY TO STARTER CABLE SHORTED TO TIE ROD DUE TO POOR CABLE ROUTING, POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *AK
EXHAUST MUFFLER FAILED. *MJS
BOTH FRONT TORSION BARS BROKE WIHTIN ONLY 70416 MILES. *AK
WHILE USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY WILL QUIT WORKING. NO SIGN THAT WINDSHIELD MOTOR IS WORKING. *AK REPLACED PULSE WIPER BOARD. *YH
ON AUG 26 2000 I HAD FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS REPLACED AND IN CHECKING THE MASTER CYLINDER IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS CONTAMINATED I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER MENTIONED AND HIS SERVICE DEPT STATED THAT THIS WAS DONE BY SOMEONE WHO CHANGED THE OIL DIPPED HIS FINGER INSIDE WITH A LITTLE GREASE AND CONTAMINATED…
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ON AUG 26 2000 I HAD FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS REPLACED AND IN CHECKING THE MASTER CYLINDER IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS CONTAMINATED I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER MENTIONED AND HIS SERVICE DEPT STATED THAT THIS WAS DONE BY SOMEONE WHO CHANGED THE OIL DIPPED HIS FINGER INSIDE WITH A LITTLE GREASE AND CONTAMINATED THE FLUID IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID CONTAINED ALGY ALSO THE BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS VERY LOW IT SEEMS THAT THE SERVICE DEPT.FINDS WAYS AND EXCUSES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY NOT TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT INSTEAD OFFERS EXCUSES FOR THE PROBLEM THIS PROBLEM CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS THIS MAY NOT BE THE ONLY COMPLAINT OF THIS KIND AS FURTHER INFORMATION THE BRAKE FLUID WAS ALMOST BLACK IN COLOR ALL MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKEN TO SAY THIS IS NOT A NORMAL SITUATION I AM GOING TO LET THEM FLUSH THE SYSTEM AND REFILL IT AT THE COST OF $80.00 TO $100.00 EVEN THOUGH UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THIS IS A POTENTIALY DANGEROUS SITUATION
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
FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WAS A LONG BUBBLE CLOSE TO THE SIDEWALL, INDICATING TREAD SEPARATION. TIRE ON A 1996, CHEVROLET, ASTRO. NOT ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. FIRESTONE REPLACED THE TIRE AT A PRORATION FEE. FR360, TIRE SIZE P21575R15.*AK THE FIRESTONE'S TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. *…
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FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WAS A LONG BUBBLE CLOSE TO THE SIDEWALL, INDICATING TREAD SEPARATION. TIRE ON A 1996, CHEVROLET, ASTRO. NOT ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. FIRESTONE REPLACED THE TIRE AT A PRORATION FEE. FR360, TIRE SIZE P21575R15.*AK THE FIRESTONE'S TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING COULD FEEL VIBRATION ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THEN, EVERY 1000 MILES PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, ROTORS WERE RUSTED. TECHNICIAN COULD NOT STATE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM.*AK
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.