IllustrationWINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY DURING OPERATION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK. CONSUMER STATES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD EXTEND THE RECALL 98043 ON ALL CHEVROLET VEHICLES.*JB
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 reportsFRONT TORSION BAR SNAPPED WHILE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *MJ
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
WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH CENTER OF RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED. THIS WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1996, CHEVROLET, ASTRO.*AK GENERAL AMERI TECH ST,P215/75R15, DOT NUMBER A3HFC01176. *SLC
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
LEFT FRONT TORSION BAR FAILED AND VEHICLE'S FRONT END DROPPED APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN CHANGE THAT REQUIRED BOTH LEFT AND FRONT TORSION BARS TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THE VAN COLLAPSED, AN ENGINE OIL LINE WAS DAMAGED. TOTAL COST: $891.47. DESIGN CHANGE INDICATES THAT ENGINEERING WAS AWA…
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LEFT FRONT TORSION BAR FAILED AND VEHICLE'S FRONT END DROPPED APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN CHANGE THAT REQUIRED BOTH LEFT AND FRONT TORSION BARS TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THE VAN COLLAPSED, AN ENGINE OIL LINE WAS DAMAGED. TOTAL COST: $891.47. DESIGN CHANGE INDICATES THAT ENGINEERING WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DESIGNED A MORE ROBUST TORSION BAR. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE, AND YET I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT IS NOT REASONABLE TO EXPECT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE, NO MATTER HOW OLD THE VEHICLE. ONE WOULD NOT REASONABLY EXPECT THE FRAME OF A 10 YEAR OLD VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. LIKEWISE, ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT FAILURE OF TORSION BARS THAT SUPPORT THE VEHICLE. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. IF MOVING, TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL WOULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULT.*AK
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 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
TORSION BAR BROKE AND FRONT SUSPENSION DROPPED ABOUT 5 INCHES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO CALL NHTSA.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, LEFT DRIVERS SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE, CAUSING FRONT END TO DROP ABOUT 4 INCHES, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER INSISTED THAT CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH BARS.*AK *NLM
ON TWO OCCASIONS, VEHICLE ALMOST LOST STEERING, DUE TO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE IDLE ARM, CONSUMER STATES IDLE ARM FAILS EVERY 20000 MILES. *SLC
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.