DRIVEN VAN ABOUT 30 MILES STOPPED AND WHEN WE STARTED TO TAKE OFF VAN LURCHED FOREWARD WITH ALOUD BANG ONLY DOES THIS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. WHEN TRANSMISSION IS COLD DOES NOT DO THIS ONLY WHEN HOT. *AK
1997 Chevrolet Astro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Astro years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 46 of 360 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 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
30 reportsWHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH WITH SPEED CONTROL ENGAGED VEHICLE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE SPEED CONTROL WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL. INSTEAD, IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, PULL VEHICLE OVER , AND TURN OFF IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSEPECTION. FEEL FREE TO PR…
Read full complaint
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH WITH SPEED CONTROL ENGAGED VEHICLE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE SPEED CONTROL WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL. INSTEAD, IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, PULL VEHICLE OVER , AND TURN OFF IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSEPECTION. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL LOCK UP/STICK WHEN APPLYING PEDAL TO GO. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING.*AK *SLC
WHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL WENT DOWN, AND DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL ENGINE JUST REVVED, AND SHE HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK BEFORE IT WOULD STOP.*AK
DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW WILL NOT STAY OPEN, CLIPS THAT SHOULD HOLD IT UP ARE BLOCKED BY MATERIAL, WINDOW SLAMS SHUT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 45000 MILES. *AK OIL LEAK, DEALER ORDERED AXLE OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE CUTTING AND WOULD CRANK, BUT …
Read full complaint
DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW WILL NOT STAY OPEN, CLIPS THAT SHOULD HOLD IT UP ARE BLOCKED BY MATERIAL, WINDOW SLAMS SHUT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 45000 MILES. *AK OIL LEAK, DEALER ORDERED AXLE OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE CUTTING AND WOULD CRANK, BUT WOULD NOT STAR. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE ERRATIC, DEALER REPLACED OIL PRESSURE SENDER. FRONT BRAKES AND PADS WERE REPLACED, ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS PLAY IN THE STEERING, DEALER REPLACED BOTH IDLER ARMS AND RESET TOE IN. POWER DOOR LOCKS INOPERABLE, DEALER REPLACED POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH. POWER WINDOW INOPERABLE, DEALER REPLACED POWER WINDOW SWITCH. SHIFTER WAS HARD TO MOVE, DEALER REPLACED SHIFT CABLE. GAS PEDAL BINDS AT TIMES, DEALER ORDERED THROTTLE CABLE AND REPLACED ACCELERATOR CABLE. DRIVER SETA SEEMS LOOSE WHEN BRAKING, DEALER ORDERED DRIVER SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY AND REPLACED DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTER. PCM FUSE KEPT BLOWING OUT, DEALER REMOVED ENGINE COVER AND TRACED WIRE HARNESS, REPAIRED SHORTED HARNESS AT THE REAR OF THE TRANSMISSION. *SLC
WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK JUST DROPPED MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN OFFF NOT EVEN 5 MIN AGO - WAS DRIVING DOWN RT 97 TOWARDS ANNAPOLIS GOING ABOUT 60 - 65 MPH WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED TO GET A LITTLE HEAVY I NEEDED TO APPLY MY BRAKE AND IT DIDNT WORK I THEN NOTICED THE VAN WAS SPEEDING UP ALL BY ITSELF I CHECKED THE CRUISE CONTR…
Read full complaint
WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK JUST DROPPED MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN OFFF NOT EVEN 5 MIN AGO - WAS DRIVING DOWN RT 97 TOWARDS ANNAPOLIS GOING ABOUT 60 - 65 MPH WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED TO GET A LITTLE HEAVY I NEEDED TO APPLY MY BRAKE AND IT DIDNT WORK I THEN NOTICED THE VAN WAS SPEEDING UP ALL BY ITSELF I CHECKED THE CRUISE CONTROLL AND IT WASNT ON THE VAN KEPT SPEEDING UP I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC - I TURNED MY FLASHERS ON AND DID EVERYTHING I COULD I FINALLY MANAGED TO GET THIS VAN TO THE SHOULDER I HAD MY FOOT PRESSING DOWN AS HARD AS I COULD ( AT THIS POINT MY BODY WAS LIFTED FROM THE SEAT I WAS PRESSING THE BREAK SO HARD I WAS STILL GOING 45-50 MPH ) LUCKILLY AFTER 10 ? MIN OF THIS AND MANY NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES I FINALLY GOT SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH TO THROW IT INTO PARK THE ENGINE WAS SO LOUD I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF OUT OF PARK I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE KEY OFF - I WAS LUCKY MY KIDS WERENT THERE AND I WASNT DRIVING IN A RESIDENTILAL AREA I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR EVN WORSE SEVERAL OTHERS SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK TIS OUT IMMEDIATLET Y THE DEALERSHIP HAS FIXED THIS A T A COST OF 950.00 AND I HAVER REPORTED IT TO CHEVY - HOWEVER SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE THIS PART JUST BROKE??? NO WARNING NO NOTHING JUST ALL THE SUDDEN DECIDED IT WANTED TO KILL ME. *AK
THE VAN WENT FROM 60 MPH TO 85MPH ALL BY ITSELF AS IF CRUISE WAS ON BUT IT WASNT THE THROTTLE JUST BROKE NO WARNING NO NOTHING THE ENGINE IDLED SO HIGH THE BRAKES WOULDNT WORK IT TOOK 10 MIN TO GET THIS THING TO STOP MY BRAKE WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR AND I WAS STILL GOING 45 MPH IT WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT IN A RESIDENTIA…
Read full complaint
THE VAN WENT FROM 60 MPH TO 85MPH ALL BY ITSELF AS IF CRUISE WAS ON BUT IT WASNT THE THROTTLE JUST BROKE NO WARNING NO NOTHING THE ENGINE IDLED SO HIGH THE BRAKES WOULDNT WORK IT TOOK 10 MIN TO GET THIS THING TO STOP MY BRAKE WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR AND I WAS STILL GOING 45 MPH IT WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA WITH TRAFFIC SIGNALS IT WAS ALSO LUCKY MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS COMPLAIN IMMEDIATELY. *AK
CONSUMER WENT TO CHECK WHY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, MECHANICS REPORTED THAT THE WIRING UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS ENTANGLED. *SLC
VERY FAST IDLE, INTRMITTENT, WILL ACCELLERATE VEHICLE BEYOND 60 MPH WITH NO GAS PEDAL. CARRIED VEHICLE DATA RECORDER FOR 3 WEEKS, RECORDED 4 EVENTS. DEALER CLAIMS NORMAL FAST IDLE DURING DECELERATION AS EMISSION FEATURE. MY QUESTION, ACCEL BEYOND 60MPH WITH NO PEDAL IS NOT EMISSION CONTROL, IT IS UN-SAFE. IT REQUIRES BRAKES TO …
Read full complaint
VERY FAST IDLE, INTRMITTENT, WILL ACCELLERATE VEHICLE BEYOND 60 MPH WITH NO GAS PEDAL. CARRIED VEHICLE DATA RECORDER FOR 3 WEEKS, RECORDED 4 EVENTS. DEALER CLAIMS NORMAL FAST IDLE DURING DECELERATION AS EMISSION FEATURE. MY QUESTION, ACCEL BEYOND 60MPH WITH NO PEDAL IS NOT EMISSION CONTROL, IT IS UN-SAFE. IT REQUIRES BRAKES TO MAINTAIN 50MPH ON FLAT GROUND WHEN THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM KICKS IN. I HAVE HAD 3 YEARS OF DEALER EXCUSES, AS THEY DO NOT WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX EVEN UNDER EXTENDED 100.000 MILE WARANTY. THEY CLAIM TO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AS THERE IS NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT OR STORED CODES. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL DRIVING CONCERN INCIDENTS AND 2 VERY CLOSE CALLS WHEN IT DECIDES TO KICK IN.*AK
HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING MORE THAN A NUISIANCE SO FAR, BUT WE BELIEVE IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. THE GAS PEDAL STICKS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. STARTING OFF IN A CONTROLLABLE MANNER IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. RELIABLE CHEVROLET IN TULSA REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES, A…
Read full complaint
HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING MORE THAN A NUISIANCE SO FAR, BUT WE BELIEVE IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. THE GAS PEDAL STICKS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. STARTING OFF IN A CONTROLLABLE MANNER IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. RELIABLE CHEVROLET IN TULSA REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES, AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS STARTING AGAIN. AS THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE, IT STARTS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN, I.E. EVEN AFTER THE VAN HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE INSTEAD OF JUST AFTER STARTING. THE GAS PEDAL JUST STICKS WHEN THE THROTTLE IS CLOSED. IT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF PRESSURE TO UNSTICK IT, AND WHEN IT FINALLY MOVES, IT OPENS THE THROTTLE MORE THAN INTENDED, AND THE VAN STARTS OFF IN LEAPS AND SPURTS INSTEAD OF GRADUALLY AND GRACEFULLY.
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.
Illustration