IllustrationMY WIPERS ON MY 1997 ASTRO VAN STOP WORKING DURING USE WHICH IS OF COURSE IS VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER READING SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLES PROBLEMS IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.. WHY WONT GM DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT? DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE? *NLM
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.
23 crash reports7 fire reports16 injury reports
Visibility complaints
62 reportsTHE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO ROLL UP OR DOWN, THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED 3 TIMES. *JB THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND REMAINED EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM(S) EVENTHOUGH FIXED BY DEALER. SCC
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY CHEVY ASTRO VAN DOES NOT WORK EVERY SO OFTEN. I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WANT TO USE THEM, AND THEY JUST DON'T WORK. TO GET THEM TO WORK, I HAVE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHUT OFF MY VEHICLE AND TURN IT BACK ON. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND TH…
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THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY CHEVY ASTRO VAN DOES NOT WORK EVERY SO OFTEN. I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WANT TO USE THEM, AND THEY JUST DON'T WORK. TO GET THEM TO WORK, I HAVE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHUT OFF MY VEHICLE AND TURN IT BACK ON. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND THEY TOLD ME THAT UNLESS IT STOPS ALTOGETHER, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. WELL, NOW I HAVE 90,000 MILES ON THIS VAN AND IT'S A 5 1/2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE (1997). LAST WEEK 3/7/03, I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF THIS PROBLEM FROM CHEVY. CHEVY WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM IF THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON IT. THAT LEAVE ME OUT OF THE PICTURE. I DON'T THINK THAT IS RIGHT, CONSIDERING THAT I TRIED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT YEARS AGO.*JB
WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPS IN VERTICAL POSITION WHEN IT WANTS TO, OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT STOP WHEN SWITCHED OFF, OPERATES AT REGULAR SPEED WHEN IN THE INTERMITTENT POSITIONS.*JB
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN WORK INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES THEY QUIT WORKING, SOMETIMES THEY WORK CONSTANTLY WHILE ON THE INTERMITTENT SETTING. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS IF THEY QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER.*JB
POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES. MR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR STOP DURING OPERATION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER WAS AFRAID OF RUNNING INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE OR CRASHING INTO THE GAURD RAIL. IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED. CONSUMER COULD ONLY SEE THE TAIL LIGHTS OF THE OTHER VE…
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WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR STOP DURING OPERATION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER WAS AFRAID OF RUNNING INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE OR CRASHING INTO THE GAURD RAIL. IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED. CONSUMER COULD ONLY SEE THE TAIL LIGHTS OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. *JG
I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE: BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT POWER WINDOR MOTORS; REPLACE THE KEY REMOTE, BOTH IDLER ARMS,FRONT BRAKE PAD AT 37,000 MILES, SERPENTIME BELT, POWER STEERING PUMP - REPLACED TWICE, HAD TO FIX OIL COOLER LINES TWICE, REPLACED DISTRIBUTOR/ROTOR; REPLACED LOWER GASKET DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOL…
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I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE: BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT POWER WINDOR MOTORS; REPLACE THE KEY REMOTE, BOTH IDLER ARMS,FRONT BRAKE PAD AT 37,000 MILES, SERPENTIME BELT, POWER STEERING PUMP - REPLACED TWICE, HAD TO FIX OIL COOLER LINES TWICE, REPLACED DISTRIBUTOR/ROTOR; REPLACED LOWER GASKET DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK, AND FUEL PUMP MODUAL. ALL OF THIS WAS DONE BEFORE MY CAR HAD 57,000 MILES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY FAIR AND REPAIRED AT LOW OR NOW COST. I HAVE HAD TWO TRIPS SHORTENED DUE TO BREAKDOWNS AND HAVE SPENT OVER $1,500 ON REPAIRS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY OR BY THE DEALER. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO NORMAL MAINTENANCE (OIL AND FILTER,FOUR NEW TIRES,AND TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER). I AM CONCERNED AS TO "WHAT IS NEXT" AND WHEN THE DEALER WHEN NO LONGER BE ABLE TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS AT LOW COST TO ME.*AK
WITHOUT WARNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING.*AK DEALER STATES ALTHOUGH HE HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF SIMILAR CASES, THERE IS NO RECALL OR FACTORY / DEALER ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE. *TT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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.