IllustrationCONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND VEHICLE CEASED AS BATTERY RAN DOWN, REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND IGNITION COIL AND WIRE. *JB
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 reportsDRIVER'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 …
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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
I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD RECALLED 1995 AND 1996 MODELS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW OF TWO OTHER VANS THAT ARE THE SAME MODEL AS MINE, AND THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR WIPERS ALSO. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THESE WIPERS WILL STOP!*AK
SWITCH FOR REAR AC/HEAT BURNED AND SMOKED WHEN I TURNED IT ON. PREMIER MOTOR COACH INSTALLED IT. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE. LAST SUMMER, IT DIDN'T BLOW ANY AIR. I SPOKE WITH PREMEIR AS THE LATEST MOTOR LASTED 13000 MILES. HAD I PUT THE HEAT ON AND LEFT THE CAR, A FIRE WOULD HAVE STARTED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNO…
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SWITCH FOR REAR AC/HEAT BURNED AND SMOKED WHEN I TURNED IT ON. PREMIER MOTOR COACH INSTALLED IT. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE. LAST SUMMER, IT DIDN'T BLOW ANY AIR. I SPOKE WITH PREMEIR AS THE LATEST MOTOR LASTED 13000 MILES. HAD I PUT THE HEAT ON AND LEFT THE CAR, A FIRE WOULD HAVE STARTED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE ELSE I CAN TURN TO. PREMIER COULD CARE LESS. THEY ARE LOCATED AT 205 COMPLEX DR, LAKELAND FLORIDA 33801. THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND DO NOT BACK IT UP FOR SAFETY. MY CAR WAS SMOKING AND BURNING UNTIL I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF. I CAN NOT USE IT UNTIL IT IS REPLACE, AT MY EXPENSE, NOT PREMIER. I AM FURIOUS THAT MY FAMILY AND I WERE SUBJECTED TO A DANGEROUS PRODUCT. PREMEIR MOTOR COACH STATES THEY HAVE NEVER HAD ANY FAILURE AND BLAME THE DEALER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN FAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ISSUE A CONSUMER COMPLAINT WITH ALL NECESSARY AGENCIES. ANY SUGGESTIONS. I DO BELIEVE THIS PRODUCT WOULD HAVE STARTED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. PLEASE HELP ME AND OTHER. *AK
CONSUMER WENT TO CHECK WHY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, MECHANICS REPORTED THAT THE WIRING UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS ENTANGLED. *SLC
CHEVROLET DOESN'T CARE ABOUT USING CHEAP PARTS- AFTER WARRANTY THEY SAY TRADE IT IN .NUMEROUS THINGS WRONG WITH VAN AND HAVE TALKED TO CHEVROLET MANY TIMES. CAN'T USE BACK DOOR OF VAN, RUN OUT OF GAS, KNOBS FALL OF INTERIOR DEVICES, ASKED CHEVY TO HELP SINCE 37,000 AND PROBLEMS STILL HAPPENING AS I GO, CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX AND CA…
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CHEVROLET DOESN'T CARE ABOUT USING CHEAP PARTS- AFTER WARRANTY THEY SAY TRADE IT IN .NUMEROUS THINGS WRONG WITH VAN AND HAVE TALKED TO CHEVROLET MANY TIMES. CAN'T USE BACK DOOR OF VAN, RUN OUT OF GAS, KNOBS FALL OF INTERIOR DEVICES, ASKED CHEVY TO HELP SINCE 37,000 AND PROBLEMS STILL HAPPENING AS I GO, CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX AND CAN'T AFFORD TO TRADE. ANOTHER NICE SHOVE IT JOB BY CHEVROLET THEY DON'T STAND BY THEIR PRDUCT AND THEIR PRODUCT IS NOT SAFE PLEASE RESPOND. *AK
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE RAINING WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER. THEY WORK PERIODICALLY NOW.*AK
DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED. DRIVER COULD NOT ROLL DOWN OR UP THE WINDOW. *AK *ML
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
RADIO BROKE DOWN. YH
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.