IllustrationTHE CONSUMER'S 1987 AND 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO VANS HAD FAULTY ENGINE'S.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAME LOOSE, THE REAR DOOR HATCH BROKE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER SLIPPING AND VALVE BODY WEAR (90000 MILES). *NM
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
What owners actually said
360 reportsBOTH FRONT POWER WINDOWS MOTORS HAVE FAILED TO FUNCTION.*AK
WHILE PARKING FOR 15 MINUTES VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OWNER PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH AN FIRE EXTINGUISHER. *AK
ALL OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL NUTS STRIPPED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED NO COMPLAINTS OF THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAD BEEN REPORTED. *JB *NM
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE COMMENCED TO LOSE SPEED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THEN 20-25 MPH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR/ EGR VALVE, AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR/ EGR VALVE, AND THE …
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WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE COMMENCED TO LOSE SPEED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THEN 20-25 MPH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR/ EGR VALVE, AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR/ EGR VALVE, AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MELTED DOWN. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. *TC
WITHIN MONTHS OF PURCHASE, ON APRIL, 2003, THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPEN. THEN THE CD PLAYER WOULD NOT EJECT THE CD'S. THE INTERMEDIATE LEVELS OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NO LONGER WORKED BY THAT WINTER. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO IT DISCHARGING, I HAVE JUMPED THE VAN AND PLACED THE BATTERIES ON CHARGERS, ONLY…
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WITHIN MONTHS OF PURCHASE, ON APRIL, 2003, THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPEN. THEN THE CD PLAYER WOULD NOT EJECT THE CD'S. THE INTERMEDIATE LEVELS OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NO LONGER WORKED BY THAT WINTER. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO IT DISCHARGING, I HAVE JUMPED THE VAN AND PLACED THE BATTERIES ON CHARGERS, ONLY TO BE DEAD AGAIN AFTER A TEST DRIVE. I HAVE REPLACED THE CONNECTORS AS WELL IN HOPES THAT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT TO NO AVAIL. NOW THE REAR HEATER DOES NOT WORK. *JB
FUEL GAUGE READS FULL ALL THE TIME. I REALIZE THAT IT IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS OTHER THINGS. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER THE WARRENTY RAN OUT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VECHICALS AND NOT WITH JUST THE ASTRO VANS. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT PEOPLE NORMALY JUST USE THERE TRIP ODOMETER. THE REASON I W…
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FUEL GAUGE READS FULL ALL THE TIME. I REALIZE THAT IT IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS OTHER THINGS. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER THE WARRENTY RAN OUT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VECHICALS AND NOT WITH JUST THE ASTRO VANS. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT PEOPLE NORMALY JUST USE THERE TRIP ODOMETER. THE REASON I WAS GIVEN WAS THAT IT WAS A $500 FIX. I KNOW 5 OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE OR HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. MOST JUST GET BY UNTIL THEY GET RID OF THE VECHICAL.*AK
AFTER PURCHASING TIRES AND PLACING THEM ON THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT FROM THE INSIDE. NEXT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO BUCKLE, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO A TIRE SHOP AND THE OTHER TWO TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. *JB
BRAKE PROBLEMS ON 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THAT MORE BRAKE WORK WAS NEEDED. THE BRAKES HAD RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE TURNED, THE A/C WAS NOT BLOWING COLD AND THERE WAS A HEATING CONCERN. *SC THE REAR AXLE SEALS AND DIFFERENTIAL GASKETS WERE LEAKING.. *JB
WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR CABLE SHREDDED. THE SECOND TIME THE GUIDES BROKE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 90 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING. THE CONSUMER APPLIED PRESSURE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND REPORTED INCIDENT TO CHEVROLET. *AK *SC
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.