IllustrationTHE SUN SHELL, A PART IN THE TRANSMISSION BROKE LOOSE AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION.
1998 Chevrolet Astro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Astro years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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: 55 of 241 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.
- Visibility. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports7 fire reports14 injury reports
Power Train complaints
26 reportsTRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REBUILT DUE TO BAD SHIFTING. ALSO, ENGINE ROD BEARING WAS MAKING A KOCKING SOUND THAT FORCED REPLACEMENT. *AK CRACK IN COOLING SYSTEM HAD TO REPLACE SEAL.*JB
BATTERY FAILED. NLM
WHEN THE CONSUMER CHANGES THE GEAR INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE JUMPS INTO GEAR HARDER THAN IT SHOULD. *SLC
REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO FIX TRANSMISSION BEGINNING WITH A COMPLETE REBUILD AT A CERTIFIED FACILITY; TRANSMISSION MAY FUNCTION PROPERLY FOR AS LONG AS 2 MONTHS. REPEATED VISITS TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP ARE MET WITH APOLOGIES, AND STORIES OF THE SAME DESIGN TRANSMISSION WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS FROM OTHER INDIVIDUALS. I AT FIRST SUSPEC…
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REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO FIX TRANSMISSION BEGINNING WITH A COMPLETE REBUILD AT A CERTIFIED FACILITY; TRANSMISSION MAY FUNCTION PROPERLY FOR AS LONG AS 2 MONTHS. REPEATED VISITS TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP ARE MET WITH APOLOGIES, AND STORIES OF THE SAME DESIGN TRANSMISSION WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS FROM OTHER INDIVIDUALS. I AT FIRST SUSPECTED THE MECHANICS, BUT RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THERE ARE MANY OTHER ASTRO VAN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM; BELIEVE IT TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK
HAVE A FRIEND WHO EXPERIENCES EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS ON 97 GMC SAFARI AND 97 ASTRO VAN. TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES, WHEN ACCELERATING IN 1ST GEAR AFTER DRIVING IN OVERDRIVE.
AT 35,000 MILES HAD IDLE ARM REPLACED, BAD WHEEL ALIGNMENT CAUSED LOSE OF FOUR TIRES, AT 40,000 HAD TWO IDLE ARMS AND DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED.*AK
THIS REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIME AS A WHOLE UNIT AND THREE TIMES IT WAS TRIED TO BE REPAIRED AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.IT HAS STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW(12000) MILES,AND IT IS STILL ONGOING.THE DEALER AND THE FACTORY HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND ARE UNWILLING TO HELP.PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF IM THE ONLY ONE…
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THIS REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIME AS A WHOLE UNIT AND THREE TIMES IT WAS TRIED TO BE REPAIRED AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.IT HAS STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW(12000) MILES,AND IT IS STILL ONGOING.THE DEALER AND THE FACTORY HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND ARE UNWILLING TO HELP.PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF IM THE ONLY ONE WITH REAR END PROBLEMS ON MY ASTRO VAN,BECAUSE THATS WHAT THE DEALER AND FACTORY TELLS ME!! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP!!
TENSIONER ARM HOUSING BROKE OFF OF ENGINE BLOCK RENDERING VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. TRANSMISSION SLIPPED BETWEEN 2 & 3 & 4 GEARS. REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH NEW GM TRANS. NO MONETARY RELIEF FROM GM WAS RECEIVED.
WHILE ENGINE IS OFF TRANSMISSION GEAR WILL JUMP FROM PARK TO DRIVE. PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED PRIOR TO PARKING VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
303V093000 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior
Mar 7, 2003
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 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 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.