IllustrationTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SPORADICALLY QUIT WORKING. THEN THEY QUIT WORKING ENTIRELY. WE JUST GOT BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH A $150 BILL. I HAVE HEARD OF A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS VAN. *AK
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
What owners actually said
241 reportsAFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 7/10 MILES AND THEN PARKING IT SMELLS LIKE BURNING BRAKES. WHEN WE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THE PADS WERE LOOSE AND GLAZED. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES PADS 2 TWICE SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE TIME FRAME FROM THE 1ST TIME TO THE LAST TIME WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS A…
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AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 7/10 MILES AND THEN PARKING IT SMELLS LIKE BURNING BRAKES. WHEN WE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THE PADS WERE LOOSE AND GLAZED. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES PADS 2 TWICE SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE TIME FRAME FROM THE 1ST TIME TO THE LAST TIME WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AND WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECK AGAIN FOR THE SAME REASON. *AK
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE, IT WILL INTERMITTENTLY SWERVE TO LEFT OR RIGHT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 15 TIMES, 10 WHEEL ALIGNMENTS DONE, DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY, SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. *AK *JB
TRANMISSION VALVE BODY BAD. TRANS. SHIFTS HARD AND WHEN NOT EXPECTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IDLER ARM, PART OF LINKAGE TO STEERING MECHANISM, SEPARATED FROM ONE ANOTHER. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO DISENGAGE IN NEUTRAL AND REVERSE. INADEQUATE SHIFT LEVER DETENT ACTION RESULTS IN INADVERTANT SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. JULY 4, 2001:WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 55 MPH, OPERATOR MISTAKENLY SHIFTS FROM OVERDRIVE INTO NEUTRAL (THINKING HE IS SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO OVERDRIVE). ENGINE BEGINS TO RACE WHEN CRUISE…
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CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO DISENGAGE IN NEUTRAL AND REVERSE. INADEQUATE SHIFT LEVER DETENT ACTION RESULTS IN INADVERTANT SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. JULY 4, 2001:WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 55 MPH, OPERATOR MISTAKENLY SHIFTS FROM OVERDRIVE INTO NEUTRAL (THINKING HE IS SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO OVERDRIVE). ENGINE BEGINS TO RACE WHEN CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO DISENGAGE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO OVERDRIVE, OPERATOR SHIFTS INTO LOWER GEAR DUE TO INADEQUATE DETENT ACTION IN SHIFT LEVER. ENGINE RACES FASTER (CRUISE CONTROL STILL ENGAGED). OPERATOR SHIFTS INTO REVERSE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE OVERDRIVE DUE TO INADEQUATE DETENT ACTION IN SHIFT LEVER. CRUISE CONTROL REMAINS ENGAGED CAUSING HIGH SPEED REVERSAL OF DRIVE WHEELS RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. VEHICLE SPINS OUT AND ROLLS ON SIDE. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL LOCAL REPORT NUMBER 2001070020 (EL DORADO COUNTY).*AK
THE CHEVROLET ASTRO SHIFTS GEARS VIOLENTLY. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED AS I LEFT AN INTERSECTION AND THE VAN VIOLENTLY SHIFTED GEARS THROWING MY FAMILY'S AND MY HEAD BACK WITH EXTREME FORCE. THINKING THAT I HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED AND KNOWING THAT OTHER CARS WERE IN FRONT AND ALONGSIDE MY VEHICLE, I QUICKLY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, …
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THE CHEVROLET ASTRO SHIFTS GEARS VIOLENTLY. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED AS I LEFT AN INTERSECTION AND THE VAN VIOLENTLY SHIFTED GEARS THROWING MY FAMILY'S AND MY HEAD BACK WITH EXTREME FORCE. THINKING THAT I HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED AND KNOWING THAT OTHER CARS WERE IN FRONT AND ALONGSIDE MY VEHICLE, I QUICKLY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, ALMOST CAUSING A TRUE REAR-END COLLISION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN WARRANTY SO I TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION BY MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY WORKED AS A SERVICE TECH FOR A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. HE CONTACTED ONE OF HIS FRIENDS WHO STILL WORKED AT THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHERE HE WAS FORMERLY EMPLOYED. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HIS FRIEND STATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS KNOWN BY CHEVROLET BUT THERE WASN'T ANY RECALL AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO ABOUT IT. I PAID A HEFTY PRICE FOR WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A GREAT VAN ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT CHEVROLET HAS MANUFACTURED A VEHICLE KNOWING THAT IT HAS SEVERE DEFECTS IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT COULD CAUSE COSTLY REPAIRS, INJURY, OR POSSIBLE CRASH-RELATED DEATHS AND REFUSE TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE MUST CONTINUE TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE BEFORECORRECTIVE ACTION IS TAKEN?*AK
THE SUN SHELL, A PART IN THE TRANSMISSION BROKE LOOSE AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION.
WHILE HAVING HEADLIGHTS ON, RADIO KNOBS GOT HOT TO THE POINT WHERE CONSUMER BURNED HIS FINGER. BUT, THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
WHILE MAKING TURNS OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP A LOUD METALLIC NOISE WILL OCCUR, COMING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE.*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.