IllustrationSHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY IN THE REAR BENCH SEAT DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY.
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 reportsBETWEEN 50-65MPH THE REAR END HAS A LOUD HUMMING SOUND LOW SOUND - TALKED TO ANOTHER CUSTOMER WHO FRANK PARRA HAS TRIED TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEM. BROWN FUNERAL HOME BUYS A NUMBER OF ASTROS. PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 97 AND 98 - SAME THING. FRANK PARRA TRIED TO CURE BY BALANCING DRIVE SHAFT AND PUTTING A WEIGHT ON THE EXHAUST TO NO AV…
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BETWEEN 50-65MPH THE REAR END HAS A LOUD HUMMING SOUND LOW SOUND - TALKED TO ANOTHER CUSTOMER WHO FRANK PARRA HAS TRIED TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEM. BROWN FUNERAL HOME BUYS A NUMBER OF ASTROS. PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 97 AND 98 - SAME THING. FRANK PARRA TRIED TO CURE BY BALANCING DRIVE SHAFT AND PUTTING A WEIGHT ON THE EXHAUST TO NO AVAIL. CAN YOU HELP. REALLY ANNOYING.
DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF STEERING GEAR BOX NUT BROKE, CAUSING THE STEERING MECHANISM TO LOCK UP AND NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DUE TO THIS DESIGN DEFECT, IT CAUSES THE STEERING GEAR AND PUMP TO BE REPLACED, AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE HYDROBOOST. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER IN…
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DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF STEERING GEAR BOX NUT BROKE, CAUSING THE STEERING MECHANISM TO LOCK UP AND NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DUE TO THIS DESIGN DEFECT, IT CAUSES THE STEERING GEAR AND PUMP TO BE REPLACED, AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE HYDROBOOST. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THERE'S A CLUNKING NOISE, AS IF A PIECE OF METAL IS BROKEN IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN DRIVING AT 45MPH THE VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING. ALSO THE VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT. DEALER HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR A MONTH.
DOOR LATCHES DO NOT HOLD THE VEHICLES' DOOR OPEN WHEN PARKED ON INCLINE/DECLINE POSITION CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER WHEN SLAMMED BY DOOR WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE.
DRIVER HARDLY TAPPED THE BUMPER OF VEHICLE AHEAD OF HER'S, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGES DONE TO THE VAN OR THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS ARE BEING REPLACED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S HOUSE WHEN ANOTHER CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE. THE FIRE STARTED WITHIN ELECTRICAL INTERIOR SYSTEM. *AK
BRAKE CALIPERS STICKING CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF BRAKE COMPONENTS.
WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, DRIVER HEARD A
SLIDING DOOR ON SIDE OF VEHICLE IN 1997 AND 1998 MODELS DOES NOT HAVE A MECHANISM TO ENSURE THE DOOR STAYS OPEN UNTIL NEEDED TO BE SHUT. IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A SLOPE OR IF SOMEONE USES THE DOOR AS LEVERAGE TO CLIMB INTO THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR SHUTS ON THEM, CAUSING LOSS OF BALANCE AND/OR BEING CRUSHED BY THE DOOR. THE 19…
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SLIDING DOOR ON SIDE OF VEHICLE IN 1997 AND 1998 MODELS DOES NOT HAVE A MECHANISM TO ENSURE THE DOOR STAYS OPEN UNTIL NEEDED TO BE SHUT. IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A SLOPE OR IF SOMEONE USES THE DOOR AS LEVERAGE TO CLIMB INTO THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR SHUTS ON THEM, CAUSING LOSS OF BALANCE AND/OR BEING CRUSHED BY THE DOOR. THE 1996 MODEL HAD A LATCH THAT ENGAGED WHEN THE DOOR WAS FULLY OPENED, AND WAS DISENGAGED BY THE DOOR HANDLE. DEALER STATED THE 1997 AND 1998 WERE DESIGNED WITHOUT THE LATCH. I HAD A 1996 WHICH I TRADED IN BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. I TRANSPORT 4 AND 6 YEAR OLD CHILDREN IN THE VAN DAILY. WHEN THEY ARE BOARDING, I AM AT THE SIDE DOOR TO ENSURE IT DOES NOT SLAM ON THEM. WHEN I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, THE SERVICE PERSON THOUGHT THE LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE, AND INDICATED HE COULD FIX IT AT THE 3000 MILE CHECK. WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE, HE REALIZED THE MODEL MODIFICATIONS. THESE CAUSE A SAFETY PROBLEM WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE BOARDING PASSENGER TO LOOSE THEIR BALANCE WHEN THE DOOR STARTS CLOSING, OR BE SLAMMED INTO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE DOOR SHUTS ON THEM.
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.