1999 Chevrolet Astro

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THROUGH SNOW AND ICE, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SLID OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE THEN STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HIM AND HE STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE WOUND TOOK 24 STITCHES TO CLOSE. MOST OF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $4,500. THE MANUFACTURER'S INVESTIGATOR CONCLUDED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY AT 25 MPH. THE ARKANSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT FILED REPORT NUMBER 07-00343. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,661 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID A PERSON ON A BICYCLE ON THE ROAD. SWERVED IN ORDER NOT TO HIT THE PERSON, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, JUMPED A CURB, AND COLLIDED WITH A FIRE HYDRANT, AND STRIKING A TREE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND A REPRESENTATIVE CAME DOWN TO MEET WITH THE DEALER AND CONSUMER. THE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED,AND THE RATE OF DECELERATION AND IMPACT WAS PRESENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THEN, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THEY WERE INOPERATIVE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE AND JERK THEN CLUNK, THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIME BUT THE PROBLEM RESURFACES, OTHER FAILURES INCLUDE PCM FAILED CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, THE GAS GAUGE JUMPS FROM FULL TANK TO EMPTY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS, REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE TWICE, DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW MOTOR WAS REPLACED AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF. *TS *NLM

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A NEARLY HEAD-ON CRASH AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 60 MPH. RELATIVE SPEED MAY HAVE BEEN LESS, BECAUSE VEHICLE WHICH THIS VAN HIT WAS SLIDING BACKWARDS IN THE SAME DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AS THE VAN. HOWEVER, CLOSING SPEED HAD TO BE SIGNIFICANT TO CAUSE IT TO BE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR WITHIN ITS $13,000 VALUE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW, NO MODIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO IT, AND IT HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THIS. DIGITAL PHOTOS OF DAMAGED VEHICLE ARE AVAILABLE IF DESIRED. *AK