1999 Chevrolet Astro

I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION BANGING WHEN GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL EVERYTINE I BROUGHT IT IN FOR A CHECK UP. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE TIME I BOUGHT IT. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY FAILED AT THE DATE MENTIONED. I LOST REVERSE BUT I HAD DRIVE. AS I DROVE IT HOME THE RPM'S WERE HIGH AND IT BARELY SHIFTED. I BARELY GOT IT HOME SINCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS ALL THE WAY HOME. I LIMPED IT HOME THEN HAD IT TOWED IN THE NEXT MORNING. I GOT THE VAN BACK 6 DAYS LATER. NOW IT SLIPS BEFORE GOING TO INTO 1ST GEAR. IT NEVER DID THAT BEFORE WITH THE 1ST TRANSMISSION. IT ALSO SLIPS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT WAS NORMAL. I HAVE DRIVEN 4 OTHER ASTRO VANS THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE AND THEY DO NOT SLIP BETWEEN GEARS. I KNOW THAT THE NEW TRANSMISSION IS GOING AGAIN AND I ONLY HAVE 1000 MILES ON IT.EVERYTIME I COMPLAIN ABOUT IT THEY ALWAYS SAY THAT IS NOT NORMAL. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE VAN IT VIBRATED VERY BAD. I WAS TOLD THAT WAS NORMAL TOO. I HAD ONLY 75 MILES ON IT. THEY TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND THEY TOLD BE THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS BENT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT 5 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I AM FED UP WITH THIS. I TOLD THEM I AM TAKING THEM TO COURT IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS AGAIN. THEY SAID THE REASON THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WAS FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. THANKS. *AK

02/01- DIFFERENTIAL FAILED, DEALER ESTIMATE TO REPAIR $3000;02/01 - O2 SENSOR AND SEALS FAILED; 08/00 - TRANSMISSION FAILED;03/00 WINDSHIELD LEAKS, WAS REPLACES; 03/00 REAR DOORS LEAK, WEATHERSTRIPPING REPLACED;03/00 COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT FRONT DRIVER SEAT MOVING WHEN BRAKES REPLACED;VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED; WHEN PRESSING ON BRAKE , YOU ALSO PRESS ON GAS PEDAL. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION HAS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM - WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE IT WORKS NORMAL - WHEN SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL OR DRIVE TO REVERSE IT TAKES 3-5 SECONDS TO ENGAGE - THIS IS NOT EVIDENT IN THE OTHER TWO CVEVROLETS THAT I OWN (ONE HAS THE SAME TRANSMISSION) - THIS IS DANGEROUS SINCE IF YOU ARE PARKING ON A GRADE YOU RELEASE THE BRAKES TO BACK UP IT STARTS TO ROLL FOREWARD BEFORE THE REVERSE ENGAGES - IT IS ALSO KIND OF DANGEROUS WHILE MAKING A U-TURN SINCE WHILE WAITING FOR REVERSE TO ENGAGE ANOTHER CAR CAN COME FLYING TOWARD YOU - THEN IF YOU "GIVE IT GAS" TOO SOON IT SPINS AND GRABS SUDDENLY MAKING THE CAR "JERK". *AK

HAS FAILED TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, NOTICED STRONG BURNING ODOR FROM UNDER HOOD THIS MOST RECENT TIME ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS UNDER HOOD WERE VIBRATING AND SMOKING. PROCEDING THAT ALL ELECTRCIALL COMPONENTS OF VEHICLE HAVE FAILED INCLUDING INTERIOR LIGHTS, HORN HAZARD LIGHTS, ALARM SYSTEM. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND SLAMS INTO GEAR VIOLENTLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS USUALLY ON FREEWAY. DEALERSHIP SAYS NO PROBLEM PICKED UP BY ON BOARD COMPUTERS. *AK

DEFECTS LISTED AS AWD AND TRANSFER CASE MAY BE SAME PROBLEM AND WERE EXPERIENCED FROM THE FIRST 300 MILES AND ON (UPON SLOWING DOWN OR ACCELERATING A "CLUNK" WAS HEARD AND FELT FROM THE FRONT END ALSO WHEN CORNERING THE VEHICLE "LURCHED/WHEELS GRABBED" LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN 4WD. IN JULY IMMEDIATLY AFTER IT HAD BEEN INTO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICED AGAIN THE BRAKES CAUSED THE VAN TO PULL LEFT AT 35-50 MPH AND WHEN SLOWED FOR CORNERS WOULD SOUND LIKE "LOOSE PARTS RUBBING TOGETHER". IN AUGUST OF 1999 (JUST BEFORE THE REPLACEMENT TRANSFER CASE CAME IN) VAN HIT LOOSE GRAVEL TRAVELING AT 45-50 MPH, PULLED ONTO SOFT SHOULDER, FORWARD ABOUT 12 FT, CAUGHT TRACTION AND CAME UP ON ROAD, FRONT LEFT WHEEL WAS OFF GROUND WHEN IT CAME DOWN THE TIRE POPPED OFF THE BEAD, WHEEL GROUND INTO PAVEMENT, FLIPPING VAN ON FRONT, LEFT SIDE/CORNER, THEN ONTO HOOD AND WINDSHIELD, THEN ONTO FULL RIGHT SIDE THEN UPRIGHT CROSSWAYS IN LANE IT HAD BEEN TRAVELING IN. THE VAN WAS TOTALED.