1999 Chevrolet Astro

- THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS LOCKED MORE THAN ONCE. I CALLED THE CHEVROLET DEALER SINCE I COULD NOT LEAVE SINCE I COULD NOT LOCK THE SIDE DOORS; A MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH SYNCHRONIZATION OF THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK WHILE I ACTUALLY LOCK THE DOORS (VERY CONFUSING TO ME). HE SUGGESTED THAT I USE A SCREWDRIVER TO MANUALLY RELEASE THE LOCKED MECHANISM ON BOTH DOORS. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO DO IT, BUT THIS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE; IN ONE INCIDENT, THE DOOR OPENED AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN (FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS ON MY LEFT). I WONDER IF OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SUCH PROBLEM WHICH I FEEL IS NOT SAFE. I NEVER TOOK THIS IN FOR CHECKING, BUT I MIGHT. - THE MOTOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW OFTEN LOCKS AND I AM UNABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOW -- THIS HAS RESULTED IN SNOW, HAIL, STRONG WINDS FORCING ME TO STOP AND KEEP PRESSING THE BUTTON IN ORDER TO CLOSE THE WINDOW AND TO CONTINUE MY TRAVELLING. ANYONE ELSE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS? I NEVER TOOK THE CAR IN, BUT I WILL INQUIRE TO THE DEALER ABOUT IT -- HOPING THAT THERE WILL BE NO CHARGE FOR THIS MALFUNCTION. - THE CAR WAS LOSING POWER IN ACCELLERATION, WHICH OFTEN MADE IT DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELLING, AND MERGING LANES. THE DEALER JUST WORKED ON THE VAN LAST MAY, 2003, AS NOTED ABOVE. FORTUNATELY, THIS WILL BE A GOOD CORRECTION AND I AM JUST SORRY THAT WE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS.

VEHICLE BOUGHT AT THE END OF 2000, USED. EVERY SUMMER SINCE I HAVE HAD TO HAVE WIRING REPLACED IN THE ENGINE, FRONT DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING AFTER 5 MONTHS, FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 6 TIMES DO TO THE WIRING AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY DUE TO ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL AND ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE STARTER. HYDRAULICS ON REAR DOOR ALSO BROKEN. DISPLAY LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF WHEN THEY WANT TO AND I HAVE CONTINUALLY REPLACED FUSES. I THOUGHT AT FIRST THAT THESE WERE JUST FLUKES, BUT THEY ARE CONTINUALLY GETTING WORSE. I DID TALK TO THE PREVIOUS OWNERS SON ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VAN AND HE INFORMED ME THAT HIS MOTHER RETURNED IT BECAUSE THINGS KEPT FALLING APART ON IT. I WISH I HAD BEEN INFORMED BEFORE HAND HOW MUCH TROUBLE IT WAS GOING TO BE. I LOVE CHEVORLET VEHICLES AND I STILL LIKE MY VAN IT'S JUST COSTING ME TOO MUCH IN REPAIRS. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER WINDOW MOTOR AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED BEFORE. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW IS NOW STALLING AND THE GAS GAUGE HASN'T WORKED IN YEAR. I HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH MY MILEAGE TO MAKE SURE I DON'T RUN OUT GAS. I AM GIVING THE DATE OF THE LAST INCIDENT WHEN IT WAS TOWED. *LA

THE ASTRO/SAFARI HAS A BRITTLE VACUUM LINE THAT CROSSES OVER THE THERMASTAT AREA OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS PLASTIC VACUUM LINE IS EASILY BROKEN IN ROUTINE SERVICE OF THE AIR FILTER OR RUBBING ON OTHER COMPONENT PARTS. WHEN THIS VACUUM HOSE IS BROKE...AIR SELECT TO DEFROSTER AND OTHER VENT POSITIONS IS LOST-CAUSING LACK OF VISABILITY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A GM TSB ON THIS AND IT SHOWS UP ON INTRANET THREADS YET GM DEALERS ALLOW CUSTOMERS BE TO SUBJECTED TO A $70. DIAGNOSIS. THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY PROBLEM. THIS VACUUM HOSE IS A "FRONT ROW"STOCKED PART AT MOST DEALERS. I BELIEVE A LOT OF 95-03 ASTRO/SAFARI OWNERS WILL HAVE OR HAVE HAD THIS VACUUM HOSE BREAKAGE.*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

BRAKES HAVE BEEN SEVERLY WORN OUT*AK CONSUMER STATED THE SEATBELTS, ARM RESTS, CONSOLE THE TRIM ON THE SEAT CUSHION HAS TORN, THERE IS WIND NOISE FROM HIGH TOP ROOF, WINDOW IS LOOSE, RADIO IS INOPERATIVE, POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING, STEERING COOLUMN IS MAKING A NOISE, WEATHERSTRIP COMING OFF OF BACK DOOR, TIRES SHAKE, THERE IS A HARD THUMP WHE GOING OVER BUMPS, CIGARETTE LIGHTER IS INOPERATIVE,TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, PRESSURE GUAGE GETS STUCK, WINDOW GETS STUCK, THERE ARE NO LOW BEAM LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE INOPERATIVE, DOOR LOCK DO NOT COME ALL THE WAY UP, THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE DIPS, AND THE SHOCKS FEEL WEAK, THE LIFGATE DOES NOT STAY OPEN, INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON TO LONG, VEHICLE REMOTE IS INOPERATIVE, SLIDING DOOR IS HARD TO OPEN AT TIMES, OIL PRESSURE GUAGE READS HIGH, REFRIGERATOR NOT OPERATING FROM REAR SOCKET, HEATING SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE, BATTERY GOES DEAD.*SLC