1999 Chevrolet Astro

THE REMOTE DOOR LOCKS ON MY 1999 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THEY HAVE ALSO STOPPED ON MY FATHERS 1996 ASTRO. THERE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE REMOTE DOOR LOCKS ON THE ASTRO FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE DO NOT OPEN OR LOCK WITH THE REMOTE DEVICE. SINCE DOOR LOCKS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF PASSENGER SAFETY I THINK THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE. *AK

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

STEERING WHEEL DIAMETER IS TOO THICK. PH. THE STEERING WHEEL DIAMETER WAS TOO THICK. PH. THE CONSUMER NOTICED A TWISTING , BENDING IN HIS FINGERS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS GRABBED, THE CONSUMER HELD THE WHEEL WITH THE TIP OF HIS FINGERS AND PALMS WHICH CAUSED THE ENDS OF THE CONSUMER'S FINGERS TO BEND, FROM TURNING THE TIGHT STEERING WHEEL, THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PAIN IN BOTH SHOULDERS, AND A SORE BACK. *JB

I PURCHASED REPLACEMENT TIRES FOR A 1999 CHEVROLET ASTRO ON THIS DATE. THE DEALER FIRESTONE TIRE & SERVICE CENTERS, 7950 E SPEEDWAY, TUCSON, AZ 85715 REPRESENTED THE TIRES AS SUITABLE FOR MY VEHICLE. AFTER I GOT HOME I DISCOVERED THE TIRES, FIRESTONE FR380 P215/75R15, WERE RATED FOR 1742 LBS AT 44 PSI BUT THIS SHOULD BE REDUCED TO 1585 LBS WHEN USING THIS TIRE ON A TRUCK OR MULTIPURPOSE VEHICLE WHICH, I ASSUME, WOULD PERTAIN TO A VAN AS WELL. THE TIRE JUST MEETS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF THE VAN WHICH IS A LOAD CAPACITY OF 1575 LBS. BUT IT MEETS THE REQUIREMENT ONLY WHEN INFLATED TO 44 PSI. CHEVROLET RECOMMENDS A TIRE PRESSURE OF 35 PSI AND WHEN THE FIRESTONE INSTALLED THE TIRES THEY INFLATED THEM TO ONLY 30 PSI. I INCREASED THE PRESSURE TO 44 PSI SINCE ONLY THEN WOULD THE TIRES MEET THE VAN SPECS. I TRIED TO GET THE DEALER TO UPGRADE THE TIRES ABOUT 25 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THEM BUT THEY SAID THEY MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF MY VAN. LATER WHEN I WENT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE THE CHANGE SAID THE TIRES WERE OVER INFLATED AND REDUCED THEM ALL TO 35 PSI. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE TIRES ARE NOT SAFE BUT CANNOT GET CONSISTENT ADVICE NOR ANY ACTION FROM THE DEALER. DOES THE NHSTA HAVE ANY STANDING IN SUCH A DISPUTE ? *NLM

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS NOW HAS THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT HAS COME UNBUCKLED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. ON ONE OF THE INSTANCES THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN OVER 100 MILES WITH THE BELT BUCKLED WHEN IT SPONTANEOUSLY RETRACTED. VEHICLE USERS ARE NOW NOTING "FALSE POSITIVE" BUCKING, WHERE THEY BUCKLE THE BELT AND THEN FIND THAT TUGGING ON IT INDICATES THAT IT HAD NOT SECURELY LATCHED.

FAMILY AND I WERE ON HWY 441 TRAVELING AT 60 MPH. I BRAKED AND WENT DOWN TO 50 MPH AS I BEGAN TO MAKE AN EXIT OFF OF THIS HWY. I LET OFF BRAKE AND CAR SPED UP TO 60 MPH AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NEVER ON. I WAS ON EXIT RAMP GOING 60. I WAS FORCED TO PUT TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL. I COASTED TO A PLACE OFF THE ROADWHILE ENGINE WAS "REVING AT HIGH RPM'S". I SNAPPED THE GAS PEDAL AND ENGINE WENT FASTER. I REACHED DOWN TO PULL ON GAS PEDAL AND THROTTLE CABLE BROKE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GM DEALER THE NEXT MORNING. THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS A DIRTY THROTTLE BODY AND STUCK THROTTLE CABLE. NEVER HEARD OF AN EXCESSIVELY DIRTY THROTTLE BODY CAUSING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY TO A 3 YR. OLD VEHICLE WITH 50,000 MILES.

ACDELCO THAT WAS INSTALLED AT DEALER 9/2000 ON 11/1/2002 IT LEAKED BATTERY ACID AND POST WENT THROUGH SIDE OF BATTERY-DEALER STATES IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME-IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS BATTERY MODEL #78-6YR SEIAL #090004 MAY HAVE A DEFECT AND THE VIN # I REPORTED IS WHAT CAME OFF THE PLATE IN THE FRONT OF THE VAN-IT APPEARS TO BE TAMPERED WITH-I AM NOT SURE HOW TO CHECK IF IT IS CORRECT-THAT NUMBER IS ALSO ON ALL MY CAR WARRANTY INFORMATION