IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED A BUS YET THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. NLM *JG
2001 Chevrolet Astro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Chevrolet Astro do not stand out strongly from 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
50–25K
1525–50K
1550–75K
675–100K
11100–150K
9150K+
61 reports with mileage · 30 unknown
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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
91 reportsSLIDING PASSENGER DOOR NO LONGER COMES WITH A MANUAL RELEASE FOR THE OPEN POSITION. IF THE VAN IS BACKED NOSE DOWN ON A HILL THE DOOR WILL NOT STAY OPEN. SOMEONE HAS TO HOLD IT. THE FRICTION PLATE CAN BE TIGHTENED BUT THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE FAILURE AS THAT WEAR.
BRAKES HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS SINCE NEW. RETURNED FIRST TIME WHEN LEFT FRONT LOCKED UP ON DRY, SMOOTH PAVEMENT PANIC STOP. JERKED WHEEL FROM HAND AND TURNED VAN SIDEWAYS. THIS IS AFTER SLIGHT INTERMITTENT PULLING FROM TIME VAN WAS NEW. NUMEROUS TRIPS (5) TO DEALER HAS FAILED TO FIX PROBLEM. NOW ADDITIONAL PROBLEM OF…
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BRAKES HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS SINCE NEW. RETURNED FIRST TIME WHEN LEFT FRONT LOCKED UP ON DRY, SMOOTH PAVEMENT PANIC STOP. JERKED WHEEL FROM HAND AND TURNED VAN SIDEWAYS. THIS IS AFTER SLIGHT INTERMITTENT PULLING FROM TIME VAN WAS NEW. NUMEROUS TRIPS (5) TO DEALER HAS FAILED TO FIX PROBLEM. NOW ADDITIONAL PROBLEM OF NO BRAKING ACTION WHILE ATTEMPTING SLOW STOP HAS RESULTED IN RUNNING INTO INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURRED WHILE TRYING TO STOP FROM APPROXIMATELY 15MPH. APPLYING THE BRAKES RESULTED IN NO SLOW DOWN FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. IT FINALLY STOPPED WITH THE FRONT BUMPER IN THE INTERSECTION AS I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP. GM'S SERVICE HAS SAID THAT UNTIL IT OCCURRS WHILE IT IS IN THE SHOP, THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY WILL DO. THEY DID SAY THEY HOPED I DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THEIR BRAKES.*AK
THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM IS UNPREDICTABLE. IF ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER IS IN LOOSE GRAVEL, ROUGH SURFACE, OR SLICK SURFACE AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED HARD (LIKE A CHILD RUNNING OUT IN FRONT OF YOU), THE OPPOSITE SIDE WILL LOCK UP AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE IN THAT DIRECTION. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND ONLY HAPPENS PART OF THE T…
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THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM IS UNPREDICTABLE. IF ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER IS IN LOOSE GRAVEL, ROUGH SURFACE, OR SLICK SURFACE AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED HARD (LIKE A CHILD RUNNING OUT IN FRONT OF YOU), THE OPPOSITE SIDE WILL LOCK UP AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE IN THAT DIRECTION. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND ONLY HAPPENS PART OF THE TIME. LIKEWISE, WHEN SLOWING DOWN (AS IN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN) THE BRAKES WILL PULL THE VEHICLE ACROSS A CROWNED CENTERLINE IF FIRM GRIP IS NOT MAINTAINED ON THE STEERING WHEEL. AGAIN, THIS ONLY OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN A DISTANCE AND IS "WARMED-UP". ALSO, THE VEHICLE WILL LOCK-UP ONE FRONT WHEEL (USUALLY THE LEFT FRONT) DURING A PANIC STOP ON DRY, SMOOTH PAVEMENT AND EITHER PULL THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF YOUR HANDS OR SLIDE THE VEHICLE SIDEWAYS. THIS ALSO HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE LEFT SIDE CALIPER, REPLACED THE RIGHT SIDE CALIPER, AND REPLACED THE ABS MODULE ON THE KELSEY HAYES ABS SYSTEM. GM NOW SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AT MANUFACTURER'S SPEC'S. I FEEL THE VAN IS UNSAFE BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL--WILL IT STOP STRAIGHT, OR PULL LEFT, OR PULL RIGHT, OR (IN FAST "PANIC" STOP) LOCK UP ONE SIDE AND SLIDE IN THAT DIRECTION.*AK
VEHICLE GOES OVER A BUMP HEADLIGHTS BECOME DIM AND EVENTUALLY OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 75MPH, VEHICLE IS HARD TO MAINTAIN ON THE ROAD, THE FRONT END SEEMS TO DIP HARD, IN WHICH VEHICLE FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS GOING TO ROLL OVER, AND THAT IS WHEN NOTHING IS BEING TOWED ON THE BACK.*JB
VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN ACCLERATING AT LOW OR HIGHER SPEEDS. DEALER CHECKED ENGINE/ FRONT END, AND COMPUTER. ROTATED TIRES, AND NOTHING COULD REMEDY PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT THE DEALER 2 WEEKS. CONSUMER WAS HAVING VEHICLE TOWED BECAUSE OF BEING SCARRED TO DRIVE IT. *AK
UNDER PANIC STOP, THE BRAKE GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VAN WILL NOT STOP. THE FAILED TO STOP ABOUT 7 FEET. *AK (DOT NUMBER: PJHF TIRESIZE: P215-75R15)
SIDE SLIDING DOOR MAY CLOSE ON FOREWARD DOWN HILL, THE DOOR HAS FRICTION TYPE CATCH, OLDER MODELS HAD A CABLE CONTROL RELEASE
VEHICLE WAS IN AN OFFSET FRONTAL CRASH, STRIKING THE REAR OF A FULL SIZE PICKUP TRUCK WITH THE LEFT HALF OF THE FRONT OF THE VAN. UPON IMPACT, FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
Official recalls
105V099000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Mar 14, 2005
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MAY DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION IN THE STOP LAMP OR HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT THAT RESULTS IN THE STOP LAMPS AND HAZARD LAMPS BEING INOPERATIVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LOSS OF STOP LAMPS AND REAR HAZARD LAMPS COULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND/OR IS STOPPED AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD WARNING FLASHER SWITCH AND APPLY SPECIAL GREASE TO THE CONTACTS AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION OF THE MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE REPAIR WOULD BE USED IN VEHICLES IN WHICH THE HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON IS STILL MOVABLE. IF A VEHICLE HAS A HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON THAT IS NOT MOVABLE (FROZEN), THE ENTIRE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 13, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
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
1PE04072 · Loss Of Brake Lamp Illumination
Opened Oct 19, 2004 · Closed Mar 21, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights
IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 9, 2005, GM STATED THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REMEDY A FAULTY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 AND 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO AND GMC SAFARI VEHICLES; SPECIFICALLY, ALL MY 2001 VEHICLES AND EARLY MY 2002 VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH AND AUGUST 2001.SEE NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-099 FOR DETAILS.THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MAY DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BRAKE LAMP OR HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS AND HAZARD LAMPS.THIS IS DUE TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF THE MATERIAL AND LUBRICATION FOR THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR THAT RESULT IN INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE HAZARD SWITCH AND STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON IN OPEN (NO CONTACT) CONDITION.DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH AND APPLY SPECIAL GREASE TO THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR.IF A VEHICLE HAS A STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON, DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 9, 2005, GM STATED THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REMEDY A FAULTY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 AND 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO AND GMC SAFARI VEHICLES; SPECIFICALLY, ALL MY 2001 VEHICLES AND EARLY MY 2002 VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH AND AUGUST 2001.SEE NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-099 FOR DETAILS.THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MAY DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BRAKE LAMP OR HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS AND HAZARD LAMPS.THIS IS DUE TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF THE MATERIAL AND LUBRICATION FOR THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR THAT RESULT IN INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE HAZARD SWITCH AND STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON IN OPEN (NO CONTACT) CONDITION.DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH AND APPLY SPECIAL GREASE TO THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR.IF A VEHICLE HAS A STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON, DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH.
Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights
IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 9, 2005, GM STATED THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REMEDY A FAULTY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 AND 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO AND GMC SAFARI VEHICLES; SPECIFICALLY, ALL MY 2001 VEHICLES AND EARLY MY 2002 VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH AND AUGUST 2001.SEE NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-099 FOR DETAILS.THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MAY DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BRAKE LAMP OR HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS AND HAZARD LAMPS.THIS IS DUE TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF THE MATERIAL AND LUBRICATION FOR THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR THAT RESULT IN INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE HAZARD SWITCH AND STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON IN OPEN (NO CONTACT) CONDITION.DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH AND APPLY SPECIAL GREASE TO THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR.IF A VEHICLE HAS A STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON, DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH.