IllustrationDRIVING ON 3 LANE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH WHEN TRANSMISSION FAILED(SUN GEAR SHELL IN 4L60E TRANSMISSION). EARLY AM WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC SO WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SHOULDER SAFELY. TOWED TO EXIT. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION VERY LUCKY THAT TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AS ALL DRIVE POWER WAS LOST. *TR
2002 Chevrolet Astro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 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
70–25K
1225–50K
650–75K
775–100K
8100–150K
5150K+
45 reports with mileage · 25 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 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports3 fire reports3 injury reports
Power Train complaints
5 reports4L60E TRANSMISSION SUN GEAR ON 2002 CHEVY ASTRO FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, SHRED EVERYTHING IN TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION SHOP SAYS GM KNEW PART WAS FAULTY BUT DID NOT ISSUE ANY RECALLS. THERE WERE NO NOTICEABLE SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO FAILING. FLUID WAS FLUSHED AND CHANGED LESS THAT A YEAR BEFORE. *TR
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IN THE MORNING, THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE DISC, ROTORS AND SHOES. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE SYSTEM OVERHEATED, AND A BURNING ODOR FILLED THE CABIN OF THE V…
Read full complaint
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IN THE MORNING, THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE DISC, ROTORS AND SHOES. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE SYSTEM OVERHEATED, AND A BURNING ODOR FILLED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. *AK THE BRAKES STARTED TO PULSATE AGAIN WHILE GOING DOWN A MOUNTAIN, A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE DRIVELINE BETWEEN SHIFTS AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND SHIFTED ERRATICALLY, THE ENGINE WOULD BREAK UP ON A SLIGHT ACCELERATION DUE TO THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND THE ROTOR BEING CORRODED. *SC *JB
TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE INTO DRIVE. *AK
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE SHIFT LEVER DID NOT GO INTO ANY OTHER GEAR UNLESS EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED.*JB
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.