2003 Chevrolet Astro

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V328000 (SUSPENSION) WHILE PERFORMING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY STEERING KNUCKLE AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. MYRTLE BEACH CHEVROLET (1785 US-501, MYRTLE BEACH, SC 29577) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NO LONGER MADE AND THERE WERE NO AFTER MARKET PARTS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 392,000.

AFTER BALL JOINT RECALL, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH STEERING, BRAKING AND SUSPENSION. FRONT LEFT SIDE CONTINUALLY POPS AND GRINDS, SHOCK BOOT WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE SHOCKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE THIRD TIME MAY HAVE FIXED IT, JUST GOT THE VAN BACK TODAY. BRAKES ARE INTERMITTENT. HEARD LOUD BANG FROM REAR END, DEALERSHIP TIGHTENED BACKING PLATE. TRANSMISSION SLIPS, SHUDDER IS FELT FROM REAR END AT 30+ MPH. DEALERSHIP PUT BALANCES ON TORQUE CONVERTER AND THE DRIVE SHAFT, HAD TO CUT THE REAR SPRINGS TO DO THIS. SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT GONE, BUT LIVABLE. VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH AT IDLE, ALMOST STALLING, SERVICE MANAGER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AS WELL. SAID FUEL INJECTOR PORT WAS FILL WITH CARBON, BUT CLEANING IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DURING A TRIP, STAYED ON FOR THE 6 HOUR DRIVE HOME, THERE WAS NO HEAT AT ALL, SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE COULD NOT GET THE COMPUTER TO REPRODUCE THE CODE, BUT REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP AND TWO CLAMPS.*AK

OUR 2003 CHEVY ASTRO VAN HAD A INTERMITTENT VERY BAD SHIMMY COME FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. IT WAS SO BAD THE VAN COULD NOT BE DRIVEN OVER 30 MPH WITHOUT LOSING CONTROL. THE NEXT 20 TIMES IT WAS DRIVEN IT WOULD WORK FINE. WE FINALLY HAD IT IN TO A DEALER WHO HAD IT HAPPEN TO ONE OF THEIR MECHANIC WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS A BAD BALL JOINT THAT HAD TO BE THAT WAY WHEN IT LEFT THE FACTORY. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VAN FOR 3 WEEKS AS THEY SAY THE PART IS BACK ORDERED. IT APPEARS THAT THIS MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH OTHER VANS AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT REPLACED. I WANT TO KNOW IF GM IS GOING TO RECALL ALL THEIR VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM? ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VAN WHEN IT DID IT TO HER AND IT COULD EASILY HAPPEN TO OTHERE.*AK

EARLIER TODAY I HAD MY WIFE TAKE IN OUR 2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE SERVICE LIGHT WOULD NOT RESET. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT CAME ON AND THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT RESET BY ITSELF. WHILE THERE I ASKED HER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE SEPT. 2, 2003 RECALL OF THE ASTRO VAN FOR A FRONT SUSPENSION DEFECT. RECALL NUMBER 03044. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE SEARCHED BY USING OUR VIN. THE SEARCH CAME BACK WITH NO RECALL. I RESEARCHED THE RECALL ON THE NHTSA AND CALLED THE CHEVROLET MANUFACTURERS 800 NUMBER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO FIND OUT IF WE WOULD BE INCLUDED. I SPOKE WITH AN OPERATOR BY THE NAME OF ANGELA. SHE DID A QUICK SEARCH AND TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ALSO. I DISCLOSED TO HER THAT I WAS LOOKING AT THE RECALL AT THAT MOMENT ON THE NHTSA WEB SIGHT. SHE THEN RESTATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VAN BUT SHE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT I WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. ALL I WANTED TO KNOW WAS IF MY VAN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. CHEVROLET TRACKS THEIR VEHICLES. THEY KNOW WHAT PARTS ARE ON WHICH VANS. THEY EVEN KNOW WHO BOUGHT THEM AND WHERE THEY ARE. NOW THEY WILL NOT DISCLOSE IF MY VAN IS INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THIS IS A GREAT CONCERN TO MY ENTIRE FAMILY BECAUSE THIS IS A VAN THAT MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ARE IN. IS THERE SOME SORT OF CODE, RULE, OR LAW THAT THEY ARE BREAKING ABOUT NOT DISCLOSING THIS TO THERE CONSUMERS? PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU, BRETT SPINDLER 702-644-4671. *LA