DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE EXTERIOR DRIVER SIDE MIRROR FLEW OFF ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER DID NOT NOTICE IF THE MIRROR WAS LOOSE BEFORE HE ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MIRROR STARTED MOVING AND HE TRIED TO REACH OUT THROUGH THE WINDOW AND GRAB THE MIRROR BUT COULD NOT CATCH THE M…
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DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE EXTERIOR DRIVER SIDE MIRROR FLEW OFF ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER DID NOT NOTICE IF THE MIRROR WAS LOOSE BEFORE HE ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MIRROR STARTED MOVING AND HE TRIED TO REACH OUT THROUGH THE WINDOW AND GRAB THE MIRROR BUT COULD NOT CATCH THE MIRROR AND IT ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS DRIVING BEHIND HIM. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE MIRROR HAD BEEN HIT PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE GLUE WHERE THE MIRROR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ATTACHED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHY THE MIRROR HAD COME OFF. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK (12/07/05) *SC *JB
CERTAIN MINIVANS HAVE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION BETWEEN THE LOWER BALL JOINT RUBBER BOOT AND THE STEERING KNUCKLE (BOTH LEFT/RIGHT SIDES), WHICH COULD RESULT IN CUTTING OF THE BOOT THAT IS INTENDED TO SEAL THE BALL JOINT. IF THE LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT WERE CUT, CONTAMINATION FROM THE ROAD (SALT, DIRT, WATER, ETC.) COULD ENTER THE BALL SOCKET AREA OF THE BALL JOINT CAUSING THE JOINT TO WEAR OUT TOO QUICKLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE STEERING KNUCKLE COULD SEPARATE FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, DROPPING DOWN THE AFFECTED CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE COIL SPRING WOULD PUSH THE CONTROL ARM DOWN INTO CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, CREATING A DRAG THAT WOULD SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE AFFECTED WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE IF FORCES RESULTING FROM THE WHEEL'S DRAGGING ACTION WERE SUFFICIENT TO FRACTURE THE TIE ROD END AND UPPER BALL JOINT CONNECTIONS. SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOULD ALSO SEVER THAT WHEEL'S HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE, RESULTING IN LOST BRAKING PERFORMANCE FROM THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE WOULD INCREASE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD 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
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No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2003 Chevrolet Astro Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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