2003 Chevrolet Astro

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS SENSOR BECAME DEFECTIVE AT 45,000 MILES. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE COASTED. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE CURB WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A COLLISION. DURING THESE INCIDENTS THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO TWO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE ABS SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS SENSOR. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE ABS SENSOR FAILED LONG BEFORE WHAT WAS REASONABLE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT 20MPH OR LESS, THE ABS ACTIVATED WITH AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED WHICH INDICATED A FAILURE IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED AT 15MPH, A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ROTORS HAD RUSTED DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING IN SALT BELT STATE. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE NOW OPERATES NORMALLY. THE MECHANIC STATED THE ROTORS WERE MADE WITH INFERIOR METAL. UPDATED 05/02/06. *JB

I HAVE REPORTED THIS BEFORE DUE TO SEVERAL OTHER CLOSE CALLS THAT I HAD, BUT THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO TWO OTHERS IN THE SAME VEHICLE. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL (BECAUSE IT IS SO SMALL - 2"X2.6") YOUR FOOT CAN BE ON THE EDGE OF THE PEDAL AND IT WILL SLIP OFF AS YOU APPLY MORE PRESSURE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE NEARING A STOP OR HAVING TO MAKE A QUICK STOP. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS, THE LAST WOULD HAVE BEEN A RIGHT ANGLE COLLISION WITH A DUMP TRUCK RIGHT IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 ASTRO VAN WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. FOOT SPACE IS LIMITED ONLY IF IT WOULD BE A STICK SHIFT REQUIRING A CLUTCH. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS THE SMALLEST IN OUR FLEET AND NOT MUCH LARGER THAN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE IS NOW PARKED PENDING A SAFETY REVIEW. *NM

DT*:THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING IN A PARKING LOT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD TO DEPRESS. ONCE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE A NOISE CAME FROM THE ABS. THE NOISE CEASED AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. ADDITIONALLY, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ONLY RAN THE VIN TO CHECK FOR RECALLS. IT WAS ALSO SEEN BY A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK

ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2005 MY 2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE IN A PARKING LOT. THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE; THE FIREMEN DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLE. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO HUFFINES CHEVROLET IN PLANO, TX. THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT ACCORDING TO THE CHEVROLET MECHANICS IS AS FOLLOWS: 1) EVERY TIME THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, THE TIE RODS ETC. WOULD CHAFE AGAINST A BRACKET ON THE CHASSIS THAT HELD DOWN A BATTERY CABLE. 2) EVENTUALLY THE BRACKET FAILED. 3) THE BATTERY CABLE ARCED AGAINST THE BRAKE LINE. 4) THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED SPRAYING HYDRAULIC FLUID OVER THE HOT ENGINE MANIFOLD. 5) THE ENSUING FIRE BURNED THROUGH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE A/C HOSE CARRYING FREON. 6) WHEN THE A/C HOSED WAS SEVERED, THE FREON GAS ESCAPED CAUSING THE LOUD EXPLOSION THAT WE HEARD SOME DISTANCE AWAY. 7) THE SMOKE THAT WE SAW IN THE AIR WAS ACTUALLY THE ESCAPING FREON GAS. ALL WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED IN THREE WEEKS. ON NOVEMBER 8, 2005, THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE UNDER WAY. THE CHEVROLET MECHANICS STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS TRACED TO A SMALL PINHOLE CAUSED BY THE ARCING BATTERY CABLE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE FAILED. IF THIS STORY SEEMS PREPOSTEROUS TO YOU, IT DOES TO ME TOO BUT THIS IS THE STORY WE GOT FROM CHEVROLET. IN MY OPINION, MY 2003 CHEVY ASTRO VAN SUFFERS FROM A FATAL FLAW IN DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURER. IT IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD FOREVER. *JB