1996 Chevrolet Van

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS GASOLINE SPILLING OUT OF THE FILLER NECK OF THE REAR FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE PUMP IN THE REAR TANK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 93V125000, PERTAINING TO THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HARNESS THAT CONNECTS THE POWER TO THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP FAILED CAUSING ARCING THAT BURNS THE CONNECTOR. THIS MELTED THE PLASTIC ON THE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TWO FUEL PUMPS WERE INSTALLED. AFTER THE SECOND FUEL PUMP WAS INSTALLED, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CONNECTOR WAS BAD.

1996 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY INTERSTATE 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COLLAPSED. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND GOT THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND OFF OF THE ROAD, MY ENTIRE FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WE LEARNED THAT IT WAS A TORSION BAR AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON DESIGN PROBLEM AND THAT THE DESIGN WAS CHANGED IN 1997. THEREFORE WE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES AT A COST OF OVER 1,000 DOLLARS. IT IS STILL MAKING A NOISE AND I DON'T FEEL IT IS RELIABLE. *NLM

PRIOR TO COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE ON JULY 29, 2001, THERE IS MINIMUM OF NINE DOCUMENTED SERVICE REPORTS WITH THE DEALER FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS BEGINNING IN MAY OF 1997. TO DATE, THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THERE IS SEVERE PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND WHEEL VIBRATION UPON QUICK OR HEAVY APPLIANCE OF BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT WORK AND HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY FROM THE BEGINNING; THUS, THE FRONT BRAKES MUST HANDLE THE LOAD. THE FRONT BRAKE LINING MUST BE REPLACE EVERY SIX MONTHS. THE BACK BRAKE LINING HAS BEEN REPLACED ONLY ONCE. THE DEALER INDICATED THE RECENT BRAKE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF THE ROTARS RUSTING AND SPLITTING IN HALF (A FIRST THEY SAY). THIS OCCURRED ONLY THREE MONTHS AFTER HAVING THIS VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO CHECK THE BRAKES AGAIN! THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED IN NOV. OF 1997, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FEB. 2000, THE IDLER ARMS (WHICH CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF TIRES) HAD TO BE REPLACED IN APRIL OF 2000 AND CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED IN FEB. 2001 (AGAIN AFFECTING TIRE WEAR, ALIGNMENT, ETC), TORTION BARS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FEB. 2001, ENGINE LEAK HAD TO BE ADDRESSED IN FEB. 2001. HARSH SHIFTING AND JERKING OF VEHICLE LET TO FAULTY TCC SOLENOID & HARNESS ASSY AND PINION SEAL REPLACEMENT IN APRIL 2001. THIS VEHICLE IS A HAZARD ON THE HIGHWAY AND TO THE OCCUPANTS. THE DEALER PERSONALLY CALLED CHEVROLET IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISCUSS A BUY BACK OR CREDIT. THEY WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. APPARENTLY, SOMEONE HAS TO DIE FIRST. RETAIL ON THIS VEHICLE IS $12,800. THE DEALER IS OFFERING $8,000 BECAUSE HE IS AFRAID TO SELL IT OFF HIS LOT BUT WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO AUCTION. I AM SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR CHEVROLET'S ENGINEERING AND DEFECT PROBLEMS EITHER MONETARILY OR WITH MY LIFE OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS. HELP!*AK

I HAVE A PREVIOUS REPORT ON THIS VEHICLE BACK IN APRIL OF 2000. THIS VAN WOULD NOT STOP WHEN I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL AND I WENT INTO A HOUSE. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, WHICH I NEVER COULD BELIEVE. EVER SINCE THIS INCIDENT THE BRAKES NEVER FELT THE SAME. I HAVE RETURNED THIS VAN TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY COULD NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I TRANSPORT MY DAUGHTER IN THIS WHO IS IN A WHEEL CHAIR. TWO WEEKS AGO I BROUGHT THIS VAN IN AGAIN TO BE SERVICED AND THEY SAID SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SENSOR, CLAIMED THEY FIXED IT BUT MY V AN AGAIN DID NOT STOP ON MY 1ST ATTEMPT OF APPLYING MY BRAKE. THE ANTI-LOCKE LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF. I HAVE NOTICED WHEN LIGHT IS ON THE BRAKES WORK O.K., WHEN LIGHT IS OFF THE BRAKES MALFUNCTION. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE FOR MYSELF BUT MOST OF ALL MY FAMILY. IT IS IN THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AGAIN 4/15/01. *AK

THIS IS JUST FOR YOUR RECORDS THIS VEICHLE HAS A STOPPING PROBLEM ABOVE 40 MPH THE HARDER YOU PRESS BRAKES THE STOPPING DOES NOT INCREASE I AM FAMLLAR WITH ANTI LOCK BREAKS THIS IS NOT THAT SYSTEM CAUSEING THIS NON STOPPING OTHER VAN OWNERS LIKE MY SELF HAVE NOTICE THIS PROBLEM ITS ALMOST LIKE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH BREAK TO STOP ANTI BREAK WORKS FINE WHEN FORCED TO FLOOR BUT NORMAL STOPPING IS VERY WEAK .*AK