CarComplaints.com Notes: The Chevy Astro is mechanically identical to the GMC Safari.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
23 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
13 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,959 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Problem: Font end shakes so badly that you can't control the vehicle when brakes are applied.when applying the brakes at speed of 40 and above the vehicle front end shakes so badly that you have to take your foot off the brakes to keep control of the vehicle. This causes the stopping distance to be extended far greater then it should be. Also this shaking has caused me to replace the idler arms. If it was not caught in time they would have broken loose, and total control of the vehicle would be lost.(put in shop on these dates for shaking in front end when brakes are applied. This started 6/8/98 @29407miles dealer resurfaced front rotors cost $73.20. In shop again 9/4/98 @32946miles. Dealer resurfaced rotors again no charge. Shop 10/21/98 @34520miles dealer replaced rotors and idler arms no charge. In shop 12/9/98 @36746miles shop need rear breaks that is problem with shaking in front end. Cost $244.52. In shop 12/11/98 @36750miles shaking again shop resurfaced rotors cost no charge. In shop 3/23/99 @ 40500miles shop called on 3/24/99 need rotors resurfaced and tighten idler arms, cost unknown at this time. This is a very serious problem in the breaking system that could cause serious injury to anybody on the road because before you can come to a compleat stop you have to remove your foot from the breaks and reapply the breaks again causing the breaking distance to shorten greatly. Also since the shaking has cause the idler armes to be replace once and tighten again there is know telling when they will break loose and total control of your steering will be lost. As you can see there is pattern showing from the repair dates that this problem will not go away it just comes back after a couple of thousand miles. I have notice in your data base that there have been 2 other reported problems like mind. ODI id 825208 and ODI id 805773
When traveling at different speeds and upon depressing the brake pedal, consumer noticed vibration in the front end, causing poor steering control. Consumer also experienced excessive wear of the front brakes and tires and other parts. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer unable to determine the cause of the problem.
Brakes failed, could not stop, then they were ok. 6 months prior, the brakes were replaced.then checked again 2 months later due to the same problem. The brakes appeared ok.
The consumer has been experiencing problems with anti-lock brake system. While driving vehicle pulls to the right when applying the brakes. The manufacturer has yet to be contacted.
I was driving at about 20 mph over an overpass when I saw that the car in front of me had stopped. Even though it seemed that there was plenty of room to stop (maybe 200 feet) when I stood on the brakes, it only slowed the van down but not quick enough. I thought it would be better to hit them straight on rather than swerving and maybe cliping them. I did not feel any vibration from the ABS brakes. I also did not lay a skid mark. I bent the stearing wheel but the air bag did not deploy. I had my brakes seviced just 3 week before the crash. They gave me new front brakes and did my front end. I also got new tires. My husband tried the brakes on a country road the next day and the van went sideways. The ABS light did not come on til about a week after we got the car back from the repair shop. At about 25000 miles the ABS light had come on and romania Chevrolet fixed the ABS under the warrentee.
- Eugene, OR, USA
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Engine stalls out for no reason/ABS brakes do not stop vehicle when brakes applied/transmission fails to shift into reverse and instrument panellights stay on during the day. Vehicle still running after ignition is turned off. Taking to dealer again.
Owner has ABS brakes. On wet or dry pavement ABS brakes fail to stop vehicle. Problem occurs mostly on wet pavement with ABS brake pedal going to floor of vehicle when appiled.
When apllying brakes sometimes lock and will kick in and lock up suddenly. Mechanic checked vehicle, put all new brakes in it, defect is still reoccurring.
When driving at approx 30-35 mph trying to make a sudden stop, applies brakes, ther is no computer response. Consumer had to stand on pedal, to avoid hitting a vehicle in front. Pulled to sid, ended up hitting a tree which was the only thing that stopped the vehicle, . dealer said consumer was using it wrong.
Steering: Driving approximately 65mph approaching to an exit, attempted to turn the steering wheel was very hard to turn. Applied brakes, there were no brakes and complete loss of steering.
When depressing the brake pedal the vehicle will continue to move, resulting in extended stopping distance and brakes fading away. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer has replaced the brake sensors/calipers rotors. Consumer still having problem.
On normal road conditions when braking vehicle pulls to the right. Vehicle has been serviced 9 times for brake problems. On 05/24/95, sanded pads, lubed caliper slide pins. On 07/17/95, could not duplicate problem; 08/28/95, rotated tires, and on 08/31/95, replaced pads, cleaned and lubed caliper slide pins.
Driving vehicle about 50 mph; applied brakes; vehicle kept moving; kept pushing brakes until finally stopping about a few feet from a police officer; took to dealer a few times; they could not find anything wrong.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Washington, DC, USA