CarComplaints.com Notes: The Chevy Astro is mechanically identical to the GMC Safari.
8.7
pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
2,974 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.
My van is a 1997 Astro and it has some serious transmission problems after going 30-40 miles and stoping at a light it jerks real hard and feels like I was hit in the back I have took it 3 times to get fixed and it still does it the service ingine light comes on when it starts doing it no one seems to know wheat wrong they just keep takeing my money and telling me its fixed when its no if some one could tell me what the problem is I would be very happy the fuel pump went out 900.00$ the driver window motor went out the idler arms have had to be replaced brakes keep wearing down...please some one contact me.
I have a 1997 Astro, in the past 8 months the driver side window motor, windshield wiper motor and transmission have all been replaced. The transmission was replaced with 54,202 miles on it, which started giving us problems at about 53,000 miles. The dealership replaced both idler arms at 25,680 miles. Had seat belt chime fixed (recall), driver seat feels loose when stopping dealership claims to have tightened it, still feels loose. The van has always idled rough took it in 3 times for that and can't seem to fix that. Sliding door rattle they tried to fix that also still rattles. The gas pedal sticks when I take off or when I go in reverse which makes it impossible to take off smoothly. I had an Astro and a safari in the past and never had as many problems as I had with this one.
After driving for 20-40 minutes, the transmission will shift very hard from first to second gear. We have reported this to the dealer and am told that it would cost $1800 + to replace the transmission. We have had 3 transmission shops look at this problem and run diagnostics and tune up on the transmission. The problem still exists. We have been dealing with this aggravating situation the last two years, spoken with many people in the repair business and no one seems to be able to pinpoint the exact problem. They only want to "look" at the problem and collect more money, which we have done on 3 seperate occasions. All to no avail. Problem still exists.
The reverse shell in the transmission broke, dealer replaced the transmission, consumer was shocked that the warranty would not cover this failure and feels that Chevrolet should pay for 50 percent of the cost since the failure occurred at low mileage.
- Leland, NC, USA
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The transmission was replaced due to it missing 1st and going right into 2nd gear.front end of vehicle shakes at 40 mph. Had tires replaced and alignment done. Interior light stay S on unless manual override is turned off.brakes make noises when you come to a stop or you are stopping slowly. Engine light comes on all the time brought to mechanic every time to get analyzed.
After leaving a 4-lane interstate section of highway 19 in West Virginia, and arriving onto a section with stoplights, the driver noticed a clunking noise while the transmission was shifting from 1st to 2nd. This occurred at multiple lights. During the occurence, the van would also lurch during the shift. We stopped at a rest area, and after allowing the van to sit for about 20 minutes, we restarted. The problem was not apparent when we left the rest area, but about 2 miles down the road, the "service engine" light came on. We drove to the nearest major city to find a dealer to look at the problem. Once we found an open dealer who could download the diagnostics, he informed us that the code indicated transmission slippage. He reset the code, and the van shifted fine. We continued to our destination without problems, and took the van to a dealer the following day. They studied the van, and determined that the valve body had failed, just out of warranty, of course. We spent $1100+ to have the valve body repaired.
The reverse shell in the transmission broke, dealer replaced the transmission, consumer was shocked that the warranty would not cover this failure and feels that Chevrolet should pay for 50 percent of the cost since the failure occurred at low mileage.
Transmission shifts hard from first to second gear when I get off of the highway, feels like someone rearended me. Gas guage always registers full.grinding noise from right rear tire, sounds like the rear axle, had brakes checked by dealer they are fine.maybe I should of bought a Ford.
Transmission slammed into gear after accelerating and shifted into next gear. After, slamming into next gear, vehicle shook violently. Dealer stated vehicle was built with a inadequate transmission to hamdle weight of vehicle. Manufacturer dd not plan to solve problem.
After driving for an extended period of time transmission would shift violently through lower gears. Dealership continued to inform consumer that a tsb (technical service bulletin) would be released for this problem. However, transmission failed, and needed to be replaced.
After driving on interstate for awhile, the transmission shifted very harshly when pulling away from a toll booth sending my wife's and children's heads back sharply against their seats. The dealer says it will need to be rebuilt. Independent transmission shops state that this is a common problem with GMC transmissions and that it will eventually cease to function, possibly stranding the people in the van. After acknowledging this in several service bulletins, the GM garage still says that GM is not responsible for the repair cost of approx $2000.
My feeling on this vehicle is as follows: This is a relitively new Astro van, being only 4 years old, I wouldn't have expected to have to absorb the cost of a rebuilt trasmission already. After speaking with our trasmissions specialist, he advised we contact someone regarding this van. The problem with the trasmission was caused by 2 torque bearings that exploded within the transmission, thus causing the damage. He let me know that this is not a normal occurance in this vehicle, there had to be a flaw. Torque bearings just do not "explode." The cost to remedy, what I feel is a manufacture defect, has caused a hardship for my family. I would appreciate any help with this matter.
Automatic transmission failure. Transmission has been replaced approximately four times because of failure to operate. After last replacement, dealership overfilled the transmission fluid, causing excessive leaking. Please provide any additional information/attachments.
Driver's side rear window will not stay open, clips that should hold it up are blocked by material, window slams shut when going over a bump. Transmission went out at 45000 miles. Oil leak, dealer ordered axle output shaft seal and crankshaft sensor. Electric fuel pump replaced due to vehicle cutting and would crank, but would not star. Oil pressure gauge erratic, dealer replaced oil pressure sender. Front brakes and pads were replaced, rotors were resurfaced. Consumer states there is play in the steering, dealer replaced both idler arms and reset toe in. Power door locks inoperable, dealer replaced power door lock switch. Power window inoperable, dealer replaced power window switch. Shifter was hard to move, dealer replaced shift cable. Gas pedal binds at times, dealer ordered throttle cable and replaced accelerator cable. Driver seta seems loose when braking, dealer ordered driver seat track assembly and replaced driver seat adjuster. PCM fuse kept blowing out, dealer removed engine cover and traced wire harness, repaired shorted harness at the rear of the transmission.
Transmission replaced 3 times. Transmission would keep vehicle from going into reverse or start slipping into different gears. Dealer has rebuild the transmission each time. The parts could be defective.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bean Station, TN, USA