: the contact stated while applying brake pressure at 30 mph, there was an increased stopping distance and a loss of power steering which resulted in a rear end collision. The occupants were wearing seat belts, no injuries were sustained. There was minor damage to both vehicles, but they were able to be driven from the scene. The police were not alerted. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer. The manufacturer was not alerted. The consumer replaced the pump himself and discovered the shaft was broken in the pump. When the power steering pump failed, it caused the power brakes to fail as well. Updated 10/04/06.

- Orangevale, CA, USA

Bent and twisted fingers. The texture (finish) wore off the steering. The steering system on this Astro is stiff "high effort" required by the driver to hold the wheel and also turn. When making a turn the wheel becomes harder to hold. Too much caster? the finish wore off the wheel and thus a replacement was provided by the dealer at gettles auto mall in sebewaing. I learned at that time that many drivers were complaining that the steering wheels were becoming slipperly, difficult to hold. At the time my right tennis elbow sympton was very painful, and later my right shoulder became painful. This is because of the tight steering system on this van. This stiff steering design defect is not considerate of the human tolerance for this tight steering and as a result the joints, muscles, tendons become crippling painful. Fingers become twisted and bent. A friend of mine has a 1988 Astro and his fingers are bent and twisted, and he has cronic left shoulder pain. Mr. Gilbert mattson. Please contact me. 989-665-2311

- Gagetown, MI, USA

Vehicle loses brakes and power steering due to a pin breaking in power steering. Dealer contacted.

- Grove City, PA, USA

Brakes have been severly worn out consumer stated the seatbelts, arm rests, console the trim on the seat cushion has torn, there is wind noise from high top roof, window is loose, radio is inoperative, power steering fluid leaking, steering coolumn is making a noise, weatherstrip coming off of back door, tires shake, there is a hard thump whe going over bumps, cigarette lighter is inoperative, transmission shifts hard, pressure guage gets stuck, window gets stuck, there are no low beam lights, windshield wipers are inoperative, door lock do not come all the way up, the front end of vehicle dips, and the shocks feel weak, the lifgate does not stay open, interior lights stay on to long, vehicle remote is inoperative, sliding door is hard to open at times, oil pressure guage reads high, refrigerator not operating from rear socket, heating system is inoperative, battery goes dead.

- Newark, NJ, USA

Intermittent failure of steering where steering binds turning right or left. Have to force steering to complete turns. Brakes also intermittantly will grab hard when coming to a fast, hard stop. Hydravac unit has been replaced. Dealer chacked power steering pump pressure per GM tech support. Plan now is to replace steering gear box. Don't see how this could affect brakes. Power steering pump has had a high pitched whine since it was new. Dealer and GM do not seem to be concerned with that.

- Salina, UT, USA

Vehicle has had continually failures with the power steering system (8 power steering pumps, 2 gear boxes, 2 power steering pressure lines replaced), damage to serpentine belt from fluid leakage on one occasion. Mjs

- Los Angele, CA, USA