IllustrationENGINE BOLTS SHEERING AT POWER STEERING UNIT MOUNTING PLATE, THUS STEERING UNIT FLEXES FORWARD ,SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF, LOSS OF STEERING, ALTERNATOR, COOLING SYSTEM, AND A/C OCCOURS. THIS WAS MENTIONED TO LOCAL MECHANICS AT DEALERSHIP, THEY STATE THIS OCCOURS OFTEN WITH THIS VEHICLE TYPE.
1989 Chevrolet Astro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Chevrolet Astro do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 69.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Astro years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 57 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports7 fire reports3 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
5 reportsTHIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE SAME BOLTS HAVE BROKEN CAUSING THE BELT TO COME OFF. EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE GOES OUT, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. MY WIFE HAS HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING TWO TIMES PRIOR TO THIS ONE, CARRYING OUR THREE SMALL CHILDREN WITH HER. SINCE WE BOUGHT THE …
Read full complaint
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE SAME BOLTS HAVE BROKEN CAUSING THE BELT TO COME OFF. EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE GOES OUT, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. MY WIFE HAS HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING TWO TIMES PRIOR TO THIS ONE, CARRYING OUR THREE SMALL CHILDREN WITH HER. SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED, FROM A COUPLE, WE NEED TO KNOW IF THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. DURING THE REPAIR OF THE SECOND INCIDENT, WE FOUND 2 BRAND NEW BELTS UNDER THE BACK SEAT OF THE VAN, ASSUMING THE COUPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WE'RE EXPERIENCING. PLEASE ADVICE. THIS IS GETTING COSTLY AND AT THIS POINT WE WILL NEVER BUY A CHEVY PRODUCT AGAIN. *AK
BRACKET BOLTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE IN PLACE BROKE, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLES SERPENTINE BELT BROKE 3 TIMES. 93,000-98,001 AND 105,000. *AK,
THE FRONT BRACKET MOUNTS ALL AUXILARY UNITS ARE FRACTURING, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO VIBRATE CAUSING OTHER PARTS TO FAIL. TT
Official recalls
393V187000 · Seats
Nov 16, 1993
THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT FATIGUE AND EVENTUAL BOLT FAILURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULDALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.
91V164000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Sep 20, 1991
SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210.
Remedy: REPLACE NONCOMPLYING SOFA BAR WITH BAR THAT MEETS REQUIREMENTS.
91V102000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Jun 14, 1991
THE SEAT BELTS FOR THE FRONT AND MID-SHIP SEATS DID NOT REST ON PELVIS AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 209.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN SEAT OCCUPANT, AND COULDINJURE THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: RELOCATE SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS TO ADJUST BELTS FOR SEAT LOCATIONS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA92022 · Seat Back Bolt Breakage
Opened Jun 24, 1992 · Closed Nov 19, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available