IllustrationPEELING PAINT ON TOP, FRONT AND SOME ON ALL SIDES. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
2 reportsI APOLOGIZE IF THIS IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE FORM FOR A PAINT DEFECT, BUT ICOULD FIND NO OTHER COMPLAINT FORM ON YOUR WEBSITE. MY COMPLAINT IS PROMPTED BY A RECENT ARTICLE IN CONSUMER REPORTS THAT MENTIONS A PAINT DEFECT IN 1988-1992 CHEVROLETS THAT DESCRIBES OUR PROBLEM; IT REFERENCES BULLETIN 331708, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT …
Read full complaint
I APOLOGIZE IF THIS IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE FORM FOR A PAINT DEFECT, BUT ICOULD FIND NO OTHER COMPLAINT FORM ON YOUR WEBSITE. MY COMPLAINT IS PROMPTED BY A RECENT ARTICLE IN CONSUMER REPORTS THAT MENTIONS A PAINT DEFECT IN 1988-1992 CHEVROLETS THAT DESCRIBES OUR PROBLEM; IT REFERENCES BULLETIN 331708, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS AND CANNOT FIND IT ON YOUR WEBSITE. THE PAINT ON THE CARGO DOOR OF OUR VAN 7 OR 8 YEARS AGO BEGAN FADING BADLY, UNLIKE THE REST OF THE VAN, WHICH LOOKS FINE. WE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER, CHEVROLET, AND GM, BUT ONLY GOT FORM LETTER RESPONSES THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS THE WARRANTED HAD EXPIRED. THIS WAS AN OBVIOUS PAINT PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR ONLY; I SENT A PHOTO AS WELL, WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THE DEALER HAS CHANGED HANDS SEVERAL TIMES; IT WAS ORIGINALLY CARPENTERS CHEVROLET. LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE.
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