1995 Chevrolet Astro

THIS VEHICLE USES TORSION BARS INSTEAD OF SPRINGS ON FRONT SUSPENSION. LEFT TORSION BAR SNAPPED WHILE VEHICLE PARKED - DROPS BODY ONTO FRAME, APPROX 8-10 INCHES. IF THIS HAPPENED AT SPEED, WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY LOSE CONTROL. DEALER SERVICE MGR SAYS THEY SEE "LOT" OF THESE FAILURES. CALLED GM - WOULD NOT ADMIT THAT SAFETY PROBLEM EXISTS. SERVICE MGR INSISTED THAT BOTH L AND R BE REPAIRED, BECAUSE "THE OTHER SIDE WILL PROBABLY COLLAPSE ANY DAY". VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. TOTAL REPAIR AND TOWING $707.94.*AK

LEFT FRONT TORSION BAR FAILED. CRACK STARTED AT A RUST SPOT ON BAR. CLASSIC 'BEACH MARKS' INDICATE FAILURE WAS PROPIGATING FROM THE RUST POINT. ASKED MANUFACTURER FOR COVERAGE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WAS TURNED DOWN. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT A NEW STYLE TORSION BAR WAS ALL THAT WAS AVAILABLE AND THAT BOTH BARS HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SUPPORTS THAT CONNECT THE TORSION BARS TO THE CROSS MEMBER. I COMPLAINED THAT IF ONLY ONE FAILED, I SHOULD ONLY NEED TO REPLACE ONE. I COMPAIRED IT TO A V-8 HEAD GASKET FAILURE, ONLY ONE IS REPALCED UNLES THERE IS A REASON TO REPLACE BOTH. I BELIEVE THAT THE REQUIREMENT TO REPLACE BOTH BARS IS AN INDICATION BY CHEVROLET THAT THE DESIGN IS FAULTY (THIS IS BACKED UP BY THE REPLACEMENT BEING A NEW DESIGN). THE NEW DESIGN DOES NOT ALLOW FOR DEBRIS TO GATHER AROUND THE REAR PORTION OF THE TORSION BAR AS THE ORIGINAL DESIGN DID.*AK

WHILE BACKING OUT HEARD A RUBBING NOISE, THEN, LEFT FRONT OF VEHICLE DROPPED. DEALER SAID LEFT FRONT TORSION BAR HAD BROKEN, AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. CHEVROLET CHANGED THE DESIGN, AND BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK DEALER STATED THERE HAD BEEN A BULLETIN REGARDING LOWER A FRAME BOLTS INCORRECTLY TORQUED, DEALER REPLACED BOTH TORSION BARS AND ADJUSTED CAMS. *SLC

TORSION BAR FAILED, CAUSING FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE. THIS IS A SERIOUS FAILURE WHICH CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, CONFIRMED BY THE REDESIGN OF THE TORSION BAR ASSEMBLY. CHEVROLET REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND HAS ANY SAFETY IMPLICATIONS (RE: CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER 800-222-1020, FILE # C 04856310). LOOKING THROUGH THE NHTSA COMPLIANTS DATA BASE, NUMEROUS OTHER TORSION BAR FAILURES CAN BE FOUND AND IT IS APPARENT THAT GM WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS - HOWEVER THERE HAS BEEN NO TSI OR SAFETY WARNING ISSUED. HOW MANY INJURIES AND DEATHS HAVE TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO TORSION BAR FAILURE BEFORE GM ISSUES A SAFETY BULLETIN AND ADMITS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT THREATENS THE PUBLIC SAFETY ???????????????? I GUESS AFTER GM TAKES YOUR MONEY THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU UNTIL YOU'RE READY TO BUY ANOTHER OF THEIR OVER-PRICED, POORLY DESIGNED PIECES OF JUNK.*AK

RIGHT FRONT TORSION BAR CRACKED , CAUSING FRONT END TO COLLAPSE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE , AND DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONT TORSION BARS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, TORSION BAR I HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM 41" TO 34". PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK INVOICE STATED TORSION BAR BROKE DUE TO METAL FATIGUE AND THAT THE NEW TORSION BARS SHOULD BE STRONGER BECAUSE OF LENGTH OF NEW BARS AND WHERE ADJUSTMENT IS MADE AND ADAPTERS DROPPED FROM SYSTEM. *SLC