1995 Chevrolet Astro

WHEN DRIVING AT 20 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH FRONT END OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN FRONT LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED COMPLETELY DOWN ON TIRE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT IT WAS DUE TO TORSION BAR WHICH BROKE. ALSO, MANUFACTURER HAS CHANGED DESIGN OF THE TORSION BAR WHICH REQUIRED CONSUMER TO REPLACE BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT HAND SIDES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN THIS BAR BREAKS IT DOES CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DROP ON THE FRAME. IT SHOCKS THE DRIVER AND BECOMES MOMENTARILY DIFFICULT TO STEER. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS OR IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A REAL PROBLEM. I CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALER IN THIS AREA TO PRICE THE PARTS HE COMMENTED " YOU MEAN THE TORSION BARS THAT ALWAYS BREAK" . WITH THAT COMMENT JUST FROM ONE DEALER I WOULD DEFINETLY SAY GM HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS PART ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WAS DRIVING HOME & HEARD A LOUD BANG. STEERING WHEEL TILTED TO LEFT. DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO SERVICE STATION WHERE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT TIE ROD END HAD SNAPPED. MANUFACTURER HAD REDESIGNED TIE ROD END AND REPLACED IT. *AK THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TORSION BARS WERE FOUND TO BE THE CAUSE. *YH

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE, RIGHT REAR BLINKER AND PARKING BRAKE BULB FAILED. BACK HATCH WOULD NOT OPEN, DOOR WAS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT OPEN, DEALER FOUND LATCH ROD RETAINERS WORN OUT. ALTERNATOR FAILED. SERPENTINE BELT FAILED. AIR CONDITIONER QUIT BLOWING. REAR END WAS ROARING, DEALER REPLACED REAR DIFFERENTIAL. OIL PRESSURE WOULD GO TO ZERO, DEALER REPLACED INDICATOR. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MISSING, DEALER REPLACED SPARK PLUB AND DISTRIBUTOR CAP, WHEN THE ENGINE COVER WAS REMOVED, DEALER FOUND THE PLUG WIRES SHORTING TO THE CYLINDER HEAD, DEALER REPLACED ALL PLUG WIRES. VEHICLE WOULD TURN, BUT WOULD NOT START, DEALER FOUND FUEL PUMP SHORTED OUT, DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. OIL LEAKING AT PINION AREA, DEALER REPLACED FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AND PINION SEAL. REAR AXLE WAS REPLACED DUE TO REAR AXLE SEAL LEAKING. WHILE DRIVING, LIGHTS ON DASH STARTED BLINKING, ALL INDICATOR NEEDLES AND GAUGES WERE JUMPING BACK AND FORTH, SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE VENTS, CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP VEHICLE, BUT BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED, VEHICLE FINALLY ROLLED TO A STOP, SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, FINALLY DRIVER AND DAUGHTER GOT OUT THROUGH FRONT DOORS, FIRE AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER HAS EXPERIENCED CHEST PAINS DUE TO THIS, CONSUMER HAS TO PAY FOR THE REST OF THE LOAN EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. CONSUMER FEELS THIS FIRE OCCURRED DUE TO THE MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED, SHE IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT, DEALER WOULD NOT HELP HER.

TORSION BAR BROKE CAUSING $1,100.00 REPAIR BILL AND INABILITY TO STEER PROPERLY. MECHANIC STATED IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 95 ASTRO AND SHOWED PART AND WHY IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN NORTHERN CLIMATES. HAD IDENTICAL VEHICLE IN FOR SAME REPAIR WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE. CLAIMS CHEVY KNOWS AND CHANGE SUBSEQUENT DESIGN FOR LATER VEHICLES. CHEVY WAS NOT RESPONSIVE AND REFERRED ME TO NHTSA. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE APPRECIATED. IF IT IS A PROBLEM IN THE SNOW BELT STATES, SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL? THANKS! *AK