IllustrationWHILE DRIVING FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE, AND FRONT END OF VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE TORION BAR HAS BEEN REDESIGNED ON NEW VEHICLES. *SLC
1996 Chevrolet Astro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Astro years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Astro are substantially higher than 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: 22 of 263 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.
- Suspension. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports
Suspension complaints
60 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH TORSION BAR SNAPPED WHICH CAUSED WHOLE FRONT LEFT WHEEL TO COLLAPSE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVLEING AT 30 MPH TORSION BAR SNAPPED. BODY FRAME OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK DEALER COVERED 50 PERCENT OF REPLACEMENT COSTS, CONSUMER HAS OLD PARTS FOR REVIEW. *SLC
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. VEHICLE TILTED TO PASSENGER'S SIDE AND FRAME RESTED ON WHEEL. TOWED TO DEALER; HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT TORSION BARS. NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK
FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE, CAUSING FRONT END OF VEHICLE TO DROP DOWN TO GROUND. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF IT.*AK
CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE AND LEFT FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DROP. DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THESE PARTS WERE KEPT IN STOCK BECAUSE THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT TORSION BARS. *AK
AS CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, HE HEARD DRIVER SIDE TIRE RUBBING ON THE WHEEL WELL, CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND UPON INSPECTING THE SUSPENSION, HE FOUND THAT THE TORSION BAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHCILE HAD SHEARED IN HALF, CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSI…
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AS CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, HE HEARD DRIVER SIDE TIRE RUBBING ON THE WHEEL WELL, CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND UPON INSPECTING THE SUSPENSION, HE FOUND THAT THE TORSION BAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHCILE HAD SHEARED IN HALF, CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB
ABS LIGHT IS ON, AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED STOPPING DISTANCE IS NOT NORMAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS ON VEHICLE, DIFFERENTIAL WAS OVERHAULED, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENLY, FULE INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED, IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, AS WELL AS ALTERNATOR, THE ENTI…
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ABS LIGHT IS ON, AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED STOPPING DISTANCE IS NOT NORMAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS ON VEHICLE, DIFFERENTIAL WAS OVERHAULED, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENLY, FULE INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED, IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, AS WELL AS ALTERNATOR, THE ENTIRE ABS SYSTEM HAS BEEN REBUILT, CONSUMER STATES RATTLE SOUND FROM FRONT OF ENGINE DRIVEBELT WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS TENSIONER, ALSO FULE/AIR FILTER WAS REPLACED. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. *JB
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
BOTH FRONT TORSION BARS BROKE WIHTIN ONLY 70416 MILES. *AK
Official recalls
403V159000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Apr 28, 2003
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
01V123000 · Seat Belts:front:warning Light/devices
Apr 10, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE "FASTEN SAFETY-BELT" AUDIBLE WARNING OCCASIONALLY MAY NOT COME ON OR MAY TERMINATE IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ALARM MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
99V009000 · Child Seat
Jan 20, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED DUAL CHILD SEATS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY BE MISSING A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CLUTCH SPRING AND/OR PAWL SPRING IN THE CHILD SEAT. IF THE CLUTCH SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION AND COULD NOT BE USED. IF THE PAWL SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT WOULD CONTINUALLY PLAY OUT AND WOULD NOT LOCK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE CONDITIONS COULD INCREASE THE OCCUPANT'S RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS ON THE CHILD SEATS, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CHILD SEAT.
97V057000 · Seat Belts:rear/other
Apr 8, 1997
THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE RIGHT-HAND REAR BUCKET SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A VEHICLE CRASH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR ON THE REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME.
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
1EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure
Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.