IllustrationTRANSMISSION SLAMMED INTO GEAR AFTER ACCELERATING AND SHIFTED INTO NEXT GEAR. AFTER, SLAMMING INTO NEXT GEAR , VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. DEALER STATED VEHICLE WAS BUILT WITH A INADEQUATE TRANSMISSION TO HAMDLE WEIGHT OF VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER DD NOT PLAN TO SOLVE PROBLEM.*AK
1997 Chevrolet Astro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Astro years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 46 of 360 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports7 fire reports16 injury reports
Power Train complaints
53 reportsAFTER DRIVING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT VIOLENTLY THROUGH LOWER GEARS. DEALERSHIP CONTINUED TO INFORM CONSUMER THAT A TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) WOULD BE RELEASED FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SLC
FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. AIR CONDITIONER AND TRANSMISSION BROKE.
AFTER DRIVING ON INTERSTATE FOR AWHILE, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARSHLY WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A TOLL BOOTH SENDING MY WIFE'S AND CHILDREN'S HEADS BACK SHARPLY AGAINST THEIR SEATS. THE DEALER SAYS IT WILL NEED TO BE REBUILT. INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOPS STATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GMC TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT …
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AFTER DRIVING ON INTERSTATE FOR AWHILE, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARSHLY WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A TOLL BOOTH SENDING MY WIFE'S AND CHILDREN'S HEADS BACK SHARPLY AGAINST THEIR SEATS. THE DEALER SAYS IT WILL NEED TO BE REBUILT. INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOPS STATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GMC TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY CEASE TO FUNCTION, POSSIBLY STRANDING THE PEOPLE IN THE VAN. AFTER ACKNOWLEDGING THIS IN SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS, THE GM GARAGE STILL SAYS THAT GM IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST OF APPROX $2000. *AK
MY FEELING ON THIS VEHICLE IS AS FOLLOWS: THIS IS A RELITIVELY NEW ASTRO VAN, BEING ONLY 4 YEARS OLD, I WOULDN'T HAVE EXPECTED TO HAVE TO ABSORB THE COST OF A REBUILT TRASMISSION ALREADY. AFTER SPEAKING WITH OUR TRASMISSIONS SPECIALIST, HE ADVISED WE CONTACT SOMEONE REGARDING THIS VAN. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRASMISSION WAS CAUSED…
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MY FEELING ON THIS VEHICLE IS AS FOLLOWS: THIS IS A RELITIVELY NEW ASTRO VAN, BEING ONLY 4 YEARS OLD, I WOULDN'T HAVE EXPECTED TO HAVE TO ABSORB THE COST OF A REBUILT TRASMISSION ALREADY. AFTER SPEAKING WITH OUR TRASMISSIONS SPECIALIST, HE ADVISED WE CONTACT SOMEONE REGARDING THIS VAN. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRASMISSION WAS CAUSED BY 2 TORQUE BEARINGS THAT EXPLODED WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION, THUS CAUSING THE DAMAGE. HE LET ME KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL OCCURANCE IN THIS VEHICLE, THERE HAD TO BE A FLAW. TORQUE BEARINGS JUST DO NOT "EXPLODE." THE COST TO REMEDY, WHAT I FEEL IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT, HAS CAUSED A HARDSHIP FOR MY FAMILY. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP WITH THIS MATTER.*AK
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY ROUGH,FEELS LIKE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. IS NOW LEAKING FLUID. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO OPERATE. AFTER LAST REPLACEMENT, DEALERSHIP OVERFILLED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, CAUSING EXCESSIVE LEAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW WILL NOT STAY OPEN, CLIPS THAT SHOULD HOLD IT UP ARE BLOCKED BY MATERIAL, WINDOW SLAMS SHUT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 45000 MILES. *AK OIL LEAK, DEALER ORDERED AXLE OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE CUTTING AND WOULD CRANK, BUT …
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DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW WILL NOT STAY OPEN, CLIPS THAT SHOULD HOLD IT UP ARE BLOCKED BY MATERIAL, WINDOW SLAMS SHUT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 45000 MILES. *AK OIL LEAK, DEALER ORDERED AXLE OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE CUTTING AND WOULD CRANK, BUT WOULD NOT STAR. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE ERRATIC, DEALER REPLACED OIL PRESSURE SENDER. FRONT BRAKES AND PADS WERE REPLACED, ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS PLAY IN THE STEERING, DEALER REPLACED BOTH IDLER ARMS AND RESET TOE IN. POWER DOOR LOCKS INOPERABLE, DEALER REPLACED POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH. POWER WINDOW INOPERABLE, DEALER REPLACED POWER WINDOW SWITCH. SHIFTER WAS HARD TO MOVE, DEALER REPLACED SHIFT CABLE. GAS PEDAL BINDS AT TIMES, DEALER ORDERED THROTTLE CABLE AND REPLACED ACCELERATOR CABLE. DRIVER SETA SEEMS LOOSE WHEN BRAKING, DEALER ORDERED DRIVER SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY AND REPLACED DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTER. PCM FUSE KEPT BLOWING OUT, DEALER REMOVED ENGINE COVER AND TRACED WIRE HARNESS, REPAIRED SHORTED HARNESS AT THE REAR OF THE TRANSMISSION. *SLC
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST FIRST GEAR THEN FOURTH GEAR WAS LOST. *AK FINALLY THE REVERSE GEAR FAILED. *YH
CONSUMER WENT TO CHECK WHY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, MECHANICS REPORTED THAT THE WIRING UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS ENTANGLED. *SLC
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.