IllustrationTHE REVERSE SHELL IN THE TRANSMISSION BROKE, DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER WAS SHOCKED THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THIS FAILURE AND FEELS THAT CHEVROLET SHOULD PAY FOR 50 PERCENT OF THE COST SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW MILEAGE. *SLC
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
What owners actually said
360 reportsTHE BATTERY LEAKED ALL OVER THE MAIN COMPUTER SYSTEM AND THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, THE CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT OF REPAIR COST BECAUSE IT WAS THE FAULT OF THE ENGINEERS TO HAVE PLACED THE COMPUTER DIRECTLY UNDER THE BATTERY. *YH
CHRONIC ENGINE KNOCK THAT IS NORMAL. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY IN WARM WEATHER.*AK
CONSUMER RELEASED EMERGENCY BRAKE AND STARTED DRIVING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, HE NOTICED THAT PARK BRAKE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. STOPPED VEHICLE, AND LIFTED PEDAL OFF FLOOR TO GET LIGHT TO GO OFF. DEALER SAID CABLE HAD SNAPPED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH FRONT END LOCKED UP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NO ACCIDENT.*AK
THERE IS A 1/2" METAL SHAFT THAT GOES INTO THE PUMP THAT SHEARED OFF. I WAS MAKING A HARD RIGHT TURN FROM A DEAD STOP WHEN THE SHAFT SNAPPED ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT THE TIME. I ONLY HEARD A NOISE BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT THE TIME.. I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER AND BRAKE. I DIDN'T KNOW THE BRAKES WERE GON…
Read full complaint
THERE IS A 1/2" METAL SHAFT THAT GOES INTO THE PUMP THAT SHEARED OFF. I WAS MAKING A HARD RIGHT TURN FROM A DEAD STOP WHEN THE SHAFT SNAPPED ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT THE TIME. I ONLY HEARD A NOISE BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT THE TIME.. I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER AND BRAKE. I DIDN'T KNOW THE BRAKES WERE GONE UNTIL I BEGAN TRAVELING DOWN A HILL AND TRIED TO SLOW DOWN. THE STEERING WAS VERY STIFF AND UNRESPONSIVE. I WAS FORCED TO SLAM THE GEARSHIFT INTO PARK WHILE TRAVELING 35MPH & USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. THE PUMP COST $300 TO REPLACE BUT WE HAVE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE AS WELL WITH THE REPAIR BILL STILL UNKNOWN. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND VEHICLE SWERVED, SHEARED OFF, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND BROUGHT VEHICLE TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.( OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-89-206)*JB
DRIVEN VAN ABOUT 30 MILES STOPPED AND WHEN WE STARTED TO TAKE OFF VAN LURCHED FOREWARD WITH ALOUD BANG ONLY DOES THIS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. WHEN TRANSMISSION IS COLD DOES NOT DO THIS ONLY WHEN HOT. *AK
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR WHEN I GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY,FEELS LIKE SOMEONE REARENDED ME. GAS GUAGE ALWAYS REGISTERS FULL.GRINDING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR TIRE,SOUNDS LIKE THE REAR AXLE,HAD BRAKES CHECKED BY DEALER THEY ARE FINE.MAYBE I SHOULD OF BOUGHT A FORD. *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.