IllustrationAUTOMATIC RESTRAINT RETRACTORS CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE.*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
What owners actually said
360 reportsVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AT SEAT BELT BUCKLE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND REPIRS WERE BEING MADE AT DEALER SHOP. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DEATAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
FUEL PUMP IS CREATING A HUMMING NOISE. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACED. REPLACED FUEL PUMP IS MAKING SAME NOISE. *AK THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE GAS GUAGE STOPED WORKING. *YH
DURING COLD WEATHER BRAKES WILL LOCK UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE ON SNOW OR ICE. NO ACCIDENT TO REPORT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. PROBLEM WAS DUE TO 'BELT TENSIONER BREAKING. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 - 15 MPH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
FUEL GUAGE DID NOT REGISTER CORRECT LEVELS OF FUEL WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY RUN OUT OF FUEL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *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
THE LIFT GATE FELL ON CONSUMER'S HEAD, THE 2 HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS FAILED, NO ONE WAS INJURED. *SLC
WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK JUST DROPPED MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN OFFF NOT EVEN 5 MIN AGO - WAS DRIVING DOWN RT 97 TOWARDS ANNAPOLIS GOING ABOUT 60 - 65 MPH WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED TO GET A LITTLE HEAVY I NEEDED TO APPLY MY BRAKE AND IT DIDNT WORK I THEN NOTICED THE VAN WAS SPEEDING UP ALL BY ITSELF I CHECKED THE CRUISE CONTR…
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WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK JUST DROPPED MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN OFFF NOT EVEN 5 MIN AGO - WAS DRIVING DOWN RT 97 TOWARDS ANNAPOLIS GOING ABOUT 60 - 65 MPH WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED TO GET A LITTLE HEAVY I NEEDED TO APPLY MY BRAKE AND IT DIDNT WORK I THEN NOTICED THE VAN WAS SPEEDING UP ALL BY ITSELF I CHECKED THE CRUISE CONTROLL AND IT WASNT ON THE VAN KEPT SPEEDING UP I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC - I TURNED MY FLASHERS ON AND DID EVERYTHING I COULD I FINALLY MANAGED TO GET THIS VAN TO THE SHOULDER I HAD MY FOOT PRESSING DOWN AS HARD AS I COULD ( AT THIS POINT MY BODY WAS LIFTED FROM THE SEAT I WAS PRESSING THE BREAK SO HARD I WAS STILL GOING 45-50 MPH ) LUCKILLY AFTER 10 ? MIN OF THIS AND MANY NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES I FINALLY GOT SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH TO THROW IT INTO PARK THE ENGINE WAS SO LOUD I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF OUT OF PARK I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE KEY OFF - I WAS LUCKY MY KIDS WERENT THERE AND I WASNT DRIVING IN A RESIDENTILAL AREA I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR EVN WORSE SEVERAL OTHERS SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK TIS OUT IMMEDIATLET Y THE DEALERSHIP HAS FIXED THIS A T A COST OF 950.00 AND I HAVER REPORTED IT TO CHEVY - HOWEVER SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE THIS PART JUST BROKE??? NO WARNING NO NOTHING JUST ALL THE SUDDEN DECIDED IT WANTED TO KILL ME. *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.