IllustrationSEAT BELT GUIDE STRUCK PASSENGER WHILE RELEASING THE BACK SEAT.
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 reportsAXLE ASSEMBLY OVERHEATED AND FAILED AXLE SEALS/BEARINGS. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AND A BIG TRUCK PASSES THE ASTRO AND THE REAR SIDE QUARTER WINDOW SHUT ALL BY ITSELF, WHEN THE WINDOW IS OPENED THE LOCK ON THE WINDOW IS ADJUSTED SO THAT THE WINDOW COULD STAY OPEN. BUT FOR SOME REASON WHEN SOMETHING HEAVY WINDED COMES BY LIKE A BIG TRUCK, THE WINDOW WOULD SHUT WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. THE OWNER STATES …
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WHEN DRIVING AND A BIG TRUCK PASSES THE ASTRO AND THE REAR SIDE QUARTER WINDOW SHUT ALL BY ITSELF, WHEN THE WINDOW IS OPENED THE LOCK ON THE WINDOW IS ADJUSTED SO THAT THE WINDOW COULD STAY OPEN. BUT FOR SOME REASON WHEN SOMETHING HEAVY WINDED COMES BY LIKE A BIG TRUCK, THE WINDOW WOULD SHUT WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. THE OWNER STATES THAT THERE ARE CHILDREN THAT SIT BACK IN THE REAR OF THE ASTRO, AND THAT THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR THE WINDOW TO SHUT LIKE THIS. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. DEALER HAS RESET THE COMPUTER, AND ALSO REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTORS WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
STEERING: SITTING STILL ,TURNED VEHICLE ON , PUSHED ON BRAKE, STEERING WHEEL TURNED PART WAY THEN IT WOULD LOCK. WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE, IT WILL STEER FINE. SPOKE WITH DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A GENERAL DEFECT WITH THE ALL WHEEL DRIVES. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING, THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
SLOWED DOWN FOR TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE; VEHICLE STOPPED; SEMI REARENDED VEHICLE #2 & THAT VEHICLE REARENDED ASTRO, CAUSING DRIVER'S SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS; VIEW WAS OBSTRUCTED; TOOK TO MECHANIC & NOTICED BOLTS SHEARED OFF & PULLED OUT OF THREADS; HAVE PARTS. *AK *SLC
SECOND STAGE MANUFACTURER TIARA MOTORCOACH HAS A DUAL RETRACTING SYSTEM IN LAST REAR SEAT ON EACH SIDE. BUCKLE COMES WAY ABOVE SHOOULDER WHICH SOMEHOW ALLOWS OCCUPANT TO LEAN FORWARD EVEN WITH BRAKES APPLIED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING (60) MPH DRIVER EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE. THE RIM AND TIRE WILL BE REPLACED. *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.