Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
1525–50K
1550–75K
675–100K
11100–150K
9150K+
61 reports with mileage · 30 unknown
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 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
91 reports
103,000 miles · May 3, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE ABS ON MY 2001 CHEV ASTRO ARE FAULTY, SIMILAR TO THE INVESTIGATION ON THE PICKUPS AND SUVS. AT SLOW SPEEDS, LIKE IN PARKING LOTS OR AT STOP SIGNS, THE ABS ACTIVATES, THE PEDAL BECOMES TOO HARD TO PUSH, AND I CANNOT STOP AT ALL. THIS HAPPENS EVEN ON DRY ROADS. THE REPAIR IS OVER $1000 WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS AND OVER $2000 …
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THE ABS ON MY 2001 CHEV ASTRO ARE FAULTY, SIMILAR TO THE INVESTIGATION ON THE PICKUPS AND SUVS. AT SLOW SPEEDS, LIKE IN PARKING LOTS OR AT STOP SIGNS, THE ABS ACTIVATES, THE PEDAL BECOMES TOO HARD TO PUSH, AND I CANNOT STOP AT ALL. THIS HAPPENS EVEN ON DRY ROADS. THE REPAIR IS OVER $1000 WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS AND OVER $2000 WITH GM ORIGINAL PARTS. I DISCONNECTED THE FRONT ABS SENSORS.
NHTSA ODI #10119457
Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2005
Structure
2001 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN HAD TO HAVE ALL 4 OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES REPLACED. *MR EACH ONE HAD BECOME CRACKED. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10120401
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2005
Exterior Lighting
THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. CONTACTED THE DEALER. WAS TOLD IT WAS IN THE SWITCH. RECALL NUMBER 05V099000/ CONCERNING HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT. WAS ISSUED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10117047
39,000 miles · Mar 22, 2005
Exterior Lighting
BRAKE LIGHTS AND HAZARD LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER SAW A RECALL ON THE TELEVISION HOWEVER, AFTER CALLING THE MANUFACTURER, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10115532
45,000 miles · Feb 5, 2005
Electrical System
2001 CHEVY ASTRO VAN - NO BRAKE LIGHTS - SAME THING HAPPENED IN A '94 CHEVY S-10 FAULTY TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IN STEERING COLUMN. SEEMS COMMON...?*JB
NHTSA ODI #10109912
53,000 miles · Nov 24, 2004
Exterior Lighting
BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE - HAZARD LIGHT FAILURE - SWITCH DEFECTIVE. SAME PROBLEM AS IDENTIFIED IN NHTSA RECALL # 01V364000. BRAKE LIGHTS NOT OPERATING, CARS RUNNING UP CLOSE ON BACK END, STOPPED BY LOCAL SHERIFF. CONTACTED GM. IF YOU READ THIS NOTICE PLEASE SUBMIT COMPLAINT..... POWER IN NUMBERS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10100464
62,500 miles · Sep 13, 2004
Exterior Lighting
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT GM HAD RECALLS ON 2000-2001 BLAZER, GMC JIMMY AND OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SWITCH. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED…
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THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT GM HAD RECALLS ON 2000-2001 BLAZER, GMC JIMMY AND OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SWITCH. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED - NOT AWARE WHEN ORIGINAL PROBLEM ALREADY EXISTED- NOTICED WHEN FOLLOWING VEHICLE TO VAN CONVERSION SHOP TO RAISE THE ROOF AND INSTALL WHEELCHAIR LIFT AND TIE-DOWNS. VAN IS SOLELY USED TO TRANSPORT HANDICAPPED DAUGHTER. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10081185
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2004
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
WHILE TRAVELING, AND APPLYING BRAKES CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAME VERY CLOSE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE BEHIND HIT IT FROM THE REAR. THERE WERE NO BRAKE LIGHTS. CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT VERY CONCERNED. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT CONTROLLED THE BRAKE L…
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WHILE TRAVELING, AND APPLYING BRAKES CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAME VERY CLOSE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE BEHIND HIT IT FROM THE REAR. THERE WERE NO BRAKE LIGHTS. CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT VERY CONCERNED. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT CONTROLLED THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND PANEL LIGHTS. ALSO, CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10090054
69,000 miles · Jul 30, 2004
Seat Belts
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNLOCKED FROM THE BELT BUCKLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT FRAYED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10080219
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2004
Exterior Lighting
VEHICLE'S HAZARD WARNING SWITCH WAS MALFUNCTIONING.*MR THE HAZARD MALFUNCTION CAUSED THE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONSUMER IS AWARE OF A RECALL ON THE PONTIAC GRAND AM 2001 FOR THE HAZARD SWITCH AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ASTRO. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THE FAILURE. *NM
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MAY DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION IN THE STOP LAMP OR HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT THAT RESULTS IN THE STOP LAMPS AND HAZARD LAMPS BEING INOPERATIVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LOSS OF STOP LAMPS AND REAR HAZARD LAMPS COULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND/OR IS STOPPED AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD WARNING FLASHER SWITCH AND APPLY SPECIAL GREASE TO THE CONTACTS AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION OF THE MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE REPAIR WOULD BE USED IN VEHICLES IN WHICH THE HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON IS STILL MOVABLE. IF A VEHICLE HAS A HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON THAT IS NOT MOVABLE (FROZEN), THE ENTIRE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 13, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 9, 2005, GM STATED THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REMEDY A FAULTY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 AND 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO AND GMC SAFARI VEHICLES; SPECIFICALLY, ALL MY 2001 VEHICLES AND EARLY MY 2002 VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH AND AUGUST 2001.SEE NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-099 FOR DETAILS.THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MAY DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BRAKE LAMP OR HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS AND HAZARD LAMPS.THIS IS DUE TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF THE MATERIAL AND LUBRICATION FOR THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR THAT RESULT IN INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE HAZARD SWITCH AND STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON IN OPEN (NO CONTACT) CONDITION.DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH AND APPLY SPECIAL GREASE TO THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR.IF A VEHICLE HAS A STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON, DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 9, 2005, GM STATED THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REMEDY A FAULTY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 AND 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO AND GMC SAFARI VEHICLES; SPECIFICALLY, ALL MY 2001 VEHICLES AND EARLY MY 2002 VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH AND AUGUST 2001.SEE NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-099 FOR DETAILS.THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MAY DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BRAKE LAMP OR HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS AND HAZARD LAMPS.THIS IS DUE TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF THE MATERIAL AND LUBRICATION FOR THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR THAT RESULT IN INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE HAZARD SWITCH AND STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON IN OPEN (NO CONTACT) CONDITION.DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH AND APPLY SPECIAL GREASE TO THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR.IF A VEHICLE HAS A STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON, DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH.
Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights
IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 9, 2005, GM STATED THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REMEDY A FAULTY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 AND 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO AND GMC SAFARI VEHICLES; SPECIFICALLY, ALL MY 2001 VEHICLES AND EARLY MY 2002 VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH AND AUGUST 2001.SEE NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-099 FOR DETAILS.THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MAY DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BRAKE LAMP OR HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS AND HAZARD LAMPS.THIS IS DUE TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF THE MATERIAL AND LUBRICATION FOR THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR THAT RESULT IN INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE HAZARD SWITCH AND STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON IN OPEN (NO CONTACT) CONDITION.DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH AND APPLY SPECIAL GREASE TO THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR.IF A VEHICLE HAS A STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON, DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH.
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