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2002 Chevrolet Astro

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Astro do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 69.

About this comparison →
70Owner complaints

Model-year median: 69

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
133
1999175
200091
200170
200262
200314
20049
2005
Compare all Astro years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
20Electrical System
13Seat Belts
8Steering
7Power Train
5
All reported categories
Structure
5Tires
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Air Bags
4Visibility
4Engine And Engine Cooling
3Exterior Lighting
3Service Brakes
3Electronic Stability Control (esc)
2Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

45 reports with mileage · 25 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 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports3 fire reports3 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

20 reports
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34,600 miles · May 5, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: SHIFT INDICATOR WAS INDICATING THE WRONG GEAR. WHILE DRIVING THE ROAD THE INDICATOR WAS MOVING, BUT THE SHIFTER ITSELF. EVERY TIME I DROVE THE VEHICLE THIS HAPPENED. IT WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TO FIX AND STATED THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPLAINT. THIS OCCURRED ABOUT A MONTH AGO ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE APPLYING WHEN DRY. WHEN GOIN…

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DT: SHIFT INDICATOR WAS INDICATING THE WRONG GEAR. WHILE DRIVING THE ROAD THE INDICATOR WAS MOVING, BUT THE SHIFTER ITSELF. EVERY TIME I DROVE THE VEHICLE THIS HAPPENED. IT WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TO FIX AND STATED THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPLAINT. THIS OCCURRED ABOUT A MONTH AGO ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE APPLYING WHEN DRY. WHEN GOING ABOUT 3-4 MPH THE ANTILOCK BRAKES WILL ENGAGED. THIS PROBLEM WAS RANDOM. HAVE NOT TAKEN FOR REPAIRS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10119980

13,032 miles · Aug 20, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IN THE MORNING, THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE DISC, ROTORS AND SHOES. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE SYSTEM OVERHEATED, AND A BURNING ODOR FILLED THE CABIN OF THE V…

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WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IN THE MORNING, THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE DISC, ROTORS AND SHOES. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE SYSTEM OVERHEATED, AND A BURNING ODOR FILLED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. *AK THE BRAKES STARTED TO PULSATE AGAIN WHILE GOING DOWN A MOUNTAIN, A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE DRIVELINE BETWEEN SHIFTS AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND SHIFTED ERRATICALLY, THE ENGINE WOULD BREAK UP ON A SLIGHT ACCELERATION DUE TO THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND THE ROTOR BEING CORRODED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10087155

26,000 miles · Mar 4, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringStructureCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST STEERING ABILITY. ALSO, BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE, AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE OUTSIDE WALL OF THE GARAGE. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE AND THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER SUSTAINED NO BODILY INJ…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST STEERING ABILITY. ALSO, BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE, AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE OUTSIDE WALL OF THE GARAGE. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE AND THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER SUSTAINED NO BODILY INJURIES. *AK SLIDING DOOR DOESN'T UNLOCK TO OPEN. DEALER REPLACED PS PUMP BECAUSE PUMP DRIVE SHAFT WAS BROKEN, AND REINSTALLED SIDE DOOR. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10061311

13,500 miles · Jan 21, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE BRAKING ABS BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10055523

4,000 miles · Oct 20, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VAN EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE BRAKE FAILURES BACK TO BACK. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FRONT BRAKES WOULD SMOKE DUE TO BRAKE PADS MELTING. THE NEXT BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VAN IMMEDIATELY WHEN PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP SERVI…

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VAN EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE BRAKE FAILURES BACK TO BACK. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FRONT BRAKES WOULD SMOKE DUE TO BRAKE PADS MELTING. THE NEXT BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VAN IMMEDIATELY WHEN PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VAN, BUT FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. HOWEVER, BRAKE PROBLEM RECURRED FIVE MONTHS AFTERWARDS, AND ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10044298

60,000 miles · Jul 24, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

THE BRAKES MADE A SQUEALING NOISE, AND WAS REPLACED. AFTER THEY WERE REPLACED, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED, THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A SNOWBANK. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND SLID INTO THE PERSON IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT D…

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THE BRAKES MADE A SQUEALING NOISE, AND WAS REPLACED. AFTER THEY WERE REPLACED, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED, THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A SNOWBANK. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND SLID INTO THE PERSON IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED MONEY BACK. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #10019695

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS TO SMALL. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE, HER FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. *NLM *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10020151

7,200 miles · Apr 8, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. *JB ALSO LOST STEERING CONTROL. BLOWN POWER STEERING SHAFT SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10015459

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10015345

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT HALF WAY DOWN, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY MAIN MODULE WHICH CONTROLLED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *JB THE VEHICLE LOST IT'S BRAKING POWER ON A STEEP ICY HILL AND SLID WITH THE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEH…

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CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT HALF WAY DOWN, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY MAIN MODULE WHICH CONTROLLED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *JB THE VEHICLE LOST IT'S BRAKING POWER ON A STEEP ICY HILL AND SLID WITH THE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE BRAKE MODULAR HAD FAILED DURING A TEST DRIVE. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #10003665

Official recalls

1

05V099000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Mar 14, 2005

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE04072 · Loss Of Brake Lamp Illumination

Opened Oct 19, 2004 · Closed Mar 21, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; 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.

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.