SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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

View recall details →

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

What owners actually said

70 reports
133,600 miles · Aug 15, 2012
Electrical SystemEquipment Adaptive/mobilityVisibility

RECENTLY I TOOK MY VAN TO A DEALER BECAUSE THE KNOB ON THE A/C FAN MELTED OFF IT COST 600 DLRS IN REPAIRS THE HVAC KNOB HAD MELTED OFF ALSO THE CONNECTOR AND RESISTOR HAD BURNED OUT . THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED TOGETHER. NO FUSE BLEW TO PREVENT HIS FORM HAPPENING WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THIS TO OCCUR. MY CONCERN IS…

Read full complaint

RECENTLY I TOOK MY VAN TO A DEALER BECAUSE THE KNOB ON THE A/C FAN MELTED OFF IT COST 600 DLRS IN REPAIRS THE HVAC KNOB HAD MELTED OFF ALSO THE CONNECTOR AND RESISTOR HAD BURNED OUT . THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED TOGETHER. NO FUSE BLEW TO PREVENT HIS FORM HAPPENING WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THIS TO OCCUR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE DASH WHILE I WAS DRIVING RESULTING IN SEVERE INJURY ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF THERE WAS A RECALL I MISSED OR IF THERE IS ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME CONCERN CHEVY OWNER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470766

79,000 miles · Jul 28, 2012
Service Brakes

ABS WAS ACTIVATED AT SLOW SPEEDS CAUSING A SUBSTANTIAL DROP IN BRAKING POWER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468081

170,000 miles · May 15, 2012
Electrical SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK SHE NOTICED THERE WAS SMOKE AND FIRE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS ALSO A MINOR EXPLOSION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT AN ELECTRICAL WIRE STARTED THE FIRE. A REPORT WAS FILED AND THE FAILURE W…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK SHE NOTICED THERE WAS SMOKE AND FIRE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS ALSO A MINOR EXPLOSION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT AN ELECTRICAL WIRE STARTED THE FIRE. A REPORT WAS FILED AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR TOWED FROM THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000. UPDATED 8/23/12

NHTSA ODI #10458535

106,872 miles · Oct 24, 2011
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS COMING ON AT VERY LOW SPEEDS ON DRY PAVEMENT (UNDER 5MPH/8KMH). IT DOESN'T DO IT EVERY TIME, BUT QUITE OFTEN AT LOW SPEEDS, LIKE COMING TO A RED LIGHT, STOP SIGN OR PARKING. OF COURSE, THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE ABS COME ON AT SUCH LOW SPEEDS AND ESPECIALLY NOT ON DRY PAVEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10432683

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. THE ABS UNIT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THE REAR BRAKES HAD ALREADY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER BUT WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10432394

76,000 miles · Mar 12, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ACTIVATE WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,000. UPDATED 5/12/10 *CN UPDATED 06/18/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10319196

25,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN RESERVE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILE…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN RESERVE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI #10315519

172,777 miles · Jan 15, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. WHILE DRIVING 30 TO 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN BY APPLYING THE BRAKES WHICH FORCED THE CONTACT TO SHIFT GEARS INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO THIRD GEAR. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE ENGAGING…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. WHILE DRIVING 30 TO 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN BY APPLYING THE BRAKES WHICH FORCED THE CONTACT TO SHIFT GEARS INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO THIRD GEAR. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO ENGAGE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO LOOSEN THE THROTTLE; HOWEVER, WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE RPM'S INCREASED RAPIDLY. THE POLICE HELPED THE CONTACT PUSH THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RAPID ACCELERATION WAS DUE TO A FRAYED ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND ADJUSTED THE IDLE AND THROTTLE PLATE. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING NORMALLY. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THE PARTS FROM THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LONGER AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,777.

NHTSA ODI #10299850

161,000 miles · Apr 6, 2009
Exterior Lighting

HAZARD LIGHTS STOP WORKING AND CAUSES THE TRAILER LIGHTS NOT TO WORK( NO LEFT TURN, RIGHT TURN OR BRAKES TO TRAILER HARNESS). SIGNALS AND BRAKES ON VAN WORKS OKAY BUT NO HAZARDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10264251

50,000 miles · Feb 24, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

TL. CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVY ASTRO VAN. CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 50,000. CONTACT STATED UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FROM ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN BAD. CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 20 TIME MOST OF THE TIME FOR THE BRAKES. CONTACT HAS CRASH THE DUE TO T…

Read full complaint

TL. CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVY ASTRO VAN. CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 50,000. CONTACT STATED UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FROM ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN BAD. CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 20 TIME MOST OF THE TIME FOR THE BRAKES. CONTACT HAS CRASH THE DUE TO THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE. CONTACT FEELS THATTHE VEHICLE WAS A LEMON UPON PURCHASE AND DOES NOT FEEL THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE ON THE ROAD. JO

NHTSA ODI #10259849

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.