MY SPOUSE WAS DRIVING AND WE WERE STOPPED AT A YARD SALE. WE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND STARTED TO BACK OUT WHEN SHE NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. THEN WHEN SHE WANTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES WERE EXTREME HARD TO OPERATE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH WE LEARNED OF HUNDREDS OF BRAKE MALFUNCTIONS ON SIMILA…
Read full complaint
MY SPOUSE WAS DRIVING AND WE WERE STOPPED AT A YARD SALE. WE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND STARTED TO BACK OUT WHEN SHE NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. THEN WHEN SHE WANTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES WERE EXTREME HARD TO OPERATE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH WE LEARNED OF HUNDREDS OF BRAKE MALFUNCTIONS ON SIMILAR VEHICLES AND OTHER CARS THAT USE SIMILAR BRAKE BOOSTER TECHNOLOGY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10577639
115,819 miles · Jan 3, 2007
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringFire
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN WHICH HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER SERVICE SHOP SINCE DECEMBER 19, 2006. WHEN DRIVING AND TURNING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER IN BOTH THE STEERING SYSTEM AND THE BRAKES. THE DEALER RAN THE VEHICLE TROUGH DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FOUND R…
Read full complaint
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN WHICH HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER SERVICE SHOP SINCE DECEMBER 19, 2006. WHEN DRIVING AND TURNING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER IN BOTH THE STEERING SYSTEM AND THE BRAKES. THE DEALER RAN THE VEHICLE TROUGH DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FOUND RECALL INFORMATION FOR VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR FAILURES. ON DECEMBER 29 2006 THEY RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER STATING THAT THEY WERE CHECKING TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WAS COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY IF NOT THE COST OF THE REPAIR WILL BE $552.10. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10177708
50,000 miles · Aug 23, 2006
SteeringCrashInjury
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 50 - 55 MPH DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION THE FRONT TWO WHEELS BEGAN TURNING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO STEERING INPUT. THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED HOWEVER THERE WAS DIFFICULTING IN STOPPING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE ENDING UP IN A SIX FOOT DITCH …
Read full complaint
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 50 - 55 MPH DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION THE FRONT TWO WHEELS BEGAN TURNING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO STEERING INPUT. THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED HOWEVER THERE WAS DIFFICULTING IN STOPPING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE ENDING UP IN A SIX FOOT DITCH WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE AFTER INSPECTION, THE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. BOTH AAA AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE SENDING OUT INSPECTORS TO VIEW THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INCURRED MULTIPLE INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS PROCESSED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #10166301
40,000 miles · Jun 28, 2006
Parking BrakeService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ALONG WHEN THE BRAKE SYSTEM WENT COMPLETELY OUT. WE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VAN ABOUT 4-5 MONTHS BEFORE IT HAPPENED. I HAD THE VAN LOOKED AT BY JAMES MARTIN CHEVROLET IN DETROIT MICHIGAN. THE REPAIRS CAME UP TO $1400.00. THE VAN ONLY HAD ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10161003
Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2005
Steering
THE STEERING HAS LIMITED TURNING. WE CAN'T TURN INTO A PARKING PLACE WITHOUT BACKING UP AND MAKING TWO ATTEMPTS. I HAVE OWNED TWO OTHER ASTRO VANS THAT TURNED GREAT. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10143272
35 miles · May 6, 2003
Steering
WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNED AROUND A CORNER, THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT TURN FAR ENOUGH TO MAKE THE TURN. THE CONSUMER HAD TO BACK UP, AND THEN PULL IN. *JB
CERTAIN MINIVANS HAVE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION BETWEEN THE LOWER BALL JOINT RUBBER BOOT AND THE STEERING KNUCKLE (BOTH LEFT/RIGHT SIDES), WHICH COULD RESULT IN CUTTING OF THE BOOT THAT IS INTENDED TO SEAL THE BALL JOINT. IF THE LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT WERE CUT, CONTAMINATION FROM THE ROAD (SALT, DIRT, WATER, ETC.) COULD ENTER THE BALL SOCKET AREA OF THE BALL JOINT CAUSING THE JOINT TO WEAR OUT TOO QUICKLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE STEERING KNUCKLE COULD SEPARATE FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, DROPPING DOWN THE AFFECTED CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE COIL SPRING WOULD PUSH THE CONTROL ARM DOWN INTO CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, CREATING A DRAG THAT WOULD SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE AFFECTED WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE IF FORCES RESULTING FROM THE WHEEL'S DRAGGING ACTION WERE SUFFICIENT TO FRACTURE THE TIE ROD END AND UPPER BALL JOINT CONNECTIONS. SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOULD ALSO SEVER THAT WHEEL'S HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE, RESULTING IN LOST BRAKING PERFORMANCE FROM THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE WOULD INCREASE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD 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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2003 Chevrolet Astro Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year