1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO Complaints

BETWEEN 50-65MPH THE REAR END HAS A LOUD HUMMING SOUND LOW SOUND - TALKED TO ANOTHER CUSTOMER WHO FRANK PARRA HAS TRIED TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEM. BROWN FUNERAL HOME BUYS A NUMBER OF ASTROS. PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 97 AND 98 - SAME THING. FRANK PARRA TRIED TO CURE BY BALANCING DRIVE SHAFT AND PUTTING A WEIGHT ON THE EXHAUST TO NO AVAIL. CAN YOU HELP. REALLY ANNOYING.

DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF STEERING GEAR BOX NUT BROKE, CAUSING THE STEERING MECHANISM TO LOCK UP AND NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DUE TO THIS DESIGN DEFECT, IT CAUSES THE STEERING GEAR AND PUMP TO BE REPLACED, AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE HYDROBOOST. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THERE'S A CLUNKING NOISE, AS IF A PIECE OF METAL IS BROKEN IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN DRIVING AT 45MPH THE VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING. ALSO THE VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT. DEALER HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR A MONTH.

DOOR LATCHES DO NOT HOLD THE VEHICLES' DOOR OPEN WHEN PARKED ON INCLINE/DECLINE POSITION CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER WHEN SLAMMED BY DOOR WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE.

DRIVER HARDLY TAPPED THE BUMPER OF VEHICLE AHEAD OF HER'S, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGES DONE TO THE VAN OR THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS ARE BEING REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S HOUSE WHEN ANOTHER CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE. THE FIRE STARTED WITHIN ELECTRICAL INTERIOR SYSTEM. *AK

SLIDING DOOR ON SIDE OF VEHICLE IN 1997 AND 1998 MODELS DOES NOT HAVE A MECHANISM TO ENSURE THE DOOR STAYS OPEN UNTIL NEEDED TO BE SHUT. IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A SLOPE OR IF SOMEONE USES THE DOOR AS LEVERAGE TO CLIMB INTO THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR SHUTS ON THEM, CAUSING LOSS OF BALANCE AND/OR BEING CRUSHED BY THE DOOR. THE 1996 MODEL HAD A LATCH THAT ENGAGED WHEN THE DOOR WAS FULLY OPENED, AND WAS DISENGAGED BY THE DOOR HANDLE. DEALER STATED THE 1997 AND 1998 WERE DESIGNED WITHOUT THE LATCH. I HAD A 1996 WHICH I TRADED IN BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. I TRANSPORT 4 AND 6 YEAR OLD CHILDREN IN THE VAN DAILY. WHEN THEY ARE BOARDING, I AM AT THE SIDE DOOR TO ENSURE IT DOES NOT SLAM ON THEM. WHEN I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, THE SERVICE PERSON THOUGHT THE LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE, AND INDICATED HE COULD FIX IT AT THE 3000 MILE CHECK. WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE, HE REALIZED THE MODEL MODIFICATIONS. THESE CAUSE A SAFETY PROBLEM WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE BOARDING PASSENGER TO LOOSE THEIR BALANCE WHEN THE DOOR STARTS CLOSING, OR BE SLAMMED INTO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE DOOR SHUTS ON THEM.

WHEN STARTING OR STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL SHIFTING IN THE TANK IS SO HARD IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REARENDED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE TANK IS FULL TO THREE QUARTERS FULL.

BRAKE LIGHTS AND OR DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS WILL GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO WARNING, A FUSE BLOWS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. DEALER CONTACTED EIGHT TIMES AND ARE NOW TALKING WITH MANUFACTURER TO TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS AREVERY CLOSE AND AT THE SAME LEVEL,MAKING IT VERY EASY TO MISTAKENLY DEPRESS BOTH PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAPPENE DTWICE, ONCE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE BACKING UP.