1999 CHEVROLET ASTRO Complaints

PURCHASED USED ASTRO VAN AND NOTED ON 2ND DAY WHEN PUTTING IN REVERSE THEN TO DRIVE A LOUD CLUNK AND HARD JUMP FORWARD UNLESS YOU DELAY TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE OR APPLYING GAS UNTIL YOU CAN FEEL THE GEAR ENGAGE (APPROX. 5-10 SECONDS). THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN BACKING UP, AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT TWICE NOW. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED CORRECTLY OR REPLACED.*AK

MALFUNCTIONED REAR HATCHBACK DOOR FOR A 1999 CHEVY ASTRO. NO MANUAL OVERIDE/RELEASE FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE LIKE A TRUNK RELEASE LEVER ON OTHER VEHICLES. THIS IS A CONCERN AS WELL AS A HAZARD IF THE ONLY OPTION TO EXIT WAS THRU THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR. IT WAS ALSO OF GREAT INCOVENIENCE TO GET A DISABLED PERSONS EQUIPMENT OUT WITH THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR INOPERABLE.

HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. THE AIR CONDITIONER WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. THE REAR HEAT BLOWS COOL AIR ONLY. THE HEATER IS STUCK ON HEAT/DEFROST. THIS WAS A PROBLEM EARLIER WITH THE VAN BUT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAS NOW ACTED UP AGAIN. IT STARTED AGAIN AT APPROX. THE 70,000 KM RANGE. I COULD NOT CHECK THE AIR AT THIS TIME SINCE IT WAS WINTER. ARE THERE ANY FIXES IN PLACE THE GM IS TAKING CARE OF. NOTE: MY ADDRESS IS NOT ALABAMA BUT THE PROVINCE IS SASKATCHEWAN. ALSO THE DOOR HANDLES ARE POOR. REAR ONE WENT AND NOW THE DRIVERS SIDE IS BROKEN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

- THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS LOCKED MORE THAN ONCE. I CALLED THE CHEVROLET DEALER SINCE I COULD NOT LEAVE SINCE I COULD NOT LOCK THE SIDE DOORS; A MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH SYNCHRONIZATION OF THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK WHILE I ACTUALLY LOCK THE DOORS (VERY CONFUSING TO ME). HE SUGGESTED THAT I USE A SCREWDRIVER TO MANUALLY RELEASE THE LOCKED MECHANISM ON BOTH DOORS. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO DO IT, BUT THIS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE; IN ONE INCIDENT, THE DOOR OPENED AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN (FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS ON MY LEFT). I WONDER IF OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SUCH PROBLEM WHICH I FEEL IS NOT SAFE. I NEVER TOOK THIS IN FOR CHECKING, BUT I MIGHT. - THE MOTOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW OFTEN LOCKS AND I AM UNABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOW -- THIS HAS RESULTED IN SNOW, HAIL, STRONG WINDS FORCING ME TO STOP AND KEEP PRESSING THE BUTTON IN ORDER TO CLOSE THE WINDOW AND TO CONTINUE MY TRAVELLING. ANYONE ELSE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS? I NEVER TOOK THE CAR IN, BUT I WILL INQUIRE TO THE DEALER ABOUT IT -- HOPING THAT THERE WILL BE NO CHARGE FOR THIS MALFUNCTION. - THE CAR WAS LOSING POWER IN ACCELLERATION, WHICH OFTEN MADE IT DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELLING, AND MERGING LANES. THE DEALER JUST WORKED ON THE VAN LAST MAY, 2003, AS NOTED ABOVE. FORTUNATELY, THIS WILL BE A GOOD CORRECTION AND I AM JUST SORRY THAT WE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS.

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN IGNITION PROBLEM. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE PARKING. CONSUMER CALLED DEALERSHIP TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. *AK

VEHICLE BOUGHT AT THE END OF 2000, USED. EVERY SUMMER SINCE I HAVE HAD TO HAVE WIRING REPLACED IN THE ENGINE, FRONT DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING AFTER 5 MONTHS, FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 6 TIMES DO TO THE WIRING AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY DUE TO ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL AND ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE STARTER. HYDRAULICS ON REAR DOOR ALSO BROKEN. DISPLAY LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF WHEN THEY WANT TO AND I HAVE CONTINUALLY REPLACED FUSES. I THOUGHT AT FIRST THAT THESE WERE JUST FLUKES, BUT THEY ARE CONTINUALLY GETTING WORSE. I DID TALK TO THE PREVIOUS OWNERS SON ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VAN AND HE INFORMED ME THAT HIS MOTHER RETURNED IT BECAUSE THINGS KEPT FALLING APART ON IT. I WISH I HAD BEEN INFORMED BEFORE HAND HOW MUCH TROUBLE IT WAS GOING TO BE. I LOVE CHEVORLET VEHICLES AND I STILL LIKE MY VAN IT'S JUST COSTING ME TOO MUCH IN REPAIRS. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER WINDOW MOTOR AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED BEFORE. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW IS NOW STALLING AND THE GAS GAUGE HASN'T WORKED IN YEAR. I HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH MY MILEAGE TO MAKE SURE I DON'T RUN OUT GAS. I AM GIVING THE DATE OF THE LAST INCIDENT WHEN IT WAS TOWED. *LA

THE BACK DOORS OF VEHICLE WERE STUCK AND WOULD NOT OPEN. THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A HANDLE THAT WOULD OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. THE DEALER TRIED BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE DOORS OPEN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

THE REAR LEFT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. *JB TREAD SEPARATED WITHOUT HITTING ANY POTHOLES OR DEBRIS. BF GOODRICH WOULD ONLY COVER THE AMOUNT OF THE TREAD AND NOT THE WORKMANSHIP. *PH *JB

THE REMOTE DOOR LOCKS ON MY 1999 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THEY HAVE ALSO STOPPED ON MY FATHERS 1996 ASTRO. THERE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE REMOTE DOOR LOCKS ON THE ASTRO FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE DO NOT OPEN OR LOCK WITH THE REMOTE DEVICE. SINCE DOOR LOCKS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF PASSENGER SAFETY I THINK THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE. *AK

THE ASTRO/SAFARI HAS A BRITTLE VACUUM LINE THAT CROSSES OVER THE THERMASTAT AREA OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS PLASTIC VACUUM LINE IS EASILY BROKEN IN ROUTINE SERVICE OF THE AIR FILTER OR RUBBING ON OTHER COMPONENT PARTS. WHEN THIS VACUUM HOSE IS BROKE...AIR SELECT TO DEFROSTER AND OTHER VENT POSITIONS IS LOST-CAUSING LACK OF VISABILITY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A GM TSB ON THIS AND IT SHOWS UP ON INTRANET THREADS YET GM DEALERS ALLOW CUSTOMERS BE TO SUBJECTED TO A $70. DIAGNOSIS. THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY PROBLEM. THIS VACUUM HOSE IS A "FRONT ROW"STOCKED PART AT MOST DEALERS. I BELIEVE A LOT OF 95-03 ASTRO/SAFARI OWNERS WILL HAVE OR HAVE HAD THIS VACUUM HOSE BREAKAGE.*AK