2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO Complaints

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE EXTERIOR DRIVER SIDE MIRROR FLEW OFF ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER DID NOT NOTICE IF THE MIRROR WAS LOOSE BEFORE HE ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MIRROR STARTED MOVING AND HE TRIED TO REACH OUT THROUGH THE WINDOW AND GRAB THE MIRROR BUT COULD NOT CATCH THE MIRROR AND IT ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS DRIVING BEHIND HIM. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE MIRROR HAD BEEN HIT PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE GLUE WHERE THE MIRROR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ATTACHED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHY THE MIRROR HAD COME OFF. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK (12/07/05) *SC *JB

I RECENTLY BEGAN DRIVING A 2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN ON OCCASION AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE MY FOOT HAS SLIPPED OFF OF (OR MISSED ENTIRELY) THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PEDAL MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 2.625" X 2.0" AND IS 50% TO 300% SMALLER THAN THOSE ON OTHER PASSENGER VEHICLES OR MID-SIZED PICKUP TRUCKS IN OUR FLEET. I HAVE HAD A COUPLE NEAR MISSES IN COLLIDING WITH OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS WHEN THIS HAPPENS, BUT CONSIDER IT ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *JB

UNEVEN WEAR OF BRAKE ROTORS DUE TO FROZEN CALIPERS. ROTOR BECOMES UNEVENLY WORN CAUSING A PULSE IN BRAKES AND REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BRAKES. WHEN EXAMINED FURTHER IT IS APPARENT THAT THE CALIPER IS NOT SLIDING PROPERLY AND ONLY THE PISTON SIDE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS BEING APPLIED AGGRAVATING THE PROBLEM FURTHER. PROBLEM WAS A PRIMARY CAUSE FOR LOSS OF CONTROL IN A LOW TRACTION INCIDENT IN WHICH THE VAN SPUN DURING PANIC BRAKING WHEN ONE REAR WHEEL LOCKED AND THE OTHER DIDN'T. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS AND EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED ONLY TO REDEVELOP PROBLEMS WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO. DEALER SERVICED VEHICLE ONE TIME AS WARRANTY BUT REQUIRED PAYMENT FOR PADS EVEN THOUGH THE PREMATURE WEAR WAS CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM. THIS VAN IS ADVERTISED WITH A TOWING CAPACITY OF 5000 LBS I WOULD BE SCARED TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE PROBLEM MANIFESTED ITSELF WHILE TOWING A 5000LB TRAILER DOWN A HILL OR MOUTAIN SIDE. *JB

DT: 2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO, VEHICLE HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES, AROUND AT LEAST 12 TIMES, THIS HAPPENED ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS ENDANGERING THE CONSUMER AND HER FAMILY, THE CONSUMER HAS HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AROUND 5 OR 6 OF THESE TIMES, THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE USUALLY STARTS BACK UP AFTER AT LEAST 2-3 HOURS AFTER STALLING, VEHICLE ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES, CONSUMER HAS GOTTEN IN CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURE, CHEVROLET HAS YET TO GET BACK TO THE CONSUMER, THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WERE POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION , POWER CONTROL MODULE, POSSIBLE TRANSFERENCE PROBLEM, OR POSSIBLE OTHER PROBLEM, DEALER ALSO SAID THERE WAS A LOUD REAR CHATTER. *JB

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY ASTRO. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN JANUARY OF 2005. THE VOLTS METER STARTED DROPPING. I TOOK IT TO PHIL SMITH CHEVROLET IN LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA. THEY DID AN ELECTRIC DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY TO BE BAD. I CHANGED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY ON MY OWN. VEHICLE STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM AFTERWARDS. I THEN TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO PHIL SMITH CHEVROLET, AND THEY SAID THAT THE BATTERY CABLES WERE BAD. I HAD THEM CHANGE THEM. THE BATTERY LIGHT WAS STILL COMING ON, AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS OKAY, THEY JUST FORGOT TO RESET THE LIGHT. EVERYTHING WAS OKAY, EXCEPT FOR THE BATTERY LIGHT STILL COMING ON, UNTIL MAY OF 2005. WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, MY VEHICLE STALLS OUT, BUT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP. I THEN BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO TRAPP CHEVROLET IN HOUMA, LA. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS BAD. SO, I THEN CHANGED THE ALTENATOR AGAIN. I WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SO I RETURNED TO TRAPP. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AGAIN, AND SAID THAT THE FUEL FILTER WAS OUT AND DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND ROTOR WAS OUT. I THEN CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER, DISTRIBUTOR CAP, AND ROTOR MYSELF. I WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I THEN, RETURNED TO TRAPP CHEVROLET, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM, AND THE MECHANIC HAS DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AND SEES THE PROBLEM, BUT CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. IF I WANT THEM TO CONTINUE WORKING TO FIND THE PROBLEM, I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVEN'T FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH.

CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH SHE AND HER 2 YEAR OLD CHILD GOT BURNED BY THE INTERIOR BULB. IT OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE HOUSING AROUND IT. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND STATED THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEM, AND WAS AFRAID THAT THE VEHICLE MAY CATCH ON FIRE. *AK *NM

AFTER BALL JOINT RECALL, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH STEERING, BRAKING AND SUSPENSION. FRONT LEFT SIDE CONTINUALLY POPS AND GRINDS, SHOCK BOOT WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE SHOCKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE THIRD TIME MAY HAVE FIXED IT, JUST GOT THE VAN BACK TODAY. BRAKES ARE INTERMITTENT. HEARD LOUD BANG FROM REAR END, DEALERSHIP TIGHTENED BACKING PLATE. TRANSMISSION SLIPS, SHUDDER IS FELT FROM REAR END AT 30+ MPH. DEALERSHIP PUT BALANCES ON TORQUE CONVERTER AND THE DRIVE SHAFT, HAD TO CUT THE REAR SPRINGS TO DO THIS. SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT GONE, BUT LIVABLE. VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH AT IDLE, ALMOST STALLING, SERVICE MANAGER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AS WELL. SAID FUEL INJECTOR PORT WAS FILL WITH CARBON, BUT CLEANING IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DURING A TRIP, STAYED ON FOR THE 6 HOUR DRIVE HOME, THERE WAS NO HEAT AT ALL, SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE COULD NOT GET THE COMPUTER TO REPRODUCE THE CODE, BUT REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP AND TWO CLAMPS.*AK

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *AK

DRIVELINE VIBRATION - 40 - 60 MPH CAN BE FELT IN SEAT AND FLOOR - DEALER HAS REPLACED TAIL SHAFT BUSHINGS ON FIRST VISIT (2 DAYS) RETURNED VEHICLE WITH SAME PROBLEM - DEALER INSTALLED DAMPENERS ON REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING AND REAR LEAF SPRINGS. (5 DAYS) PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. DEALER HAS ORDERED A DAMPENER FOR EXHAUST PIPE,HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED YET WILL CALL WHEN PART ARRIVES. DEALER PERSONEL HAVE BEEN VERY POLITE AND COURTEOUS .I FEEL THEY ARE TRYING TO COVER THE SYMPTOMS RATHER THAN FIND THE CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION?*AK

RECALL 03V328000/LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT INTERFERENCE. CONSUMER HAD RECALL REPAIRS DONE. WHENEVER VEHICLE WAS BACKING UP OR MAKING A TURN A POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK