1988 CHEVROLET ASTRO Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
FISSURE IN THE RADIATOR
Mileage: 450,000
CONSUMER STATES IDLER ARM TORE OFF THE FRAME, CAUSING STEERING TO THE FAIL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, BUT WILL BE EASY TO START IT BACK UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
OVERHEATING OF DOME/INSTRUMENT LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH AND PLUG IN FRONT OF IT CAUGHT FIRE. BURNED PARTS REPLACED. HAPPENED TWICE MORE (WITHOUT FIRE). OVERHEATING IN THIS AREA PERSISTS WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. ONE HEADLIGHT GETS EXTREMELY HOT. BURNED OUT FRONT FAN MOTOR AND A MONTH LATER FUEL PUMP B...
OVERHEATING OF DOME/INSTRUMENT LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH AND PLUG IN FRONT OF IT CAUGHT FIRE. BURNED PARTS REPLACED. HAPPENED TWICE MORE (WITHOUT FIRE). OVERHEATING IN THIS AREA PERSISTS WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. ONE HEADLIGHT GETS EXTREMELY HOT. BURNED OUT FRONT FAN MOTOR AND A MONTH LATER FUEL PUMP B...
OVERHEATING OF DOME/INSTRUMENT LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH AND PLUG IN FRONT OF IT CAUGHT FIRE. BURNED PARTS REPLACED. HAPPENED TWICE MORE (WITHOUT FIRE). OVERHEATING IN THIS AREA PERSISTS WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. ONE HEADLIGHT GETS EXTREMELY HOT. BURNED OUT FRONT FAN MOTOR AND A MONTH LATER FUEL PUMP B...
OVERHEATING OF DOME/INSTRUMENT LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH AND PLUG IN FRONT OF IT CAUGHT FIRE. BURNED PARTS REPLACED. HAPPENED TWICE MORE (WITHOUT FIRE). OVERHEATING IN THIS AREA PERSISTS WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. ONE HEADLIGHT GETS EXTREMELY HOT. BURNED OUT FRONT FAN MOTOR AND A MONTH LATER FUEL PUMP B...
BOLTS THAT GO THROUGH THE POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET INTO THE ENGINE HAVE BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME ON A 4.3L ENGINE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AFTER 1-2 HOURS OF TRAVELING TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN STATED THAT TORQUE CONVERTER AND VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND THEN TAKING OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, WHEN VEHIC...
AFTER 1-2 HOURS OF TRAVELING TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN STATED THAT TORQUE CONVERTER AND VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND THEN TAKING OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, WHEN VEHIC...
AFTER 1-2 HOURS OF TRAVELING TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN STATED THAT TORQUE CONVERTER AND VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND THEN TAKING OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, WHEN VEHIC...
I WAS GETTING READY TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE SEAT BACK IMMEDIATELY RECLINED. IT IS A GOOD THING THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME AS I WOULD OF LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VAN INTO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP (MEDVED CHEVROLET IN ARVADA, CO) AS THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WAS ...
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL FOUR VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO POSSIBLE FAILURE AND BLOWOUT OF THE FIRESTONE P 215/70R15 TIRE, PRIOR TO ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ALL NEW TIRES (8-97), ONE WAS REPLACED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO ACCIDENT DUE TO WIRE THREADS STICKING OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS. THE FAMILY ...
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL FOUR VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO POSSIBLE FAILURE AND BLOWOUT OF THE FIRESTONE P 215/70R15 TIRE, PRIOR TO ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ALL NEW TIRES (8-97), ONE WAS REPLACED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO ACCIDENT DUE TO WIRE THREADS STICKING OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS. THE FAMILY ...
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL FOUR VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO POSSIBLE FAILURE AND BLOWOUT OF THE FIRESTONE P 215/70R15 TIRE, PRIOR TO ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ALL NEW TIRES (8-97), ONE WAS REPLACED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO ACCIDENT DUE TO WIRE THREADS STICKING OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS. THE FAMILY ...
VEHICLE BOTOM BOLT TO POWER STEERING BRACKET KEPT BREAKING. BEEN TO DEALER ON ONE OCCASIONS, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE. *AK THE BRACKET BROKE AGAIN ONE YEAR AFTER BEING REPLACED. *YH
RIGHT REAR TIRE, BEARING AND AXEL SHOW EXTREME WEAR OVER A SHORT PERIOD IF TIME. HAVE HAD TWO BLOWOUTS OF THE TIRE AND FOUR OTHER TIRE FAILURES IN THE RIGHT REAR POSITION. HAD TO REPLACE THE AXEL AND WHEEL BEARING DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. THIS IS THE RESULT OF A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE MUFFLER HAS BEE...
THE ONE PIECE ACESSORY MOUNTING BRACKET CRACKS AND FAILS WHICH CAUSES THE POWER STEERING PUMB TO BEND FORWARD AND THE SINGLE SERPENTINE BELT TO BE THROWN. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY THE COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AND YOU COULD TELL THAT ONE THE BRACKET CRACKED, IT PUT A STRAIN ON THE LOER 2...
THE ONE PIECE ACESSORY MOUNTING BRACKET CRACKS AND FAILS WHICH CAUSES THE POWER STEERING PUMB TO BEND FORWARD AND THE SINGLE SERPENTINE BELT TO BE THROWN. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY THE COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AND YOU COULD TELL THAT ONE THE BRACKET CRACKED, IT PUT A STRAIN ON THE LOER 2...
TILT STEERING COLUMN BECAME LOOSE. ON TWO OCCASIONS REPAIR SHOP HAD TO REPLACE THE STREERING COLUMN. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. *AK
NO SUMMARY
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END, AS IF SOMETHING WAS FALLING OUT. DIFFERENTIAL HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END, AS IF SOMETHING WAS FALLING OUT. DIFFERENTIAL HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS
POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE. STOPING DISTANCE OF VEHICLE IS LONGER THAN EXPECTED. WITH A FULL PASSENGER LOAD, VEHICLE DOE NOT WANT TO STOP WITHIN RESONABLE DISTANCE. HAS RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER 3 DIFFERENT TIMES, AND EVERY PART EXCEPT BRAKE LINES AND PROPORTIONING VALVE HAS BEEN REPLACED. VAN ...
EXPERIENCING POOR INSTRUMENT PANEL VISIBILITY WHENEVER SUN IS FACING CONSUMER WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER UNABLE TO SEE SPEEDOMETER . DEALER NOTIFIED, SAYS THAT IT IS BAD DESIGN. *AK
THE DEFECTIVE PLATE THAT HOLDS THE POWER STEERING PUMP CRACKED, CAUSING THE STEERING BELT TO JUMP OFF, RESULTING IN NO STEERING ABILITY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
ENGINE FIRE.(OHIO POLICE REPORT).
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE HARD TO UNLATCH WHILE EXITING VEHICLE. ALSO, CHILD RESTRAINTS IN REAR OF VEHICLE DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH THE RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE. OWNER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES FIBERGLASS VEHICLE SPRING BROKE AND FELT LIKE A BLOWOUT, CONSUMER REPLACED SPRING AND VEHICLE HANDLES FINE. *SLC
SERPENTINE BELT CONTINUALLY COMES OFF PARTICULARLY WHEN RAINING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING ABILITY.
SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF APPROXIMATELY EVERY 6 WEEKS, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OVERHEATING.
WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIPER SWITCH, CAUSED SWITCH TO START SMOKING, RESULTING IN THE WIPERS STAYING UNTIL CONSUMER REMOVED FUSE. *AK
RECALL RELATED, 93V187000, SEAT RECLINER BOLTS WIIL NOT HOLD, CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS, IN FOR REPAIRS AND DID NOT REPLACE THE SOFT JOINT. *AK
THE PLATE THAT ATTACHES TO THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRACKED, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO BECOME LOOSE.
ODOMETER FRAUD.
STEERING COLUMN LOOSE.
THE SMALL OF EXHAUST FUMES ARE COMING INTO VEHICLE. *AK
HAD JUST PULLED OUT ONTO THE STREET WHEN THE IDLER ARM SEPARATED AT THE THREADED PORTION WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME BRACKET, THE SCREW ON JOINT CAME APART. *AK *SLC *JB
THROTTLE BODY WORE OUT, CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO STICK. *AK *JB
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEED THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE, PURCHASED TRUCK USED . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
STEERING BRACKET BOLT BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING, *AK THE POWERE BRACKET BOLTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES AT A COST OF $100.00 EACH TIME, THE BRACKET HAS BROKE ONCE AND AT PRESENT THE AC LINE HAS A HOLE FROM THE LAST TIME THE BOLT BROKE, THE LOCAL DEALE SAID THEY DO ABOUT 10 OF THESE JOBS A...
STEERING BRACKET BOLT BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING, *AK
SPOT WELDS ON FRONT DOORS BREAK LOOSE WHEN CLOSING, WINDOW TRACK FALLS DOWN AND IMPAIRS THE LOCK/WINDOW AND DOOR MECHANISM. *AK CONSUMER STATES HIS WIFE WAS TRAPPED INSIDE VEHICLE AND HAD TO EXIT THROUGH SLIDING DOOR, COULD NOT GET DOORS TO OPEN, DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS ADVISED THAT DOOR NEED...
SPOT WELDS ON FRONT DOORS BREAK LOOSE WHEN CLOSING, WINDOW TRACK FALLS DOWN AND IMPAIRS THE LOCK/WINDOW AND DOOR MECHANISM. *AK CONSUMER STATES HIS WIFE WAS TRAPPED INSIDE VEHICLE AND HAD TO EXIT THROUGH SLIDING DOOR, COULD NOT GET DOORS TO OPEN, DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS ADVISED THAT DOOR NEED...
THE FIRST BENCH SEAT RIGHT SEATBELT RELEASED AND CAUSED THE OCCUPANT TO FALL OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
INSIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE. *SD
RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER DOOR IS MAKING A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING INSIDE IS LOOSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
THE CONSUMER SAID SHE LOST HER POWER STEERING 4 TIMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
THE ASSEMBLY BRACKET OF THE POWER STEERING CRACKED.PLEASE DECRIBE. TT
THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK WELL. TT
CONSUMER WIFE WAS DRIVING TRUCK STALLED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE . TT
THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE ANCHOR BROKE . TT
BRACKET THAT SUPPORTS POWER STEERING UNIT,ALTERNATOR, AIR CONDITIONING UNIT BROKE 2 TIMES. *SD
THE FRONT SEATBELTS DO NOT RETRACT AND THEY REMAIN LIMP WHEN THEY ARE LATCHED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
THE BOLTS TAHT HELD THE METAL BRACKETS THAT SUPPRTED THE ROLLERS GUIDING THE SERPENTINE FAN BELT SHEARED. *AK
REAR AND MIDDLE BENCH SEAT BELT BUCKLES FELL APART UPON LATCHING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
GOT RECALL NOTICE FOR BOLTS ON DRIVER'S CAPTAIN CHAIR BUT IT'S THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT IS HAVING THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGWAY, TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKED, SPEWED ALL OVER ENGINE/BELT/EXHAUST MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN A FIRE. TT
THE ACCESSORIES BRACKET BROKEN . TT
HORSESHOE BRACKET WHICH HOLDS ALL FRONT COMPONENTS OF ENGINE, ONCE BROKEN BRAKES, STEERING AND OTHER COMPONENTS FAILS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
DIFFERENTIAL SPIDER GEAR DIFFERENTIAL BROKE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO RING/PINION AND GEARS. *SKD
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT LATCHES STICK WHEN UNLATCHING, ALSO BELT LENGTHENER/ADJUSTERS DO NOT ADJUST OR LOCK IN. *SKD
SPIDER GEAR BROKE AND DAMAGED THE RING AND PINION AND BEARINGS. TT
DRIVING AND PISTON ROD PUNCTURED OIL PAN AND MOTOR SLIPPED. TT
SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF AND STEERING WAS LOST. TT
SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF AND STEERING WAS LOST. TT
AUTO-TRAN: TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING; STALLED; COULD NOT SHIFT TO ANY GEAR; NO WARNING; SPEED 5-10 MPH. TT