1989 CHEVROLET ASTRO Steering Problems

THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPACE AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. THE POWER STEERING BRACKET, OR BRACE, GM PART # 10045287 6.006 BROKE AND THE POWER STEERING UNIT, BELT, AND OTHER ITEMS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY AND THE DEALER TOWED IT IN AND REPAIRED EVERYTHING AT NO CHARGE. SINCE THEN THE SAME BRACKET HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN FOUR OR FIVE TIMES, AND WAS REPLACED EACH TIME WITH A NEW ONE, MOST RECENTLY IN JULY OF 2004. THE PARTS DEPARTMENT ADMITS THEY SELL A LOT OF THESE. *JB

THIS IS THE FOURTH POWER STEERING PUMP WE HAVE PUT ON THE VEHICLE IN A YEAR.*AK

POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE OFF THE BASE. ALSO, STEERING BELT BROKE. IN ADDITION, AIR CONDITIONER BELT/ ALTERNATOR AND ABS BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BECOME VERY LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED ABOUT ONCE A YEAR. CURRENTLY IT HAS BECOME LOOSE FOR THE SECOND TIME AND WILL NEED TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AGAIN.

DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING POWER STEERING HYDRAULIC HOSE WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE PART WILL FAIL AND NEEDS TO REPLACED EVERY 12- 15 MONTHS. *AK

THIS VAN IN NOW CURRENTLY SITTING IN MY YARD AS I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX IT AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE MECHANICS AT THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP STATED IF WOULD BE OVER $600.00 TO REPAIR. I KNOW THIS HAS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT FOR IT TO HAVE HAPPENED TO US ON 5 OCCASIONS, NECESSITATING A WRECKER SERVICE CALL EACH TIME. I PAID $35.00 FOR THE WRECKER THIS TIME AND $48.50 TO GET IT OUT OF THE SHOP UNREPAIRED TO BRING IT HOME TO SIT IN THE YARD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THE BELT SLIPS OFF OF THE SYSTEM IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO CONTROL AND STEER OF THE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED EARLY IN THE MORNING AND THERE WASN'T ANY TRAFFIC ALONG THE HIGHWAY I WAS DRIVING ON.

THE BOLTS BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THAT HOLD THE ALTERNATOR AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR BROKE, WHICH CRACKED THE BRACKET. THE BRACKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES(6/93 AND 6/96) AND NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN. *AK

TWO BOLTS BROKE BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSING THE BRACKET TO BREAK.

STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

POWER STEERING; REAR POWER STEERING BRACE CONTINUOUSLY CRACKS AND HAS BEEN REPLACED (3) TIMES. FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

STEERING COLUMN BOLTS BECOME LOOSE AND CAUSES IGNITION TURN OFF AND OTHER PROBLEMS. TT

THE STEERING COLUMN BASE WAS VERY LOOSE DUE TO FOUR LOOSE SCREWS. *AK

POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. *SD