1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE MOTOR COVER FOR HIM TO MANEUVER HIS FEET. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT HE COULD POSSIBLY GET HIS FOOT CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MOTOR COVER IN THE EVENT THAT HE NEEDED TO APPLY THE BRAKES QUICKLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 114,000. UPDATED 04-20-09 *BF UPDATED 04/24/09.*JB

Mileage: 114,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 88,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000*AK.

Mileage: 85,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT LOW SPEEDS, THE PEDAL WAS HARDER TO DEPRESS AND HAD A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

Mileage: 103,000

WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP AT ABOUT 2 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM STARTED RAPIDLY CYCLING, NO BRAKES WERE GRABBING BECAUSE OF THE RAPID CYCLING, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE SLIGHTLY, AND THE VEHICLE WAS HEADED FOR EITHER TWO PEDESTRIANS OR A BUILDING. TO STOP THE VEHICLE, I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. AFTER ANOTHER BRAKE ATTEMPT THE BRAKES RESPONDED. I WENT TO AN ISOLATED STREET WITH SOME ICE AND DRY PAVEMENT, AND THIS ANTI-LOCK BRAKING FAILURE OCCURRED IN 1 OUT OF 5 BRAKING ATTEMPTS. I NEVER RECEIVED AN ANTI-LOCK WARNING LIGHT AND THE SYSTEM COMPLETED ITS SELF TESTS PROPERLY ON EACH ENGINE START UP. I REMOVED THE 60 AMP FUSE TO DISABLE THE SYSTEM AND I AM NOT SURE I CAN EVER TRUST THIS SYSTEM AGAIN. *JB

Mileage: 53,756

WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEED THE ABS WOULD CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR REPLACED. LEFT FRONT WINDOW HANGS WHEN GOING UP. WINDOW TRACKE LUBED. PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED. RER BRAKE ADJUSTED. BRAKE PEDAL KICKED UP WHEN ALMOST TO A STOP. REPLACED BRAKE CALIPERS/ROTORS/ BACKING PLATES AND REMOVED SENSORS AND CLEANED RUST BUILD UP ON SENSOR AND HUB ASSEMBLIES. BOTH IDLER AMRS AND FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED DUE TO FRONT END PLAY. *TT

Mileage: 87,000

SLID OUT IN SNOW LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. ALMOST HIT LARGE TREE AFTER FAILURE. MECHANIC SAIT PS HYDROBOOST PUMP BROKE INTERNAILLY. *AK

Mileage: 70,000

CANNOT GET AIR THROUGHT VENTS IN DASH, ALL CONTROLS WORK PROPERLY VACUUM ACTUATOR MOVES, THERE IS VACUUM AT THE SWITHC, NO ONE KNOWS THE ANSWER PAINT ON GAS DOOR BUBBLING AND LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL OFF TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD INTO 2ND GEAR SINCE WE BOUGHT IT ( 54000KMS) FINALLY STARTED TO SLIP , BOUGHT USED TRANS AND HAD IT INSTALLED, QUOTED 3000.00 TO REBUILD, DEALER WAS PAST EVEN BELIEF. ABS COMES ON WHEN COMING TO A STOP EVERY TIME . LF FRONT SENSOR READS O MPH WHEN OTHER SENSORS READ MOVEMENT CAUSING IT TO ASSUME A SKID SITUATION, REPLACED SENSOR AT 205.00 NO BETTER, DOES NOT SET CODE IN COMPUTER ACCORDING TO MECHANIC. PULLED FUSE. HAS HAD VIBRATION IN DRIVELINE SINCE PURCHASED NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING SUGEESTION RANGE FROM REPLACE ALL U JOINTS, DID SOME OF THEM NO BETTER TO REPLACE REAR END. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE IN NOVA SCOTIA TO OBTAIN A BLASTING PERMIT TO BLOW UP YOUR CAR EVEN IF YOU TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND HIRE A PROFESSIONAL. I HAVE NEVER IN 40 YEARS OF DRIVING SOME BAD STUFF FROM OLD ENGLISH CARS TO TRANSPORT TRUCKS WITH MORE MILES THAN THERE ARE NUMBERS, EVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM, MOST THINGS CAN BE FIXED. YOU HAVE NEVER LIVED UNTIL YOU HAVE TAKEN THE WHOLE DASH APART ON ONE OF THESE, THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED BY MADMEN.

Mileage: 150,000

BELT TENSIONER CASING CRACKED/BROKEN AROUND MOUNT BOLT, CAUSING LOSS OF BELT TENSION, POWER ASSISTED STEERING, AND POWER ASSISTED BRAKING. THROTTLE CONTROL PEDAL "STICKS" AND EXCESSIVE PRESSURE MUST BE APPLIED TO OVERCOME RESISTANCE. BRAKE PEDAL COULD NOT BE DEPRESSED UNTIL EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED WITH BOTH FEET, OCCURRED TWICE AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS WHILE CRESTING A SHORT STEEP INCLINE AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT TO PARK, CAUSE YET UNKNOWN. DT

BRAKE PEDAL WOULD PUSH ITSELF BACK UP INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLIED AND CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 7/10 MILES AND THEN PARKING IT SMELLS LIKE BURNING BRAKES. WHEN WE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THE PADS WERE LOOSE AND GLAZED. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES PADS 2 TWICE SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE TIME FRAME FROM THE 1ST TIME TO THE LAST TIME WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AND WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECK AGAIN FOR THE SAME REASON. *AK

AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 7/10 MILES AND THEN PARKING IT SMELLS LIKE BURNING BRAKES. WHEN WE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THE PADS WERE LOOSE AND GLAZED. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES PADS 2 TWICE SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE TIME FRAME FROM THE 1ST TIME TO THE LAST TIME WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AND WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECK AGAIN FOR THE SAME REASON. *AK

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED SUDDENLY CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MGR. @ DAMASCUS CHEVROLET THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN THIS BRAKING SYSTEM BEFORE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH EITHER THE STEERING OR THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND COMPLETE. I HAVE LOCATED ONE ADDITIONAL OWNER OF THE SAME MODEL VAN WHO EXPERIENCED A SIMULAR FAILURE. IN BOTH CASES IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE FAILURE WAS AT A LOW SPEED. CHEVROLET INFORMED ME THAT SINCE THE VEHILCE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD MAKE NO EFFORTS TO ASSIST ME WITH THE REPAIR ($800). I FEEL THAT A BRAKING SYSTEM THAT SUFFERS FROM THIS TYPE OF FAILURE FROM TIME TO TIME ( AS STATED BY THE CHEVY SERVICE MGR.) IS A THREAT TO ANYONE WHO MAY OPERATE OR BE IN PROXIMITY OF THE OPERATION OF THESE VEHICLES.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY WOULD GRAB, TOOK TO DEALER WHO FOUND EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD BEEN FUSED TO BRAKES. TOOK 2 VISITS TO DEALER BEFORE PROBLEM WAS FOUND. ALSO, IDLER ARM/TIE ROD ENDS HAD TO BE REPLACED. TIRES HAD BEEN WEARING UNEVEN, VEHICLE WAS SHAKING BADLY. *AK

BRAKES WEAR UNEVEN. *SLC

BRAKES WEAR UNEVEN. *SLC

COOLANT LEAKING FROM RADIATOR AND VEHICLE OVERHEATS. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GETS HARD, AND GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK THE HOLD DOWN SPRING FOR REAR BRAKE RUSTED DUE TO WET WEATHER. *YH

WHILE DRIVING STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REDUCE SPEED OR STOP VEHICLE, BUT VEHICLE WON'T STOP. HAD TO STEP WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK

ON WET DAYS IF BRAKES WERE TOUCHED SLIGHTLY VEHICLE JERKED ENOUGH TO FEEL LIKE CONSUMER WAS GOING THROUGH THE WINDOW. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE & SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, MADE A REAR ADJUSTMENT. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS OUT OF ROUND. MANUFACTURER WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS CONDITION. BRAKING WHILE TURNING VEHICLE HAS POOR STEERING CONTROL OF STEERING CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE WHEEL VIBRATION. DRIVER CAN PUMP BRAKE TO STABLIZE CONTROL. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP OR NORMAL STOP BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO TRAVEL . BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AGAIN VEHICLE WOULD STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, VAN PULLED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE VAN HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR 50 MILES. ALSO, BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES IN 40,000 MILES. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, VAN PULLED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE VAN HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR 50 MILES. ALSO, BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES IN 40,000 MILES. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

ONGOING /INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH REAR WHEELS LOCKING UP WHEN WHEN COMING TO A STOP POSITION OR TAKING OFF FROM A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO NOT STOP, WHICH RESULTED IN OWNER HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

DESIGN AND POSITION OF BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH IN LENGTH IS HIGHER THAN THE GAS PEDAL, CAUSED THE OCCUPANT'S FOOT TO GET STUCK UNDERNEATH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DEPRESS IT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO REVERSE AT HIGH SPEED, AND CRASHING INTO A WALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH DRIVER COULD STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE. BUT INSISTED THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM AND SOME OTHERS PROBLEMS. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT. HAS REPLACED BRAKES SIX TIMES, INCLUDING REAR DRUMS AND FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS RETURNED, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL SLIDE ACROSS THE ROAD DUE TO ABS BRAKES LOCKING UP. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT. HAS REPLACED BRAKES SIX TIMES, INCLUDING REAR DRUMS AND FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS RETURNED, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL SLIDE ACROSS THE ROAD DUE TO ABS BRAKES LOCKING UP. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT. HAS REPLACED BRAKES SIX TIMES, INCLUDING REAR DRUMS AND FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS RETURNED, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL SLIDE ACROSS THE ROAD DUE TO ABS BRAKES LOCKING UP. *AK

FRONT BRAKE PADS FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS. MJS

BRAKES FAILED. *YC

WHEEL DRUM SEAL LEAKED. YH

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED. YH

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKING SYSTEM FAILING TO OPERATE PROPERLY. WHENEVER CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT CONTINUALLY. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER THE BRAKES ARE WARMED UP. *AK *SLC

BRAKE CALIPERS STICKING CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF BRAKE COMPONENTS.

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.

DUE TO THE SIZE AND PLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IN THIS VEHICLE, BEING INCONSISTENT WITH INDUSTRY STANDARD, DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE IT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE CRASH OCCURRED DURING DRIVER'S FIRST WEEK OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.

VEHICLE HAS ABS BRAKES. FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP UNDER 15 MPH UNDER HARD BRAKING WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO SLIDE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS IN A CRASH DUE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING SO CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL, AND ALSO BEING SO SMALL. MANUFACTURER SAYS VEHICLE IS SAFE. *AK