Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
0211501/01/200410007457Part number 15042486 leaf spring damper mentioned in technical service bulletin (tsb) 00-03-09-001a is not available. *mj06/23/2004
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
0209701/01/200410007458Part number 15042486 per bulletin 00-03-09-001a for the rear spring damper kit is currently not available. *mj06/23/2004

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
SUSPENSION
11/11/2004870002
 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
0
 While making turns or accelerating from a stop a loud metallic noise will occur, coming from driver's side. dealer cannot determine cause.*ak
112/01/1997
 Vehicle experiencing suspension failure. vehicle constantly pulling to the right while driving. *yc
SUSPENSION - FRONT
10/10/2002
 3 main complaints: 1. wipers work sometimes- will cut on and not off, will not work at all, or will work only at high wiper speed- dealer said that this was covered by a recall but when i picked up the van after the dealer fixed it (replaced circuit board) i was told that recall did not include 98 astro. 2. paint on hood of van suddenly started to crack- has only occurred on hood 3. front end problems- causing tires to wear out sooner than expected, loud popping/clunking noise from front end, dealer says that problem is with idler arms and ball joints. *nlm
11/15/199815
 When driving vehicle, it will intermittently swerve to left or right. vehicle taken to dealer 15 times, 10 wheel alignments done, did not remedy problem. dealer could not remedy, said there was no problem with vehicle. *ak *jb
1
 The front end makes noise and the tires wore out within 6 months of owning the vehicle and were replaced. *slc
07/31/1998806/01/1998
 I have had problems with my vehicle staying in alignment. i have taken back, they say it is many things. but i have had afront put on rotors,brakes,caliburs,shims,alignments,tirebalance,i still have pulling. and a mechanic said it is the calibur bolt and washer. but they said no. he is certified and he has found the problem
07/20/1999408/01/1998
 At 35,000 miles had idle arm replaced, bad wheel alignment caused lose of four tires, at 40,000 had two idle arms and differential replaced.*ak
07/30/19981003/01/1997
 Roblems that i have listed are only the icing on the cake. i have several other problems and such as : oil coller inlet, rear main seal, extention housing leaking.my front end alignment wanders, problems with keyless remote and factory alarm.roof rack was improperly installed, cigarettte lighter falls out, glove box light switch defective,raido speakers not propertly installled. when tensioner failed, there was a loud noise from the front end,so i decided to get off the busy road to find out where the noise came from. my steering also went out;i had my children with me on a busy road speed limit 45.i went to make a left had turn and had extreme difficulty in turning my wheel. i had to unbuckle my seatbelt; to pull on the steering wheel with all my body weight, and still couldn't make the turn, i had to back up and try to turn again.i continue to have frontend,window,fuel injection, doors not wanting to lock and unlock properly and i still continue to have these problems. i feel that this chevrolet, astro is a very unsafe vehicle to be driving. any info you can give me on this vehicle would be greatly appericated. thank you laurie hoekzema. *ak
106/01/1998
 Extreme misalignment of wheels. yh
09/29/1999
 Vehicle is not working properly. when consumer drives car between 45-50 mph the car shakes and vibrates. *ak
403/01/1998
 The tires on this vehicle wears out. (outside edge) the vehicle alignment has been corrected three times and yet the tires still wear badly. g.m. will not do anything about it please help, i'am totatly disabled, and cannot afford to put tires on this vehicle every fifteen thousand miles. *ak( dot number: tire size: lt 235 65 )
403/01/1998
 The tires on this vehicle wears out. (outside edge) the vehicle alignment has been corrected three times, and yet the tires still wear badly. g.m. will not do anything about it please help, i'am totatly disabled and can not afford to put tires on this vehicle every fifteen thousand miles. *ak( dot number: tire size: lt 235 65 )
 There's a clunking noise, as if a piece of metal is broken in the vehicle. when driving at 45mph the vehicle starts shaking. also the vehicle pulls to right. dealer has had vehicle for a month.
05/28/1998505/11/1998
 Front end suspension continually out of adjustment/alignment.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM
1
 The vehicle's control arms failed. yh
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SHOCK ABSORBER
02/11/200470365108/25/2003
 Request another vehicle (van/suv) and reimbursement for rental cars due to their defective vehicle. *ph the same day the consumer purchased the vehicle he drove two blocks and the van stopped, the engine light had illuminated. the consumer walked back to car lot and the was told everything was fine that the mechanic had checked over everything completely and to just fill the vehicle up with gas. when the consumer had the vehicle inspected, it was discovered that the water pump was leaking and there was a crack in the cylinder head, also the front shocks and idler arms were replaced. *jb
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - TORSION BAR
07/02/200496000110/04/2002
 Front suspension torsion bar broke while driving 5 mph. consumer contacted the dealer, and was informed that the part was not covered under a manufacturer's recall. *ak
SUSPENSION - REAR
02/18/200001/01/1999
 I own a 1990 chevrolet astro (van) and a 1998 astro. the 1998 van is 18 inches longer then the 1990 . the extra 18 inches were added to the same suspension as the 1990 astro. the 1998 astro has a bad sway to the rear suspenison weather you have slowed to turn into to a drive way or making a curve on the highway this van would still be rocking after you had completed this task. i have never been car sick in my life but sitting in the third seat would make you feel ill. on the 18th of feb. my worst nightmare come true while travling over a mt.pass(oregon hwy #20) i hit a patch of black ice i did all the right thing but the rear of that van had it own agenda. witness state that they were shocked on how the rear of the van rocked or swayed the way it did and that were lucky that it did not roll . i have been talking with owners of this same type of van and most of them feel the same about the rear suspension. one person also stated that they had heard that there is some type of repair kit out to correct this problem . that is news to me!!! if this is so it sure would have saved seven people alot of pain and suffering. in the end when this accident is over the cost should be over $50,000 dollars. i have also lost a small part of my soul......is there a site that i can find out the types of accidents that this van have been in (or caused) or if this issue is a problem that has a repair kit out on the market? thank you for your time the wise family. *ak
106/01/1998
 Slip joint makes noise. yh
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
05/22/19981
 When putting heavy objects or items in rear of vehicle that weigh more than 200lbs, the suspension leaf spring would bottom out. had talked to dealer & nothing done. had put helper leaf spring, but not enough. needs to have rear of vehicle redesigned. front end is very light. *ak
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY - LEAF
06/01/20012
 Drivers rear seatbelt retractor spring blew off of the belt. also, without prior warning, rear spring leaf was defective. *ak