1997 Chevrolet Astro problems
Owners have filed 563 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Astro with NHTSA. Visibility accounts for 13.3% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of service brakes, hydraulic at 12.3%.
Complaints563
Crashes30
Fires7
Injuries31
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Visibility 13.3% · 75
Service brakes, hydraulic 12.3% · 69
Power train 10.3% · 58
Steering 7.8% · 44
Engine and engine cooling 7.5% · 42
Fuel system, gasoline 6.4% · 36
Structure 6.0% · 34
Vehicle speed control 5.7% · 32
Severity
Of those complaints, 30 describe a crash, 7 describe a fire and 31 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 11 model years of the Chevrolet Astro in this data, 1997 ranks 2nd by complaint volume — 1995 draws the most.
Filing volume has held steady, 7 in the last three years against 8 in the three before.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 82,260 miles.
In owners' own words
Windshield wipers work intermittently or stop during operation. Dealer and manufacturer have been notified. *Ak consumer was afraid of running into the back of the vehicle or crashing into the gaurd rail. It was raining heavily when the windshield wipers just stopped. Consumer could only see the tail lights of the other vehicle. Visibility
I contacted Chevrolet and they said that they had recalled 1995 and 1996 models for this problem. I know of two other vans that are the same model as mine, and they are having problems with their wipers also. I believe this is a manufacturing defect. This is a safety problem because you don't know when these wipers will stop! Visibility
Concerns regarding safety recall notices involving 1997 Chevrolet Astro van.*Mr the consumer received the first recall notice on march 1,2003, then consumer had the recall work performed on april 15,2003 and the consumer has been receiving recall notices for the same problem ever since and the problem has been resolved. Visibility
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…