1997 Chevrolet Astro problems
Owners have filed 563 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet Astro. Wipers, windshield & visibility is the most reported problem area, at 13% of complaints. Next are brakes (13%) and fuel system (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 563 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Wipers, windshield & visibility 13% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 30 and 7
- Injuries and deaths
- 31 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 82,000 miles 64 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 4 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 6 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 11 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 12 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 4 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 5 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 5 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 5 |
What the data shows
Of the 64 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 82,000 miles. For wipers, windshield & visibility specifically, the median reported mileage is about 80,000 miles (10 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 30 complaints mention a crash; 7 complaints mention a fire; 31 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 14 model years of the Chevrolet Astro with enough data (356 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Consumer was driving at 35 MPH when he smelled smoke, and pulled over to exit. The doors and windows would not open. Consumer hit the glass with his shoulder and hand to get out, but then he had to break the glass to exit. Notice light coming from the tires on the driver's side, and then saw that the vehicle was on fire. Fire department came out to put out the fire. Contacted the dealer to fix the vehicle.
While driving about 40 MPH struck another vehicle in a frontal collision. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy.
Brakes and steering failed simultaneously, resulting in a crash. GMC knows about the problem and will not fix it until enough people die. My family was almost killed. Anyone who has had a family member hurt or killed in a GM van should sue GMC.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet astro. The contact stated that the ABS works intermittently while driving approximately 10 MPH. When approaching a stop, the brakes would not apply and she almost rear ended another vehicle. This has been a persistent failure ever since she purchased the vehicle. The dealer repaired the brakes at the cost of $125, but the failure persists. The dealer stated that there was no brake failure.
1997 chevrolet astrovan with electrical door locks. Pulled into sheetz gas and go and went to open the drivers door and it did not open. Tried to push the manual inside door lock but it was totally frozen and would not actuate. Next tried electrical door lock switch. No response on drivers door but there was weak sound from passenger door lock solenoid. It was as if on the passenger side it was suffering from insufficient voltage. Crawled out of passenger seat and got out of car.