1997 Chevrolet ASTRO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
222 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
91,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 46 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 222 complaints (13.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 57 | 25.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 33 | 14.9% |
| Steering behavior | 26 | 11.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 14 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 3.6% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 21 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 12 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 11 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 10 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 30; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 21; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 15; Vehicle Speed Control: 13; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 12; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 11; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 10; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 10
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 176 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 69 |
| 2001 | 54 |
| 2002 | 33 |
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
2000: 69; 2001: 54; 2002: 33; 2003: 27; 2004: 13; 2005: 12; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 57 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 33 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007678 · 2003-02-17 (February 17, 2003)
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 97 CHEVY ASTRO VAN ABOUT 40MPH WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP. THE VAN WAS NOT STOPPING SO SHE PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS SHE COULD. JUST AS IT WAS ABOUT TO STOP AT THE STOP SIGN IT LURCHED FORWARD INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE VAN CONTINUED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (LUCKILY THERE WAS NO OTHER CARS COMING). SHE TRIED TO STOP AGAIN NOW NOTICING THAT THE ENGINE WAS RACING. SHE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND PUT IT INTO PARK. WE THEN HAD THE VAN TOWED TO THE DEALER WE BOUGHT IT AT. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008992 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
THE ENGINE RACED AT FULL THROTTLE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE DEALER STATED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR HAD MALFUNCTIONED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010394 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)
I HAVE A 1997 ASTRO, IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH 54,202 MILES ON IT, WHICH STARTED GIVING US PROBLEMS AT ABOUT 53,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH IDLER ARMS AT 25,680 MILES. HAD SEAT BELT CHIME FIXED (RECALL), DRIVER SEAT FEELS LOOSE WHEN STOPPING DEALERSHIP CLAIMS TO HAVE TIGHTENED IT, STILL FEELS LOOSE. THE VAN HAS ALWAYS IDLED ROUGH TOOK IT IN 3 TIMES FOR THAT AND CAN'T SEEM TO FIX THAT. SLIDING DOOR RATTLE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019581 · 2003-05-09 (May 9, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, DUE TO A DEFECT WITH THE GEAR BEARING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020164 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW A SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES.THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE STEEL ROD SHAFT BREAKING IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE MECHANIC STATED THE HYDRO BOOST SYSTEM HAD MALFUNCTIONED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127261 · 2005-07-01 (July 1, 2005)
VEHICLE INVOLVED 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO 1. SEAT RECLINER WAS BEING USED WHEN THE HANDLE BROKE OFF. THE SEAT REMAINED IN THE POSITION ESTABLISHED WHEN THE HANDLE BROKE. STARTED DRIVING THE VAN AND SUDDENLY THE SEAT BACK WENT COMPLETELY FLAT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO HANG ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE DID WANDER INTO THE LEFT LANE DURING THE INCIDENT. 2. I INVESTIGATED THE FAILURE AND FOUND THE PLASTIC HANDLE WAS INTACT, HOWEVER THE METAL PIVOT PIECE THAT ENGAGES THE SERRATED LOCKING PLATE …
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127261 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057640 · 2004-03-03 (March 3, 2004)
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FUEL INDICATOR READ FULL WHEN THE FUEL TANK LEVEL WAS LOW. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057640 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067931 · 2004-04-27 (April 27, 2004)
MY VAN IS A 1997 ASTRO AND IT HAS SOME SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AFTER GOING 30-40 MILES AND STOPING AT A LIGHT IT JERKS REAL HARD AND FEELS LIKE I WAS HIT IN THE BACK I HAVE TOOK IT 3 TIMES TO GET FIXED AND IT STILL DOES IT THE SERVICE INGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT STARTS DOING IT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHEAT WRONG THEY JUST KEEP TAKEING MY MONEY AND TELLING ME ITS FIXED WHEN ITS NO IF SOME ONE COULD TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT 900.00$ THE DRIVER WINDOW MOTOR WENT OUT THE IDLER ARMS HAVE HAD…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078400 · 2004-06-17 (June 17, 2004)
POWER WINDOW ON PASSENGER SIDE HAS FAILED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH 2 NEW BATTERIES SINCE WE PURCHASED IT 6 MONTHS AGO. SEEMS TO BE DRAINING BATTERIES AND WE ARE NOT SURE WHY. WE PUT BATTERY ON RECHARGER OVERNIGHT, BUT WITHIN HOURS OF TAKING ITOFF THE CHARGER, THE BATTERY IS DRAINED WHILE THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106318 · 2005-01-14 (January 14, 2005)
WITHIN MONTHS OF PURCHASE, ON APRIL, 2003, THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPEN. THEN THE CD PLAYER WOULD NOT EJECT THE CD'S. THE INTERMEDIATE LEVELS OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NO LONGER WORKED BY THAT WINTER. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO IT DISCHARGING, I HAVE JUMPED THE VAN AND PLACED THE BATTERIES ON CHARGERS, ONLY TO BE DEAD AGAIN AFTER A TEST DRIVE. I HAVE REPLACED THE CONNECTORS AS WELL IN HOPES THAT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT TO NO AVAIL. NOW THE REAR HEATER DOES NOT WORK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10106318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10335280 · 2010-06-08 (June 8, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THE ODOMETER AND OTHER UNKNOWN LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THERE WAS A COMPUTER FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY TWO ADDITIONAL MECHANICS WHICH ADVISED THE CONTACT OF THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT INFORMED THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10335280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 729065 · 2000-08-25 (August 25, 2000)
OCCURANCE 1) ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE APPROCAHING AN INTERSECTION. THE RESULTING LOSS OF POWER CAUSED A SEVERE CONTROL PROBLEM WITH THE VAN. THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE WAS THE FUEL GUAGE READ 3/4 AND THE VAN RAN OUT OF FUEL. OCCURANCE 2) THE FUEL GUAGE HAS TOTALLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING, AFTER TOPPING OFF AND PROCEEDING ONTO HIGHWAY I DROVE FOR 1/2 HOUR AT 65, A SUDDEN SLAM OCCURED 2 OR THREE TIMES, APPEARED TO BE THE ENGINE CUTTING IN AND OUT, SLOWED TO 55 AND CONTINUED FOR 150 MILES WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. OCCURANCE 3) VEHICLE HAS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 729065 at NHTSA ↗