1998 Chevrolet ASTRO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
154 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
88,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 55 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 154 complaints (12.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 32 | 20.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 7.8% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 5.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 3.9% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 19 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 15 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 12 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Tires | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 19; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 15; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 12; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Tires: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6
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 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 22 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 5
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 99 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 | 33 |
| 2001 | 20 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2004 | 26 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 33; 2001: 20; 2002: 21; 2003: 27; 2004: 26; 2005: 9; 2006: 4; 2007: 3; 2009: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 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 10010314 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
CONTROL SWITCH FOR POWER MIRRORS GETS HOT TO THE TOUCH IF LEFT IN NEUTRAL POSITION BUT CONTROL WORKS FINE, ALSO DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW STOPS WORKING SOMETIMES , AND THE FUSE FOR BRAKE LIGHTS BLEW FIRST WEEK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071372 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
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 SITUAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071372 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032251 · 2003-08-06 (August 6, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO JERK. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041020 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)
FIRST, THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW WORKS ONLY SOMETIMES. SECOND, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY PART OF THE TIME. IT MAY TAKE 5-10 MINUTES TO COME ON AND THEN MIGHT ONLY SWIPE 2-3 TIMES. LASTLY, ROUGH SHIFTING IN TRANSMISSION. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052534 · 2004-01-06 (January 6, 2004)
I OWN A 1998 ASTRO VAN. I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION . MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NOR DID MY SEAT BELTS RESTRAIN ME FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. MY SON WAS NOT RESTRAINED EITHER. WE BOTH HAD INJURIES. ESTIMATE COST OF REPAIRS 7-8,000.00 WORTH THE DAMAGE. THERE IS SEVERE FRAME DAMAGE THAT REQUIRES A SUB FRAME TO BE REPLACED. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FRONT END COLLISONS THAT THE AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY, OR DOES THE SEAT BELT NOT RESTRAIN YOU?*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080980 · 2004-07-13 (July 13, 2004)
FRONT END COLLISION HIT CENTER ON AIR BAG SENSOR, NO DEPLOYMENT. SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN MYSELF OR PASSENGER. DAMAGE TO FRONT FRAME SECTION HAD TO REPLACE. TOTAL REPAIR BILL OVER $6000.00 DOLLARS. I HAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING BRAIN INJURY, SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE, LT WRIST, LEFT SIDE OF BODY BRUSING ? ON DAMAGE TO MY LIVER & GAULL BLADDER. STILL UNDER INVESGATION HAD TO HAVE SURGERY. MY SON HAD KNEE BRUSING FROM HITTING FULL FORCE INTO LOWER PART OF DASH. TAKEN TO HOSPITAL VIA AMBO UNCONSIOUS FOR 5 HOURS NOT REMEMBERING THE ACCIDENT. JUS…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,464 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080980 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001188 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS LEAKING GASOLINE, AND THE GAS RAN THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS INTO THE MAIN COMPUTER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. TS THE SPEEDOMETER HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 84,197 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008687 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
FUEL INJECTION AND MAIN COMPUTER WERE REPLACED BECAUSE FUEL LEAKED WHERE GAS RAN THROUGH ELECTRICAL HARNESS INTO COMPUTER (VCM).*AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020324 · 2003-05-21 (May 21, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. *NLM THE CONSUMER PROVIDED THE REPAIR INVOICE. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017492 · 2003-04-24 (April 24, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE TRAVELING 80 MPH. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 878345 · 2001-01-17 (January 17, 2001)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH STALLING WHILE APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO GO AND/OR WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP MORE THEN SEVERAL TIMES, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 878345 at NHTSA ↗