1987 Chevrolet ASTRO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
95,451 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 21 complaints (19.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 11 | 52.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 9.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 4.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 1 |
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 9 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1995: 9; 1996: 5; 2000: 1; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10051016 · 2003-12-23 (December 23, 2003)
RIGHT FRON PASSENGER SHOULDER WEBBING SEPERATED
Owner-reported narrative. 94,201 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051016 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131961 · 2005-08-08 (August 8, 2005)
I HAVE A GM ASTRO VAN. THE STEERING COLUMN BOLTS CAME LOOSE THEREFORE ALLOWING THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN TO MOVE ABOUT 2 TO 3 INCHES IN ANY DIRECTION. WHILE THE VAN IS PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. TWO PREVIUS TIMES THE STEERING COLUMN BOLTS WERE FIXED BY A GM DEARSHIP. TOOK IT BACK FOR THE THIRD TIME. EACH TIME BEING CHARGED TO TIGHTEN THE BOLTS. THIS LATEST REPAIR TO TIGHTEN THE LOOSE BOLTS WORKED FOR A 12 MONTH PERIOD, AND THEN THEY COME LOOSE AGAIN. DEALER ADMITS THAT THERE IS A FLAW IN THE D…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,451 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168505 · 2006-09-18 (September 18, 2006)
BRACKETS SURROUNDING THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILING IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE SERPENTINE BELT TO POP WHILE DRIVING LEAVING A POWER FAILURE AND ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. I NEARLY CRASHED MY VEHICLE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC BECAUSE I COULD NOT STEER TO GET OFF THE ROAD. DOING RESEARCH OVER LAST FEW DATES TALKING TO MECHANICS THIS HAS BEEN SEEN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE PART TO FIX THE BRACKET IS HARD TO FIND. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 144,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481441 · 1995-03-06 (March 6, 1995)
POWER STEERING BRACKET CRACKED TWICE, CAUSING BELT TO JAM POWER STEERING UNIT. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482848 · 1995-04-03 (April 3, 1995)
ENGINE ACCESSORY PLATE CRACKED/REPLACED 3 TIMES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482848 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 483297 · 1995-08-25 (August 25, 1995)
ENGINE CYLINDER #5 FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487878 · 1995-11-13 (November 13, 1995)
ENGINE BRACKET BROKE, CAUSING SERPINTINE BELT TO PUT STRESS ON POWER STEERING PUMP RESULTING IN BREAKAGE OF POWER STEERING PUMP BOLTS. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 491008 · 1996-01-19 (January 19, 1996)
FRONT/REAR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 491008 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
91V102000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1991-06-14 (June 14, 1991)
THE SEAT BELTS FOR THE FRONT AND MID-SHIP SEATS DID NOT REST ON PELVIS AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 209.
Consequence: SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN SEAT OCCUPANT, AND COULDINJURE THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: RELOCATE SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS TO ADJUST BELTS FOR SEAT LOCATIONS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V187000 · Seats
Reported: 1993-11-16 (November 16, 1993)
THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT FATIGUE AND EVENTUAL BOLT FAILURE.
Consequence: IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULDALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗