1997 Chevrolet ASTRO: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000728 · 2003-01-04 (January 4, 2003)
SIDEWALL FAILURE. TWO TIRES WITHIN 2 MONTHS. TREAD DEPTH WORN TO (3 READINGS TAKEN ACROSS WIDTH OF TREAD) .220, .240, .240 TIRE DESCRIPTION FIRESTONE FR440 P225/70R15 100S M + 5 DOT HYUU 4FA S/N (??) 140 (THIS NUMBER IS MOLDED INTO ALL THREE REMAINING TIRES) MOUNTED ON 1997 CHEVROLET ASTROVAN 96,000 MILES THE FIRST TIRE THAT FAILED WAS LEFT IN PIECES ALL OVER FREEWAY. THE SECOND TIRE FAILED WHILE SITTING IN GARAGE. I ATTEMPTED REPAIR OF 2ND TIRE AND WAS TOLD SIDEWALL HAD DELAMINATED AND COULD NOT BE RE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004613 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
UNABLE TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE DUE TO HATCHBACK NOT HAVING A RELEASE BUTTON. DEALER NOTIFIED. *TS..*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004613 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006845 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
*OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT* CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE. THE ENGINE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD AND ENGINE. *JG *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006845 at NHTSA ↗
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 10008289 · 2003-03-01 (March 1, 2003)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN WORK INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES THEY QUIT WORKING, SOMETIMES THEY WORK CONSTANTLY WHILE ON THE INTERMITTENT SETTING. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS IF THEY QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008445 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPS IN VERTICAL POSITION WHEN IT WANTS TO, OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT STOP WHEN SWITCHED OFF, OPERATES AT REGULAR SPEED WHEN IN THE INTERMITTENT POSITIONS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008445 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 10010101 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH DEVELOPING A CONDITION WHERE THE THROTTLE PEDAL STICKS. HIGH PEDAL EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO OVER COME THIS CONDITION BUT THIS PRACTICE IS UNSAFE BECAUSE THE RESULT IS A RAPID ACCELERATION OR LURCH WHEN THE PEDAL BECOMES UNSTUCK . PROBLEM IS CHRONIC AS IT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED AT LEAST ANNUALLY BY CLEANING THE INTERNALS OF THROTTLE BODY. THE CLEANING IS SUCCESSFUL IN REMOVING THE PROBLEM INITIALLY, BUT THE CONDITION ALWAYS RECURS AFTER ABOUT A YEAR (10,000 MILES) OF DRIVING. ALTHOUGH CLEANING THE THROTTLE BO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010101 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
01V123000 · Seat Belts:Front:Warning Light/Devices
Reported: 2001-04-10 (April 10, 2001)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE "FASTEN SAFETY-BELT" AUDIBLE WARNING OCCASIONALLY MAY NOT COME ON OR MAY TERMINATE IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ALARM MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
NHTSA campaign record ↗03V159000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
Reported: 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V057000 · Seat Belts:Rear/Other
Reported: 1997-04-08 (April 8, 1997)
THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE RIGHT-HAND REAR BUCKET SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A VEHICLE CRASH.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR ON THE REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V009000 · Child Seat
Reported: 1999-01-20 (January 20, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED DUAL CHILD SEATS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY BE MISSING A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CLUTCH SPRING AND/OR PAWL SPRING IN THE CHILD SEAT. IF THE CLUTCH SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION AND COULD NOT BE USED. IF THE PAWL SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT WOULD CONTINUALLY PLAY OUT AND WOULD NOT LOCK.
Consequence: THESE CONDITIONS COULD INCREASE THE OCCUPANT'S RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS ON THE CHILD SEATS, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CHILD SEAT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗