2003 Chevrolet ASTRO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
62 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
67,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 47 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 62 complaints (16.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 33 | 53.2% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 19.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 16.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 9.7% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 10; Electrical System: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6; Service Brakes: 5; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Steering: 3; Suspension: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 5
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 15 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2003: 6; 2004: 8; 2005: 11; 2006: 10; 2007: 7; 2008: 3; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 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 10005162 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND VEHICLE BODY SHIFTS BACK TO REST A SECOND BUMP CAN BE FELT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE OR THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS DOWN LATE -OR- WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFTED DOWN FROM 3RD GEAR, LIKE FROM 45 MPH OR SO TO 0 MPH, AND STOPPED FOR MORE THAN SAY 5 SECONDS, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDEL IS RELEASED A BUMP CAN BE FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING INTO 1ST VERY LATE. IT FEELS LIKE A VEHICLE TAPPED YOU FROM BEHIND.
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005162 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005165 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT LOCK OPEN. CAN BE PUSHED CLOSED FROM THE LOCKED OPEN POSIITON WITH ONE FINGER. ON A SLIGHT DECLINE THE DOOR WILL UNLATCH, AND SLAM SHUT.
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005361 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)
CONTINUED FROM MY ORIGINAL COMPLAIT ABOVE. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER FOR "SLIDING DOOR FAILURE TO LOCK IN THE OPEN POSITION". DOOR CAN BE CLOSED WITH FINGER PRESSURE AGAINST THE DOOR. ON A SLIGHT DECLINE, DOOR WILL UNLATCH FROM ITS LOCKED OPEN POSITION AND SLAM SHUT. I HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE HOLD IT OPEN DURING ENTRY AND EXITING ON A DRIVEWAY WITH A SLIGHT DECLINE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE DESIGN HAS CHANGED AND IT DOES NOT LOCK LIKE THE OLDER ASTRO'S. SOMEONE NOT AWARE OF THIS WILL HAVE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AND IT COULD SLAM SHUT ON S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018267 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018271 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNED AROUND A CORNER, THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT TURN FAR ENOUGH TO MAKE THE TURN. THE CONSUMER HAD TO BACK UP, AND THEN PULL IN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 35 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047485 · 2003-11-24 (November 24, 2003)
EARLIER TODAY I HAD MY WIFE TAKE IN OUR 2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE SERVICE LIGHT WOULD NOT RESET. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT CAME ON AND THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT RESET BY ITSELF. WHILE THERE I ASKED HER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE SEPT. 2, 2003 RECALL OF THE ASTRO VAN FOR A FRONT SUSPENSION DEFECT. RECALL NUMBER 03044. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE SEARCHED BY USING OUR VIN. THE SEARCH CAME BACK WITH NO RECALL. I RESEARCHED THE RECALL ON THE NHTSA AND CALLED THE CHEVROLET MANUFACTURERS 800 NUMBER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO FIND OUT IF WE WOULD BE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10047485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064263 · 2004-03-31 (March 31, 2004)
OUR 2003 CHEVY ASTRO VAN HAD A INTERMITTENT VERY BAD SHIMMY COME FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. IT WAS SO BAD THE VAN COULD NOT BE DRIVEN OVER 30 MPH WITHOUT LOSING CONTROL. THE NEXT 20 TIMES IT WAS DRIVEN IT WOULD WORK FINE. WE FINALLY HAD IT IN TO A DEALER WHO HAD IT HAPPEN TO ONE OF THEIR MECHANIC WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS A BAD BALL JOINT THAT HAD TO BE THAT WAY WHEN IT LEFT THE FACTORY. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VAN FOR 3 WEEKS AS THEY SAY THE PART IS BACK ORDERED. IT APPEARS THAT THIS MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH OTHER VANS…
Owner-reported narrative. 75 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065559 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
THE VEHICLE'S RUNNING BOARD IS TO NARROW WHEN CONSUMER GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE HER FOOT SLIPPED. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND LEG INJURIES. *NM *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065559 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V328000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
CERTAIN MINIVANS HAVE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION BETWEEN THE LOWER BALL JOINT RUBBER BOOT AND THE STEERING KNUCKLE (BOTH LEFT/RIGHT SIDES), WHICH COULD RESULT IN CUTTING OF THE BOOT THAT IS INTENDED TO SEAL THE BALL JOINT. IF THE LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT WERE CUT, CONTAMINATION FROM THE ROAD (SALT, DIRT, WATER, ETC.) COULD ENTER THE BALL SOCKET AREA OF THE BALL JOINT CAUSING THE JOINT TO WEAR OUT TOO QUICKLY.
Consequence: THE STEERING KNUCKLE COULD SEPARATE FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, DROPPING DOWN THE AFFECTED CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE COIL SPRING WOULD PUSH THE CONTROL ARM DOWN INTO CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, CREATING A DRAG THAT WOULD SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE AFFECTED WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE IF FORCES RESULTING FROM THE WHEEL'S DRAGGING ACTION WERE SUFFICIENT TO FRACTURE THE TIE ROD END AND UPPER BALL JOINT CONNECTIONS. SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOULD ALSO SEVER THAT WHEEL'S HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE, RESULTING IN LOST BRAKING PERFORMANCE FROM THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE WOULD INCREASE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
NHTSA campaign record ↗