Total Complaints
24 filings
CHEVROLET ASTRO · model year
1986 CHEVROLET ASTRO
24 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986CHEVROLETASTRO carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 ASTRO is seats with 3 filings, followed by steering: steering wheel/handle bar (3) and power train:automatic transmission (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1986 ASTRO, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
24
Complaints
4
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEATS | 3 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010122SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE SEAT BELTS. *AK
20000222CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THE LOW SPEED IDLE WILL RANDOMLY BE VERY HIGH (USUALLY IN COLD WEATHER) THUS MAKING THE VAN DIFFICULT TO STOP WHICH RESULTED IN 2 MINOR REAR END COLLISIONS. NLM
19990723SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE DUE TO A FAULTY BOLT IN THE HINGE.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
19981020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
COMPUTER CURCUIT BURNED.
19980407STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE. *AK
19971218SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR.
19970710SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE REAR BRAKES WILL NOT WORK. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-45 MPH AND WANTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES AT LEAST 3 OR 4 TIMES BEFORE THEY WORK. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER ALSO HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
19970527FireWHEELS
PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL OF TRAILER OVERHEATED, CAUSING FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
19970513POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK AND HIT OTHER VEHICLES WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
19970424SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED.
19970407STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
OWNER STATES THAT DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM. OWNER ALSO NOTES THAT HE MUST CRAWL THROUGH WINDOW AT TIMES. ALL DOOR HANDLES ARE VERY WEAK AND FLIMSY. *AK
19970206SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
THE REAR BRAKES WILL NOT SELF ADJUST AND ALL THE BRAKING IS ALL ON THE FRONT BRAKES, CAUSING THE VAN TO FISHTAIL, NOT STOP AT ALL ON SOME ROAD SURFACES. *AK
19970123SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE/REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLES JAMMED, REQUIRED BELTS TO BE CUT TO EXTRICATE OCCUPANTS. *AK
19961105SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT IS STUCK AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT IN ORDER TO GET OUT ALONG WITH OTHERS. *AK
19960816CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DURING A FRONT IMPACT ACCIDENT. THE MIDDLE AND REAR BENCH SEATS. THE LATCHES DISCONNECTED AND CAUSED THE SEATS TO FOLD.*AK
19960425LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVERS DOOR OPENS WHEN TURNING OR BRAKING DUE TO LATCH STICKING. *DSH
19960425SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED IN ABOVE ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY.
19960425CrashSTEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING COLUMN FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT AND INJURY. *DSH
19960417STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE STEERING WHEEL JUST FALLS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSES MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VAN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960409SEATS
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE RECALL. *AK
Compare 1986CHEVROLETASTRO to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 CHEVROLET ASTRO have?▼
The 1986 CHEVROLET ASTRO has 24 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 CHEVROLET ASTRO?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 CHEVROLET ASTRO is SEATS with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1986 CHEVROLET ASTRO safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.