1988 CHEVROLET ASTRO

FISSURE IN THE RADIATOR

Mileage: 450,000

CONSUMER STATES IDLER ARM TORE OFF THE FRAME, CAUSING STEERING TO THE FAIL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, BUT WILL BE EASY TO START IT BACK UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

OVERHEATING OF DOME/INSTRUMENT LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH AND PLUG IN FRONT OF IT CAUGHT FIRE. BURNED PARTS REPLACED. HAPPENED TWICE MORE (WITHOUT FIRE). OVERHEATING IN THIS AREA PERSISTS WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. ONE HEADLIGHT GETS EXTREMELY HOT. BURNED OUT FRONT FAN MOTOR AND A MONTH LATER FUEL PUMP BURNED OUT.

OVERHEATING OF DOME/INSTRUMENT LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH AND PLUG IN FRONT OF IT CAUGHT FIRE. BURNED PARTS REPLACED. HAPPENED TWICE MORE (WITHOUT FIRE). OVERHEATING IN THIS AREA PERSISTS WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. ONE HEADLIGHT GETS EXTREMELY HOT. BURNED OUT FRONT FAN MOTOR AND A MONTH LATER FUEL PUMP BURNED OUT.

OVERHEATING OF DOME/INSTRUMENT LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH AND PLUG IN FRONT OF IT CAUGHT FIRE. BURNED PARTS REPLACED. HAPPENED TWICE MORE (WITHOUT FIRE). OVERHEATING IN THIS AREA PERSISTS WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. ONE HEADLIGHT GETS EXTREMELY HOT. BURNED OUT FRONT FAN MOTOR AND A MONTH LATER FUEL PUMP BURNED OUT.

OVERHEATING OF DOME/INSTRUMENT LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH AND PLUG IN FRONT OF IT CAUGHT FIRE. BURNED PARTS REPLACED. HAPPENED TWICE MORE (WITHOUT FIRE). OVERHEATING IN THIS AREA PERSISTS WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. ONE HEADLIGHT GETS EXTREMELY HOT. BURNED OUT FRONT FAN MOTOR AND A MONTH LATER FUEL PUMP BURNED OUT.

BOLTS THAT GO THROUGH THE POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET INTO THE ENGINE HAVE BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME ON A 4.3L ENGINE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AFTER 1-2 HOURS OF TRAVELING TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN STATED THAT TORQUE CONVERTER AND VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND THEN TAKING OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, WHEN VEHICLE COOLS OFF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN, TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST STATED THAT THE VALVE BODY AND TORQUE CONVERTER HAD BEEN REDESIGNED SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. *SLC

AFTER 1-2 HOURS OF TRAVELING TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN STATED THAT TORQUE CONVERTER AND VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND THEN TAKING OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, WHEN VEHICLE COOLS OFF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN, TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST STATED THAT THE VALVE BODY AND TORQUE CONVERTER HAD BEEN REDESIGNED SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. *SLC

AFTER 1-2 HOURS OF TRAVELING TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN STATED THAT TORQUE CONVERTER AND VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND THEN TAKING OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, WHEN VEHICLE COOLS OFF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN, TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST STATED THAT THE VALVE BODY AND TORQUE CONVERTER HAD BEEN REDESIGNED SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. *SLC

I WAS GETTING READY TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE SEAT BACK IMMEDIATELY RECLINED. IT IS A GOOD THING THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME AS I WOULD OF LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VAN INTO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP (MEDVED CHEVROLET IN ARVADA, CO) AS THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WAS OUT OF BUSINESS. THE SERVICE DEPT. TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE AND IT WAS IN 1993 FOR THE SEAT TRACK AND NOT THE BOLT. THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT UNDER A RECALL. I KNOW THAT WHEN MEDVED DID THE ORIGINAL RECALL REPAIR/REPLACEMENT, THAT THE RECALL CLAIMED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD IMMEDIATELY FALL BACKWARDS AND COULD CREATE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL FOUR VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO POSSIBLE FAILURE AND BLOWOUT OF THE FIRESTONE P 215/70R15 TIRE, PRIOR TO ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ALL NEW TIRES (8-97), ONE WAS REPLACED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO ACCIDENT DUE TO WIRE THREADS STICKING OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS. THE FAMILY OF THE DRIVER OF THE ASTRO VAN IS SEEKING AN INVESTIGATE REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF THE TIRE BEING THE CAUSE INSTEAD OF THE CONSUMER, WHO IS NOW IN JAIL. *MJS

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL FOUR VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO POSSIBLE FAILURE AND BLOWOUT OF THE FIRESTONE P 215/70R15 TIRE, PRIOR TO ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ALL NEW TIRES (8-97), ONE WAS REPLACED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO ACCIDENT DUE TO WIRE THREADS STICKING OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS. THE FAMILY OF THE DRIVER OF THE ASTRO VAN IS SEEKING AN INVESTIGATE REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF THE TIRE BEING THE CAUSE INSTEAD OF THE CONSUMER, WHO IS NOW IN JAIL. *MJS

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL FOUR VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO POSSIBLE FAILURE AND BLOWOUT OF THE FIRESTONE P 215/70R15 TIRE, PRIOR TO ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ALL NEW TIRES (8-97), ONE WAS REPLACED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO ACCIDENT DUE TO WIRE THREADS STICKING OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS. THE FAMILY OF THE DRIVER OF THE ASTRO VAN IS SEEKING AN INVESTIGATE REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF THE TIRE BEING THE CAUSE INSTEAD OF THE CONSUMER, WHO IS NOW IN JAIL. *MJS

VEHICLE BOTOM BOLT TO POWER STEERING BRACKET KEPT BREAKING. BEEN TO DEALER ON ONE OCCASIONS, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE. *AK THE BRACKET BROKE AGAIN ONE YEAR AFTER BEING REPLACED. *YH

RIGHT REAR TIRE, BEARING AND AXEL SHOW EXTREME WEAR OVER A SHORT PERIOD IF TIME. HAVE HAD TWO BLOWOUTS OF THE TIRE AND FOUR OTHER TIRE FAILURES IN THE RIGHT REAR POSITION. HAD TO REPLACE THE AXEL AND WHEEL BEARING DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. THIS IS THE RESULT OF A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE MUFFLER HAS BEEN PLACED IN TOO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE RIGHT TIRE AND AXEL HOUSING. HEAT FROM THE MUFFLER CAUSE THE TIRE TO SMELL LIKE OVERHEATED RUBBER AFTER A HIGH SPEED RUN. ESPECIALLY IN HOT WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT A DUAL REAR AXEL AND WHEN THE TIRE BLOWS LOSS OF CONTROL MAY WELL KILL PASSENGERS AND COLLIDE WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE CURED THIS PROBLEM IN MY VEHICLE BY WRAPPING THE MUFFLER WITH HEADER TAPE AND ENCLOSING IT ALL IN STOVE PIPE HELD IN PLACE WITH LARGE HOSE CLAMPS. THIS WORKS QUITE WELL. THERE ARE OTHERS ON THE ROAD AND THE OWNERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE DANGER.

THE ONE PIECE ACESSORY MOUNTING BRACKET CRACKS AND FAILS WHICH CAUSES THE POWER STEERING PUMB TO BEND FORWARD AND THE SINGLE SERPENTINE BELT TO BE THROWN. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY THE COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AND YOU COULD TELL THAT ONE THE BRACKET CRACKED, IT PUT A STRAIN ON THE LOER 2 MOUNTING BOLTS AND SNAPPED THE HEADS OFF THE BOLTS. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED ANOTHER CHEVY WITH THE 305 ENGINE AND THAT BRACKET ALSO FAILED. I HAVE ALSO SEN MANY OF THESE BRACKETS ON USED ENGINS AT SALVAGE YARDS WITH CRACKS IN THE SAME PLACE. WHEN THE BRACKET BRAKES, YOU LOSE ALL POWER ASSIST WHICH COULD PUT THE VEHICLE AND PASSENGERS AT RISK. I AM AN ENGINEER BY EDUCATION AND HAVE ALSO OWNED AN AUTO REPAIR GARAGE. I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE PART NEEDS AN ADDITIONAL GUSSET WELDED SO THAT IT CANNOT FLEX AND ULTIMATELY FAIL.

THE ONE PIECE ACESSORY MOUNTING BRACKET CRACKS AND FAILS WHICH CAUSES THE POWER STEERING PUMB TO BEND FORWARD AND THE SINGLE SERPENTINE BELT TO BE THROWN. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY THE COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AND YOU COULD TELL THAT ONE THE BRACKET CRACKED, IT PUT A STRAIN ON THE LOER 2 MOUNTING BOLTS AND SNAPPED THE HEADS OFF THE BOLTS. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED ANOTHER CHEVY WITH THE 305 ENGINE AND THAT BRACKET ALSO FAILED. I HAVE ALSO SEN MANY OF THESE BRACKETS ON USED ENGINS AT SALVAGE YARDS WITH CRACKS IN THE SAME PLACE. WHEN THE BRACKET BRAKES, YOU LOSE ALL POWER ASSIST WHICH COULD PUT THE VEHICLE AND PASSENGERS AT RISK. I AM AN ENGINEER BY EDUCATION AND HAVE ALSO OWNED AN AUTO REPAIR GARAGE. I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE PART NEEDS AN ADDITIONAL GUSSET WELDED SO THAT IT CANNOT FLEX AND ULTIMATELY FAIL.

TILT STEERING COLUMN BECAME LOOSE. ON TWO OCCASIONS REPAIR SHOP HAD TO REPLACE THE STREERING COLUMN. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. *AK