CHEVROLET ASTRO · model year

1989 CHEVROLET ASTRO

70 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989CHEVROLETASTRO carries 70 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 9 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1989 ASTRO is steering:hydraulic power assist:pump with 5 filings, followed by steering: steering wheel/handle bar (4) and structure:body:door (4). 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 1989 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.

70
Complaints
3
Crashes
9
Fires
5
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

70 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP5
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR4
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR4
SEATS3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS2
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR2

Recent Complaints

20150825CrashFatalELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1989 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER DIED AT THE SCENE AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY, MEMORY LOSS, BACK, LEFT ARM, AND LEFT LEG INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. MA 10/25/15

20111102SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

RUSTED METAL BRAKE LINE FROM THE OE BRAKE LINE SPLICE FORWARD OF THE FUEL TANK TO THE LINE SPLITTER AT THE REAR AXEL ALLOWED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. AS THE LINE WAS REMOVED TO REPLACE, SEEPAGE ON THE RUSTED LINE TO THE LEFT BRAKE FROM THE SPLITTER WAS OBSERVED. AS A PRECAUTION, THE RIGHT REAR LINE WAS REMOVED WHICH DISINTEGRATED. *TR

Mileage: 44,594

20040815STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPACE AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. THE POWER STEERING BRACKET, OR BRACE, GM PART # 10045287 6.006 BROKE AND THE POWER STEERING UNIT, BELT, AND OTHER ITEMS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY AND THE DEALER TOWED IT IN AND REPAIRED EVERYTHING AT NO CHARGE. SINCE THEN THE SAME BRACKET HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN FOUR OR FIVE TIMES, AND WAS REPLACED EACH TIME WITH A NEW ONE, MOST RECENTLY IN JULY OF 2004. THE PARTS DEPARTMENT ADMITS THEY SELL A LOT OF THESE. *JB

20020717FireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

BRAKES WENT OUT AND STARTED ON FIRE. BAFFLES ON ENGINE EXHAUST RUSTED OUT AND LAYED ON FRAME TOUCHING STARTER MOTOR ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH STARTED BRAKE FLUID ON FIRE FROM OTHER SIDE OF VEHICLE. BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY SAME TIME AS BAFFLE RUSTED OUT. MASTER CYLINDER WAS BUBBLING FROM THE HEAT AS BRAKE FLUID WAS ON FIRE. FIRE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT OUT. BUCKETS OF WATER WOULD NOT EXTINGUISH FLAMES. ONLY A HOSE COULD REACH THAT AREA OF THE FIRE.*AK*AK

20020717FireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

BRAKES WENT OUT AND STARTED ON FIRE. BAFFLES ON ENGINE EXHAUST RUSTED OUT AND LAYED ON FRAME TOUCHING STARTER MOTOR ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH STARTED BRAKE FLUID ON FIRE FROM OTHER SIDE OF VEHICLE. BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY SAME TIME AS BAFFLE RUSTED OUT. MASTER CYLINDER WAS BUBBLING FROM THE HEAT AS BRAKE FLUID WAS ON FIRE. FIRE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT OUT. BUCKETS OF WATER WOULD NOT EXTINGUISH FLAMES. ONLY A HOSE COULD REACH THAT AREA OF THE FIRE.*AK*AK

20020717FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

BRAKES WENT OUT AND STARTED ON FIRE. BAFFLES ON ENGINE EXHAUST RUSTED OUT AND LAYED ON FRAME TOUCHING STARTER MOTOR ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH STARTED BRAKE FLUID ON FIRE FROM OTHER SIDE OF VEHICLE. BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY SAME TIME AS BAFFLE RUSTED OUT. MASTER CYLINDER WAS BUBBLING FROM THE HEAT AS BRAKE FLUID WAS ON FIRE. FIRE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT OUT. BUCKETS OF WATER WOULD NOT EXTINGUISH FLAMES. ONLY A HOSE COULD REACH THAT AREA OF THE FIRE.*AK*AK

20020508STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

THIS IS THE FOURTH POWER STEERING PUMP WE HAVE PUT ON THE VEHICLE IN A YEAR.*AK

20011012SEATS

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT, RIGHT POWER SEAT MOUNT IS BROKEN. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH SEAT WILL NOT BE RETAINED. SEARCH FOR A REPLACEMENT INDICATED THAT OTHER LIKE VEHICLES ARE ALSO SUFFERING CRACKS IN THE SAME PART. THE FAILURE OF THE PART WILL CAUSE THE SEAT TO NO LONGER SUPPORT THE DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY. MULTIPLE VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM INDICATE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE PART.

20010702SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

NONE OF THE SAT BELTS WORK. NLM

20010213SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVER/ PASSENGER/ REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERABLE. SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT IN HOUSING MECHANISM. MOST OF THE SEAT BELTS ARE DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

20001130SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE NOT RETRACTING CORRECTLY. THEY DO NOT HOLD CONSUMERS TIGHTLY IN SEATS, THEY ARE LOOSE. *AK

20001003FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND BEGAN TO SMOKE, ONCE THE HOOD WAS OPENED THEY FOUND THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD CAUGHT FIRE IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE CONSUMER RECEIVED BURNS TO THE FACE. NLM

20000922TIRES:TREAD/BELT

THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AS REPLACEMENTS TO THE ORIGINAL . I WAS TRAVLING SOUTHBOUND ON HWY 99 WHEN THE TREAD CAME OFF OF THE TIRE. I WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. AND FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE SKID AND SLIDE ENOUGH TO GET STOPPED IN THE CENTER DIVIDER OF THE HWY. THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE, EVEN AFTER SLIDING FORWARD AND SIDEWAYS, HOWEVER IT DID THROW MOST FO THE TREAD OFF . THE CHP HAD TWO UNITS RESPOND FROM PASSERBY CALL IN. I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO MY INSURANCE CARRIER, THE AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, FOR THEIR SCRUTINIZATION.( DOT NUMBER: HYUL R5A TIRE SIZE: P205/75R15 )

20000922TIRES:TREAD/BELT

RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE FIREHAWK TIRE P235/60R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, TIRE WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD. *SLC

20000622STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE OFF THE BASE. ALSO, STEERING BELT BROKE. IN ADDITION, AIR CONDITIONER BELT/ ALTERNATOR AND ABS BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

20000622ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE OFF THE BASE. ALSO, STEERING BELT BROKE. IN ADDITION, AIR CONDITIONER BELT/ ALTERNATOR AND ABS BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

20000622SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE OFF THE BASE. ALSO, STEERING BELT BROKE. IN ADDITION, AIR CONDITIONER BELT/ ALTERNATOR AND ABS BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

20000622EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE OFF THE BASE. ALSO, STEERING BELT BROKE. IN ADDITION, AIR CONDITIONER BELT/ ALTERNATOR AND ABS BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

20000427UNKNOWN OR OTHER

PEELING PAINT ON TOP, FRONT AND SOME ON ALL SIDES. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

19991204ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE BOLTS SHEERING AT POWER STEERING UNIT MOUNTING PLATE, THUS STEERING UNIT FLEXES FORWARD ,SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF, LOSS OF STEERING, ALTERNATOR, COOLING SYSTEM, AND A/C OCCOURS. THIS WAS MENTIONED TO LOCAL MECHANICS AT DEALERSHIP, THEY STATE THIS OCCOURS OFTEN WITH THIS VEHICLE TYPE.

Compare 1989CHEVROLETASTRO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 CHEVROLET ASTRO have?
The 1989 CHEVROLET ASTRO has 70 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 9 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 CHEVROLET ASTRO?
The most-complained component for the 1989 CHEVROLET ASTRO is STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR and STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR.
Is the 1989 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.