CHEVROLET ASTRO · model year

1993 CHEVROLET ASTRO

177 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993CHEVROLETASTRO carries 177 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 4 fires, 12 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 1993 ASTRO is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 34 filings, followed by suspension:front:springs:torsion bar (10) and power train:automatic transmission (9). 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 1993 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.

177
Complaints
13
Crashes
4
Fires
12
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

177 filings

Crashes Reported

13 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP34
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR10
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING5
SUSPENSION:FRONT5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION4
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH3

Recent Complaints

20130325ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BOTH FRONT POWER DOOR LOCKS ON DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE MALFUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. SECONDARY PROBLEM IS THE BATTERY DRAINING IF LEFT MORE THAN 24 HOURS WITHOUT BEING STARTED. BOTH BATTERIES ARE ONE YEAR OLD, IN GOOD CONDITION, AND ARE THE RIGHT TYPE. THE MAIN BATTERY DRAINS FIRST, SO WHEN THE AUXILIARY BATTERY IS STILL STRONG, THE ENGINE WILL START. I FEEL THAT THE CAUSE OF THE BATTERY/BATTERIES DRAINING IS NOT THE BATTERIES THEMSELVES BUT ANOTHER SOURCE, POSSIBLY THE FRONT POWER DOOR LOCKS. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS OR EXTERIOR LIGHTS ARE NOT THE SOURCE OF POWER THAT IS DRAINING THE BATTERY/BATTERIES. THIS VEHICLE IS USED AND OWNED BY A DISABLED PERSON IN A WHEELCHAIR. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUXILIARY BATTERY TO ACCOMMODATE A WHEELCHAIR LIFT, DRIVER'S POWER SEAT, AND POWER SLIDING DOOR. *TR

Mileage: 180,000

20130325LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

BOTH FRONT POWER DOOR LOCKS ON DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE MALFUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. SECONDARY PROBLEM IS THE BATTERY DRAINING IF LEFT MORE THAN 24 HOURS WITHOUT BEING STARTED. BOTH BATTERIES ARE ONE YEAR OLD, IN GOOD CONDITION, AND ARE THE RIGHT TYPE. THE MAIN BATTERY DRAINS FIRST, SO WHEN THE AUXILIARY BATTERY IS STILL STRONG, THE ENGINE WILL START. I FEEL THAT THE CAUSE OF THE BATTERY/BATTERIES DRAINING IS NOT THE BATTERIES THEMSELVES BUT ANOTHER SOURCE, POSSIBLY THE FRONT POWER DOOR LOCKS. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS OR EXTERIOR LIGHTS ARE NOT THE SOURCE OF POWER THAT IS DRAINING THE BATTERY/BATTERIES. THIS VEHICLE IS USED AND OWNED BY A DISABLED PERSON IN A WHEELCHAIR. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUXILIARY BATTERY TO ACCOMMODATE A WHEELCHAIR LIFT, DRIVER'S POWER SEAT, AND POWER SLIDING DOOR. *TR

Mileage: 180,000

20110510SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEEL BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. WHILE REPLACING THE BRAKE PADS THE FLUID LEAKED ONTO A RUSTED AREA OF THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

Mileage: 175,000

20041118CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE ACCIDENT, WHICH A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME I MERGE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING THE DEER, AND ROLLED 1.5 TIMES AND WHEN RESTING UPON TOP OF TRUCK, THE REAR LEFT TIRE BROKE OFF OF THE HUB, AND AXLE. *AK

Mileage: 170,000

20041118CrashTIRES

WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE ACCIDENT, WHICH A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME I MERGE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING THE DEER, AND ROLLED 1.5 TIMES AND WHEN RESTING UPON TOP OF TRUCK, THE REAR LEFT TIRE BROKE OFF OF THE HUB, AND AXLE. *AK

Mileage: 170,000

20040701SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DID NOT ACCOMMODATE OBESE INDIVIDUALS. THE RETRACTOR DID NOT REACH THE LATCH. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT EXTENSIONS WERE AVAILABLE. *JB CONSUMER WAS 5'9" AND 200 LBS. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS 6 INCHES SHORT. *LA

Mileage: 131,000

20040227SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR

TORSION BAR THAT SUPPORT ENGINE BROKE IN TWO. *LA THE MANUFACTURER CHANGED THE DESIGN AND SHORTENED THE BARS BY THREE INCHES. THE OLD DESIGN ALLOWED SALT, WATER AND ICE TO GET INTO THE EXTENSION SLEEVES. *JB

20040227STRUCTURE

TORSION BAR THAT SUPPORT ENGINE BROKE IN TWO. *LA THE MANUFACTURER CHANGED THE DESIGN AND SHORTENED THE BARS BY THREE INCHES. THE OLD DESIGN ALLOWED SALT, WATER AND ICE TO GET INTO THE EXTENSION SLEEVES. *JB

20040120CrashSTEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

WHILE TURNING LEFT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP , AND CONSUMER LOST THE CONTROL, RESULTING IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

Mileage: 186,000

20031016ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MECHANICAL-BOUGHT '93 EXT. MODEL IN '96. REPLACED TWO STARTERS, TWO BATTERIES GOING TOWARDS MY THIRD ONE, HAD TO GET THE ENTIRE ENGINE REPAIRED BECAUSE OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, THE TRANNY STARTS SLIPPING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, WON'T BOTHER TRYING THE A/C NO MORE BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, IT STARTS TO IDLE VERY ROUGH THEN IT STALLS. GAS MILEAGE NOT GOOD; I FILLED UP THE TANK, AND WHEN I BRAKE AT A STOP LIGHT...THE GASOLINE GAUGE ALMOST DROPS TO 1/2 A TANK AND IT WON'T COME BACK UP. TRAVELING FROM LOS ANGELES TO VALENCIA OR LOS ANGELES TO SAN DIEGO IT OVERHEATS TERRIBLY, DROVE A '90 TOYOTA TERCEL TO VALENCIA FROM L.A. WITH A BUSTED RADIATOR AND THAT CAR DID NOT OVERHEAT!.NICE VAN BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A CHEVY NOT A FORD AEROSTAR. *LA

Mileage: 98,000

20030812STRUCTURE:BODY

MY 1993 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN WAS RECALLED FOR PAINT PEELING SEVERAL YEARS AGO. MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER WHO "REPAINTED MY VEHICLE". THEY HAD IT FOR AT LEAST ONE WEEK. WHEN IT WAS RETURNED, IT DID APPEAR REPAINTED. HOWEVER FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS THE PAINT IS SLOWLY PEELING OFF ON THE TOP OF MY VAN. IT IS NOW STARTING TO GET WORSE AND THE SILVER METAL IS SHOWING AND IT IS BECOMING QUITE NOTICEABLE WITH SOME SMALL RUST SPOTS. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A COVER UNDER THE THE TOP OF THE VANS PAINT. SMALL AREAS ON THE DOORS AND WINDOWS, THAT ARE NOT THE SAME COLOR AS THE REST OF THE VAN ARE ALSO PEELING. IF YOU LOOK AROUND ATHENS, GA, YOU CAN TAKE NOTICE OF THE OTHER CHEVROLET ASTROS THAT ARE ALSO PEELING PAINT. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS?*AK

20030423SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 94 V 177 000 WHICH IS RELATED TO THE VEHICLES HEAD RESTRAINTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM

Mileage: 100,000

20030322SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

FEMALE PORTION OF REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE (FOR SHOULDER HARNESS) STICKS UP TOO FAR. OWNER IS HAVING PROBLEMS FINDING TODDLER CHILD SEATS THAT WILL BUCKLE PROPERLY IN VEHICLE. OWNER USED TO USE CENTER LAP BELT. NOW HAS THREE CHILDREN AND NEEDS TO USE ONE OF THE SHOULDER BELTS. *JB

Mileage: 145,000

20030310TIRES:SIDEWALL

THE TIRE REAR TIRES CONTAINED SPLITS IN THE SIDE WALLS.*JB *TS

Mileage: 7,300

20021104SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE SHE HEARD A NOISE COMING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE COLLAPSED INWARD DUE TO UPPER CONTROL ARM. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR

20021104SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT

MR

20021003LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

CONSUMER STATES THAT ALL THE DOOR LATCHES ARE DEFECTIVE, KEEPS BREAKING. HAD THEM REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. NLM

20020930SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE LOWER LEFT CONTROL ARM FAILED DUE TO METAL FATIGUE FROM, CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT OF VEHICLE TO DROP, MAKING VEHICLE INOPERATIVE. NLM

20020702SUSPENSION:FRONT

COMMON FAILURE ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC (NEW HOPE AUTOMOTIVE). RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, CERTAINLY WOULD OF LED TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I'D BEEN DRIVING WHEN IT OCCURRED. MY MECHANIC SAID THE DEALER HAS SOLD 70 OF THE SAME PART IN LAST WEEK. SERIOUS FAILURE, SHOULD BE A RECALL.*AK

20020417POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER STATES THAT GEAR SHIFT WILL LOCK IN GEAR PERIODICLY. NLM

Compare 1993CHEVROLETASTRO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 CHEVROLET ASTRO have?
The 1993 CHEVROLET ASTRO has 177 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 4 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 CHEVROLET ASTRO?
The most-complained component for the 1993 CHEVROLET ASTRO is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 34 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1993 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.