CHEVROLET ASTRO · model year

1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO

336 NHTSA complaints, 25 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998CHEVROLETASTRO carries 336 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 25 crashes, 7 fires, 39 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 1998 ASTRO is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 21 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (21) and power train:automatic transmission (14). 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 1998 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.

336
Complaints
25
Crashes
7
Fires
39
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

336 filings

Crashes Reported

25 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP21
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR21
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION14
SUSPENSION:FRONT13
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE9
TIRES9
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL8
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM8
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS8
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH6

Recent Complaints

20171026ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHAT IS THE REAL IS HARD TO TURN IN MY ALTERNATOR WENT OUT

20171026STEERING

WHAT IS THE REAL IS HARD TO TURN IN MY ALTERNATOR WENT OUT

20140128ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE BEGAN TO DRIVE IN REVERSE AND THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHERE THEY STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED FROM THE WIRING HARNESS AND INTO THE ENGINE COMPUTER. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE COMPUTER AND THE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 245,000.

Mileage: 245,000

20140128FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE BEGAN TO DRIVE IN REVERSE AND THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHERE THEY STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED FROM THE WIRING HARNESS AND INTO THE ENGINE COMPUTER. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE COMPUTER AND THE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 245,000.

Mileage: 245,000

20130624SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

20120320ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND DIDN'T PROVIDE WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE BOOK STATES THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON TO INDICATE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND SERVICE IS REQUIRED. MALFUNCTIONS OFTEN WILL BE INDICATED BY THE SYSTEM BEFORE ANY PROBLEM IS APPARENT. THIS SYSTEM IS ALSO DESIGNED TO ASSIST YOUR SERVICE TECHNICIAN IN CORRECTLY DIAGNOSING ANY MALFUNCTION. NONE OF THIS WORKED ON THE VAN. *KB

Mileage: 92,000

20120319ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN HEAT EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING THE FAILURE, THERE WERE NO VISIBLE FLAMES OR SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,349. UPDATED 04/27/12*LJ UPDATED 04/27/12

Mileage: 92,349

20120305ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BUILT- IN DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND DID NOT PROVIDE WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AND CAUSED ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE MOTOR ABNORMALLY. THE ENGINE MOTOR AND THE INTAKE GASKETS WOULD BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE BUILT-IN DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S AGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000. UPDATED 08-07-12 *BF

Mileage: 92,000

20110601CrashTIRES

1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING WEST ON IR 80 IN THE RIGHT LANE. UNIT 1 WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, OVER CORRECTED, AND WENT SPINNING 270 DEGREES AND WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK THE MEDIAN BARRIER. THE DRIVER CHANGED HIS STORY AND SAID HIS TIRE BLEW OUT AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0293-90)*JB UPDATED 08/11/11*LJ UPDATED 08/12/11*JB UPDATED 08/16/11

20110515FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY ASTRO VAN THAT QUALIFIES FOR A EXPIRED WARRANTY FOR GM THAT IS RELATED TO A DEFECT IN THEIR FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THAT CAUSES THEM TO STICK OPEN OR CLOSED. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY CHEVY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WAS NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC UNTIL THIS YEAR. THE BULLETIN/WARRANTY NUMBER IS: 99066E AND IT STATES THAT ALL REPAIRS RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE COVERED NO CHARGE TO THE VEHICLE OWNER AS LONG AS IT'S WITHIN 10 YEARS OR 200,000 MILES. SO, I'M 3 YEARS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAVE 217,000 MILES. IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT THAT CHEVY NEVER CONTACTED ME ABOUT THIS AND I'VE HAD TO PAY FOR NUMEROUS REPAIRS RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM IN THIS VEHICLE OVER THE YEARS WITHOUT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I HAD MY FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FIXED. THESE VANS ARE KNOWN TO RUN UP TO 450,000 MILES. THE OPERATION OF MY VEHICLE IS VITAL IN THIS ECONOMY. I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE THIS WARRANTY EXTENDED TO ME. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVY/GM AND THEY JUST READ THE WARRANTY BACK

Mileage: 200,000

20090831VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD CAUSES THE WIPERS NOT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. IF VISIBILITY IS REDUCED WHILE DRIVING THE RISK FOR VEHICLE CRASH AND SERIOUS INJURY ARE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPAIRED. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND WAS INFORMED BY A REPRESENTATIVE THAT THERE WERE NO EXISTING RECALLS FOR HIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL.. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,877. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Mileage: 129,877

20090330SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE MOTOR COVER FOR HIM TO MANEUVER HIS FEET. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT HE COULD POSSIBLY GET HIS FOOT CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MOTOR COVER IN THE EVENT THAT HE NEEDED TO APPLY THE BRAKES QUICKLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 114,000. UPDATED 04-20-09 *BF UPDATED 04/24/09.*JB

Mileage: 114,000

20090215STRUCTURE

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY ASTRO 2WD WE BOUGHT WITH 23K MI. IN 2000. ROUGHLY 2 YEARS AGO WE HAD ALL NEW BRAKES (HEAD TO TOE, FRONT & BACK) INSTALLED AGAIN. WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES WITH OUR ABS MAINLY WHEN TRAVELING UNDER 15 MPH, WHEN YOU TRY AND STOP IT GRABS HEAVILY OR SOMETIMES ALMOST NOT AT ALL. JUST LAST YEAR WE HAD THE FRONT BRAKES RE-DONE AGAIN AND STILL THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. WE ONLY TRAVEL 12-14K MILES A YEAR WITH THE VEHICLE AND MOST OF THE DRIVING IS ON COUNTRY ROADS. WE NOTICE IT THE MOST WHEN WE ARE DROPPING THE KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL OR PICKING THEM UP OR PULLING INTO OR OUT OF THE GARAGE. THE JERKING ACTION HAS CAUSED MAJOR FRONT END ASSEMBLY DAMAGE TO THE VAN WHERE WE HAD TO REPLACE MOST OF THOSE PIECES AS WELL. AFTER DUMPING ALMOST $2200 INTO THE VAN AND STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, THIS IS WHY I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE, CAUSE IT IS DANGERING THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY AND

20070820VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Mileage: 75,000

20070703FireVISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR THE OUTSIDE SIDE VIEW MIRROR. THE FAILURE CAUSED HEAT DAMAGE THAT IGNITED A FIRE IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE ENTIRE VAN WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE OCCURRED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

20070503SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 88,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000*AK.

Mileage: 85,000

20061205SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT LOW SPEEDS, THE PEDAL WAS HARDER TO DEPRESS AND HAD A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

Mileage: 103,000

20061010CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH TOWARDS AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN CRASHED TO A LIGHT POST. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONTACT WHO IMPACTED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELTS WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR THE IMPACT. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THE ACCIDENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EVACUATED THE CONTACT TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL. A CHILD RIDING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS RESTRAINED BY THE SEAT BELT AND SUFFERED NO INJURIES, HOWEVER THE FIRST IMPACT OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE INOPERABLE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE OWNER RESIDENCE.

Mileage: 85,000

20061010CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH TOWARDS AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN CRASHED TO A LIGHT POST. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONTACT WHO IMPACTED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELTS WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR THE IMPACT. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THE ACCIDENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EVACUATED THE CONTACT TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL. A CHILD RIDING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS RESTRAINED BY THE SEAT BELT AND SUFFERED NO INJURIES, HOWEVER THE FIRST IMPACT OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE INOPERABLE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE OWNER RESIDENCE.

Mileage: 85,000

20060510FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE FUEL FILTER WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE FUEL FILTER AND TANK ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED.

Mileage: 134,653

Compare 1998CHEVROLETASTRO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO have?
The 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO has 336 NHTSA complaints, 25 crashes, 7 fires, 39 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO?
The most-complained component for the 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 21 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1998 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.