Model year record

1996 Chevrolet Astro

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 345 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V159000

Visibility: windshield wiper/washer

Component
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
1,755,876
Reported to NHTSA
2003-04-28
Owners notified
2003-06-19

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.

Safety risk

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Recall campaignNHTSA 01V123000

Seat belts: front: warning light/devices

Component
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
461,851
Reported to NHTSA
2001-04-10
Owners notified
2001-06-27

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE "FASTEN SAFETY-BELT" AUDIBLE WARNING OCCASIONALLY MAY NOT COME ON OR MAY TERMINATE IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Safety risk

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ALARM MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V009000

Child seat

Component
Child seat
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
2,090
Reported to NHTSA
1999-01-20
Owners notified
1999-01-21

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED DUAL CHILD SEATS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY BE MISSING A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CLUTCH SPRING AND/OR PAWL SPRING IN THE CHILD SEAT. IF THE CLUTCH SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION AND COULD NOT BE USED. IF THE PAWL SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT WOULD CONTINUALLY PLAY OUT AND WOULD NOT LOCK.

Safety risk

THESE CONDITIONS COULD INCREASE THE OCCUPANT'S RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS ON THE CHILD SEATS, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CHILD SEAT.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V057000

Seat belts: rear/other

Component
Seat belts: rear/other
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
18,972
Reported to NHTSA
1997-04-08
Owners notified
1997-04-28

Defect description

THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE RIGHT-HAND REAR BUCKET SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A VEHICLE CRASH.

Safety risk

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD RESULT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR ON THE REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Suspension: front: springs: torsion bar3880,222 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor26
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip2196,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer21
Air bags: frontal13106,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission1230,000 mi
Structure: body: door1158,903 mi
Suspension: front9
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner8120,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump7
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys6120,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors6
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components6
Steering: linkages: arm: idler and attachment5
Suspension565,000 mi
Unknown or other565,000 mi
Vehicle speed control5
Electrical system: ignition4180,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe4
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch4
Tires4
Visibility: power window devices and controls439,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline3
Power train: driveline: differential unit3
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly3
Seat belts: front: retractor3
Seats3
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor3
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element3
Air bags2
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator2
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash2140,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine2
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system265,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.2
Exterior lighting: turn signal2
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch2
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery2
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system2
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch2
Service brakes2120,227 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum2
Steering2235,059 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump2
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly230,000 mi
Structure: frame and members2
Suspension: front: control arm: upper arm2
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring2
Electrical system1132,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables1
Electrical system: ignition: switch1
Electrical system: wiring1
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood1
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers1
Engine and engine cooling165,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system1
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: hoses/lines/piping/fittings130,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights1
Exterior lighting: headlights1
Fuel system, gasoline165,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: carburetor system1
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly1
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system1
Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock1
Latches/locks/linkages: tailgate: latch1
Parking brake1
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable1
Power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines1110,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift1
Power train: axle assembly1
Power train: driveline: driveshaft1
Seat belts1
Seat belts: front: anchorage1
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices1
Seats: front assembly: recliner1
Service brakes, air: disc: rotor1
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder1
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)1
Steering: hydraulic power assist system1
Steering: linkages1
Steering: linkages: knuckle: spindle: arm1
Structure: body1
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments1
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate1
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut1
Suspension: front: control arm1
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm1
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint1
Suspension: front: macpherson strut195,690 mi
Suspension: rear1
Suspension: rear: shock absorber1
Suspension: rear: springs: coil springs1
Suspension: rear: springs: leaf spring assembly: u-bolt, leaf spring to axle1
Tires: tread/belt1
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal1
Vehicle speed control: cables1
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system1
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core1
Visibility: glass, side/rear1
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer: motor1
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior1

The 1995 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 1997 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.