Armrests replaced.
HVAC replaced.
Multiple bulbs replaced.
Brake rotors warped.
Radiator blew.
Transmission still shifts abruptly.
Dash has a rattle.
Rear seats squeak.
Front end damage due to stones, that other vehicles don't seem to suffer from as badly (cheap paint job on the Astro?).
Engine coolant leaks.
Windshield wipers broke.
Rear door trim fell off, drivers side B trim loose.
Constantly having to tighten the rear swing doors.
Rear door latch fell off.
Sliding door lock seized, the list goes on.
Absolutely garbage.
Front floor has humps.
Plastic accelerator.
Goes through gas like crazy, revs its guts out to keep up with traffic.
Very poor interior materials.
Constant headaches: rear doors have exposed hinges, seats don't stay in place moving back and forth in their position while driving, head room is well below average, seat cushions are way too short, needless to say the complaint list is huge.
Does your Astro have a conversion package? I have learned that some conversion companies use cheap materials when trimming out both in interior and exterior. Your engine problems surprise me. I have a 1990 Astro that has gone 175,000 miles and never given me any problems other than the normal maintenance issues.
No it does not have a conversion package, it does have dealer installed rust proofing, added to list now includes a new OBDII computer for 800.00, transmission has failed and has been rebuilt, now has only 74000km, the rear speaker got damaged by a soda bottle. We have bought a 1991 Ford Aerostar as a second vehicle and seems much more reliable then the Astro, that van however was owned by a senior citizen and has currently 99000km, as well about hand height the astro has a mechanism that got closed on one of my wife's hand almost severing the finger, absolute crappy design. The aerostar seems much roomier in the front and in the cargo hold, but isn't as wide as the astro which makes it tighter for 3 people on the bench.
This van (2000 Astro) is junk. Bought it in June 2001 with 56 miles. The first thing I noticed is that the heater did not work. Then it got worse.
Rear brakes squeal, out of round rotor, tranmission shifts too hard, vehicle rolls back on the slightest incline when in drive, side door latch seized up and door will not close, has done body damage as a result and dealer will not repair (latch has been replaced but still does the same thing).
Engine runs rough, (since 4000 miles: now has 5000), service manager said I was using the wrong octane of gas (87) HAHA.
Front-end was out of alignment, (still is as of 8-1-01), and has been into be fixed 2 times already to no avail. Took the van to an Independent Nationally Recognized auto repair facility and was told that the front end is still incorrectly aligned. Further stated that a vehicle this new should not need as many shims as it would take to resolve the problem.
When the front tires started cupping (at twenty-five hundred miles) I was told that this is normal and it would eventually stop. After weeks of complaining to G.M. and the dealer, the tires were replaced.
The van is sitting in my front drive, not being driven, waiting for legal advice from my attorney. I will not buy from Chevrolet again!
I have a 1990 Astro Van that just turned 200,000 miles. No problems to date. If you are having so many problems, mention the "Lemon Law" to the dealership. I'm sure you have all your documentation. Good luck!
I have a 95 Chevy Astro LT. I have not had any major problems with it to date. The dash squeaks a little, but that's what you get for buying a domestic vehicle. It still runs like new. I haven't even really taken care of the van either. Don't know why your van has had so many problems.
I drive an Astro every day, all day, and I think they are a great van, if you know their foibles, much like any vehicle. The first one I had was an '87 that made it to 361,000 very hard miles with normal maintenance. The one I have now is a '97 I bought for $1600 that has 166,000 miles on it and runs like new.
A lot of your complaints make no sense.
"Armrests replaced." This is a major issue?
"HVAC replaced." What is HVAC on a van? I don't get it.
"Multiple bulbs replaced." I be you replace them in your house sometimes too.
"Brake rotors warped." All brake rotors wear eventually, these are wear items.
"Radiator blew." Sorry to hear that.
"Transmission still shifts abruptly." So does mine, big deal.
"Dash has a rattle." LOL you're hard to please...
"Rear seats squeak." Get out the WD40.
"Front end damage due to stones, that other vehicles don't seem to suffer from as badly (cheap paint job on the Astro?)." It's a van with a big flat front, of course it gets stone damage.
"Engine coolant leaks." Well, either tighten your clamps, or put in some stop leak.
"Windshield wipers broke." Broke how?
"Rear door trim fell off, drivers side B trim loose." So silicone it back on. Show a little initiative.
"Constantly having to tighten the rear swing doors." Tighten them how? Doesn't make sense.
"Rear door latch fell off." Doesn't make sense either.
"Sliding door lock seized, the list goes on." Maybe a little lube once in a while.
General comments?
"Absolutely garbage." Well, you bought it. Doesn't say much for your taste, I guess.
"Front floor has humps." LOL... that's where the wheels go.
"Plastic accelerator." Like every other car made, I gather.
"Goes through gas like crazy, revs its guts out to keep up with traffic." I get 18-19 mpg, not great, but it's a 4500 lb. van. As for the revving, well, take it easy, leadfoot.
"Very poor interior materials." Compared to what? I've seen worse.
"Constant headaches: rear doors have exposed hinges" Are you kidding? So do all vans since the dawn of time.
"seats don't stay in place moving back and forth in their position while driving" Not in my experience, try lubing the adjuster so it locks maybe?
"head room is well below average" Are you joking? What are you, 8 feet tall?
"seat cushions are way too short" Or maybe your butt's too big?
"needless to say the complaint list is huge." It sure is. Better luck next time.
Hooah! Way to speak out for GM, previous commenter. Even as a big GM loyalist, I have to admit I've heard a lot of bad things about the Astro, but there has GOT to be a reason why the Astro and Safari hung around for about twenty years.
Another Chevrolet product, the Cavalier, was in production for about thirty, and that Chevy, too, has received a lot of criticism. Something about the Astro and the Cavalier must have been good enough for people to keep buying them for more than a decade.
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