Accelerator pedal stuck bad, but was finally fixed when the problem, a faulty throttle-body was found. At only 58000 miles? We've owned a Volkswagen for 13 years and 158000 miles. Its throttle body has never given up.
Odd thumping noise that the dealer service department hasn't been able to fix for 4 years.
Alternator went bad at 58000 miles. Car wouldn't start.
The transmission started shifting very hard from first to second gear at about 40000 miles. The first time we took it to the dealer, they said that there was probably something in the transmission, but made no move to fix it. They weren't going to even change the transmission fluid. The second time we took it in they "fixed it". It did shift right for about a week but then went back to the hard shifting. The dealer also forgot to reassemble the car correctly and it made a wooshing noise in the interior.
The air conditioning has gone out three times, always at the beginning of summer. It went out after we had the car for only one year. We called the dealer to have it fixed but they wanted us to wait two weeks before we brought it in. It was the middle of the Texas summer, and an hour-long commute with no air conditioning in 100 degree weather was out of the question. We told them that we had paid $24000 for that car a year ago with air conditioning and they can't make us drive it without A/C. They eventually gave in and fixed it in a week and a half. And there were two more episodes after that.
Those GM dealers put on an excellent facade to sell those $25000 junkers, but crap on you when you need them fixed.
Even when this heap is working, it is a slow, wallowing barge. As a person who likes real driving, this car is hell. It busts a gut getting on the freeway even with the more powerful engine. The steering is among the worst ever.
It has the second row captains chairs which cannot be removed, thus defeating the utilitarian value of the vehicle.
It gets a hideous 15 mpg, about the same as our V8 powered 1965 Buick. This is GM Astro/Safari quality at its finest. Junk.
I'm sorry sir, but to your comment about the safari being a barge and not being able to keep up on the highway... I completely disagree, it is as fast as anyother minivan I have driven and if you expect 0-60 mph in sub 7 second times, you should buy a Caddilac CTS not a minivan. The purpose of a minivan is not to go lighting fast, its to carry a large amount of people from one place to another and even carry a 6000 lb trailer with this van!!! The only thing that I have had problems with and what you stated in your review was the transmission did have a hard time shifting from first to second and my van is also near the 40K mark! for all the other problems, what can I say there are always exceptions, but cars are a very bad investment from day one!!!
Judging from what I've read about the '97 Safari lately, I feel like my problems are the tip of the iceberg. We bought it 6 months ago with 52K miles from a dealer. Transmission trouble, the hard shifting between 1rst and 2nd when it's hot, started a couple months later. Should have insisted they take the darn thing back. I've experienced several difficulties that appear to be common threads... dash vents have a mind of their own, driver window was stuck down briefly, windshield wipers don't work sometimes. I'm going to trade it back in to the dealership where I bought it before it gets worse.
I am really glad I had the opportunity to read the comments about GMC Safari/Chevy Astro van. It summed up my experience with my 1997 Astro Van and General Motors.
I bought my 1997 Astro Van brand new. After about 35,000 miles I have had ongoing problems. First the calipers malfunctioned on the front brakes. I had to have the calipers replaced and the brake system serviced. This was done after the brake pads had been replace once for excessive wear.
After that the gas gage quit working. A Chevy deal serviced this. The result was the tank overflowed when I filled it with gas. I took it to another Chevy dealer. They stated the problem was due to faulty installation of the gage. Shortly there after it stated whistling. I took the van to a non-dealer mechanic. He said it was inappropriately installed and repaired it. It cost about half as much as what Chevy charged and has yet to need to be repair.
Following this the power steering pump went. This has had to be replaced twice.
The heater core had to be replaced.
The front end has had to be rebuilt twice. The first time was by a Chevy dealer, then about 13,000 miles later by an independent mechanic. The van has been driven a good bit better than 13,000 miles following the second rebuild and has yet to have front-end problems.
The air-conditioning unit required service almost every summer and finally was totally replaced this last summer.
I am continuing to have problems with the inside lights in the van. Sometimes they turn on some times they don't and some times they flicker as you drive.
I am pretty well resolved to the fact that every year the van will sit in the shop for about two weeks. I also am very unlikely to buy another new GM product. They have demonstrated to me they know neither how to build a vehicle well and are even less able to service it. Next time around I think I'll buy a used car. At least then I'd expect repairs and with the money saved would be able to afford it.
My 1998 Chevy astro van had been pretty reliable until this past week, now I'm about ready to put it out to pasture. I have over 180,000 miles on it with very few problems until now. I used to replace front disc brakes and turn rotors every 25K: the original rotors would distort from heat. I found some vented rotors (holes in surface). I went over 60,000 miles before I needed pads again; the rotors never distorted again and front end doesn't shake anymore. Went 160,000 miles before 1st tune up and really didn't need one. Cruise went out at 120,000. Wipers sometime don't come on; have replaced the gas shocks on the back hatch more times than I can count, Fuel pump last month at 175,000. Trans works very good, maybe because I always ran the piss out of it. paint still looks good, had regular oil changes every 4000 miles. Use Mobil I oil, does not burn any oil. Last week it died and now it won't start, checked codes everything OK, seems like timing problem, but haven't found it yet. It tries to start, back fires and that's all it does. Any Ideas?? Jim.
I bought a Chevy Astro in 2000 and use it for vending. I have had very good luck with it so far. I have 103,000 miles now with little problems. I do make sure the oil is changed every 3,000 miles. The only problem that I am having that I can complain of is the hard shifting from 1st to 2nd gear. I can feel it slightly from 2nd to 3rd as well whenever it starts. It seems to correct itself for a while when the engine is turned off and restarted again. It's almost as it is resetting a computer chip. Still have yet to get it checked out. The Brakes don't seem to be all that great. I wonder sometimes if it's a faulty master cylinder.
We own a 96 Astro Van, it is by far the most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned. I would love to park it on a Chevy dealers lot and burn it, but it is paid for, and its cheaper to fix it than buy a new car. It has only 87,238 miles on it (I know this because I dropped it off again this morning for a new rear main oil seal and oil pan seal). Since purchasing the vehicle we have had the following problems (covered by warranty) : New radio, new exhaust system, new a/c compressor, new belt tensioner three times, new fuel injectors, new rear ring and pinion gears and bearings, new axle seals (different occasion than ring and pinion set), 2 new batteries, and new a/c dash controls twice. Problems not covered by warranty; new alternator, new windshield washer motor, new fuel pressure regulator, another battery, new distributor, complete front steering rebuild, and now the main oil seal and oil pan seal. It goes thru front brakes like a hot knife thru butter, handles like a overloaded wheel barrel, and burns more gas than my 70SS Chevelle. When my wife and I go on trips, we take my 90 Ford F250 4X4 with 120,00 miles on it cause we don't want to get stranded. I have had this car in for repairs more than every car I've ever owned all combined. I can't wait to get rid of it. God I hate that van!
I have a '98 Astro AWD I it seems to be generally a good vehicle. I have 118000 miles on it and the only expensive repair to it so far was the fuel pump. With only 190 HP I do not expect the thing to be a rocket, but I can get down the road with four passengers at 75 mph no problem. It is without a doubt the best vehicle I have ever driven in snow. I live in a rural area work nights so I often drive on unplowed roads. I have driven thru snow deep enough to plow with the bumper and have never had an uneasy moment with this van.
I too HATE my 1999 Chevy Astro. I bought this van new and had problems with it literally from day one. To make a real long story real short, I had the following problems: Daytime running lights (2X),A/C (4X),Steering drift (idler arm) (2X),Belt pulley, Dash lights, Dash Gauge Cluster (5X),Fuel Pump, Rear "Clunk",Oil line leaks, Excessive front brake wear & The infamous 1st to 2nd gear hard shift. Although I'm sure that I left some problems out, I would like to add that this "vehicle" is referred to in my family as "The Sick Whale".
I hate it when people leave comments saying all GMC dealers are bad. Please note that a dealer is an independent company, not owned by GM. Therefore the service is not regulated. Our GMC dealer where we bought our GMC Envoy XL was an absolute pleasure to deal with. There was a defect in the air conditioning system when we bought the car and they gave us a loaner, which was not some subcompact in the back corner of the lot, it was a 24 hour test vehicle (Buick LeSabre). They quickly diagnosed the problem and had it fixed the next day. Thank you Premium Pontiac Buick GMC.
1989 Astro Van
4.3L 6cyl
178.000 miles
Purchased used Sep/00.
This has been a great van. It is fully loaded. Air never worked, it has R12 in the system it won't be upgraded by us. Pretty hard to go wrong with an Astro of this vintage. The steering layout goes back to at least 1940. The rear springs are the composite ones and when they break they will be replaced with steel ones. Simple. The brakes work great. No ABS, but they really stop the vehicle. I carry a 200lb concrete slab in the back to balance the old girl. I like the motor it is a chopped down chev small block. They have been around forever. The throttle body fuel injection is akin to someone standing on the motor and pouring fuel in. Couldn't be easier to fix. Big problem is if the oil is not changed reguarly the drain ports plug up in the cylinder heads. That leaves the rear valves on each side totally immersed in oil. Many of these engines are replaced as they smoke wildly on start up. All they need is the drain holes in the heads cleaned out and new valve seals. Done a few of them, takes about 6-8 hours to do. Do them right in the vehicle. I like the short turning circle, it is easy to park. It tows our 22 foot boat nicely. But those steering idlers are a disgrace. They wear out too soon. As does the drag link from the steering box Pitman arm to the centre link. The transmission is terrible the shift from 1st-2nd brutal. The vehicle seems to pause wind up and then realease as the shift bangs. The 3-4 shift makes a clunk in the rear. It is not off the driveshaft as there is no play in the joints. A hard shift on early VW transmissions usually meant low primary throttle pressure. Repositioning the kick cable (throttle valve cable) makes no difference. If I do get shot of this old beast is will be a shame as it is in really good shape. But that shift really bothers me. Surely someone has a cure for it. I have read the 97/98 models do it as well. Very sad. Perhaps I can stick a unit in from a 1980 Chev. Has anyone tried that.
Our experience with the 1997 Chevrolet Astro has not been enjoyable. We have maintained this vehicle, per manufacturer recommendations. Our problems started a year and half after we purchased this vehicle new. We have replaced the manifold gasket, both door window motors, fuel pump and have had the air conditioner checked, re-checked and checked again. The total cost of repairs thus far, for this $19,000 vehicle, has been $4,200. All this just after 2 - 3 years. Go figure. Had we known this, we would have spent the extra repair money on a quality vehicle. The air conditioner, although within "factory specs", doesn't get cold. We have been told by "non-GM" mechanics that this a/c unit was under "spec-ed" for power and cooling. We were told by the Chevrolet customer "hot-line" that these are normal maintenance items and we shouldn't expect the vehicle to last forever. Now you know why Americans don't buy American. What an attitude. I don't expect the vehicle to last forever without repairs. But I do expect quality without gouging the consumer. I will take my money elsewhere next time.
I have enjoyed my 96 gmc van I bought it used at 80,000 miles and its like new.
I know it like new because I keep replacing everything sometimes twice.
I hope to have the van for a few more years to pass on to my kids so when one of them get it they will know it new too.
I used to think GMC was the best, but did not know the best of what till now.
Derek.
My brother in law got 255,000 from 85 Astro very few repairs. My self have had 87 with only idler arm replaced, I now have 99, great vehicle. My son has a 94 with 195,000, replaced fuel pump and water pump at about 150,000. what more could you ask for.
I have own a 1993 Chevy Astro for 5 years and have put 100K on it and the odometer reads 175,000. It still uses no oil between changes (3,500 miles) and has been the best used vehicle I have ever owned. I am impressed with the 4.3 liter V-6. I purchased a 1987 GMC Safari with the same engine. I had to replace the engine at 200 miles (rear main seal problem). Beware of fighting over a warranty item. The warranty called for the new engine to be rebuilt not replaced. After 6 weeks of fighting they were willing to replace the short block. 205,000 miles later it finally died after a long dependable life of an accident. I would recommend any used Astro or Safari that hasn't been abused.
We have owned a 1987 Safari for the last 8 years. Of course, when everything is going great, we have lots of good to say. The opposite is true too. All in all though, over the course of 8 years, our repair and maintenance bills have totalled around $4000 (that includes 2 sets of tires also). It has 368,000 km on it (the motor & transmission were replaced shortly before we purchased it), and we're just waiting for it to decide to call it quits. It is however, running strong! Items that we've replaced include: 2 door handles, 2 sets of seat belts, EGR Valve (after paying $800 to have the real problem misdiagnosed 3-4 times), fuel pump (what fun changing that one!), and I guess it would be fair to say we've replaced/fixed/glued just about everything on this van. We are just in the process of cutting out all the rust, and patching up the holes. We've already sanded down and painted all the flaking paint from the roof and engine hood. Why put all this work into this old van? Because it has served us well! We are now in the process of looking for a new GMC Safari - we're sold on them (and if nothing else, we seem to know them inside and out!)