Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Chevrolet Astro problems
Owners filed 272 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Astro with NHTSA between Feb 1996 and Dec 2015. The most-cited component is suspension (59).
Complaints
272
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension59
- Visibility58
- Service brakes, hydraulic34
- Power train19
- Engine and engine cooling16
- Steering15
- Fuel system, gasoline15
- Air bags15
- Structure14
- Electrical system13
- Seat belts8
- Equipment7
- Vehicle speed control7
- Tires6
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
13
66
22
44
34
35
24
17
7
3
0
2
2
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 13 |
| 1997 | 66 |
| 1998 | 22 |
| 1999 | 44 |
| 2000 | 34 |
| 2001 | 35 |
| 2002 | 24 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Suspension
59 reports2 crashes
“1996 CHEVY ASTRO LF TORSION BAR BROKE. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED AFTER MY WIFE WENT ON AN 800 MILE TRIP. DEALER REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED SHORTER BAR. FRONT NOW A LOT LOWER THAN ORIGINAL. DEALER DID NOT REQUIRE OR INSIST THE OTHER ONE BE FIXED AT THIS TIME. THEY ADJUSTED THE CAMBER OF THE WHEEL TO OFFSET THE LOWER LF OF THE CAR. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS BOARD IT WAS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY GM. THEY KNEW--OR AT LEAST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT--OTHERWISE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE REDESIGNED THE PART. THEY SHOULD PAY FOR REPLACEMENTS ON BOTH SIDES. WHAT DOES IT TAKE? *TR”
Visibility
58 reports1 fire1 related recall
“REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE TO WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD. *MR FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD CRACKED AND CAUSED THEM TO FAIL. RECALL#03V159000 *SCC *JB”
Service brakes, hydraulic
34 reports3 crashes
“ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN BRAKING SOMETIMES BRAKE PEDAL GETS REALLY HARD. CONSUMER HAS TO PUMP ON BRAKE TO STOP. THIS HAPPENS MAYBE ONCE A DAY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK”
Power train
19 reports
“1996 CHEVROLET ASTRO WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE PART THAT FAILED WAS THE SUNSHELL. HE HEARD THAT IF THIS PART FAILS, THE REVERSE AND SOME FORWARD GEARS WILL BE LOST. *KB”
Engine and engine cooling
16 reports
“1)AC COMPRESSOR STOPPED WORKING 2)COMPRESSOR SEIZED UP, ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, AND VEHICLE STOPPED ON HIGH TRAFFIC HIGHWAY 3)SORT BELTED SERPENTINE BELT . *AK”
Steering
15 reports1 crash
“I JUST GOT HOME & WAS BACKING AROUND TO WHERE I PARK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTED VIBRATING. I DID MANAGE TO PARK. THE NEXT DAY THE VIBRATING STOPPED WHEN A GRATING NOISE WAS MADE. SUDDENLY THE BRAKE PEDAL CAME WAY UP. IT DOES HAVE SOME BRAKES BUT THEY ARE HARD TO DEPRESS. SUDDENLY MY POWER STEERING IS GONE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF PROBLEMS WITH EITHER BEFOREHAND. THIS VAN JUST PASSED INSPECTION IN MID-AUGUST, AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. *JS”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.