Problems · by component
1997 Chevrolet Astro electrical system problems
25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet Astro cite electrical system, 7% of all 366 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
25
7% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“1997 CHEVROLET ASTROVAN WITH ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCKS. PULLED INTO SHEETZ GAS AND GO AND WENT TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND IT DID NOT OPEN. TRIED TO PUSH THE MANUAL INSIDE DOOR LOCK BUT IT WAS TOTALLY FROZEN AND WOULD NOT ACTUATE. NEXT TRIED ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCK SWITCH. NO RESPONSE ON DRIVERS DOOR BUT THERE WAS WEAK SOUND FROM PASSENGER DOOR LOCK SOLENOID. IT WAS AS IF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IT WAS SUFFERING FROM INSUFFICIENT VOLTAGE. CRAWLED OUT OF PASSENGER SEAT AND GOT OUT OF CAR. ' TOOK IGNITION KEY AND INSERTED IT INTO DRIVERS DOOR LOCK. KEY WOULD TURN TO LOCK (FELT THE DETENT OF THE ) AND BACK TO NEUTRAL... KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO UNLOCK POSITION ...WOULD MOVE A LITTLE AND THEN FREEZE. I DID NOT TRY HARDER TO TURN AS I FELT THERE WAS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THE KEY WOULD BREAK AND LEAVE ME STRANDED 40 MILES FROM HOME... NO BACKUP IGNITION KEY. IGNITION KEY WORKS THE DOOR LOCKS IN THIS MODEL. WENT TO NTSTB WEB SITE AND SEARCHED FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME TYPE PROBLEM. NO LUCK. WENT TO GOOGLE AND DID SAME SEARCH CHEVROLET ASTROVAN DOOR WON'T OPEN AND GOT A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT HAD NOT REACHED NTSTB.. CHEVROLET HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF THIS MODEL HAS…”
“1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL ISSUES WITH VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ODOMETER LIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AND THE AIR CONDTIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF IN THE MIDST OF DRIVING, WHICH MADE CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT. *JB”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THE ODOMETER AND OTHER UNKNOWN LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THERE WAS A COMPUTER FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY TWO ADDITIONAL MECHANICS WHICH ADVISED THE CONTACT OF THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT INFORMED THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/26/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/06/10*JB”
“AUXILIARY AIR CONDITIONR (A/C) REAR SWITCH FAILED/ MELTED/ SMOKED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IN 4 YEARS. WENT TO THE JUNK YARD, AND FOUND THET 5 OF 5 ASTRO VANS WITH THIS TYPE SWITCH ALSO WERE MELTED/BURNED. NO APPEARENT DEFECT WITH REAR BLOWER MOTOR THAT WOULD PULL EXCESSIVE AMPS. *AK”
“WITHIN MONTHS OF PURCHASE, ON APRIL, 2003, THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPEN. THEN THE CD PLAYER WOULD NOT EJECT THE CD'S. THE INTERMEDIATE LEVELS OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NO LONGER WORKED BY THAT WINTER. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO IT DISCHARGING, I HAVE JUMPED THE VAN AND PLACED THE BATTERIES ON CHARGERS, ONLY TO BE DEAD AGAIN AFTER A TEST DRIVE. I HAVE REPLACED THE CONNECTORS AS WELL IN HOPES THAT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT TO NO AVAIL. NOW THE REAR HEATER DOES NOT WORK. *JB”
“POWER WINDOW ON PASSENGER SIDE HAS FAILED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH 2 NEW BATTERIES SINCE WE PURCHASED IT 6 MONTHS AGO. SEEMS TO BE DRAINING BATTERIES AND WE ARE NOT SURE WHY. WE PUT BATTERY ON RECHARGER OVERNIGHT, BUT WITHIN HOURS OF TAKING ITOFF THE CHARGER, THE BATTERY IS DRAINED WHILE THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING.*JB”
Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.