1999 Chevrolet Astro problems

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. HE THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS FAILURE WITHIN THE POWERTRAIN. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE CONNECTED TO THE SAME UNIT, CAUSING BOTH TO FAIL SIMULTANEOUSLY. HE CALLED GM AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE BRAKES SHOULD HAVE WORKED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”

“WE HAVE A 1999 CHEVY ASTRO VAN. WE HAD A FACTORY RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS SUPPLIED BY GUARANTY CHEVROLET ON 8-30-02, INSTALLED. THE VAN HAD 67,532 MILES. WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND NEVER TOWED ANYTHING. WE ALSO PAID TO HAVE A SEPARATE NEW COOLING SYSTEM INSTALLED FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND ALSO HAD THE DRIVESHAFT REBUILT AND BALANCED. NOW, OUR 2ND TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AT 44,547 MORE MILES SINCE INSTALLED IN 2002. WE HAVE SPENT $5,700.00. OUR TRANSMISSION PLACE WROTE GM. MARK DOWLER OF CHEVY CALLED ME AND SAID SORRY, WE WON'T HELP YOU. WE ARE GOING TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF NEED BE. THANK YOU. *JB”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT APPROACHED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT STATING THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO ON ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. *TR”

“HAD CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED PRIOR TO ENTERING A REDUCED SPEED AREA AND IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. AFTER DEPARTING THE REDUCED SPEED AREA, I ENGAGED THE RESUME FUNCTION AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED PAST THE SET SPEED AND KEPT SPEEDING UP. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITH BRAKES ALTHOUGH THEY GOT VERY HOT AND SMOKED SEVERELY. ATTEMPTS TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED, AS WELL AS TURNING OFF AND REMOVING THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER SUCCESSFULLY STOPPING THE VEHICLE, I CONTINUED ATTEMPTS TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT ANY ATTEMPT TO START THE ENGINE RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE RACING OF THE ENGINE. I EXAMINED THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND DISCOVERED THAT FUSE NUMBER 6 WAS LABELED "CRUISE MODULE, CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, ELECTROMECHANICAL MIRROR". THE FUSE WAS REMOVED BUT THE ENGINE RACED UPON ATTEMPTING TO START IT. I THEN DISCOVERED THAT FUSE NUMBER 18 WAS LABELED "VCM-IGN 3, VCM-BRAKE, 4WAL, CRUISE STEPPER MOTOR SIGNAL". UPON REMOVING THIS FUSE, I WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE, AND IT REMAINED IN NORMAL PARAMETERS. I DID NOTICE THAT THE ANTILOCK LIGHT WAS ON, BUT BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED TO THE VCM-BRAKE LABEL ON THE CIRCUIT BREAKER. I WAS THEN ABLE TO CONTINUE…”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER ASSIST STEERING & POWER ASSIST BRAKES SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER, HOWEVER, AFTER SOME RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED, CAUSING LACK OF PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND STEERING. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE SHAFT IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP SNAPPED. *NM”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THROUGH SNOW AND ICE, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SLID OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE THEN STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HIM AND HE STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE WOUND TOOK 24 STITCHES TO CLOSE. MOST OF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $4,500. THE MANUFACTURER'S INVESTIGATOR CONCLUDED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY AT 25 MPH. THE ARKANSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT FILED REPORT NUMBER 07-00343. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,661 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.”