Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Chevrolet Astro problems
Owners filed 82 complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Astro with NHTSA between Apr 2002 and Oct 2022. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (22).
Complaints
82
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
4
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes, hydraulic22
- Electrical system17
- Steering9
- Seat belts8
- Power train7
- Vehicle speed control6
- Air bags6
- Tires5
- Exterior lighting5
- Structure5
- Visibility4
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Service brakes3
- Electronic stability control (esc)2
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 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
12
13
8
12
2
7
4
4
5
2
3
1
2
2
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 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
Service brakes, hydraulic
22 reports5 crashes1 fire
“ABS COMING ON AT VERY LOW SPEEDS ON DRY PAVEMENT (UNDER 5MPH/8KMH). IT DOESN'T DO IT EVERY TIME, BUT QUITE OFTEN AT LOW SPEEDS, LIKE COMING TO A RED LIGHT, STOP SIGN OR PARKING. OF COURSE, THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE ABS COME ON AT SUCH LOW SPEEDS AND ESPECIALLY NOT ON DRY PAVEMENT. *TR”
Electrical system
17 reports1 fire
“WHEN RAINING WIDSHIELD WIPERS DONT WORK AS DIRECTED, THEY DO WHAT THEY WANT. THEY STAY ON AFTER SHUTTING THEM OFF. AND DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK REPEATEDLY. WIPERS ALSO SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF LINE OF SIFHT INTERMITTENTLY. NEVER WORKS CORRECTLY”
Steering
9 reports2 crashes1 fire
“I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE CAR DIED. I LOST POWER STEERING, AND I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. COME TO FIND OUT THE FUSE BOX WAS HOT AND THERE WAS A FEW FUSES THAT WERE BLOWN. I REPLACE THE BLOWN FUSES AND DROVE HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME AND TURNED OFF THE VAN, I COULDN'T GET IT START I LOOKED AT THE SAME FUSE AND THEY WERE BLOWN AGAIN. THE VAN NOW SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY TILL I FIGURE THIS OUT. BECAUSE IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR”
Seat belts
8 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WEBBING FAILED TO LOCK AND WAS ABLE TO BE PULLED FROM THE HOUSING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 325,000.”
Power train
7 reports
“DRIVING ON 3 LANE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH WHEN TRANSMISSION FAILED(SUN GEAR SHELL IN 4L60E TRANSMISSION). EARLY AM WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC SO WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SHOULDER SAFELY. TOWED TO EXIT. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION VERY LUCKY THAT TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AS ALL DRIVE POWER WAS LOST. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
6 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Astro. The contact stated that while driving at an undetermined speed, the accelerator throttle cable fractured in the stuck open position, causing the vehicle to accelerate to approximately 100 MPH independently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 258,300.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.