1989 CHEVROLET ASTRO Recalls, Complaints & Safety

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

27,176 vehicles affected

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

88,303 vehicles affected

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

61,944 vehicles affected

SEATS

THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT FATIGUE AND EVENTUAL BOLT FAILURE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.

604,207 vehicles affected

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.

Remedy: REPLACE NONCOMPLYING SOFA BAR WITH BAR THAT MEETS REQUIREMENTS.

4,842 vehicles affected

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

THE SEAT BELTS FOR THE FRONT AND MID-SHIP SEATS DID NOT REST ON PELVIS AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 209.

Remedy: RELOCATE SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS TO ADJUST BELTS FOR SEAT LOCATIONS.

185 vehicles affected

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1989 CHEVROLET ASTRO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER DIED AT THE SCENE AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY, MEMORY LOSS, BACK, LEFT ARM, AND LEFT LEG INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. MA 10/25/15

Crash 2 injured 1 deaths

RUSTED METAL BRAKE LINE FROM THE OE BRAKE LINE SPLICE FORWARD OF THE FUEL TANK TO THE LINE SPLITTER AT THE REAR AXEL ALLOWED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. AS THE LINE WAS REMOVED TO REPLACE, SEEPAGE ON THE RUSTED LINE TO THE LEFT BRAKE FROM THE SPLITTER WAS OBSERVED. AS A PRECAUTION, THE RIGHT REAR LINE WAS REMOVED WHICH DISINTEGRATED. *TR

THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPACE AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. THE POWER STEERING BRACKET, OR BRACE, GM PART # 10045287 6.006 BROKE AND THE POWER STEERING UNIT, BELT, AND OTHER ITEMS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY AND THE DEALER TOWED IT IN AND REPAIRED EVERYTHING AT NO CHARGE. SINCE THEN THE SAME BRACKET HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN FOUR OR FIVE TIMES, AND WAS REPLACED EACH TIME WITH A NEW ONE, MOST RECENTLY IN JULY OF 2004. THE PARTS DEPARTMENT ADMITS THEY SELL A LOT OF THESE. *JB

BRAKES WENT OUT AND STARTED ON FIRE. BAFFLES ON ENGINE EXHAUST RUSTED OUT AND LAYED ON FRAME TOUCHING STARTER MOTOR ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH STARTED BRAKE FLUID ON FIRE FROM OTHER SIDE OF VEHICLE. BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY SAME TIME AS BAFFLE RUSTED OUT. MASTER CYLINDER WAS BUBBLING FROM THE HEAT AS BRAKE FLUID WAS ON FIRE. FIRE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT OUT. BUCKETS OF WATER WOULD NOT EXTINGUISH FLAMES. ONLY A HOSE COULD REACH THAT AREA OF THE FIRE.*AK*AK

Fire

THIS IS THE FOURTH POWER STEERING PUMP WE HAVE PUT ON THE VEHICLE IN A YEAR.*AK

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT, RIGHT POWER SEAT MOUNT IS BROKEN. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH SEAT WILL NOT BE RETAINED. SEARCH FOR A REPLACEMENT INDICATED THAT OTHER LIKE VEHICLES ARE ALSO SUFFERING CRACKS IN THE SAME PART. THE FAILURE OF THE PART WILL CAUSE THE SEAT TO NO LONGER SUPPORT THE DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY. MULTIPLE VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM INDICATE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE PART.

NONE OF THE SAT BELTS WORK. NLM

DRIVER/ PASSENGER/ REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERABLE. SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT IN HOUSING MECHANISM. MOST OF THE SEAT BELTS ARE DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE NOT RETRACTING CORRECTLY. THEY DO NOT HOLD CONSUMERS TIGHTLY IN SEATS, THEY ARE LOOSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND BEGAN TO SMOKE, ONCE THE HOOD WAS OPENED THEY FOUND THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD CAUGHT FIRE IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE CONSUMER RECEIVED BURNS TO THE FACE. NLM

Fire 1 injured

THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AS REPLACEMENTS TO THE ORIGINAL . I WAS TRAVLING SOUTHBOUND ON HWY 99 WHEN THE TREAD CAME OFF OF THE TIRE. I WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. AND FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE SKID AND SLIDE ENOUGH TO GET STOPPED IN THE CENTER DIVIDER OF THE HWY. THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE, EVEN AFTER SLIDING FORWARD AND SIDEWAYS, HOWEVER IT DID THROW MOST FO THE TREAD OFF . THE CHP HAD TWO UNITS RESPOND FROM PASSERBY CALL IN. I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO MY INSURANCE CARRIER, THE AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, FOR THEIR SCRUTINIZATION.( DOT NUMBER: HYUL R5A TIRE SIZE: P205/75R15 )

RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE FIREHAWK TIRE P235/60R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, TIRE WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD. *SLC

POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE OFF THE BASE. ALSO, STEERING BELT BROKE. IN ADDITION, AIR CONDITIONER BELT/ ALTERNATOR AND ABS BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

PEELING PAINT ON TOP, FRONT AND SOME ON ALL SIDES. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

ENGINE BOLTS SHEERING AT POWER STEERING UNIT MOUNTING PLATE, THUS STEERING UNIT FLEXES FORWARD ,SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF, LOSS OF STEERING, ALTERNATOR, COOLING SYSTEM, AND A/C OCCOURS. THIS WAS MENTIONED TO LOCAL MECHANICS AT DEALERSHIP, THEY STATE THIS OCCOURS OFTEN WITH THIS VEHICLE TYPE.

SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BECOME VERY LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED ABOUT ONCE A YEAR. CURRENTLY IT HAS BECOME LOOSE FOR THE SECOND TIME AND WILL NEED TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AGAIN.

I APOLOGIZE IF THIS IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE FORM FOR A PAINT DEFECT, BUT ICOULD FIND NO OTHER COMPLAINT FORM ON YOUR WEBSITE. MY COMPLAINT IS PROMPTED BY A RECENT ARTICLE IN CONSUMER REPORTS THAT MENTIONS A PAINT DEFECT IN 1988-1992 CHEVROLETS THAT DESCRIBES OUR PROBLEM; IT REFERENCES BULLETIN 331708, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS AND CANNOT FIND IT ON YOUR WEBSITE. THE PAINT ON THE CARGO DOOR OF OUR VAN 7 OR 8 YEARS AGO BEGAN FADING BADLY, UNLIKE THE REST OF THE VAN, WHICH LOOKS FINE. WE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER, CHEVROLET, AND GM, BUT ONLY GOT FORM LETTER RESPONSES THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS THE WARRANTED HAD EXPIRED. THIS WAS AN OBVIOUS PAINT PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR ONLY; I SENT A PHOTO AS WELL, WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THE DEALER HAS CHANGED HANDS SEVERAL TIMES; IT WAS ORIGINALLY CARPENTERS CHEVROLET. LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE.

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE SAME BOLTS HAVE BROKEN CAUSING THE BELT TO COME OFF. EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE GOES OUT, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. MY WIFE HAS HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING TWO TIMES PRIOR TO THIS ONE, CARRYING OUR THREE SMALL CHILDREN WITH HER. SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED, FROM A COUPLE, WE NEED TO KNOW IF THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. DURING THE REPAIR OF THE SECOND INCIDENT, WE FOUND 2 BRAND NEW BELTS UNDER THE BACK SEAT OF THE VAN, ASSUMING THE COUPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WE'RE EXPERIENCING. PLEASE ADVICE. THIS IS GETTING COSTLY AND AT THIS POINT WE WILL NEVER BUY A CHEVY PRODUCT AGAIN. *AK

DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING POWER STEERING HYDRAULIC HOSE WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE PART WILL FAIL AND NEEDS TO REPLACED EVERY 12- 15 MONTHS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELLING IN OUR '89 CHEVY ASTRO MINIVAN THE SEATBELTS (LAP BELTS IN THE MIDDLE AND REAR SEATS) SEEM TO EASILY BECOME LOOSE AS OUR CHILDREN SQUIRM AROUND WHILE DRIVING (IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH MOVEMENT ON THEIR PART IN ORDER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN). WE OFTEN NEED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO RE-TIGHTEN THEIR SEAT BELTS. WE FEEL THAT THIS ASPECT IS HIGHLY UNSAFE.

WHEN DRIVING AT 55 PMH ANOTHER CONSUMER NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHCILE, AND WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER THE SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE VENTS AND THE RADIO. WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, AND THEY THOUGHT THAT THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE FUEL LINE CRACKED. *AK

Fire

SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE. BELIEVED THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT FOR THIS VEHICLE WITH 71000 OF WEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST IS TO CONSUMER. *AK

THIS VAN IN NOW CURRENTLY SITTING IN MY YARD AS I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX IT AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE MECHANICS AT THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP STATED IF WOULD BE OVER $600.00 TO REPAIR. I KNOW THIS HAS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT FOR IT TO HAVE HAPPENED TO US ON 5 OCCASIONS, NECESSITATING A WRECKER SERVICE CALL EACH TIME. I PAID $35.00 FOR THE WRECKER THIS TIME AND $48.50 TO GET IT OUT OF THE SHOP UNREPAIRED TO BRING IT HOME TO SIT IN THE YARD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THE BELT SLIPS OFF OF THE SYSTEM IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO CONTROL AND STEER OF THE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED EARLY IN THE MORNING AND THERE WASN'T ANY TRAFFIC ALONG THE HIGHWAY I WAS DRIVING ON.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING VIBRATION. WHEN RELEASING FOOT OFF GAS VIBRATION STOPS. *AK

FRONT SUSPENSION AREA ON THE FRAME WHERE THE IDLER ARM ATTACHES, RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE FRAME. RESULTED IN AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 2 X 3 INCHES BEING PULLED COMPLETELY OUT OF THE FRAME, LEAVING A HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE FRAME. A COMPLETE LOSS OFF STEERING RESULTED AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. REAR DOOR FAILS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 18 TO 24 MONTHS. THE REAR DOOR LATCH HAS BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. DEALER HAD TO BREAK INTO THE REAR DOORS IN ORDER TO GET THEM OPEN.

TWO BOLTS BROKE BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSING THE BRACKET TO BREAK.

THE BOLTS BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THAT HOLD THE ALTERNATOR AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR BROKE, WHICH CRACKED THE BRACKET. THE BRACKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES(6/93 AND 6/96) AND NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN. *AK

FRONT END FAILURE. LOWER CONTROL ARM RUSTED TO THE POINT IT AND THE HEAVY DUTY SPRING BROKE. WHEN FRONT END DROPPED VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED ALLOWING DRIVER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

LOWER CONTROL ARM CORRODED AND BROKE.

SAET: SCREW THAT BOLTS FRONT SEAT BROKE AND THE SEAT COLLAPSED AND WENT COMPLETELY BACKWARD. *AK

REAR AXLE SEALS LEAK.

BRAKE DRUMS FAILED.

BRAKE PADS FAILED.

ROTORS FAILED.

DIFFERENTIAL SEAL FAILED.

TRANSMISSION TUBE CAME LOOSE FROM HOUSING, LEAKED, CAUSING FIRE.

Fire

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT ACCLERATES BY ITSELF TO ABOUT 70-80MPH. DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WILL NOT STOP. *AK

STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE THROTTLE STUCK. THIS VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE TO THE DRIVER. *AK

IN DRY WEATHER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES, CAUSING A CRASH. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

Crash

BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE DOOR HANDLES BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK

FUEL INJECTOR LEAK CAUSED ENGINE FIRE.

Fire

DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE IS BROKEN AND THE REAR DOOR HANDLE IS ALSO BROKEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK CONSUMER STATES DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKE IN THE INSIDE AS WELL, ALSO AIR CONDITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT.*JB