1994 Chevrolet Astro problems

Filed Nov 23, 2011 · Brakes · 162,000 miles · KY · crash · 1 injury

On november 21st, 2011, I was driving my astro van on a straight road. The vehicle in front of me applied their brakes. I also applied my brakes, but my foot slipped off the brake pedal. I attempted 4 times in a panicked state to try and re-apply my brakes with no success. I struck the vehicle in front of me. After considering what had happened that day and looking at the brake pedal size in the vehicle it is no wonder I couldn't readilly re-apply the brake. I measured the brake pedal surface area. It is approximately 4 sq. Inches. I have since been looking at other vehicles and the size of their brake pedal surface area. I have yet to date found such a small brake pedal in any other vehicle. I have driven this van thousands of miles and know without much consideration the pedals location without looking, but in a paniced state I found you loose that reference and it simply comes down to an increased or decreased chance of hitting that pedal given surface area.

Filed Oct 6, 2010 · Transmission · 27,000 miles · MI

Tl*the contact owns a 1994 chevrolet astro van. The contact stated that while driving, the entire differential unit fell from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop where the transmission pin was replaced. The contact was waiting to find out if the differential could be repaired. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The current and failure mileages were approximately 27,000. Updated 01/06/11 *bf the consumer stated the previously, transmission pan had to be replaced as it was leaking due to rust. The consumer stated no further repairs have been made as the vehicle was considered not worth fixing after assessing the amount of damage do the advance rust condition. Updated 03.02.11

Filed Jan 14, 2010 · Visibility · 130,000 miles · OH

I have a 1996 chevy astro van. During a heavy rain,with the wipers on high the wipers stopped working.

Filed Oct 22, 2008 · Engine · 100,000 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 1994 chevrolet astro. While driving less than 50 MPH, the alternator bracket failed. Within a three month period, the bracket has failed twice. The contact attempted to find a replacement component at a junkyard and was informed by the junkyard dealer that he received numerous requests for that particular component due to frequent failures. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was over 100,000 and current mileage was 105,000.

Filed Jul 9, 2008 · Suspension · 163,951 miles · KS

This is the second time I will have to replace the torsion bar on this 1994 chevy astro awd van. The first time was about 4 years ago. I have done a search and there are hundreds if not thousands of reports of the torsion bars failing without warning, resulting in bottoming of the suspension. Fortunately, it failed when I was parked both times it has failed but could have been devastating if I was on the highway.

Filed Jun 11, 2008 · Suspension · 180,000 miles · WI

Tl*the contact owns a 1994 chevrolet astro. Before the contact attempted to drive her vehicle, she noticed that the driver's side was laying on the ground. She did not notice any differences in the vehicle prior to the failure. Six years ago, the contact needed to have the torsion bar replaced at 80,000 miles. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 180,000.

Filed Aug 6, 2006 · Suspension · 126,112 miles · IA

We own a 1994 chevy astro van. Fortunately, it was sitting in our driveway when one of the torsion bars broke, dropping the van down onto the front left tire. If this had happened while we were driving the van with our family, it could have been disastrous. Two days later, the other torsion bar broke, again in our driveway. In looking at the way the torsion bar is mounted to the cross member, it appears that a manufacture defect created a problem where snow, salt, rain and dirt accumulated into the cylinder shaped tube that the bar is mounted into, towards the rear of the vehicle. The torsion bar, made of spring steel, rusted and broke in two. The torsion bar is part of the suspension that keeps the front of the van up off of the front tires. After reading several online forums, it appears that this same defect has caused several accidents and near accidents to other astro van owners. Whether reported or not reported, the design of the mounting bracket for the torsion bar was most likely used this way so the manufactured could use one size of torsion bar for several vehicles and then modify the mount on each vehicle to accept the same size bar. We have purchased replacement torsion bars (gm parts) for $462.00 and need to also pay to have them installed. The replacement torsion bars are now 3 inches shorter, proving that the manufacture became aware this problem and corrected it with the replacement parts - now without the extra 3 inches of open cylinder to collect salt and snow. I believe this is a very dangerous situation and that these parts should be recalled immediately on all vans with this size of torsion bar. We regularly drive the interstate and had it broke while we were driving it, it would have been like driving on the highway and slamming on your breaks (as the front of the van dropped down onto the tire) and suddenly losing any steering ability or way to control the vehicle. Thankfully, we didn't happen to be driving it when it broke.

Filed Nov 1, 2005 · Brakes · 140,000 miles · IN

Dt: the consumer stated that while driving at 30 MPH the metal brake line had burst on the left front driver's side of the van without any prior incident. The line broke as the brake pressure was applied. The consumer avoided a collision and was able to pull over. The brake pedal was pushed all the way to the floor. The consumer's husband drove the vehicle home with the emergency brake applied. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop who confirmed the problem with the brake lines. The mechanic replaced the entire brake line. Since the repair, there have been no further problems. *ak (11/29/05)

Filed Oct 6, 2005 · Visibility · 74,000 miles · NC

Dt: the consumer complained about intermittent windshield wiper problem on 1994 chevrolet astro. Windshield functions failed. The windshield wipers were cutting off while driving. The consumer contacted the dealer, and they did not have any recalls on consumer's vehicle. The consumer contacted gm, and they referred the consumer to the federal safety agency. This has been happening for around six months. The windshield wipers would not come on immediately when turned on. The windshield wipers had a delay reaction when the switch was turned on. The consumer was having the windshield wipers fixed today.*ak

Filed Aug 24, 2005 · Visibility · 70,000 miles · MS

Dt: contact states while driving while raining the windshield wipers will stop working. Contact states if lifting the hood and moving the motor they will start working again. If the vehicle goes over a bump in the road, the windshield wipers will stop working again. There is a recall on this model of vehicle, but consumer's specific vehicle does not fall under the recall due to VIN. The vehicle has not been to a service dealer, but consumer has contacted the manufacturer. The wipers fail ed to operate each time when raining, and need to be used.*ak