Was backing out of garage when I heard a loud snapping noise and the driver side of van went down like a tire had blown. Got out and discovered that tires were ok, but front end was sagging down with hardly any room in wheel wells for tires to turn. Called tow truck and had them tow to dealership for investigation of problem. They told me that both torsion bars had broken and that they would need to be replaced at a cost of ~$700. I consider myself real lucky because I had just returned from a trip of over 900 miles, pulling a boat. If the bars would have broken while traveling on interstate at 65 - 70 MPH there is no telling what would have happened as far as a accident is concerned. I believe that this should be considered a safety hazard and the cost should be paid by the manufacture. Thanks.
1995 Chevrolet Astro suspension complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 75, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Right torsion bar failed. Had to replace both bars since gm redesigned them. Cost $725. Power steering seems to be affected, but mechanic could not pin point problem.
Front left side torsion bar broke while sitting in the garage. Drove the vehicle the day before. Wife got into vehicle on 6-2-03 and front end had sagged on the left side. Vehicle taken to repair facility and reported that torsion bar had broken. When a gm dealer was contacted for parts, it was stressed that both sides be repaired due to history of this issue.
My family and I had just driven about 50 miles and were going to eat dinner, while turning right off a street we heard a loud pop and the left front corner of the van fell. I assumed we had blown a tire, but when I got out to look, the tire was still up. After jacking up the van and looking at the ball joints, tie rods, etc., I realized that torsion bar had snapped. Fortunately this occurred at a low speed and did not cause me to lose control of the van - 2 minutes earlier and it would probably be a different story. The first dealer I contacted told me the part was discontinued and I should try a junkyard to get the part I needed. The second dealer I contacted told me there was a conversion kit I could buy, but I had to convert both sides, and the cost was "at least" $500. If I had known I needed another $500 and was risking the safety of my family, I would not have purchased this vehicle. How about some help gm?
I have a 1995 chevrolet astro van. On the way home, I heard a loud bang, like a tire had blown. When I parked the car at home, I noticed the front driver's side was visibly sagging. I took it to my mechanic and he said the torsion bar had broke. He also said this was a common problem in this year of vehicle. I called general motors to see if there was a recall campaign and there is not. I have to buy two new torsion bars because there is an update to the version. The repairs are $700.00.
Why hasn't this component been recalled when we have heard that many have broke and when replacing you have to replace both sides because there is a new design. Dt
Consumer states that the front torsion bar broke on the left front side and fell on the tire. Vehicle taken to a repairs shop. Dealer notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
Van was sitting on driveway we heard a pop and front driver's side dropped onto the tire. Had it towed to dealer, driver said this was the 2nd one that week. Dealer said it was the torsion bar and they needed to change both. Adapters were on 1 week back order. Was told that the design had changed. Talked to several other astro owners - this seems to be a common problem.
While driving torsion bar broke, and both front control arms broke, resulting in front end falling down. Contacted dealer.
Vehicle was parked .consumer realized vehicle was dropping. Had vehicle towed to dealer, and mechanic stated torson bar was corroded, resulting in vehicle dropping.
Vehicle was parked while pursuing to drive vehicle and front tires started to rub against front frame. Dealer was notified, mechanic stated torsion bar was corroded.
The front left torsion bar broke after we came home. A couple of hours later the right front torsion bar broke so that we couldn't turn the steering wheel without the body of the van hitting the tires. We feel extremely lucky that this did not happen while driving, as it would more than likely have blown the front tires and we could have had a major accident. After having our van hauled on a flatbed wrecker we were advised that these vans have a history with the torsion bars breaking. Both the auto repair place and the wrecker service said they were really surprised that there wasn't a recall as this is a safety hazard. We want to make sure you are aware of this problem as other people, like ourselves, have no idea that the whole front of these vans can just drop down on the tires while driving when these torsion bars break. Again we feel very fortunate that ours broke after we returned home from church sunday and not while driving 70 MPH on the highway!
While driving, torsion bars broke, causing vehicle to pull, making it hard to steer vehicle.*ak consumer would like for chevrolet to make payment for the failure that occured with the vehicle.
While making a left turn at 5 MPH driver's side front of vehicle dropped. Vehicle was towed to a repair shop, torsion bar snapped and needed to be replaced.
Vehicle was parked when without prior notice passenger's side front of vehicle dropped. Vehicle was towed to dealer one day later, by that time driver's side of vehicle had dropped, as well. Dealer determined that torsion bar had broken on both sides, it was rusted through. A newly designed torsion bar was installed.
This part was had a design change by the company of chevrolet, although they failed to post this anywhere. I have talked to the company and written them a letter and they are not concerned. The front of my car fell down in a parking lot thankfully and not on the highway. I can supply you with a copy of the letter if you wish. We checked around and found no warning of failure of this part. There is a problem, my husband called two local chev garages and they said they thought there should be something done and there is a problem here. The original part is narrow at one point, which is where it broke and the new part is wide all the way across. They know , of course that this original part is inadequate, or they would not have had a design change. My husband is a mechanic on semi trucks and he feels that this orginal part was not adequate. People should be made aware of this problem. I am pretty sure the company is not interested in making this happen. When the front of your car falls down going down the highway I am afraid that some people would not be as lucky as me.
While driving at approx 10mph in mall parking lot heard a ping and left front of vechicle droped to were the tire hit the wheel well causing loss of steering, if had happened on hi-way at hi-way speeds could have resulted in severe accid or death. Dealer said was a design flaw that gm knows about and redesigned. Had to replace both torsion bars and buy an adapter kit with towing and repairs cost was $910.00 of which I had to pay. Beleave that since gm had to redesign the bar it shows a flaw does exist, and that gm should at least pay part of the repairs. But have heard nothing from them concerning that. What will it take, a wrongful death lawsuit to get gm to acknowledge this? Or purhaps a consumer class action suit.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
While at rest front torsion bar broke, causing front of vehicle to drop. Non dealer service station inspected vehicle. *ak
Vehicle pulled to left at all times when applying brakes. Vehicle has been taken to dealership 11 times. Dealer replaced front shocks/ idler arm/ resurfaced rotors/did wheel alignments, and replaced tires. Currently, dealer said remedy would be a complete brake job. None of the mentioned repairs remedied problem.
This vehicle uses torsion bars instead of springs on front suspension. Left torsion bar snapped while vehicle parked - drops body onto frame, approx 8-10 inches. If this happened at speed, would almost certainly lose control. Dealer service mgr says they see "lot" of these failures. Called gm - would not admit that safety problem exists. Service mgr insisted that both l and r be repaired, because "the other side will probably collapse any day". Vehicle had to be towed to dealer. Total repair and towing $707.94.
I kept the van under control but it could have been a real safety problem.
While traveling 50-60 MPH, driver felt a bounce in right front wheel. Dealer informed consumer that vehicle had a broken torsion bar. Feel free to provide any further information.
Left front torsion bar failed. Crack started at a rust spot on bar. Classic 'beach marks' indicate failure was propigating from the rust point. Asked manufacturer for coverage under warranty, but was turned down. Was told by dealer that a new style torsion bar was all that was available and that both bars had to be replaced along with the supports that connect the torsion bars to the cross member. I complained that if only one failed, I should only need to replace one. I compaired it to a v-8 head gasket failure, only one is repalced unles there is a reason to replace both. I believe that the requirement to replace both bars is an indication by chevrolet that the design is faulty (this is backed up by the replacement being a new design). The new design does not allow for debris to gather around the rear portion of the torsion bar as the original design did.
While backing out heard a rubbing noise, then, left front of vehicle dropped. Dealer said left front torsion bar had broken, and needed to replaced. Chevrolet changed the design, and both needed to be replaced.*ak dealer stated there had been a bulletin regarding lower a frame bolts incorrectly torqued, dealer replaced both torsion bars and adjusted cams.
Left front torsion bar snapped while parked. Dealer has inspected and repaired vehicle. *ak consumer states the suspension just dropped after the torsion bar snapped.
I see the same three problems reported on the astro...windshield wipers not working, torsion bar breaking, and air conditioning not working. When is chevrolet going to address these problems?
Torsion bar failed, causing front suspension to collapse. This is a serious failure which can result in loss of steering control. It is obvious that this is a design defect, confirmed by the redesign of the torsion bar assembly. Chevrolet refuses to acknowledge that this is a design defect and has any safety implications (re: chevrolet customer assistance center 800‑222‑1020, file # c 04856310). Looking through the federal safety agency compliants data base, numerous other torsion bar failures can be found and it is apparent that gm was aware of this problem for at least 2 years - however there has been no tsi or safety warning issued. How many injuries and deaths have to be attributed to torsion bar failure before gm issues a safety bulletin and admits a design defect that threatens the public safety ???????????????? I guess after gm takes your money they don't want anything to do with you until you're ready to buy another of their over-priced, poorly designed pieces of junk.
Right front torsion bar cracked , causing front end to collapse. A private mechanic has examined vehicle , and determined that both front torsion bars needed to be replaced. Also, torsion bar I has been reduced from 41" to 34". Please provide any additional information/attachments.*ak invoice stated torsion bar broke due to metal fatigue and that the new torsion bars should be stronger because of length of new bars and where adjustment is made and adapters dropped from system.
Front left torsion bar breaks due to rust developing in transmissioin mount end, poor design permits water, salt accumulation at torsion bar end. Pitting permit fractures to develope. Vehcile will suddenly sag permitting only shock and rubber snubber to act as absorber of road impacts. Could be dangerous at wrong speed.
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