1996 Chevrolet Astro: loss of power steering

Filed Nov 2, 2002 · Engine · NY

While driving the belt tensioner flew off the front of the engine, I lost power steering, all brakes,and dash was out. This is a very dangerous situation that will cause loss of life sometime. Something should be done about it's a very poor design I have not seen anything like this before. If the belt brakes or the pully come's off your in big trouble. Not only for your life but life of other's too. Something has to be done about it. I intend on contacting general motors soon. Thank you for your website. Dt

Filed Mar 4, 2002 · Steering · MA

Power assist:hydroboost unit will continue to go out. When this happpens vehicle will lose steering and brakes. Contacted dealer and dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak.

Filed Sep 6, 2001 · Steering · MI

On two occasions, vehicle almost lost steering, due to excessive play in the idle arm, consumer states idle arm fails every 20000 miles.

Filed Jul 23, 1999 · Steering · NM

While making a right turn the tie rod bolt that connects to the u-joint slipped out, causing loss of steering, wheel was just spinning freely. Dealer and manufacturer have been contacted.

Filed Jul 13, 1999 · Steering · IA · crash

We were driving west on I-80 near gary, in after midnight. 2 of our 4 children are belted in the back, when all of a sudden, we have no steering - the wheel is spinned freely. We drifted at 65 MPH and crashed into the guardrail. Thankfully there was a guardrail, as about 100 yards further west, 2 lanes of traffic are merging from the right, there was no guardrail, and a very steep ditch (as the tow truck operator later pointed out to us.) 100 yards previous, we had gone over an overpass with little shoulder - we surely would have been rear-ended, had we crashed there. The next day, the mechanic says the bolt holding the steering column into the knuckle was gone - it must have worked itself loose. He replacesdthe bolt, showed us how to check to see if it's tight, and we drive home to davenport, ia. (there is body damage.) I may have some of the details wrong; for example, my mileage figures are approximate. I'm entering this from work, but I want to make sure this report gets investigated. It seems to me this sort of thing should never happen - there should be some warning, or there should be more than just one bolt, or something. I believe it's only by the grace of god that we are still alive, but because no one was killed, or even injured, chevrolet will not do anything to change their design. We took it to a chevy dealer for the repair estimates, and the representative said, jokingly, "chevy's paying for this, right?" perhaps they will - I suppose that's between our car insurance adjuster and them. But I feel it's your job to protect the public from this happening again, to us, or to anyone.

Filed Oct 1, 1998 · Steering · CA

While backing out of parking space heard a loud noise, suddenly no steering, the steering wheel went dead, no control, no brakes on vehicle, having vehicle towed to dealer. *ak consumer stated the vehicle was towed to residence and it was the serpetine/tensioner that failed.

Filed Jul 16, 1997 · Transmission · FL

Belt tensioner failure causing loss of steering and braking.