Chevrolet Astro ball joint problems

Filed Apr 30, 2021 · Suspension · 392,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet astro. The contact was made aware by an independent mechanic that his vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 03v328000 (suspension) while performing routine maintenance on the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed with a faulty steering knuckle and lower ball joints. Myrtle beach chevrolet (1785 us-501, myrtle beach, sc 29577) and the manufacturer were made aware of the issues. The contact was informed that the parts were no longer made and there were no after market parts available. The failure mileage was 392,000.

Filed Jul 7, 2017 · Suspension · 187,000 miles · IL

Takata recall upon leaving my condominium parking lot, there is a slight curb you must drive over before exiting. The left lower control arm came loose while making a right turn onto a local city street. Resulting in the vehical to collapse on the drivers side of the car. The frame is rested on the front left tire, also damaging the drivers side door as a result. Considering the facts, the car was then completely immobile. I had to call a tow costing $100 in order to move it about 150 ft. Back to my designated parking space. Recall # 95v175000. This happened on 07/05/2017.

Filed Dec 17, 2014 · Suspension · 251,470 miles · MI

While backing into a parking space the right front lower control arm snapped off dropping the front end to the ground.

Filed Oct 7, 2013 · Brakes, Electrical · 120,000 miles · AZ

Vehicle lost all electrical power to every system that is controlled by the ignition being turned on. Driver was in the process of making a u-turn around a curbing island in the divided traffic road when all electrical was interrupted while the steering wheel was turned all the way to the left. Condition caused steering to become difficult, brake pedal went clear to the floor, air conditioning and radio and headlights all went off. Condition was repeatable with exception of brake pedal, each time steering was turned to the left. Inspection under vehicle found that main power cable is routed across front side of main frame motor mount member. There was a slight curve in the way the wire was routed and each time the steering was turned to the left, the inner tie rod end for the right wheel came in contact with the wire harness. After many miles, the protective cover and then the actual wire insulation was rubbed through. This caused a direct short to ground through the steering parts of all (switched while running) electrical components of the vehicle. Problem was corrected by taping the wire insulation, then taping the protective covering. I then had to fabricate a bracket to screw to the steel crumple member to hold the harness back from the steering linkage.

Filed May 30, 2012 · Electrical · 174,000 miles · VA · fire

After approx. One week of oper. Of my 2001 chevy astro a fire occurred that would have resulted in a total loss of the vehicle and contents if I had not been close by. After driving my vehicle for approx. 20 miles and parking it my van caught fire after being shut off for 15 minutes. The vehicles positive and negative battery cables were run from the battery to the engine dangerously close to the steering linkage where it passes the engine support structure. If the vehicle is jacked up to the point where the tire is still touching the ground and the steering wheel is turned half way to the left the passenger side inner tie rod end is rubbing into the positive and negative battery cables which are in a common harness.if the suspension is moving up and down on a bumpy road while the wheel is turned to the left direct contact between the steering linkage and the battery cables will cause repeated damage over time resulting in an eventual fire.if this fire occurred while on the highway people could have been hurt. If this had happened last night while my van was parked in front of my house the 7 people including two small children living here could have died from fire caused by very poor engineering. If you can jack up a vehicle and cause a movable part of the vehicles suspension or steering to come into direct contact with the positive battery cable the vehicles engineers were negligent. Also having both battery cables in the same harness is not a very good idea either my vehicle to the best of my knowledge has never been in an accident or had any major repair work done. This issue should be a safety recall. If you have not had a reported death from this issue yet it is only a matter of time. My first vehicle was a gm and I suspect my last will be, but gm has to answer for this act of stupidity. I have pictures I can email that show just how obvious this flaw is.

Filed Aug 31, 2010 · Electrical · 78,000 miles · CO

2003 chevrolet astro van. Drove vehicle without incident on august 1, 2010. Monday morning august, 2, 2010 battery was dead (purchased new february 2010). Replaced with new battery on august 2, 2010. First connected the positive cable. Attempted to connect negative cable. Negative post terminal sparked and battery cable got very hot. Disconnected battery cable. Inspected fuses. All good. Trace visible portions of positive cable to fuse box, alternator, and starter. No indication of grounding. Contacted mechanic who on august 14, 2010 performed test on fuse box, alternator, and starter. All good. Mechanic thoroughly traced positive cable. Discovered short located at the passenger side of the engine behind the steering linkage. Stated that cable sheath had been worn away by the rubbing of the tie rod and was grounding out on the body and that it was extremely fortunate that the vehicle had not caught on fire. I had to have the vehicle towed to chevrolet dealership and had cable replaced.

Filed Jan 23, 2007 · Suspension · 60,000 miles · LA

Tl*- the contact stated that 2000 chevrolet astro van had upper ball joint problems . The upper ball joints have been replaced twice. The contact stated that he felt this was a safety issue because the upper ball joints could separate, and the driver could lose control of the vehicle, causing a crash. The vehiclewas now at dealership for replacement ball joints at 130,000 miles. The first time this happen the ball joint was saved, and the contact was told that the ball joint was completely dry. The contact does has access to the last ball joints that were replaced. There were no crashes involving the ball joints, but felt this could cause a crash.

Filed Nov 14, 2005 · Brakes, Electrical · 30,900 miles · TX · fire

On september 9, 2005 my 2003 chevrolet astro van exploded and caught fire in a parking lot. The fire dept. Arrived and put out the fire; the firemen disconnected the battery cable. The van was towed to huffines chevrolet in plano, tx. The cause of the incident according to the chevrolet mechanics is as follows: 1) every time the steering wheel was turned, the tie rods etc. Would chafe against a bracket on the chassis that held down a battery cable. 2) eventually the bracket failed. 3) the battery cable arced against the brake line. 4) the brake line ruptured spraying hydraulic fluid over the hot engine manifold. 5) the ensuing fire burned through, among other things, the A/C hose carrying freon. 6) when the A/C hosed was severed, the freon gas escaped causing the loud explosion that we heard some distance away. 7) the smoke that we saw in the air was actually the escaping freon gas. All was supposedly repaired in three weeks. On november 8, 2005, the brakes failed while under way. The chevrolet mechanics stated that the cause of the brake failure was traced to a small pinhole caused by the arcing battery cable several weeks ago. Eventually the entire brake line failed. If this story seems preposterous to you, it does to me too but this is the story we got from chevrolet. In my opinion, my 2003 chevy astro van suffers from a fatal flaw in design and/or manufacturer. It is unsafe and should be taken off the road forever.

Filed Apr 29, 2005 · Brakes, Engine · ME

After ball joint recall, I have had nothing but problems with steering, braking and suspension. Front left side continually pops and grinds, shock boot was replaced twice, the shocks have been replaced 3 times. The third time may have fixed it, just got the van back today. Brakes are intermittent. Heard loud bang from rear end, dealership tightened backing plate. Transmission slips, shudder is felt from rear end at 30+ MPH. Dealership put balances on torque converter and the drive shaft, had to cut the rear springs to do this. Service manager stated the problem was not gone, but livable. Vehicle runs rough at idle, almost stalling, service manager experienced the problem as well. Said fuel injector port was fill with carbon, but cleaning it did not fix the problem. Check engine light came on during a trip, stayed on for the 6 hour drive home, there was no heat at all, service manager said he could not get the computer to reproduce the code, but replaced the thermostat, water pump and two clamps.

Filed Mar 14, 2005 · Steering · CA · fire

The consumer's 2002 chevrolet astro caught on fire due to a tie rod rubbing against the positive battery cable. *nm