We found the following complaints for CHEVROLET ASTRO (2003)
Read complaints for CHEVROLET ASTRO (2003)
2003 chevrolet astro cargo van air bag did not deploy at time of collision. Astro van was hit on passenger side, front wheel well & bumper. Driver who hit van was exceeding speed limit, approximately doing closer to 40 mph in a 25 mph zone when they hit our van. We were just starting to proceed after a stop sign, barely doing 10 - 15 mph. The astro van was dragged approximately 6-7 feet into the intersection. The air bag never deployed, driver was injured right side back & ribs bruised and possible concussion head injury to left side of head due to force of impact.
Consumer stated that both she and her 2 year old child got burned by the interior bulb. It overheated andmelted the housing around it.consumer'shusband stated that it may havebeen a electrical wiring problem, and was afraid that the vehicle may catch on fire.
A fire started in the engine of 2003 astro van,the van was gm certified from the dealer, it was used with approx 17k miles with manufacturer warranty. The fire dept. Report noted no arson involved, electrical short or malfunction cause of fire. Gm has denied the claim with no report given to back up their decision.
Potentially dangerous defect in the 2003 chevrolet astro van.the steering knuckle/arm is designed in a way that causes it to come into contact with a wiring harness when the vehicle is turned sharply to the left.over a period of time, this constant contact damages the wiring harness and allows the steering knuckle/arm to touch the wires inside the wiring harness.the wiring harness is connected directly to the battery so the end result is damage to other wires also sheathed in that wiring harness. Two weeks ago, while pulling out of a grocery store parking space, everything died.the engine would not re-start and nothing electrical worked, from the door locks to the radio.everything was dead.we could smell burning wires and tried to get out of the vehicle.because the doors were locked we could not get them open.we had to manually push up our door locks; each of us pushing up the lock of our own door, so that we could get out of the vehicle. Since then when the problem occurred, additional issue was that the abs light and brake light would come on and the brake pedal would sink to the floor.we came close to rear-ending someone several times.on april 23, 2011, we showed the damaged wiring harness to the mechanic at the chevrolet dealership.within two hours, we received a call to let us know the electronic control module (ecm) and the anti-lock brake (abs) module had been damaged.both had to be replaced at a cost of over $2,100.we contacted general motors customer service this morning. Their response was that they considered this issue to be caused by ?normal wear, based upon the age of the vehicle.?we disagree with their findings. Concern is that this defect can cause damage to important safety items, such as the brakes and door locks.the area of the wiring harness that is coming into contact with the steering knuckle/arm should either be moved or better protected. We don't want other drivers injured.
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 wornaway 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.
The contact owns a 2003 chevrolet astro van. The contact stated that the brake pedal went all the way to the floor while making a left turn. The contact also stated that the vehicle failed to start when the vehicle was parked and the wheels were turned to the left. A mechanic looked under the vehicle and found that the wiring harness that was located near the front passenger side tire had burned out. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the contact was unsure of what would be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown but the current mileage was 67,000.
Front suspension issues, electrical gauges, replacementof fuel tank pump, door latches failing to open on sliding side door making exiting of vehicle impossible, recall of 02v328000 unable to be confirmed as handled by any dealers.
I have a 2003 chevy astro. The problem started in january of 2005. The volts meter started dropping. I took it to phil smith chevrolet in lauderhill, florida. They did an electric diagnostic and found the alternator and battery to be bad. I changed the alternator and battery on my own. Vehicle still had same problem afterwards. I then took my vehicle back to phil smith chevrolet, and they said that the battery cables were bad. I had them change them. The battery light was still coming on, and they said that it was okay, they just forgot to reset the light. Everything was okay, except for the battery light still coming on, until may of 2005. When i accelerate from a complete stop, my vehicle stalls out, but starts right back up. I then brought my vehicle to trapp chevrolet in houma, la. They ran a diagnostic and said that the alternator was bad. So, i then changed the altenator again. I was still having the same problem. So i returned to trapp. They ran a diagnostic test again, and said that the fuel filter was out and distributor cap and rotor was out. I then changed the fuel filter, distributor cap, and rotor myself. I was still having the same problem. I then, returned to trapp chevrolet, and they said that they cannot find the problem, and the mechanic has driven the vehicle and sees the problem, but cannot find the problem. If i want them to continue working to find the problem, i have to pay for another diagnostic test, even though they haven't found the problem to begin with.
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.
2003 chevrolet astro van. Consumer states the steering knuckle/arm is designed in a way that causes it to come into contact with a wiring harness when the vehicle is turned to the left *tgwover a period of time, the constant contact damaged the wiring harness and allowed the steering knuckle/arm to touch the wires inside the wiring harness. The end result caused damage to other wires. The consumer stated the problem started in february 2011 when making a left turn would sometimes cause the radio and the ac to die. The abs light and brake light would also come on and the brake pedal would sink to the floor.the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem.two weeks ago, while pulling out of a parking space, everything died. The engine would not restart and nothing electrical worked.the consumer was unable to exit the vehicle and there was a smell of burning wires.the consumer was finally able to manually push up the door locks to exit the vehicle. The consumer stated he discovered a tsb and found the steering knuckle was not the source of the problem, but the battery cableretaining clips were not properly secured in their retaining holes in the engine cradle frame below the engine oil pan. As a result, the battery cable made contact with the steering linkage components and rubbed through the insulation on the cable.updated 06/01/11
Earlier today i had my wife take in our 2003 chevrolet astro.the service light would not reset.this was the second time it came on and this time it would not reset by itself.while there i asked her to inquire about the sept. 2, 2003 recall of the astro van for a front suspension defect.recall number 03044.the dealership representative searched by using our vin.the search came back with no recall.i researched the recall on the nhtsa and called the chevrolet manufacturers 800 number for further assistance to find out if we would be included.i spoke with an operator by the name of angela.she did a quick search and told me that there was no recall also.i disclosed to her that i was looking at the recall at that moment on the nhtsa web sight.she then restated that there was no recall for my van but she could not guarantee that i would not be included in this recall.all i wanted to know was if my van was included in the recall.chevrolet tracks their vehicles.they know what parts are on which vans.they even know who bought them and where they are.now they will not disclose if my van is included in this recall.this is a great concern to my entire family because this is a van that my wife and children are in. Is there some sort of code, rule, or law that they are breaking about not disclosing this to there consumers?please contact me as soon as possible.thank you, brett spindler 702-644-4671. *la
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.
Dt:2003 chevrolet astro, vehicle has stalled numerous times, around at least 12 times, this happened on major highways endangering the consumer and her family, the consumer has had it towed to the dealer around 5 or 6 of these times, the dealer said they could not find the problem, vehicle usually starts back up after at least 2-3 hours after stalling, vehicle only has 36,000 miles, consumer has gotten in contact with the manufacture, chevrolet has yet to get back to the consumer, the dealer said that there were possible problems with the vehicles transmission , power control module, possible transference problem, or possible other problem, dealer also said there was a loud rear chatter.
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.
Brake lights would not work. After a few hours of troubleshooting, i isolated the problem to a defective hazard switch. If pushed to the left, the brake lights worked. I plan on trying to fix it tomorrow, but saw that there is a recall on 2001 and 2002, but not on 2003. My van was built in late 2002. No doubt it has the same defective switch. Very dangerous situation can occur on the updated 01/02/08.
While fueling my vehicle at a gas station, i pumped about $3.00 worth of gas into my 1/8tank. After it reached $3.00 a loud hissing sound came from the filling neck of my van (not the actual gas station pump) and a large amount of gasoline sprayed me on the stomach and upper legs. There was no sign that this was going to happen. I am still awaiting word on getting repair authorized. It is my understanding that there is a tsb regarding the fuel system on the 2003 chevrolet astro van.
I own a 2003, chevrolet astro.on sunday, june, 28, 2009, i was driving on i-94, between alexandria, mn andfergus falls, mn.i had my cruise control set at 70 mph, the posted speed limit, when i approached a vehicle that was traveling at a slower speed.i pulled over to the left lane and proceeded to pass.as i was passing, i looked in my rear view mirror and noticed a vehicle was coming up to me at a fast pace, so i stepped on the accelerator, to get by the vehicle, that i was passing, a little quicker.when i passed the vehicle, i let up on the accelerator, to get back to the speed i was previously traveling.instead of my vehicle slowing back down, it continued to go faster, i touched my brake pedal, to release the cruise control, but my vehicle continued to pick upspeed, 80mph and climbing.i then stepped on my brake, on and off, to get back to about 60mph, moved my switch,for the cruise control, to the off position.i continued to pick up speed.there just happened to be an exit, to a town, so i went up the exit, stepping on and off the brake pedal to slow down.when i got to the top of the exit, i turned off the ignition and with the help of braking, i coasted to a stop.at this point, both my wife and i were very scared.i thought my cruise control had stuck, so i turned on the ignition and the engine roared, so i shut it off.i tried it once more and the same thing happened.then i knew it was more than the cruise control, so i called my roadside service.after about a two hour wait,they brought my van toa chevrolet dealer in alexandria, mn.it wa determined, by a mechanic, the next day, thatmy accelerator cable was frayed and that caused it to stick.the accelerator cable was replaced.i have the frayed cable.
Front suspension issues, electrical gauges, replacementof fuel tank pump, door latches failing to open on sliding side door making exiting of vehicle impossible, recall of 02v328000 unable to be confirmed as handled by any dealers.
Dutch door locking mechinism failed at about 10000 miles. It was always hard to get the lock to engage on the right side of the hatch. It has now failed again and it will not unlock preventing us from using the cargo area behind the back seat.this is the second occurance of the lock failing
Continued from my original complait above.took vehicle back to dealer for "sliding door failure to lock in the open position". Door can be closed with finger pressure against the door. On a slight decline, door will unlatch from its locked open position and slam shut. I have to have someone hold it open during entry and exiting on a driveway with a slight decline. The dealer told me that the design has changed and it does not lock like the older astro's. Someone not aware of this will have a false sense of security and it could slam shut on someone entering or exiting the vehicle. This is definitely a saftey issue. Someone must look into this and get gm to create a sb to fix this problem. What is the maximum angle or pressure required for the door to stay locked in the open position?
Sliding door will not lock open. Can be pushed closed from the locked open posiiton with one finger. On a slight decline the door will unlatch, and slam shut.
My wife and i were driving along when the brake system went completely out.we had just purchased the van about 4-5 months before it happened.i had the van looked at by james martin chevrolet in detroit michigan.the repairs came up to $1400.00.the van only had about 40,000 miles on it.
Dt:2003 chevrolet astro, vehicle has stalled numerous times, around at least 12 times, this happened on major highways endangering the consumer and her family, the consumer has had it towed to the dealer around 5 or 6 of these times, the dealer said they could not find the problem, vehicle usually starts back up after at least 2-3 hours after stalling, vehicle only has 36,000 miles, consumer has gotten in contact with the manufacture, chevrolet has yet to get back to the consumer, the dealer said that there were possible problems with the vehicles transmission , power control module, possible transference problem, or possible other problem, dealer also said there was a loud rear chatter.
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.
Thursday september 20, 2007 4:30 p.m. . transmission failure, 200 miles from home in california. Driving on highway, heard roaring sound from engine, would not accelerate speed dropped. Exited freeway looking for mechanical help, none available. Overnight in campground. Next day to local repair shop for diagnosis of transmission failure. Van had to be towedto santa barbara, california.transmission replaced, sept. 21, '07.
The following problem existed while the vehicle was under warranty and still exists.this is the 3rd time that it has been to the dealer for the same problem.in the beginning, it felt like my vehicle was shifting too soon and then would shift immediately afterwards.when i slow down or stop in traffic on an incline, the problem is really pronounced.when traffic begins to move slowly after being stopped at or on an incline and i accelerate as traffic begins to move, it will jerk, then shift, jerk, then shift etc., until i reach a speed of approximately 40 mph.once i am above that speed is reached, i have no problem.if i fall below that speed and accelerate, the problem occurs again.it has steadily gotten worse and the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem the first two times that i had in for service.the checked the transmission and said it was fine.this time i requested that the service man ride with me and i was able to duplicate the problem.he suggested that it was a "miss" in the engine, but it only happens as i said above.we don't feel it in the engine.we feel it in the wheels and underneath van all the way to the back.it is almost like the truck is unable to pull its own weight that it's trying so hard when i accelerate and then jerks and immediately shifts.on flat surfaces with stop and go traffic, i experience this problem sometimes, but not as much and not as pronounced.we suggested that they check the transmission again and the power train, but we aren't technicians and were told that the service man feels it is "missing."we're just the owners that drive and have come to know its quirks that shouldn't exists. The range of motion when turning around or making a turn has decreased.i often have to back up then go forward to complete a turn.this was real easy to pick up because we traded in our 1998 astro for a 2003 astro.i definitely do not liked the quality, changes, and problems that we have had with this van.
When brakes are applied and vehicle body shifts back to rest a second bump can be felt underneath the vehicle like something is loose or the transmission shifts down late -or-when the transmission has shifted down from 3rd gear, like from 45 mph or so to 0 mph, and stopped for more than say 5 seconds, when the brake pedel is released a bump can be felt like the transmission is shifting into 1st very late. It feels like a vehicletapped you from behind.
Driveline vibration - 40 - 60 mph can be felt in seat and floor - dealer has replaced tail shaft bushings on first visit (2 days) returned vehicle with same problem - dealer installed dampeners on rear differential housing and rear leaf springs. (5 days) problem still persist. Dealer has ordered a dampener for exhaust pipe,has not been installed yet will call when part arrives. Dealer personel have been very polite and courteous .i feel they are trying to cover the symptoms rather than find the cause of the vibration?
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.
Consumer was informed that the transfer case was causing the vehicle to shimmy.dealership repaired the problem.
Shudder and/or abs activation during low speed turns, mainly to the left.vehicle is an 03 astro van awd with 67k miles.vehicle pulls pretty sharply left when this occurs.
I have a new 2003 chevy astro van with a power drivers seat. The seat has a little movement upon take off and stopping. The dealer says that is normal. I asked if there was any other owners with the same problem and they had none. If this is a common problem, there should more people complaining.
I was driving pulling a trailer on the freeway when suddenly the traffic stop. I applied the brakes at a safe distance when suddenly my brakes when all the way to the floor i applied the emergency brakes and stop. I had to go thru the emergency lane. I told my son to push the brake pedal while i was underneath and the brake lines broke. They where all rusted out. I had to get a wrecker to take it home.if you need to see my van call me so you can see the brake lines.
I am complaining of the safety issues regarding the abs computer system. I have put my vehicle in the shop to be checked out by a few car repair facilities and all have said the same thing my abs cpu. My van is hesitating terribly and causing the van to not accelerate properly. I have nearly been in three accidents since the problem has been occurring. I have also done some research on this issue via internet and found that many people are having the same problem across the usa. And gm is blaming it on the weather conditions in the north but the problems are happening to astro vans(2003) across the entire us. This is a problem that should be addressed as soon as possible.. The contact stated while applying brake pressure at 20mph or less, the abs activated with an increased stopping distance. The vehicle was seen by an independent repair shop. A diagnostic test was performed which indicated a failure in the right front wheel speed sensor. The mechanic determined the wheel speed sensor of the antilock brakes needed to be replaced. There is a nhtsa recall, # 05v379000, regarding the antilock brakes. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however it is not included in the recall due to the vin. This vehicle currently has this issue, and was checked by a repair shop. They described the problem undetectable; the recall was on models up to 2002. It seems that it carried over to this model, can the dealer assist in replacing the parts. I would pay the labor but the parts involved are about $1500.00 from the dealer alone.can i get help from the nhtsa to get this critical issue resolved.
Complete brake failure due to rusting brake lines. The previous day this vehicle was pulling a small trailer on a michigan interstate highway.the following day it was parked in my driveway and a wet area was visible on the concrete. It was brake fluid on the ground that had dripped from the rusted brake line and drained the master cylinder reservoir. I discovered this when moving the vehicle to try and determine the cause of the fluid leak. The brake line had completely rusted through!fortunately this did not happen the previous day as it could easily have been fatal.the vehicle was towed to the gm dealership. There are no replacement parts for the brake lines and none are available in the aftermarket. The dealer wanted over $1700 to replace the lines and said there may be more items to replace - possibly another $700 or more. Plus, fuel lines were also rusting and they should be replaced too.this could easily have been a fatal incident or extreme damage as the brakes were completely useless in my driveway and i had to put the vehicle into reverse to stop it, even at a very slow speed.i have had other vehicles for a much longer time - including gm - and never had anything like this before.
The contact owns a 2003 chevrolet astro van. The contact stated that the brake pedal went all the way to the floor while making a left turn. The contact also stated that the vehicle failed to start when the vehicle was parked and the wheels were turned to the left. A mechanic looked under the vehicle and found that the wiring harness that was located near the front passenger side tire had burned out. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the contact was unsure of what would be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown but the current mileage was 67,000.
My spouse was driving and we were stopped at a yard sale. We returned to the vehicle and started to back out when she noticed the steering wheel was extremely hard to turn. Then when she wanted to stop the vehicle the brakes were extreme hard to operate.after some research we learned of hundreds of brake malfunctions on similar vehicles and other cars that use similar brake booster technology.
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.
My wife and i were driving along when the brake system went completely out.we had just purchased the van about 4-5 months before it happened.i had the van looked at by james martin chevrolet in detroit michigan.the repairs came up to $1400.00.the van only had about 40,000 miles on it.
The brake line rubbed up against the power steering pump, eventually rubbing through.i lost braking power and nearly caused an accident.within minutes, i went from having brakes to having to push the brake peddle to the floor to stop.i had a local mechanic fix the problem at a substantial cost.
I was driving approximately 30 miles per hour along slightly snow-covered road towards stopped traffic at red light on a slight downgrade. I stepped on the brakes gentle, as required by the conditions, but the abs system started to shudder and the vehicle did not brake at all.i hit a stopped vehicle at the intersection and even with a relatively slow speed impact, our vehicle was written off and the other was towed away because it could not be driven.our van was drivable, but just barely, and was subsequently written off by the insurance company.i was charged with careless driving which was absolutely not the case.we have another vehicle of the same year and similar model and it does the same thing occasionally but so far this has not resulted in any further collisions.we have owned astro vans since they were first marketed in 1985 and this is the first one to act like this.we purchased 1985, 1992, 1998, and 2003 models (2).i am asking my wife, rose, who is also the registered owner of the vehicle to submit this report on my behalf.please respond to her with any resolutions.we purchased the salvage from the insurance company so it is still in our possession although not on the road.
Vehicle: 2003 chevy astro vandefect summary:factory design directs leaked battery acid to drip down on a steel brake line.details:the (+) battery terminal spontaneously broke off this vehicle's oem delco battery.the breakage was due to either:1) cable connector being over-torqued at the gm factory, or 2) an integral fault within the battery.the design of this year-model of astro is such that the natural path for acid drip-page is on to a steel brake line located below, and in front, of the battery.i am going to have the brake line replaced by a local certified mechanic because the line is severely corroded due to the acid exposure. Because of the inaccessibility of the brake line and its connections, the repair cost will not be cheap.please note that the battery and cable have not been exposed to any post-manufacture misuse or disturbance.the problem is solely due to poor placement of the hydraulic line, coupled with the factory induced battery breakage.i have digital photographs for your inspection of the broken battery terminal, the geometry of the battery compartment, the (brake) hydraulic line, and the resulting corrosion.
On several occasions over the past few months, the abs light on my van has been coming on and when i apply the brakes, the van jerks around on the road and pulls to the left.i have almost hit other cars on many of these occasions.i had my mechanic look at it recently and he said he checked out the braking system and can see no visible reason for this happening.
Dt*:the contact stated while stopping in a parking lot the abs light illuminated and the brake pedal became hard to depress. Once the vehicle began to accelerate a noise came from the abs. The noise ceased at approximately 20 mph. Additionally, the abs light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, they only ran the vin to check for recalls. It was also seen by a independent repair shop who determined there was no problem with the anti lock braking system.
While braking at low speed abs activates increasing stopping distance almost causing accident weather not a factor road condition not a factoralso happens during parking lot maneuvers turning into parking spots abs activates and seems not to stop note: this is an 2003 all wheel drive astro van.
Shudder and/or abs activation during low speed turns, mainly to the left.vehicle is an 03 astro van awd with 67k miles.vehicle pulls pretty sharply left when this occurs.
Abs light on with multiple codes and abs brakes are activating at slow speeds on dry pavement when the shouldn't be, causing an increasing stopping time and near miss accident.
Dt*: the contact stated while braking, the abs light illuminated and there was a pulsating effect with the brake pedal.the vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined the left hub and sensor had to be replaced.the problem recurred 5000 miles later.the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the right sensor and hub needed to be replaced along with the control module of the whole abs system.the manufacturer was contacted and agreed to pay for half of the repairs.updated 11/09/06.
I am complaining of the safety issues regarding the abs computer system.i have put my vehicle in the shop to be checked out by a few car repair facilities and all have said the same thing my abs cpu.my van is hesitating terribly and causing the van to not accelerate properly.i have nearly been in three accidents since the problem has been occurring.i have also done some research on this issue via internet and found that many people are having the same problem across the usa.and gm is blaming it on the weather conditions in the north but the problems are happening to astro vans(2003) across the entire us.this is a problem that should be addressed as soon as possible..
Dt: the contact stated the abs sensor became defectiveat 45,000 miles. While depressing the brakes at low speeds, the vehicle coasted. On one occasion the vehicle collided with the curb which could have caused a collision.during these incidents the abs light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle has been taken to two independent repair shops who confirmed that the abs sensor is defective. They also recommended replacement of the abs sensor. The contact expressed that the abs sensor failed long before what was reasonable.
Dt*:the contact stated while applying brake pressure at 20mph or less, the abs activated with an increased stopping distance.the vehicle was seen by an independent repair shop.a diagnostic test was performed which indicated a failure in the right front wheel speed sensor.the mechanic determined the wheel speed sensor of the antilock brakes needed to be replaced.there is a nhtsa recall, # 05v379000, regarding the antilock brakes.the vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however it is not included in the recall due to the vin.
I am complaining of the safety issues regarding the abs computer system. I have put my vehicle in the shop to be checked out by a few car repair facilities and all have said the same thing my abs cpu. My van is hesitating terribly and causing the van to not accelerate properly. I have nearly been in three accidents since the problem has been occurring. I have also done some research on this issue via internet and found that many people are having the same problem across the usa. And gm is blaming it on the weather conditions in the north but the problems are happening to astro vans(2003) across the entire us. This is a problem that should be addressed as soon as possible.. The contact stated while applying brake pressure at 20mph or less, the abs activated with an increased stopping distance. The vehicle was seen by an independent repair shop. A diagnostic test was performed which indicated a failure in the right front wheel speed sensor. The mechanic determined the wheel speed sensor of the antilock brakes needed to be replaced. There is a nhtsa recall, # 05v379000, regarding the antilock brakes. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however it is not included in the recall due to the vin. This vehicle currently has this issue, and was checked by a repair shop. They described the problem undetectable; the recall was on models up to 2002. It seems that it carried over to this model, can the dealer assist in replacing the parts. I would pay the labor but the parts involved are about $1500.00 from the dealer alone.can i get help from the nhtsa to get this critical issue resolved.
2003 chevrolet astro with brake problems. Consumer states that gm will not reimburse her for the repairs made on her vehicle.the consumer stated while braking at low speeds, the vehicle lunged forward. Also, the abs light illuminated. The consumer had to pay to have the sensors replaced.
2003 chevrolet astro with brake problems. Consumer states that gm will not reimburse her for the repairs made on her vehicle.the consumer stated while braking at low speeds, the vehicle lunged forward. Also, the abs light illuminated. The consumer had to pay to have the sensors replaced.
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.
Uneven wear of brake rotors due to frozen calipers. Rotor becomes unevenly worn causing a pulse in brakes and reducing the effectiveness of the brakes. When examined further it is apparent that the caliper is not sliding properly and only the piston side of the brake system is being applied aggravating the problem further. Problem was a primary cause for loss of control in a low traction incident in which the van spun during panic braking when one rear wheel locked and the other didn't. The vehicle has been back to the dealership several times for brake problems and each time the vehicle was returned only to redevelop problems within a month or two. Dealer serviced vehicle one time as warranty but required payment for pads even though the premature wear was caused by this problem. This van is advertised with a towing capacity of 5000 lbs i would be scared to see what would happen if the problem manifested itself while towing a 5000lb trailer down a hill or moutain side.
Uneven wear of brake rotors due to frozen calipers. Rotor becomes unevenly worn causing a pulse in brakes and reducing the effectiveness of the brakes. When examined further it is apparent that the caliper is not sliding properly and only the piston side of the brake system is being applied aggravating the problem further. Problem was a primary cause for loss of control in a low traction incident in which the van spun during panic braking when one rear wheel locked and the other didn't. The vehicle has been back to the dealership several times for brake problems and each time the vehicle was returned only to redevelop problems within a month or two. Dealer serviced vehicle one time as warranty but required payment for pads even though the premature wear was caused by this problem. This van is advertised with a towing capacity of 5000 lbs i would be scared to see what would happen if the problem manifested itself while towing a 5000lb trailer down a hill or moutain side.
Dt*:the contact stated while brake pressure was applied at 15mph, a grinding noise was heard coming from the brakes.the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop for inspection.the mechanic determined the rotors had rusted due to the vehicle being in salt belt state.the rotors were replaced and the vehicle now operates normally. The mechanic stated the rotors were made with inferior metal.updated 05/02/06.
Uneven wear of brake rotors due to frozen calipers. Rotor becomes unevenly worn causing a pulse in brakes and reducing the effectiveness of the brakes. When examined further it is apparent that the caliper is not sliding properly and only the piston side of the brake system is being applied aggravating the problem further. Problem was a primary cause for loss of control in a low traction incident in which the van spun during panic braking when one rear wheel locked and the other didn't. The vehicle has been back to the dealership several times for brake problems and each time the vehicle was returned only to redevelop problems within a month or two. Dealer serviced vehicle one time as warranty but required payment for pads even though the premature wear was caused by this problem. This van is advertised with a towing capacity of 5000 lbs i would be scared to see what would happen if the problem manifested itself while towing a 5000lb trailer down a hill or moutain side.
I have reported this before due to several other close calls that i had, but the same thing has happened to two others in the same vehicle.when depressing the brake pedal (because it is so small - 2"x2.6") your foot can be on the edge of the pedal and it will slip off as you apply more pressure.this happens when you are nearing a stop or having to make a quick stop.we have had several near miss accidents, the last would have been a right angle collision with a dump truck right in the driver's door.the vehicle is a 2003 astro van with automatic transmission.foot space is limited only if it would be a stick shift requiring a clutch.the brake pedal is the smallest in our fleet and not much larger than the emergency brake pedal.the vehicle is now parked pending a safety review.
- the contact has a 2003 chevrolet astro van which has been in the dealer service shop since december 19, 2006. When driving and turning the vehicle lost power in both the steering system and the brakes. The dealer ran the vehicle trough diagnostic tests, and could not determine the cause of the failure.the contact found recall information for vehicles with similar failures.on december 29 2006 they received a call from the dealer stating that they were checking to see if the problem was covered under the vehicle's warranty if not the cost of the repair will be $552.10.
When the vehicle turned around a corner, the steering wheel did not turn far enough to make the turn. The consumer had to back up, and then pull in.
My spouse was driving and we were stopped at a yard sale. We returned to the vehicle and started to back out when she noticed the steering wheel was extremely hard to turn. Then when she wanted to stop the vehicle the brakes were extreme hard to operate.after some research we learned of hundreds of brake malfunctions on similar vehicles and other cars that use similar brake booster technology.
Dt: the contact stated while traveling between 50 - 55 mph during normal driving condition the front two wheels began turning and the vehicle would not respond to steering input. The brakes were depressed however there was difficulting in stopping the vehicle due to the antilock brakes. The vehicle ending up in a six foot ditch which stopped the vehicle. It was towed to the dealer where after inspection, the dealer determined there was nothing wrong with the steering. Both aaa and the manufacturer will be sending out inspectors to view the vehicle. The contact incurred multiple injuries and a police report was processed at the scene of the accident.
- the contact has a 2003 chevrolet astro van which has been in the dealer service shop since december 19, 2006. When driving and turning the vehicle lost power in both the steering system and the brakes. The dealer ran the vehicle trough diagnostic tests, and could not determine the cause of the failure.the contact found recall information for vehicles with similar failures.on december 29 2006 they received a call from the dealer stating that they were checking to see if the problem was covered under the vehicle's warranty if not the cost of the repair will be $552.10.
My wife and i were driving along when the brake system went completely out.we had just purchased the van about 4-5 months before it happened.i had the van looked at by james martin chevrolet in detroit michigan.the repairs came up to $1400.00.the van only had about 40,000 miles on it.
The steering has limited turning. We can't turn into a parking place without backing up and making two attempts. I have owned two other astro vans that turned great.
The vehicle's running board is to narrow when consumer get out of the vehicle her foot slipped. As a result the driver sustained back and leg injuries. *la
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.
The contact owns a 2003 chevrolet astro. The contact was made aware by an independent mechanic that his vehicle was included in nhtsa 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.
Front suspension issues, electrical gauges, replacementof fuel tank pump, door latches failing to open on sliding side door making exiting of vehicle impossible, recall of 02v328000 unable to be confirmed as handled by any dealers.
While turning left or right consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front.consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection.
Earlier today i had my wife take in our 2003 chevrolet astro.the service light would not reset.this was the second time it came on and this time it would not reset by itself.while there i asked her to inquire about the sept. 2, 2003 recall of the astro van for a front suspension defect.recall number 03044.the dealership representative searched by using our vin.the search came back with no recall.i researched the recall on the nhtsa and called the chevrolet manufacturers 800 number for further assistance to find out if we would be included.i spoke with an operator by the name of angela.she did a quick search and told me that there was no recall also.i disclosed to her that i was looking at the recall at that moment on the nhtsa web sight.she then restated that there was no recall for my van but she could not guarantee that i would not be included in this recall.all i wanted to know was if my van was included in the recall.chevrolet tracks their vehicles.they know what parts are on which vans.they even know who bought them and where they are.now they will not disclose if my van is included in this recall.this is a great concern to my entire family because this is a van that my wife and children are in. Is there some sort of code, rule, or law that they are breaking about not disclosing this to there consumers?please contact me as soon as possible.thank you, brett spindler 702-644-4671. *la
Recall 03v328000/lower ball joint boot interference.consumer hadrecall repairsdone. Whenever vehicle was backing up or making a turn a popping sound was heard while driving. Vehicle had been to the dealer on three separate occasions, andproblemrecurred.
Dealershipwas unable to perform the lower ball joint boot interference recall 03v328000 repairsbecause they didn't have the parts or the tools.consumercalled dealer twice to make an appointment since receiving the recall notice.
Our 2003 chevy astro van had a intermittent very bad shimmy come from the front wheels. It was so bad the van could not be driven over 30 mph without losing control. The next 20 times it was driven it would work fine. We finally had it in to a dealer who had it happen to one of their mechanic while he was driving. The mechanic said it is a bad ball joint that had to be that way when it left the factory. We have not been able to drive the van for 3 weeks as they say the part is back ordered. It appears that this must be a problem with other vans and that is why we have not been able to get it replaced. I want to know if gm is going to recall all their vehicles with this problem? one of my employees nearly lost control of the van when it did it to her and it could easily happen to othere.
I recently began driving a 2003 chevrolet astro van on occasion and have had several instances where my foot has slipped off of (or missed entirely) the brake pedal.the pedal measures approximately 2.625" x 2.0" and is 50% to 300% smaller than those on other passenger vehicles or mid-sized pickup trucks in our fleet.i have had a couple near misses in colliding with other vehicles or objects when this happens, but consider it only a matter of time before an accident occurs.
Throttle cable sticking due to outer layer of braided cable being frayed.routing of cable caused a kink in the outer jacket that frayed the outer layer of a braided cable from the gas peddle to the throttle body.this caused the throttle to open and remain at what ever point it was by the pushing the accelerator pedal causing uncontrollable acceleration. The cable was routed below a hose at the firewall pushing the outer jacket downward and was that way from the factory as far as i am aware. No hoses have been changed. Replaced the throttle cable and routed it above the hose at the firewall to eliminate the downward pressure on the outer jacket and all is operating properly.dealer had no interest in fixing or investigating the problem without cost being incurred by me.made the repair myself with a new throttle cable obtained through a dealer parts department.
- the contact called regarding the2003 chevrolet astro.the contact statedwhiletraveling at 30 mph the throttle cable stuck, and once the vehicle reached 40 mph, the contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road.she was able to restart the vehicle which continued to idle high.the contact stated that once at home the vehicle continued to idle high, and the throttle cable sheared off. The vehicle was towed to a chevrolet dealer, whoreplaced the throttle cable. The contact has the repair invoices. Update 4/23/07
Dt: the consumer stated that whiledrivingthe exterior driver side mirror flew off onto the highway.the consumer did not notice if the mirror was loose before he entered the vehicle.the consumer stated that the mirror started moving and he tried to reach out through the window and grab the mirror but could not catch the mirror and it almost hit another vehicle that was driving behind him.there was no indication that the mirror had been hit prior to this incident.there was very little glue where the mirror had previously been attached.the vehicle had not been inspected to determine why the mirror had come off.the manufacturer had not been contacted.(12/07/05)*sc
The windshield wipers worked intermittently.
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