The 1997 Chevrolet Astro has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,238,789 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 563 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
VISIBILITY03V1590002003-04-281,755,876 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT…
SEAT BELTS01V1230002001-04-10461,851 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE "FASTEN SAFETY-BELT" AUDIBLE WARNING OCCASIONALLY MAY NOT COME ON OR MAY TERMINATE IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Consequence
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ALARM MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
CHILD SEAT99V0090001999-01-202,090 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED DUAL CHILD SEATS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY BE MISSING A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CLUTCH SPRING AND/OR PAWL SPRING IN THE CHILD SEAT. IF THE CLUTCH SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION AND COULD NOT BE USED. IF THE PAWL SPRING…
Consequence
THESE CONDITIONS COULD INCREASE THE OCCUPANT'S RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS ON THE CHILD SEATS, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CHILD SEAT.
SEAT BELTS97V0570001997-04-0818,972 affected
Defect
THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE RIGHT-HAND REAR BUCKET SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A VEHICLE CRASH.
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD RESULT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR ON THE REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
38
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
34
5crashes4injuries
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
26
1fires1injuries
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
21
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
17
1crashes
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
15
1crashes3injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
14
12crashes11injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
14
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
13
2fires1injuries
Total complaints563
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet astro. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact also mentioned that the failure occurred numerous times. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The vin was unavailable. The approximate failure…”
“I bought 4 goodyear wrangler sr-a tires from the sears auto store at 3000 town east mall on 4 november 2013 at approximately 11:50am. The tire description: p2 235\70r15. Three weeks later on about 13 december 2013 the left rear tire completely came a part while driving on lbj freeway westbound at…”
“On 4 november 2013, I purchased 4 goodyear wrangler sr-a tires from the sears auto store at 3000 town east mall in mesquite, tx. Approximately three weeks later and less than 300 miles on the tires, the left rear tires completely came a part while driving on lbj freeway westbound in dallas, tx. My…”
“1997 chevrolet astrovan with electrical door locks. Pulled into sheetz gas and go and went to open the drivers door and it did not open. Tried to push the manual inside door lock but it was totally frozen and would not actuate. Next tried electrical door lock switch. No response on drivers door…”
“1997 chevrolet astrovan with electrical door locks. Pulled into sheetz gas and go and went to open the drivers door and it did not open. Tried to push the manual inside door lock but it was totally frozen and would not actuate. Next tried electrical door lock switch. No response on drivers door…”
“1997 chevrolet astrovan with electrical door locks. Pulled into sheetz gas and go and went to open the drivers door and it did not open. Tried to push the manual inside door lock but it was totally frozen and would not actuate. Next tried electrical door lock switch. No response on drivers door…”
“Just before stopping at an intersection the brake pedal lifted slightly. There was a moaning sound from under the hood on the driver's side and the van drifted into the crosswalk ( lost braking ). I threw it into reverse to stop. After replacing the brake master cylinder, hydro booster, power…”
“I own a 1997 chevy astro van with 151k miles. Sunday, the power steering pump went out. When it did so, the brakes turned mushy with little braking power. We were lucky as we had just come down a steep driveway. If they had failed then our choices would have been to run into the back of a car if…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA02006 Opened 2002-05-31 · closed 2003-07-23
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED…
InvestigationEA02006 Opened 2002-05-31 · closed 2003-07-23
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Chevrolet Astro as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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