The 1996 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 345 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. 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
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
38
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
26
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
21
3crashes4injuries
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
21
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
13
13crashes9injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
12
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
11
SUSPENSION:FRONT
9
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
8
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
7
Total complaints345
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Pin holes in steel brake lines causing complete brake failure. Fortunately vehicle was sitting when brake petal was applied for starting. When pressing brake to start vehicle, petal went completely to floor. When checking under vehicle to analyze problem, pin holes leaks were observed in various…”
“I just got home & was backing around to where I park when the brake pedal started vibrating. I did manage to park. The next day the vibrating stopped when a grating noise was made. Suddenly the brake pedal came way up. It does have some brakes but they are hard to depress. Suddenly my power…”
“I just got home & was backing around to where I park when the brake pedal started vibrating. I did manage to park. The next day the vibrating stopped when a grating noise was made. Suddenly the brake pedal came way up. It does have some brakes but they are hard to depress. Suddenly my power…”
“1996 chevy astro lf torsion bar broke. Luckily it happened after my wife went on an 800 mile trip. Dealer replaced with newly designed shorter bar. Front now a lot lower than original. Dealer did not require or insist the other one be fixed at this time. They adjusted the camber of the wheel to…”
“Electrical failure. Repeated in a 1996 chevy astro. Leading to starter engage while engine running. *nm”
“Dt: 1996 chevrolet astro. The vehicle began to smoke on august 11, 2005. The smoke was coming from the dashboard. The vehicle was being driven when this occurred. The consumer stated the switch or the plug for the rear air conditioner blower melted. Also, melted the first six inches of the wiring…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet astro. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle shut off without warning. The contact found a recall notice inside the vehicle from when it was purchased. The recall letter pertains to the ignition coil wire. The purchase date was unknown. The current and failure…”
“The torsion bar snapped in half. This bar was inadequate to the vehicle, and gm has a modified version for this. The bar broke while the consumer was driving the vehicle. The consumer was going 10 mph, when this happened and this caused the left front to drop down about 8 to 10 inches and was a…”
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 1996 Chevrolet Astro as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.