Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Chevrolet Astro, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility60
- Suspension60
- Service brakes, hydraulic33
- Power train19
- Fuel system, gasoline18
- Engine and engine cooling18
- Steering16
- Structure15
- Air bags15
- Electrical system13
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 12 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In New Zealand
9 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 14.5–15.3 L/100 km (about 15–16 mpg US), CO₂ 334–352 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astro Cargo · Van: Cargo · Regular gasoline | 16.3 | 12.3 | 14.5 |
| Astro Passenger · Van: Passenger · Regular gasoline | 16.3 | 12.5 | 14.6 |
| Astro Passenger AWD · Van: Passenger · Regular gasoline | 17.0 | 13.3 | 15.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Chevrolet Astro.
| 2003064 17 Mar 2003 | Other Certain vehicles (not involved in recall 98-150), may experience a windshield wiper failure due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. If th… |
| 2001097 17 Apr 2001 | Lights And Instruments Certain vehicles fail to comply with requirements of CMVSS No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." The "fasten safety-belt" audible warning occasionally may not c… |
| 1998040 18 Mar 1998 | Emissions Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 1103 - Exhaust Emissions. Vehicles may been built with the ignition coil wire too close to metal brackets or the trans… |
| 1997077 14 Apr 1997 | Seats And Restraints NOTE: VEHICLES WITH SEVEN PASSENGER SEATING. DYNAMIC TESTING INDICATES THAT THE RIGHT-HAND REAR BUCKET SEAT OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING COULD SEPARATE DURING … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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 WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT WOULD CONTINUALLY PLAY OUT AND WOULD NOT LOCK.
THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE RIGHT-HAND REAR BUCKET SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A VEHICLE CRASH.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 1996 Chevrolet Astro: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 634576 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE RIGHT REAR DOOR HANDLE ON THE CARGO DOOR BREAKS. *TT |
| 634273 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED DTC P0340 CAMSHAFT POSITION (CMP) SENSOR CIRCUIT DIAGNOSITC. NLM |
| 628070 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN EXHAUST NOISE, RATTLE NOISE AT 550 RPM. *TT |
| 623540 | INFORMATION REGARDING FASTEN SEAT BELT WARNING AUDIBLE SIGNAL PARTS AVAILABILITY. *SLC |
| 623443 | THIS BULLETIN STATES THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAS DECIDED THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFIRM TO FEDERAL/CANADA MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION, 208, OCCUPANT RESTRAIN SYSTEM IN FRONTAL IMPACT, AND ARTICLE 22-3, TRIAS 49, SEAT BELT WARNING DEVICE, SOMETIMES ON CERTAIN VEHICLES THE SEAT BELT AUDIBLE SIGNAL MAY NOT COME ON OR MAY TERMINATE IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS. *SLC |
| 623397 | CAMPAIGN PARTS BULLETIN REGARDING FASTEN SEAT BELT WARNING AUDIBLE SIGNAL. *TT |
| 620862 | SUBJECT REGARDING FASTEN SEAT BELT WARNING AUDIBLE SIGNAL - PARTS INFORMATION UPDATE. *TT |
| 620840 | SUBJECT REGARDING CAMPAIGN 01036 - FASTEN SEAT BELT WARNING AUDIBLE SIGNAL - PARTS INFORMATION UPDATE. *TT |
| 619742 | THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT TECHNICIANS MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING THE CONNECTORS FROM THE PARK / NEUTRAL POSITION SWITCH, USUALLY WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE THE SWITCH DURING TRANSMISSION SERVICE. *TT |
| 618269 | THIS MESSAGE CONCERNS 1996 THROUGH 2000 M & L VANS, CHEVROLET ASTRO AND GMC SAFARI THAT MAY EXHIBIT A LACK OF HEAT AT THE DRIVER'S SEAT. *TT |
| 602342 | SPECIAL POLICY FOR SAFETY BELT GUIDE COVER. *YC |
| 52601 | ENGINE NOISE (INSTALL VALVE STEM OIL SEAL). *TW |
| 52600 | CLN INDICATOR APPEARS ON RADIO DISPLAY AND DOES NOT TURN OFF (RESET CLN INDICATOR WITH THE EJECT BUTTON ON TAPE). *TW |
| 52555 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 1-2 AND/OR 2-3 UPSHIFT SLIP/FLARE, NO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR, DTC P1870, LAUNCH SHUDDER (REVISE VCM WIRING). *TW |
| 52554 | TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK FROM PUMP BODY (REPLACE BUSHING). *TW |
| 52350 | ENGINE HARD TO START (REPLACE FUEL PUMP PULSATOR). *TW |
| 52105 | TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK FROM PUMP BODY (REPLACE BUSHING). *TW |
| 51275 | ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE IN MOBILE (TWO-WAY) RADIO (REPROGRAM VCM-A). *TW |
| 10246631 | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
| 10232287 | This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy. |
| 10208027 | This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update. |
| 10171318 | This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update. |
| 10170494 | This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to Unlock Delco Radio with Theftlock. |
| 10168979 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation