Reliability enigma

I scanned through several pages on an older thread regarding a survey of mileages on Chevrolet Astro Vans. After reading a few pages it would appear like there were two completely different vehicles. Many told of horror stories and just as many, or more, told glowing reports of hundreds of thousands of trouble free miles.
Consumer Reports has nothing good to say about the van that I love so much. I have had 3 of them and love them more than any other vehicle I've owned. I am very disappointed about GM discontinuing them. I have a 2000 which doesn't need to be replaced for a long time. But have seriously considered getting a new one since there won't ever be any more.

I would like to hear from others that feel the same way - sort of starting a survey poll. :cool:

I've got an old '89 that I happen to be quite fond of. It originally belonged to my mom. Ran like crud when I got it. However, no matter how bad it has run at any given time for whatever reason, its never left me stranded.
For an '89 year model, this van has relatively low mileage, only about 82K.
It cruises good on the highway, for the first time I can get my whole family in one vehicle, I can pull the seats and haul a ton of stuff, in short it really works for me.
The engine is a challenge to work on at times, but frankly I've had worse vehicles to service and repair.

I scanned through several pages on an older thread regarding a survey of mileages on Chevrolet Astro Vans. After reading a few pages it would appear like there were two completely different vehicles. Many told of horror stories and just as many, or more, told glowing reports of hundreds of thousands of trouble free miles.
Consumer Reports has nothing good to say about the van that I love so much. I have had 3 of them and love them more than any other vehicle I've owned. I am very disappointed about GM discontinuing them. I have a 2000 which doesn't need to be replaced for a long time. But have seriously considered getting a new one since there won't ever be any more.

I would like to hear from others that feel the same way - sort of starting a survey poll. :cool:

I know that the Astro Van hasn't been selling well in the past few years. And I know it is an older design (1985). But it is a niche and I think it is a very well kept secret. It does things that no other vehicle can do. It seats 8, good in snow (awd), pulls a heavy trailer, tons of cargo space, and the engine will go to the moon and back at least once. I almost feel cheated because my 2000 is in such good condition I can't justify a new one. I guess I'll drive it for a few years and then look for a 2005 with low miles. I think the biggest problem, among critics is bad maintenance. I fuss over mine and it has been trouble free. And I smile as I pass Tahoes that now sticker for $52,000.

I hear you. Picked up a 2005 2wd back in May 2005 to replace a 1991 Astro 2wd I just sold two weeks ago. Just couldn't pass up the last chance to score a new Astro--with cargo doors!! I still can't get used to ducking under the hatch on my wife's PT Cruiser-(or all those "mini-vans" out there). Oh well, Chevy surely knows what it's doing-right? See Vega, Monza, Geo, etc. Too bad for Astro fans

http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0503/21/01-121653.htm

Friday, March 18, 2005

Chevy Astro, GMC Safari get worst ratings in government crash tests of minivans

By Ken Thomas / Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Two General Motors Corp. vehicles, the Chevrolet Astro and the GMC Safari, fared the worst in government crash tests of minivans, according to results released Friday.



This will be the last Astro I own.
A '95, bought with 45K miles on it, it was garage kept when I got it, and still is. Its got 100k on it this last week.
I've had it about 5 years, I've liked it, inspite of the frequent problems- all of which I replaced, never took it in, always did it myself out of respect for the vehicle.
power window died
aircondition died- first time compressor, second time relays.
fuel pump and with it, THREE expensive lines.
tranny weeping at rear seal- replaced, and 10K miles later starting to weep again
cruise control arm
brake lines
If it is it wet and cold outside its still a hard start- and the only thing I've not replaced was the wiring harness.
some interior things but that was the dealer who did the conversion, not GM

If you think of these things as passenger-friendly mini vans, they fall short compared to the much more modern front wheel drive mini vans, in terms of passenger comfort, safety and handling.

However, they can carry and tow heavly loads that would crush other mini vans.

Seriously, I used to lease a '99 Voyager, which simply could not do the heavy-duty tasks I required.

IMO these vans are real trucks, with all the heavy work capability and lack of creature comforts that entails.
In recent years, though, the SUV has been more popular for people demanding such capabilities.

too bad they stoped doing those vans. my 87 Astro is the best van i ever owned and even with over half a million KM on it, i have done only a tranny rebuild the heads and of course propane conversion and she still running strong. Could Chevy/GMC look back and redesign those vans and make them better? i mean those are like VW. hard to kill vans and for what i do for work? these vans are just the best.

I'm thinking to buy another one for project pretty soon for truck show. :evillol:

those vans got a look and a style. they are agressive and powerful and makes those tiny little cars feel like they do not belong on the road :loser: . LMAO

Anyway. too bad they are no longer making any vans :crying:

The company I work for uses these as fleet vehicles. Most are '97, but I think we have a few '04 or '05. They're minimally maintained (seen some with 200k that haven't had oil changed in forever, no fluid, etc) and still generally go on. A lot of them have problems but they still keep on going. Interestingly, one just died today (transmission) at 250,000 miles... another one died a couple months ago at about 230k, but even more interestingly, it was at fault of some tire place ;D

As far as getting work done, they generally do a good job - or at least have the year I have been driving them.

I have a 03 Cargo Van and it's the best work truck I've ever had. Here in Sacramento, Ca. I see hundreds of Astros and Safris being used a Service vehicles. What are companies going to use for small cargo vans? full size van are just that, bigger in every way and more costly to operate. None of the other mini vans that I can think of offer a cargo version.

this is the first ive heard of them discontinuing the astro....im shocked! and sad! i love my astro. i think its the only mini van in its class. its not a dorky family mini van like the rest its an actual work horse. im a working musician and i pack the hell out of it with gear. take it to places where the roads are full of snow and it cuts right through. and its comfortable to boot...its like driving my couch. im at 90k and having the rough idle problem that seems to be so common on this board that nobody can seem to figure out...in fact my astro has been in stuck in my driveway because i dont want to damage it with it running so poorly. and im still giving it praise. i swear my shows arent the same because my astros not on the road with me. i would definately buy another one/id love a semi-conversion one but with cargo space for my equiptment. you cant fit half of what i pack into mine in any other mini van. and the 4 wheel drive is awesome...i swear ive driven though stuff my old explorer would have slid through. thats too bad that they are pulling the plug on it...it was a great van.

wow, I was just talking to my husband the other day about looking at new ones and find out there aren't any!
We have a '99 that we bought in Jan. 2000 that has almost 139K on it. I love it and would love to buy another. I love that I can haul the kids around and all our stuff. We've moved with it, hauled lumber, really used the heck out of it. I find it pretty comfortable, but hubby doesn't. The driver's side wheel well annoys him (he's about 5'9"). I am 5'2" so it doesn't bother me all that much. I use it like a foot rest. lol
Since I like to drive, I knew I wanted something that I could pack a bunch of relatives or kids' friends into, so that I could do the driving. I hate being at the mercy of others. lol

My wife loves ours. It's great for scouts. I bought the 1997 Astro with 80,000 miles on it and I now have 180,000 miles on it. I'm finally going to change the spark plugs.

I hate mini vans. Astro or Safari is still a true van. I've searched for over a month for one all over the place here in southern new england. Dealers would always say they were "hard to come by" and "they didn't stay on the lot very long" and a few also said "people hold on to their astros". It is funny because the '94 that I finally found (for $1200 mint shape 140k thank you God) sat on the lot for almost 2 years because "nobody wanted it". Then I came along. I love it.

personally i always hated the idea of vans, mini vans, anything with the word van in it. about 8 months ago, my work truck died (freakin ford exploders) and i needed another work vehicle quickly. i had a co-worker who told me to make the last payment (385.00) on his astro (89) and it was mine. it ran like crap and i thought the motor was shot. after a compression test i was at ease and discovered that the throtle body diaphragm was shot, so 60 bucks later the van is awesome. after the diphragm i went on ahead and did a total fluid change, plugs, o2 sensors, filters, wires, cap, ect. i drive the crap out of it (i install satellites for a living....drive about 100-200 miles per day) and now with 194,000 on it...i am finally going to have to replace the starter (wont stop running for a sec after motor starts). oh my god, a mear 20 bucks and 30 minutes. you cant beat reliability like that. i rekindled a lost love for GM products which made me buy an 05 saturn vue. to each their own, but these astros are awesome little vans. ive owned new vehicles that cost more in maint. than my van. for what i do for a living, its like a rolling office. plenty of room to work inside when its bad outside, and a decent bit of power when on the road.

http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0503/21/01-121653.htm

Friday, March 18, 2005

Chevy Astro, GMC Safari get worst ratings in government crash tests of minivans

By Ken Thomas / Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Two General Motors Corp. vehicles, the Chevrolet Astro and the GMC Safari, fared the worst in government crash tests of minivans, according to results released Friday.

Astro/Safari is NOT a minivan, according to FMVSS classifications. At least, not until this year. It is (was) a truck.

Real-world accident results (and what insurance companies charge for BI premiums) don't agree with the report you are quoting. Walk through a junk yard someday. I've seen many of them that have been in front-end accidents, and almost always the damage stops right at the lower windshield line. I saw one that looked as if the driver had centered right up on a utility pole or tree. The nice, round impression of the obstacle stopped right at the windshiled. Granted, they do tend to wrinkle a lot on rollovers, but they remain intact.

I have some real-world evidence. My wife was driving her Astro when another driver turned left in front of her (on the celly, of course). The Cadillac STS she hit was split nearly completely into halves at the B pillar, torn right across the floor. Her Astro had front end damage and a RF fender hanging out in the breeze. After the police reports, she drove the van to a shop for an estimate, while both halves of the Cadillac were winched onto the flatbed and hauled away.

This is our second Astro. As far as having another, I probably won't since the Baltimore plant is closed. Our first (an '88) went 180K+ miles with a replacement P/S pump, heater blower motor, a few mufflers, lots of brakes, an idler arm, and countless tires. It was running just fine when traded on the new one. I would have (and did) driven it anywhere. The newer one has had a window lift motor, fuel level sensor, reaction sun shell in the 4Ll60E, and a set of tires. I still wonder if some of the nuisance problems were related to the accident, like the fuel level sensor and window motor, whereas the trans spline/hub problem is the same old thing that GM has been fighting in TH700-R4s and 4L60Es for years. I've had many go 150K miles or more with no trouble, and others go at 60-70K miles.

My first was a 1995 RWD Safari van. It had under powered 4.3L engine and "lugged" when loaded down. During its ownership, it ate one alternator and 1 battery. It ate lots of brakes and one set of tires. But other then these items, she was a solid RWD van. It loved the gas "when loaded down" but for its internal room, it was a great van. Thus, why we wanted to buy a 2nd Safari van.

My second van was a 2001 AWD Safari van. It had the stronger 4.3L engine but it loved the gas even more. It drank gas like a thursty dog on a extreme hot 120 F day. During its ownership, it ate idler arms, shocks, steering box, battery, master brake cylinder, ABS sensors, Cruise Control module, transfer case gaskets, transmission needed a rebuild, brakes and tires. Before we traded it in, it was costing us "on average" $450 / month in repairs. In the end, it needed another steering box and power steering box. Time to "trade her in" and dump its problems onto someone else.

For our new '09 Montani mini-van, it has cost us $15 in unexpected repairs for the last 16 months. $15.00 because when I installed its ATF aux cooler, I didn't tighten down its one clamp hard enough. Thus, a slow leak - that was corrected outside of warranty program. In all, $15 out of pocket for repairs (during 16 months) compared to $450/month for "out of pocket" repairs. Glad I made the right choice. re: Trading in our previous 2001 AWD Safari van and getting a replacement.

For review of my wife's '09 mini-van, surf: http://townhall.edmunds.com/WebX/.f204882/0

Good luck - on which ever van (or mini-van) you decide to purchase.


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I have had 6 Astro/Safari. The first 5 were 2 wheel drive and had no trouble other than the odd little normal wear and tear. I now own a 2002 all wheel drive and it is the biggest piece of crap I have ever owned. I wish it would just disappear sometimes. I would definitely buy another 2 wheel drive but NEVER AGAIN a 4 wheel. I have so much invested in this van that it's not even funny anymore - and it still keeps having issues.