VehicleVerdict

1997 Chevrolet Astro problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 563 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 5.9 times the median Astro year — the 1997 model ranks #2 of 24 Astro years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 31 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across visibility & wipers (75), brakes (72), and transmission (58), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

563

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

1

Investigations

30

Crash-involved

7

Fires reported

31

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 1997 compare to other Astro years?

See all Astro years to avoid →

What are the most common 1997 Chevrolet Astro problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Visibility & Wipers7513%
Brakes7213%
Transmission5810%
Fuel System499%
Steering448%
Engine438%
Electrical System346%
Body & Structure346%
Speed Control326%
Suspension265%
Other193%
Airbags183%
Tires & Wheels173%
Seat Belts153%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)112%
Seats81%
Lighting41%
Latches & Locks41%

Does the 1997 Chevrolet Astro have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

06E049000LightingMay 24, 2006 · 27,176 units

Defect

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

06E043000Fuel SystemMay 19, 2006 · 88,303 units

Defect

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

03V159000Visibility & WipersApril 28, 2003 · 1,755,876 units

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 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

01V123000Seat BeltsApril 10, 2001 · 461,851 units

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.

99V009000Child SeatJanuary 20, 1999 · 2,090 units

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 WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT WOULD CONTINUALLY PLAY OUT AND WOULD NOT LOCK.

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.

97V057000Seat BeltsApril 8, 1997 · 18,972 units

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR A YEAR AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE SINCE THEN. TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED DUE TO FAULTY COOLANT HOS A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE AND NOW TRNS. FLIUD PUMP IS SHOT. WINDOW MOTORS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND NIETHER ARE POWER LOCKS. FRIEND OWNS 97' SAFARI AND HAS SAME…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · June 29, 1998

WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL ROAD , TRAVELING 40-45MPH, TWO VEHICLES UP AND AHEAD WERE CROSSING THE INTERSECTION. CONSUMER REALIZING THAT THERE WERE CAMERAS AND LIGHT TURNED YELLOW, SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, AND A PICKUP TRUCK BEHIND REARENDED HER. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND THEY FAILED. ALSO, UPON…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · May 3, 2000 · crash

I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR A YEAR AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE SINCE THEN. TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED DUE TO FAULTY COOLANT HOS A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE AND NOW TRNS. FLIUD PUMP IS SHOT. WINDOW MOTORS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND NIETHER ARE POWER LOCKS. FRIEND OWNS 97' SAFARI AND HAS SAME…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · June 29, 1998

FUEL INJECTOR FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BEGINNING AT 4,000 / 15,000 / 17,500. MILES. TOTAL OF 4 FUEL INJECTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. NO WARNNG OF PENDING FAILURE. VAN JUST FAILS TO START OR MISFIRES. DEALER SAYS THAT GM IS STUDING THE PROBLEM. FEELS IT IS A WEST COAST…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · June 2, 1999

BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY, RESULTING IN A CRASH. GMC KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FIX IT UNTIL ENOUGH PEOPLE DIE. MY FAMILY WAS ALMOST KILLED. ANYONE WHO HAS HAD A FAMILY MEMBER HURT OR KILLED IN A GM VAN SHOULD SUE GMC. *AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · August 30, 2001 · crash

1997 Chevrolet Astro — common questions

Is the 1997 Chevrolet Astro reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 563 complaints put the 1997 model at #2 of 24 Astro years. It is one of the Astro years to avoid.

What are the most common 1997 Astro problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are visibility & wipers (75 complaints), brakes (72 complaints), transmission (58 complaints).

Does the 1997 Chevrolet Astro have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 1997 Chevrolet Astro. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1997 Chevrolet Astro under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Chevrolet Astro years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Astro years to avoid are 1995, 1997, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 1999, 1993, 1992. The cleanest record among Astro years belongs to 1983.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.