2002 Chevrolet Astro: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 70 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes, hydraulic (22% of complaints); the 2004 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2006
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 70 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Astro. The contact stated that while driving at an undetermined speed, the accelerator throttle cable fractured in the stuck open position, causing the vehicle to accelerate to approximately 100 MPH independently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 258,300.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Oct 2022
“Goodyear viva 3 tires suffered stone punctures. Tire size 215/75r15. Bought two new ones 10/5/16 and two more new ones 3/7/17. This vehicle is infrequently driven and only occasionally on county maintained gravel roads. Only drove 18300 miles before first stone puncture 9/27/20. Second stone puncture occurred with only 12/17/20 with 15800 miles on that tire. Third stone puncture occurred 1/17/20 with 16200 miles. Dot number md36jk1r4116 for tires bought 13/7/17. Dot number md36jk1r1216 for tires bought 10/5/16.”Owner report · Tires · Sep 2020
“While vehicle was being driven.the alert warning light for the air bags illuminated. I was afraid to drive the vehicle due too the air bag inflator might rupture or underinflate. In the event of a crash. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. This scenario increases the risk of serious injury or death.”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2020
Show 7 more owner reports
“When raining widshield wipers dont work as directed, they do what they want. They stay on after shutting them off. And door locks lock and unlock repeatedly. Wipers also shut off in the middle of line of sifht intermittently. Never works correctly”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Aug 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet astro. The contact stated that on several occasions, the brake lights and hazard lights failed. The contact stated that if the brake pedal was depressed and the hazard light switch was moved around the lights would function as intended. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 05v099000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available. Updated 07/13/16*lj the consumer stated the brake lights only worked, if the hazard light switch was forced to one side and held in place. Updated 07/13/16.*jb”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · May 2016
“I got in my van to drive to a store and the brake pedal went right to the floor. There was brake fluid leaking from near the rear tire. The steel hard brake line running from the ABS unit to the rear axle is rusted through and is leaking. This was a sudden event. Also the fuel lines look to be just as bad. I'm sure stainless steel lines would not have added much to the vehicles cost and would have prevented this hazard and expense. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes · Apr 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet astro. The contact stated that the driver's side seat belt webbing failed to lock and was able to be pulled from the housing. The failure recurred multiple times. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 325,000.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jan 2015
“I was driving and all of a sudden, the dash lights went out and the car died. I lost power steering, and I coasted to the side of the road. Come to find out the fuse box was hot and there was a few fuses that were blown. I replace the blown fuses and drove home. When I got home and turned off the van, I couldn't get it start I looked at the same fuse and they were blown again. The van now sits in the driveway till I figure this out. Because it is too dangerous to drive. *tr”Owner report · Steering · Jul 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet astro equipped with gremax max 5000 tires (n/a), size 215/75r15 and the dot was jehkdvp2312. The contact stated that while traveling 40 mph, the front passenger side tire blew out. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The tire and vehicle failure mileage was 142,057.”Owner report · Tires · Apr 2014
“Recently I took my van to a dealer because the knob on the a/c fan melted off it cost 600 dlrs in repairs the hvac knob had melted off also the connector and resistor had burned out . The entire wiring harness was melted together. No fuse blew to prevent his form happening we are not sure what caused this to occur. My concern is that this could have caused a fire in the dash while I was driving resulting in severe injury accident or even death. Please contact me if there was a recall I missed or if there is any information as to why this happened. Thank you for your time concern chevy owner. *tr”Owner report · Visibility · Jul 2012
When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 4 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
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.
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).
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.
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.
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MAY DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION IN THE STOP LAMP OR HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT THAT RESULTS IN THE STOP LAMPS AND HAZARD LAMPS BEING INOPERATIVE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD WARNING FLASHER SWITCH AND APPLY SPECIAL GREASE TO THE CONTACTS AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION OF THE MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE REPAIR WOULD BE USED IN VEHICLES IN WHICH THE HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON IS STILL MOVABLE. IF A VEHICLE HAS A HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON THAT IS NOT MOVABLE (FROZEN), THE ENTIRE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 13, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
How other years compare
Check your exact Astro by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Chevrolet Astro reliable?
NHTSA has 70 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2002 Chevrolet Astro. The most complained-about area is service brakes, hydraulic (22% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Astro problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 60,000 miles or less.
Does the 2002 Chevrolet Astro have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, gasoline. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.