2003 Chevrolet Astro recalls and problems

The 2003 Chevrolet Astro has 1 recall and 62 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is service brakes.

How the 2003 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Average complaint count among 6 Astro model years — 4th most.

1recalls
62complaints
3crashes
3fires
4injuries
67,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
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1 recall

Suspension

Sep 12, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V328000 · 41,477 vehicles

Problem: Certain minivans have an interference condition between the lower ball joint rubber boot and the steering knuckle (both left/right sides), which could result in cutting of the boot that is intended to seal the ball joint. If the lower ball joint boot were cut, contamination from the road (salt, dirt, water, etc.) could enter the ball socket area of the ball joint causing the joint to wear out too quickly.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN MINIVANS HAVE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION BETWEEN THE LOWER BALL JOINT RUBBER BOOT AND THE STEERING KNUCKLE (BOTH LEFT/RIGHT SIDES), WHICH COULD RESULT IN CUTTING OF THE BOOT THAT IS INTENDED TO SEAL THE BALL JOINT. IF THE LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT WERE CUT, CONTAMINATION FROM THE ROAD (SALT, DIRT, WATER, ETC.) COULD ENTER THE BALL SOCKET AREA OF THE BALL JOINT CAUSING THE JOINT TO WEAR OUT TOO QUICKLY.

Risk: The steering knuckle could separate from the lower control arm, dropping down the affected corner of the vehicle. The coil spring would push the control arm down into contact with the ground, creating a drag that would slow the vehicle. The driver could have difficulty in maintaining the directional control of the vehicle. In addition, the affected wheel assembly could separate from the vehicle if forces resulting from the wheel's dragging action were sufficient to fracture the tie rod end and upper ball joint connections. Separation of the wheel assembly would also sever that wheel's hydraulic brake hose, resulting in lost braking performance from the front brake system. Vehicle stopping distance would increase, which could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THE STEERING KNUCKLE COULD SEPARATE FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, DROPPING DOWN THE AFFECTED CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE COIL SPRING WOULD PUSH THE CONTROL ARM DOWN INTO CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, CREATING A DRAG THAT WOULD SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE AFFECTED WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE IF FORCES RESULTING FROM THE WHEEL'S DRAGGING ACTION WERE SUFFICIENT TO FRACTURE THE TIE ROD END AND UPPER BALL JOINT CONNECTIONS. SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOULD ALSO SEVER THAT WHEEL'S HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE, RESULTING IN LOST BRAKING PERFORMANCE FROM THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE WOULD INCREASE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the steering knuckles. Owner notification is expected to begin on April 8, 2004. Owners should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.

Gm recall no. 03044.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Service Brakes25
Electrical System10
Power Train8
Suspension8
Steering6
Engine3
Fuel System3
Latches/locks/linkages3
Exterior Lighting2
Vehicle Speed Control2

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2003: 6 complaints20032004: 8 complaints2005: 11 complaints2005112006: 10 complaints2007: 7 complaints20072008: 3 complaints2009: 3 complaints20092010: 3 complaints2011: 3 complaints20112012: 1 complaints2013: 2 complaints20132014: 2 complaints2015: 1 complaints20152017: 1 complaints2021: 1 complaints20211

2003 vs. other Chevrolet Astro years

2000: 175 complaints20001752001: 91 complaints20012002: 70 complaints20022003: 62 complaints20032004: 14 complaints20042005: 9 complaints20059

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Chevrolet Astro have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign covering the 2003 Chevrolet Astro, the latest from Sep 12, 2003 (suspension). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Astro?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention service brakes (25), electrical system (10), power train (8). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.