Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 1987 Chevrolet Astro, and it carries 5 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 11 | 34% |
| Seat belts | 7 | 22% |
| Structure | 4 | 13% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 13% |
| Seats | 3 | 9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 6% |
| Equipment | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
BRACKETS SURROUNDING THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILING IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE SERPENTINE BELT TO POP WHILE DRIVING LEAVING A POWER FAILURE AND ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. I NEARLY CRASHED MY VEHIC
NHTSA complaint: Steering
I HAVE A GM ASTRO VAN. THE STEERING COLUMN BOLTS CAME LOOSE THEREFORE ALLOWING THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN TO MOVE ABOUT 2 TO 3 INCHES IN ANY DIRECTION. WHILE THE VAN IS PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME
NHTSA complaint: Steering
CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING COLUMN CAME LOOSE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 25 MPH AND CAUSES LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. NLM
NHTSA complaint: Steering
POWER STEERING PUMP SUPPORT BRACKET FAILED, CAUSING STEERING TO BE REALLY HARD TO TURN.THIS WAS FOURTH TIME IT HAS FAILED SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE.*AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEEL BRACKET FAILURE SHOULD BE D
NHTSA complaint: Steering
IT IS VARY SCARY WHEN YOU HAVE NO STEERING ITS THE 3RD BRACKET PUT ON. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Steering
THIS VAN WAS PURCHASED USED IN 1990 AND THE PAINT HAS STEADILY "PEELED" FOR ABOUT THE PAST 4 YEARS. IS THERE A WAY TO HAVE CHEVROLET REPAINT THE VAN? THANKS. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure
SPARE TIRE IS SUSPENDED UNDER VEHICLE WITH A STEEL CABLE. THIS CABLE BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND TIRE FELL OFF OF VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT ONLY 10 MPH. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERI
NHTSA complaint: Equipment
OWNER HAD TO APPLY BRAKES SUDDENLY AND THE SHOULDER AND LAPS BELTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT LOCK UP TO HOLD THE DRIVER IN THE SEAT. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1987 Chevrolet Astro. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 CE
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 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.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: 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.
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 D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: 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.
THE SEAT BELTS FOR THE FRONT AND MID-SHIP SEATS DID NOT REST ON PELVIS AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 209.
Risk: SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN SEAT OCCUPANT, AND COULDINJURE THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Fix: RELOCATE SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS TO ADJUST BELTS FOR SEAT LOCATIONS.
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 81 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 85 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 62 | average |
| Performance | 55 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 11 of them (34%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1987 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.