Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Chevrolet Astro, and it carries 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 49 | 42% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 9% |
| Structure | 8 | 7% |
| Seat belts | 7 | 6% |
| Power train | 6 | 5% |
| Tires | 4 | 3% |
| Equipment | 4 | 3% |
| Steering | 4 | 3% |
| Visibility | 3 | 3% |
| Seats | 3 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
BEGINNING ABOUT A YEAR AGO, HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT HARD PEDAL WHEN BRAKING. OCCURS RARELY, WITHOUT WARNING. NO ABS LIGHT SEEN BUT SUSPECT POSSIBLE ABS MALFUNCTION. PEDAL DOES NOT PULSATE BUT A FAINT GROWLING, GRINDING,
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
THE DOOR HANDLES ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE BROKE OFF. THE SLIDING SIDE DOOR LOCK ENGAGED BEFORE THE DOOR FULLY CLOSED BREAKING THE LOCKING MECHANISM. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL ASTRO AS WELL AS SAFARI VANS WITH MISS
NHTSA complaint: Structure
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED TO RETRACT ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTACT THE DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED TO CLICK IN AND HOLD. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BU
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING PINS IN STEERING COLUMN SHEARED, CAUSING STEERING TO DROP. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL A TOW TRUCK. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOME, AND REPAIRED THE PROBL
NHTSA complaint: Steering
REPEATED TOTAL FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM RESULTING IN THREE SEPARATE REAR END ACCIDENTS OVER 13 YEAR PERIOD. ORIGINAL OWNER. WHEN BRAKING FOR SUDDEN EMAERGENCY STOP,AFTER INITIAL BRAKING BEGINS, BRAKE PETAL GOES DOWN TO FL
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
THE BACK DOUBLE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN ANYMORE. I CAN NOT GET INTO THE VAN TO PLACE MY SONS WHEEL CHAIR INTO IT. THE SPACE IN THE REAR WAS THE REASON WHY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE SIDE DOOR WILL NO LONGER LOCK, AND THE IN
NHTSA complaint: Structure
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION TRANSFER CASE HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM FRAME OF VEHICLE . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 1991 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 | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 62 | average |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 49 of them (42%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 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 70/100. 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.