Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 97 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Chevrolet Astro, and it carries 3 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 | 23 | 24% |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | 15% |
| Structure | 6 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 5% |
| Suspension | 5 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 4 | 4% |
| Power train | 4 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 3% |
| Tires | 3 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
VAN WILL NOT PASS SMOG. THE VERY LAST TIME I DROVE IT, I WAS DRIVING IT ON A CITY STREET AND IT JUST DIED OUT. I'VE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE IT FIXED AND ITSTILL ISN'T FIXED TO PASS SMOG. A SHOP SAID MY FUEL INJ
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
I AM A LICENSED CAR DEALER. I AM VERY CONCERNED AT WHAT I AM SEEING WITH MY CUSTOMERS, WITH CARS I SEE AT THE AUCTIONS, AND WITH BLOG SITES ON THE INTERNET CONCERNING CHEVY'S EBCM COMPUTER MODULE. AT THE AUCTIONS I AM SE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SAFETY BELTS WOULD UNLATCH INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. T
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, I HAD THE CODE PULLED AT THE AUTO PARTS STORE, IT IS THE ELECTRONIC ABS CONTROL MODULE AND UPON GOOGLING "CHEVROLET BRAKE ABS LIGHTS" IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THEIR APPEA
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
GOING TO STOP AT A SLOW SPEED ENGAGES ABS , CAUSING VAN TO NOT STOP UNLESS BREAKERS WERE SLAMMED ON HARD AND HOPS OF STOPPING! *TR
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT LOWSPEED I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL BRAKING POWER WAS LOST. MY VEHICLE STRUCK THE ONE INFRONT OF ME. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS LOW SPEED LOSS OF BRAKING.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
AFTER APPROX. ONE WEEK OF OPER. OF MY 2001 CHEVY ASTRO A FIRE OCCURRED THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTENTS IF I HAD NOT BEEN CLOSE BY. AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE FOR APPROX. 20 MILES AND P
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE AND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECT
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2001 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).
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.
Risk: THE LOSS OF STOP LAMPS AND REAR HAZARD LAMPS COULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND/OR IS STOPPED AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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
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.
| 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 97 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 23 of them (24%). There are 3 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 2001 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.