Window & Wiper complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
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
Passenger's sliding door glass window blew out in while driving 70 MPH. State trooper, when called, gave a description of the problem before consumer could give any information. State trooper stated that this happened frequently.
Chevy 2000 Astro, cuts out while driving. We even pushed the van into a Chevy dealer and they could not tell us what it was after hooking it up to diagnostics. We figured it was the coil wire. Recently the van has been bogging down when it is under load. Also, when it rains it runs rough. We took it to a shop and they replaced our fuel filter. It ran fine but still cuts out sometimes running up hill. So we changed the spark plugs. If you let the van sit over the weekend with out driving it, the van was really hard to start. Until finally it just wouldn't start at all. In addition the door locks sometimes work and sometimes don't . The driver side window is very sluggish going up you actually have to help it by pulling up on it. We keep blowing fuses when we use our cigarette lighter to charge our cell phone. It really needs help.
Ant-lock brake system had to replaced. Also, since purchase in May 2000, following components had to be replaced or repaired: lights on dashboard coming off and on/passenger side seatbelt tightened and won't release/driver's seat had loose bolts and moved/driver and passenger doors rattled/ mouldings inside fell off/passenger's window stuck/tv came on and off on its own while driving, replaced twice/interior lights stopped working when in park/ engine idled/ lights inside flickered/ fuel sender inoperative/ wires in ceiling rattling,air conditioner in rear not working/ replaced heater that did not work in rear, and passenger's airbag cover not flushing, and consumer worried it May deploy at any time.
While driving the vehicle would surge and jerk then clunk, the dealer has attempted to repair the vehicle several time but the problem resurfaces, other failures include PCM failed causing the check engine light to illuminate, the gas gauge jumps from full tank to empty causing the vehicle to run out of gas, rear door handle broke twice, drivers side window motor was replaced and the air bag light would flicker on and off.
Vehicle bought at the end of 2000, used. Every summer since I have had to have wiring replaced in the engine, front door locks stopped working after 5 months, front brakes have been replaced three times, I have had to have it towed 6 times do to the wiring and I have had to replace the alternator and battery due to all of the electrical and alternator problems. I also had to replace the starter. Hydraulics on rear door also broken. Display lights come on and off when they want to and I have continually replaced fuses. I thought at first that these were just flukes, but they are continually getting worse. I did talk to the previous owners son about six months after purchasing the van and he informed me that his mother returned it because things kept falling apart on it. I wish I had been informed before hand how much trouble it was going to be. …
Tl contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Astro. The contact stated that there was a short circuit in the electric switch for the outside side view mirror. The failure caused heat damage that ignited a fire in the driver side door. The entire van was engulfed in flames. The fire occurred in the driveway of the contact's residence. A police report was filed and no one was injured. The fire department extinguished the fire. The current and failure mileages were 130,000.
Dt: the consumer stated that her windshield wipers fail intermittently. They came on when the consumer didn't need them, but when she needed them they wouldn't come on. This has happened in two astros that the consumer has owned. The first one was a 1995 Chevy Astro van and the second one is a 1998 Astro van. The windshield wipers and motor to the wipers had to be replaced. The owner was told by a service technician that GM replaced the motor on the wipers on the models before the owners van. There is no recall on the 1998 vans. This has been a problem since 2003. The owner has not had this looked at by a technician. The owner stated that she usually she pulls over to the side of the road, pops the hood and taps on the windshield wiper motor to get the wiper to work, and most times this works. The consumer has not talked to the dealer but has talked with GM. …
Related recalls (2)
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
On certain minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, the windshield wiper motor May fail due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. The windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began on June 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Visibility › Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior
Certain sport utility vehicles, Mini vans, and pickup trucks May develop a short circuit in the electric outside rearview mirror switch.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused jumper harness to the electric outside rearview mirror switch. Owner notification began on April 24, 2003.
NHTSA investigations
Windshield wiper
Windshield wiper failure
As a result of this, and the precedinginvestigation, rq99-003, GM has expanded the population of safety recall 98v-150 (replacement of the windshield wiper control module) to include an additional 1.77 million vehicles.included are various 1994-1997 my m/l vans, s/t trucks and suvs, & c/k trucks and suvs.see attached technical report for details.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Astro years have window & wiper problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (101), 1997 (59), 1996 (55), 1998 (45) and 1999 (8) model years. Window & Wiper complaints make up 23% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Astro window & wiper problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 03V-159 (windshield wiper/washer, Apr 28, 2003); 03V-093 (exterior, Mar 7, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Astro window & wiper problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles; 20% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the windshield wiper/washer (108 mentions), followed by the windshield wiper/washer › motor (100).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.