NHTSA Complaint #702821 — 1995 CHEVROLET ASTRO

HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INTERMITTENT FAILURES OF THE WIPER SYSTEM. REPORTED THE FIRST INCIDENT TO THE DEALER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY FOUND NO FAULTS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE WIPERS HAVE BEEN OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY ALL THRU THE VEHICLES LIFE. IT DID NOT HAPPEN VERY OFTEN AT FIRST, BUT AS THE VEHICLE HAS GOTTEN OLDER IT OCCURED MORE FREQUENTLY. IT FINALLY QUIT WORKING ALTOGETHER TODAY 1FEB99. BEING AN ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN, I MADE A DIAGNOSIS OF THE VEHICLE MYSELF. I DISCOVERED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD INSIDE THE WIPER MOTOR WAS AT FAULT. I COULD LIGHTLY TAP THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND THE WIPERS WOULD RESUME OPERATION. WHEN I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER TO CHECK ON THE PART I LEARNED THAT THIS ITEM HAS A PARTICULARLY HIGH FAILURE RATE. THEY ACTUALLY HAD 63 OF THEM IN STOCK. THE PARTS PERSON STATED THAT THEY SELL LIKE HOTCAKES. I REALLY FEEL THAT IT IS TO LATE FOR MY VAN AS I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PURCHASE THE CIRCUIT BOARD AT A JOBBER COST OF 28 DOLLARS. NORMALLY I WOULD NOT BE OVER CONCERNED ABOUT PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE, EXCEPT IT ALMOST CAUSED MY WIFE AND SON TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT GM HAS WITH THEIR TRUCK WIPER MOTORS EXTENDS INTO OTHER GM BODY STYLES AS WELL.