NHTSA Complaint #712607 — 1999 CHEVROLET ASTRO

DEFECTS LISTED AS AWD AND TRANSFER CASE MAY BE SAME PROBLEM AND WERE EXPERIENCED FROM THE FIRST 300 MILES AND ON (UPON SLOWING DOWN OR ACCELERATING A "CLUNK" WAS HEARD AND FELT FROM THE FRONT END ALSO WHEN CORNERING THE VEHICLE "LURCHED/WHEELS GRABBED" LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN 4WD. IN JULY IMMEDIATLY AFTER IT HAD BEEN INTO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICED AGAIN THE BRAKES CAUSED THE VAN TO PULL LEFT AT 35-50 MPH AND WHEN SLOWED FOR CORNERS WOULD SOUND LIKE "LOOSE PARTS RUBBING TOGETHER". IN AUGUST OF 1999 (JUST BEFORE THE REPLACEMENT TRANSFER CASE CAME IN) VAN HIT LOOSE GRAVEL TRAVELING AT 45-50 MPH, PULLED ONTO SOFT SHOULDER, FORWARD ABOUT 12 FT, CAUGHT TRACTION AND CAME UP ON ROAD, FRONT LEFT WHEEL WAS OFF GROUND WHEN IT CAME DOWN THE TIRE POPPED OFF THE BEAD, WHEEL GROUND INTO PAVEMENT, FLIPPING VAN ON FRONT, LEFT SIDE/CORNER, THEN ONTO HOOD AND WINDSHIELD, THEN ONTO FULL RIGHT SIDE THEN UPRIGHT CROSSWAYS IN LANE IT HAD BEEN TRAVELING IN. THE VAN WAS TOTALED.