NHTSA Complaint #750252 — 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO

THE CHEVROLET ASTRO SHIFTS GEARS VIOLENTLY. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED AS I LEFT AN INTERSECTION AND THE VAN VIOLENTLY SHIFTED GEARS THROWING MY FAMILY'S AND MY HEAD BACK WITH EXTREME FORCE. THINKING THAT I HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED AND KNOWING THAT OTHER CARS WERE IN FRONT AND ALONGSIDE MY VEHICLE, I QUICKLY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, ALMOST CAUSING A TRUE REAR-END COLLISION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN WARRANTY SO I TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION BY MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY WORKED AS A SERVICE TECH FOR A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. HE CONTACTED ONE OF HIS FRIENDS WHO STILL WORKED AT THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHERE HE WAS FORMERLY EMPLOYED. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HIS FRIEND STATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS KNOWN BY CHEVROLET BUT THERE WASN'T ANY RECALL AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO ABOUT IT. I PAID A HEFTY PRICE FOR WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A GREAT VAN ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT CHEVROLET HAS MANUFACTURED A VEHICLE KNOWING THAT IT HAS SEVERE DEFECTS IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT COULD CAUSE COSTLY REPAIRS, INJURY, OR POSSIBLE CRASH-RELATED DEATHS AND REFUSE TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE MUST CONTINUE TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE BEFORECORRECTIVE ACTION IS TAKEN?*AK