1985 Chevrolet Astro: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1985 Chevrolet Astro. The newest campaign is 93V187000. NHTSA received the report on 16 Nov 1993. The NHTSA record gives the component Seats. NHTSA has 5 complaints on file for this model year. 5 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 93V187000, in the NHTSA record

Dealers will remove the foam and/or vinyl from between the recliner mechanism and the seat frame "soft" joint and replace the recliner bolts.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 29 Mar 2018. Recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

3 campaigns, newest first. 635,818 units in total.

93V187000Received 16 Nov 1993. 604,207 units.
Seats
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The recliner mechanism and the seat frame may have foam and/or vinyl between them, creating a "soft" joint. This "soft" joint results in lower than specified bolt torque which leads to joint looseness, causing bolt fatigue and eventual bolt failure.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If bolt failure occurs to the driver's seat, it wouldallow the seat back to suddenly recline, and could result in loss of vehiclecontrol and a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will remove the foam and/or vinyl from between the recliner mechanism and the seat frame "soft" joint and replace the recliner bolts.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Jan 1994.
85V160000Received 3 Dec 1985. 26,741 units.
Steering / Gear Box (Other Than Rack and Pinion)
Defect, in the NHTSA record
A part of the steering gear housing which attaches to the frame may break. Consequence of defect: steering difficulties will occur and the steering gear to the frame may fracture resulting in loss of steering control. This could result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace broken or cracked steering gear or install a brace if steering gear is not broken or cracked.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 25 Apr 1986.
85V124000Received 7 Oct 1985. 4,870 units.
Parking Brake / Driveline / Air / Chamber
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The rear brake release time may be greater than the time specified in FMVSS 121, "air brake system". In addition, some tractors may have warped parking brake apply springs which also effect the rear brake release time. Consequence of defect: tractors fail to meet the stopping distance specified in FMVSS 121 which is required to stop the truck safely.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Install a quick release valve in the trailer service air line and increase the diameter of the rear service brake line. Also inspect rear spring brake chamber and release if necessary.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

5 complaints, 6 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. This model year has fewer than 50 component mentions, so the table shows the number of mentions only.

1985 Chevrolet Astro: component mentions in complaints
Component		Mentions
Steering		2
Vehicle Speed Control		1
Power Train		1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic		1
Seat Belts		1

Complaints that report a crash: 0
Complaints that report a fire: 0
Injuries in the complaints: 0
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 21 Aug 2002

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 1985 Chevrolet Astro, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 1996, with 2 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1985 Chevrolet Astro
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
EA92022	Engineering analysis	SEAT BACK BOLT BREAKAGE	Seats	24 Jun 1992	19 Nov 1993	93V187000
PE90039	Preliminary evaluation	SPARE TIRE CARRIER FAILURE	Suspension	5 Feb 1990	29 Jun 1990
PE89106	Preliminary evaluation	REAR AXLE SEAL FAILURE	Suspension	23 Mar 1989	19 Sep 1989
EA87009	Engineering analysis	REAR BRAKES	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	21 Jan 1987	16 Aug 1988
PE86053	Preliminary evaluation	INADEQUATE REAR BRAKES	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	1 May 1986	20 Jan 1987

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1985 Chevrolet AstroThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1985 Chevrolet Astro: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/chevrolet/astro/1985/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 29 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 29 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 29 Mar 2018
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1985 Chevrolet Astro?: 635,818 units in 3 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Chevrolet Astro have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 17 recall campaigns for the Chevrolet Astro, model years 1983 to 2005. 3 of them name the 1985 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1985 Chevrolet Astro name most often?: Steering: 2 of 6 component mentions.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1985 Chevrolet Astro open?: No. Each of the 5 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.