Five problems related to automatic transmission have been reported for the 1999 Chevrolet Astro. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
1999 Chevrolet Astro with 65000 miles. Towed a light trailer (1500 lbs) from colorado to kansas, about 500 miles. A couple of weeks later the transmission occasionally started shifting very hard from 1st to 2nd; once it started, it would continue to do so until the ignition was turned off. Odbii code p1870 set. Apparently the computer monitors slippage in the trans and if it thinks it's slipping too much it applies full line pressure to the shift. Hard on entire driveline and devastating to the trans - we're having to have it completely rebuilt although if we would have replaced the valve body when it first started it might have been okay.
Purchased used Astro van and noted on 2nd day when putting in reverse then to drive a loud clunk and hard jump forward unless you delay taking foot off brake or applying gas until you can feel the gear engage (approx. 5-10 seconds). This is dangerous when backing up, as I have almost been hit twice now. It needs to be fixed correctly or replaced.
Will be contacting manufacter and dealer on 8/27/2001. No safety defect.
The transmission has a dangerous problem - when shifting from park to reverse it works normal - when shifting from neutral or drive to reverse it takes 3-5 seconds to engage - this is not evident in the other two cvevrolets that I own (one has the same transmission) - this is dangerous since if you are parking on a grade you release the brakes to back up it starts to roll foreward before the reverse engages - it is also kind of dangerous while making a u-turn since while waiting for reverse to engage another car can come flying toward you - then if you "give it gas" too soon it spins and grabs suddenly making the car "jerk".
Whenever driving vehicle and putting transmission into reverse, vehicle will shutdown without prior warning.