Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | ||||||
| EA99011 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 05/12/1999 | 02/27/2001 | ERRATIC POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIV | ||
| Alleged that a fault within the steering wheel speed sensor sends false signals to the variable effort steering (ves) control electronics, causing unanticipated steering wheel movement at moderate to high speeds. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 08/09/2009 | 178784 | 1 | |
| Erratic power steering assist while driving resulting in erratic control at highway speeds. started in 2006 and ended in 2009. vehicle was taken to dealer numerous times to no avail. *tr | |||
| 06/22/1998 | 8464 | 15 | 08/26/1997 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet suburban. when the vehicle is fully loaded, the contact notices that the vehicle becomes difficult to steer. he has taken the vehicle to a mechanic 15 times and they have made numerous repairs, including various components of the steering unit, steering sensors, actuator, and also additions to the springs of the suspension system. all of the repairs have not adequately repaired the failures. the contact called the manufacturer and was referred back to the dealer. the failure mileage was 8,464 and current mileage was 86,000. updated 10/08/08. *lj updated 10/10/08. *jb | |||
| 05/16/2005 | 300 | ||
| I bought a used suburban and since i have owned it i have been having trouble with the steering. while driving down the road the steering wheel jerks suddenly to the right. i really have to keep a tight grip on the steering wheel while driving, especially when on a road with alot of twists and turns because it jerkes hard and is very dangerous. i worry that with the steering wheel jerking it is going to cause a wreck because it sometimes has sent me towards the lane next to me or off the road completly, this could be a serious problem. this is not something that just happens every once in awhile, it happens everytime i am driving. i have seen other complaints listed on this site for the exact same thing. i just wonder if there is a recall or what will remedy this problem. | |||
| 12/02/2002 | 1 | 07/01/1997 | |
| Abs failure, electrical failure and front and rear brake failure. this correspondence is not available via .i believe the letter may have been misplaced while in transition from dimms to artemis via tran tech employees. the power windows and air condition failed. there was a violent gear change between 2 wheel drive and 4 wheel drive. the battery leaked and also the cables were corroded, there was a loud noise from the steering column, the consumer experienced complete steering failure while making a left turn. *jb | |||
| 04/15/2001 | 60000 | ||
| Heater and ac controls went out twice. factory replaced them @ $125, then 9 months later it went out again. factory said it was under 12 months, but i had driven over 12,000 miles so it was not under warranty any longer. windsheild wiper module goes bad. wipers will suddenly stop or wont turn on. on 3rd module now. brakes, constant grinding and weak stops. have replaced rotors 4 times. same results. steering loses tension when steering to the left. problem is still ongoing but has made me almost lose control several times. | |||
| 01/22/2004 | 1 | ||
| When driving steering wheel feels loose. it moves very easily up or down without using the adjustment lever. *ak | |||
| 75000 | 1 | ||
| While making a left turn vehicle lost power steering. the vehicle began to wander and jerked to the left. there was recall 03v527000 for the steering gear bearing, but this vehicle was not included due to vin. *ak this occurred due to the sensor controlling power assist (evo sensor/exhaust valve opening). *sc | |||
| 01/15/2002 | 115000 | 1 | 08/25/1999 |
| Steering wheel unexpectedly turns during turning maneuvers at slow to moderate speeds. feels like a quick tug on steering wheel and then returns back to original position. *tt | |||
| 04/19/2003 | 1 | ||
| The vehicle experienced erratic steering ability, which made the vehicle difficult to control. *jb | |||
| 09/15/1998 | 30000 | 12/01/1997 | |
| At speeds of over 10 miles per hour, the steering wheel jerks left and right intermittently. i then have to correct and/or oversteer to keep the truck on the road. this first began in 1999, at approx 30,000 miles on the vehicle. *nlm | |||
| 03/02/2003 | 66000 | 1 | 08/01/1997 |
| While driving at 60/70 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost power steering, which caused an accident. *jb | |||
| 02/01/2002 | |||
| My steering jumps to the left unexpectily as if someone grabs the wheel and turns it fast . nlm | |||
| 11/01/2000 | |||
| During normal operation of vehicle the handling is like driving on ice. dealership has examined vehicle and replaced steering sensor twice. please provide any additional information / attachments.*ak | |||
| Steering wheel over compensates when making a turn. dealer has replaced sensor several times. however, problem still exists. please provide additional information.*ak | |||
| 06/27/1999 | 2 | 01/03/1998 | |
| While driving 45-50 mph steering went out/vehicle veered to right, and no accident. steering sensor was replaced. on 27 june 2001 consumer was driving 50 mph when steering went out, vehicle veered to right again. no accident, dealer replaced steering sensor. dealer stated he has replaced lots of sensors.*ak *slc | |||
| While traveling at any speed vehicle traveled out of control due to steering sensor. please provide further information.*ak | |||
| 01/10/2001 | 2 | 07/01/1997 | |
| 1. battery leaked acid while idle and ultimately failed. leak corroded positive power cable and undercoating. 2. erratic steering while driving - steering position sensor replaced first time. 3. starter failed 3 times - complete lock-up 4. u-joint failed twice - sealed/non-greasable poor access to add grease fitting | |||
| 12/01/2000 | 6 | 04/16/1997 | |
| Vehicle would oversteer while making a turn . dealer stated evo sensor needed to be replaced.*ak | |||
| While traveling and when going around a bend vehicle lost steering. dealer stated evo sensor needed to be replaced. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| Intrmittently when turning wheel slightly vehicle oversteers. dealer is inspecting vehicle.*ak | |||
| 09/27/1999 | |||
| Ongoing / erratic problem with power steering system causing momentary loss of steering control. dealer notified, and replaced steering sensor. year later problem reoccurred. please feel free to provide any further details. *ak | |||
| While traveling and without any indication vehicle would travel from left or right without steering wheel being turned, sensor was gone. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 08/01/2000 | 1 | 01/01/1997 | |
| Steering wheel position sensor was faulty, causing steering to float feeling like a momentary loss of steering for a second. consumer wrote chevrolet a letter.*ak | |||
| 04/01/2000 | 1 | 03/01/2000 | |
| Please note there seems to be a problem in steering that allows steering pressures to change while turning wheel, it is an odd feel that is noticed at low speeds | |||
| 03/01/1999 | 1 | 12/01/1996 | |
| The failure manifested itself by means of oversteering to the point of losing traction and skidding on rh or lh front wheel depending in which direction i was turning. it usually happened at approx. 30 mph. it is like the vehicle is taking over the steering. this occurred many times until i had the steering wheel position sensor replaced. according to chevrolet's customer service they are looking in to the problem, but at this time do not feel that it is a safety problem. i feel othervise since i almost lost control of the vehicle the first couple of times it happened. *ak | |||
| 03/01/1999 | 1 | 12/01/1996 | |
| The failure manifested itself by means of oversteering to the point of loosing traction and skidding on rh or lh front wheel depending in which direction i was turning. it usually happened at approx. 30 mph. it is like the vehicle is taking over the steering. this occured many times until i had the steering wheel position sensor replaced. according to chevrolet's customer service they are looking in to the problem, but at this time do not feel that it is a safety problem. i feel othervise since i almost lost control of the vehicle the first couple of times it happened. | |||
| 12/03/1999 | 3 | ||
| Sterering wheel rotation sensor failed causing the steering wheel to jerk while driving. this family has three suburbans all the same year/model and they where all repaired for the same problem. nlm | |||
| 12/01/1997 | 1 | 08/25/1997 | |
| Steering sensor replaced several times due to steering jerking and directional problems, not able to rectify, finally consumer had the steering sensor taken out to remedy problem (design). *mjs | |||
| 04/15/1999 | 04/01/1999 | ||
| Subject vehicle has pulled, severely, to the right since purchase. the saleman said an alignment would fix the problem. the vehicle has been realigned three or four times, the steering wheel sensor has been replaced and the castor adjusted. the service department doesn't seem to know what else to do. the vehicle steering continues to pull dangerously to the right, especially when driving on a road (interstate or local) which has been sloped in that direction. the steering wheel constantly pulls in a clockwise direction. when driving in town or on the interstate, if the steering wheel were to slip out of your hand or you were to let go of the steering wheel for a second, the vehicle would run off the road. the steering also feels unstable and vague when driving on the interstate. *ak | |||
| 02/01/1999 | 20 | ||
| When driving at any speed the steering wheel is going to the left or to the right or wherever the steering takes the vehicle. dealer replaced steering wheel sensor. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1999 | |||
| While driving and turning right the steering releases pressure and the steering wheel moves to the right about three inches, and then the pressure gets restored. please provide any futher information. *ak | |||
| 07/01/1999 | 2 | 02/01/1999 | |
| The steering system was replaced due to failure. problem still exist. *yc | |||
| 4 | 02/01/1997 | ||
| Vehicle has a steering defect causing vehicle to oversteer. yh | |||
| 09/16/1998 | 2 | 08/01/1997 | |
| Steering sensor has failed again this time at 38,000 miles. presently not safe to drive. *ak | |||
| 11/20/1988 | |||
| Steering pulling from side to side. *ak | |||
| While driving steering resistance holds, resulting in dangerous oversteer. dealer has been contacted. *ak | |||
| 2 | |||
| Steering front sensor has become defective and replaced twice, causing loss of control. *ak | |||
| 11/15/1998 | 8 | ||
| As consumer turns the steering wheel she sometimes reaches a spot like a( black hole) where she loses control momentarily. there is an open investigation at this time. *ak | |||
| 20 | 06/01/1997 | ||
| Vehicle steering suddenly and abruptly fails while in motion. on one occurrance while traveling 70 mph steering failed and vehicle moved to the left half a lane width; driver had no control. | |||
| 1 | 10/16/1997 | ||
| Variable effort steering kicks in/out, causing a significant reduction in the back pressure of the steering wheel. the effect involves momentary oversteer as if someone has grapped the steering wheel and moved it 4-5 inches toward insid eof curve. if driven on icy roads, could lead to loss of control. | |||
| 06/15/1997 | 3 | 06/09/1997 | |
| While driving at approx 55 mph steering lost power for about 3 seconds to 10 seconds. during this time consumer cannot control vehicle, it begins to wander from side to side, in order to gain control, needs to apply brakes. eventually power comes back. took vehicle to dealership 2nd time, dealer changed steering sensor. 1st time, dealer claimed could not find problem. *ak | |||
| New electronic variable orifice steering system does not function well due to a design flaw. there is a lack of road feel at most speeds, and more importantly, lack of normal steering return to center after steering. *ak | |||
| 04/26/1997 | |||
| Vehicle wanders when speed is in excess of 45 mph. *ak | |||
| New electronic variable orifice steering system has a design problem, it demonstrates lack of road feel at most speeds, and more importantly a lack of normal steering return to center after a turn. *ak | |||
| 02/03/1997 | |||
| When driving vehicle at any speed , steering failed, vehicle will not stay stable on the the hwy, continues to pull to left or right, in for repair, no problem found, variable steering system. *ak | |||
| STEERING - ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 11/12/2003 | 90000 | 2 | |
| Brakes had to be replaced every three to four months. also, power steering was defective, and made the steering wheel difficult to turn. consumer was aware if the brakes malfunctioning in conjugation with the steering problem.*ak | |||
| STEERING - GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | |||
| 01/01/2001 | 5 | 12/01/1996 | |
| Power steering is unreliable, surge/increase in steering power is very unpredictable. this vehicle has been to dealer 5 times for this problem. first time the dealer said alignment was problem, not so. second time the dealer replaced the power steering gear box, this fixed problem for 4 months. third time the dealer replaced power steering gear box, power steering pump and flushed lines, this fixed problem for 5 months. fourth time the dealer replaced the evo sensor on steering column, this fix lasted 15 months. fifth time the dealer stated that the evo sensor must be bad and will not replace under extended warrenty. after much investigation, i find that this is an ongoing problem specific to the 1997 suburban with the electronic control on the power steering system. there have been in excess of 75 reports of this or similar steering related problems. nhtsa should investigate this prior to there being any fatalities.*ak | |||
| 07/05/1999 | 10 | 07/01/1997 | |
| Vehicle steering would be very unstable and give way in turns at high and low speeds. steering wheel was very loose and would be tight in a left turn and normal in right turns. took it to the dealer and they said it was a bad steering gear box. i looked under the plastic shroud for the steering input shaft and the locking nut was loose. this steering problem seems to be a problem for other suburban owners as well, i don't htink this gear box is the only cause and don't think i should have to pay 1000.00 dollars for a repair that is a manufacturer defect. *ak | |||
| 08/30/1999 | 100 | 08/01/1999 | |
| The failure is the variable ratio steering which is meant to be high effortlow ratio once the vehicle reaches a certain speed (10-20 mph ? )(or gear?) what occurs is the steering will intermittently go back and forth between the high effort -'cruising' ratio and the low speed -low effort -quick ratio at a speed above when it should remain in the high effort mode. i also owned a 97 k1500 chevrolet pickup that also had a very similar problem. it however would stay one way or the other and not go between the 2 ratios which at least made it more predictable. it had a valve replaced under warrenty that fixed the problem at about 35,000. | |||
| 07/01/1997 | |||
| Vehicle would wander while driving at 50 mph or more and oversteering would occur whenever changing lanes or making turns. vehicle been in dealer shop on several occasions, and some repairs were made on gear box, but problem still occurs. passing on information concerning nhtsa investigation. *ak | |||
| STEERING - GEAR BOX - SHAFT PITMAN | |||
| 06/18/2003 | 1 | ||
| Steering while driving at 55 mph it is hard to control the vehicle. dealer diagnosed that shaft pitman broke.*ak | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | |||
| 10/01/2000 | 10 | ||
| We had car looked at, small leak in power steering fixed,didn't help..found no major wear on any steering parts.... interesting, sister has same car, with same problem, hers does this 'catch' feeling, turning left or right! i also feel the 'catch' if driving over an uneven spot on road going straight. *ak | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | |||
| 03/05/2004 | 2 | 01/01/2001 | |
| I own a1997 chevy suburban lt. we asked a local chevy dealer to fix the doors to close properly, which they claimed to do. i noticed that the door did not line up and they said they adjusted the strike plate. evidently that means they used a sledge hammer. my wife was driving down the road and one of the locked doors opened up as she was driving down the road. luckily my 4 year old son was in his carseat. it has happened twice. she could not reclose the door and so she tied it shut. i found that the door latch was still shut. i held the handle up and manually lifted the latch after which the door would close. another saftey issue; while driving down the road the steering wheel jerks suddenly to the right. i live in a mountainous and occasional snow area. i worry that with the steering wheel jerking, and sometimes it has sent me towards the lane next to me, this could be a serious problem. i have also had the power steering pump replaced once after the shaft completly seperated from the pump while i was driving down a steep mountain with 7 boyscouts from a camping trip in the snow. let me tell you if that had been my wife in the car she probably would have been down the side of the cliff. in 2 1/2 yrs. i have replaced the four wheel drive actuator, door handles, transmission, rear end seals and axle, front end, a/c everything,windshield wiper switch of some sort,brakes every 20,000 or so, they tell me the head gasket is bad,there is a whining sound i think is the fan clutch,and now it looks like its either the u joints or the limited slip clutches, hub or both. i do not feel that my wife and children are safe in this car. all lamb chevrolet of prescott valley az has said is they warranty their vehicles to 36,000 miles. they offered to sell me one of their nice new tahoes. which he claims they have improved. oh yea the sales price is 42,000. on a 36,000 vehicle because i am upside down on the car they sold me 2 years ago.*ak | |||
| 01/01/2001 | 5 | 12/01/1996 | |
| Power steering is unreliable, surge/increase in steering power is very unpredictable. this vehicle has been to dealer 5 times for this problem. first time the dealer said alignment was problem, not so. second time the dealer replaced the power steering gear box, this fixed problem for 4 months. third time the dealer replaced power steering gear box, power steering pump and flushed lines, this fixed problem for 5 months. fourth time the dealer replaced the evo sensor on steering column, this fix lasted 15 months. fifth time the dealer stated that the evo sensor must be bad and will not replace under extended warrenty. after much investigation, i find that this is an ongoing problem specific to the 1997 suburban with the electronic control on the power steering system. there have been in excess of 75 reports of this or similar steering related problems. nhtsa should investigate this prior to there being any fatalities.*ak | |||
| 05/04/1998 | 1 | 06/01/1997 | |
| Fuel pump and sending unit melted and shorted out causing car to stall on the road.torque convertor replaced/ trans reconditioned, power steering box leaking/ replaced. both catalytic converters replaced,ac compressor replaced. numerous coolant leaks fixed. windshield replaced due to defect. battery replaced due to acid leak. whats next? *ak | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 03/04/2006 | 102856 | 3 | 07/10/2005 |
| I have lost steering and braking on 1996 6.5 turbo diesel suburban three times now i drive normally. i am 42 and have a family of seven. when braking the power booster has zero pressure and it is very hard to stop and at the very same time all power steering is lost. i thought the power steering pump failed, so i replaced it, no change. still no power brakes or steering. i replaced hydroboost unit braking and steering returned. i have had to replace hydroboost three times in 8 months. i completely removed the solenoid magnet from the power steering pump to test if the power steering pump causes the hydro boost unit to fail, i did this between hydro unit 1 an 2, i reinstalled magnet between unit 2 and 3 the first time i lost braking and steering there was no warning, i went to stop and had hard, non power brakes and no power steering. the second, third time i knew to replace the hydroboost unit, when braking and turning the steering gets hard or the brakes get hard, then i replace the hydroboost unit, brake and steering return to normal i completely flushed the power steering fluid each time into a clean bucket, no big particles or hose material. this braking system is dangerous, imagine driving down a winding two lane steep downhill mountain road, with a heavy suburban and you loose steering and brakes i turned in the original parts as cores to get my money back. *nm | |||
| 11/14/2004 | 101836 | 5 | 06/05/1997 |
| No accidents. steering has begun instances of loss of control. information provided during discussions with local repair shops indicates the recirculating ball steering box may have a tendency to slip. this is consistent with the intermittant failure mode experienced during driving. the vehicle is a 1997 suburban c1500. it is not used to tow and has never been in an accident. we have owned it since new, all of the 104,000 miles have been driven by us, no children have driven this vehicle. the truck has been well cared for. we have experienced this 5 times, with the most recent being yesterday. no repairs have been made.*ak | |||
| 02/16/2004 | 106000 | 1 | 02/04/2002 |
| When turning right, steering seems to assist more, causing abrupt oversteer. happens intermitantly.*ak | |||
| 1 | 09/11/1997 | ||
| When making a right or left turn, the steering failed. *ak *jb | |||
| 07/24/2003 | 79275 | 1 | 10/31/1997 |
| Fuel pump wiring inside the fuel tank short circuited, and could have caused my suburban to blow up, since i had just filled it with over 30 gallons of gas that morning. my fuel pump had to be replaced, along with a new wiring assembly and float mechanism. my mechanic said the short circuit was more than likely due to over amperage of the fuel pump. that in turn, caused the wires inside the fuel tank to melt together and short out the ecm fuse, twice. i believe chevrolet is very lucky that no one was hurt. i hope others are as lucky as i was! p.s. power steering and brakes are also very poor!! bad design...1997 was a lemon suburban, and should have been recalled and designed all over again!*ak | |||
| 60000 | 1 | ||
| Intermittently when making a turn power steering wheel has too much play in it. this almost caused an accident.*ak | |||
| 66000 | |||
| The power steering failed, which caused an accident. the consumer was injured. *jb | |||
| 03/22/2003 | 53900 | 05/26/1997 | |
| These trucks with this steering problem are very dangerous for drivers, passengers & other motorists around these vehicles.if no one has been killed yet because of this defect gm should do something before it's too late. | |||
| 06/22/2001 | 03/01/2000 | ||
| I have had several owners of the suburban and tahoe line say that their power assist has failed also and had to endure costly/over priced repairs. dt | |||
| 06/11/2001 | 8 | 11/01/1999 | |
| Sudden, unexpected oversteering in turns, veers into turns, intermittent. *ak | |||
| 08/24/1999 | 2 | 10/01/1997 | |
| I have a newspaper article from 1999 stating nhtsa investigating this problem in 1997 to 1999 gmc vehicles. your data base shows no complaints, but the article stated 76 complaints in 1999 and 4 crashes. there must be more by now, and the replacement electronically variable orifice that was replaced in my vehicle has failed again.*ak | |||
| 04/24/2001 | |||
| Power steering hydroboost unit surges, makes steering wheel jerk in a different direction.*ak | |||
| 07/15/2000 | 1 | 07/01/1997 | |
| Vehicle experienced more assist to steering at 30 mph which caused loss of control. *ak the dealer replaced the electronic solenoid relay as possible cause of power assist to steering assembly. *yh | |||
| 01/10/2001 | 2 | 07/01/1997 | |
| 1. battery leaked acid while idle and ultimately failed. leak corroded positive power cable and undercoating. 2. erratic steering while driving - steering position sensor replaced first time. 3. starter failed 3 times - complete lock-up 4. u-joint failed twice - sealed/non-greasable poor access to add grease fitting | |||
| 01/01/2001 | 5 | 12/01/1996 | |
| Power steering is unreliable, surge/increase in steering power is very unpredictable. this vehicle has been to dealer 5 times for this problem. first time the dealer said alignment was problem, not so. second time the dealer replaced the power steering gear box, this fixed problem for 4 months. third time the dealer replaced power steering gear box, power steering pump and flushed lines, this fixed problem for 5 months. fourth time the dealer replaced the evo sensor on steering column, this fix lasted 15 months. fifth time the dealer stated that the evo sensor must be bad and will not replace under extended warrenty. after much investigation, i find that this is an ongoing problem specific to the 1997 suburban with the electronic control on the power steering system. there have been in excess of 75 reports of this or similar steering related problems. nhtsa should investigate this prior to there being any fatalities.*ak | |||
| 04/24/1998 | 4 | 10/01/1997 | |
| Loss of steering power and excessive play in the steering for up to 4-5 seconds at highway speeds. *ak | |||
| 06/01/2000 | 12/01/1999 | ||
| Steering suddenly jerked toward the direction of pressure on the steering wheel. this should be a recall emergency before it turns into causing fatalities like the tire situation.*ak | |||
| 10/01/2000 | 02/01/1998 | ||
| Steering tension changes drastically causing oversteering, steering also locks up when applying brakes.*ak | |||
| 08/01/2000 | |||
| Erratic power steering assist while driving. *ak | |||
| 09/27/1999 | |||
| Ongoing / erratic problem with power steering system causing momentary loss of steering control. dealer notified, and replaced steering sensor. year later problem reoccurred. please feel free to provide any further details. *ak | |||
| 02/04/2000 | 2 | 05/01/1997 | |
| No summary | |||
| 08/16/2000 | 10 | 07/01/2000 | |
| At speeds above 30 mph the steering becomes unstable/loose especially in turns when the vehicle jerks suddenly in the same direction as the turn. the vehicle also wanders at highway speeds and causes oversteering when changing lanes. this is a very unsafe situation when towing causing the trailer to swerve back and fourth. i bought an extended warranty on this vehicle and i am planning on taking it in to the dealership where i bought it to have it checked/repaired but based on the number of complaints i have read about this problem i believe this should be addressed by the manufacturer because it is a definite safety hazard. i have owned three gm trucks (1989,1993 and 1996) and none has felt as unstable or as dangerous as this suburban. if the dealer is unable to correct the problem under my extended warranty do i have any other recourse to correct this problem? | |||
| 07/01/2000 | 1 | ||
| When making a right turn there is some oversteering due to a bad power steering: hydroboost unit. the dealer has been contacted.*ak | |||
| 11/01/1996 | |||
| Apparent unrepairable dangerous steering situation, battery problem, transmission failure. vehicle does not seem to merchantable for purpose for which it was offered for sale. *ak | |||
| 06/20/2000 | 2 | 12/01/1996 | |
| Odi # on last report: 720833. no safety defec tlisted in summary. *ak | |||
| Intermittently vehicle would lose steering power. dealer has been notified. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 05/01/2000 | 25 | ||
| Ongoing problem; dealer's aware- no fixing problem- while driving exhibits a loose behavior at various speeds like driving on ice. *ak | |||
| 10/01/1999 | |||
| Steering on this vehicle at highway speeds is not positive, has a floating.. wander that makes it feel like you have no steering, and when you try to recover, it over corrects and sways. *ak | |||
| 12/06/1999 | 20 | 02/01/1997 | |
| Engine knocking occurs at cold temperatures 35f or below sounds come from lower engine rods possibly or crankshaft . --dealer refuses to acknowledge both problems | |||
| 10/27/1999 | 1 | 01/01/1997 | |
| Experience erratic steering. steering system makes erratic jolts in either direction. system was bled, but still persists. feels like power steering is unstable. | |||
| 04/01/1999 | 1 | 03/01/1998 | |
| Transmission: torque converter blew up.....fuel pump failed and had to be replaced, wiring overheated and insulation melted off inside fuel tank .....steering: erratic while making right turn | |||
| 03/01/1998 | |||
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 06/01/1997 | 3 | 04/01/1997 | |
| I have owned a 86,93,95,and 97 suburban. so suburban steering is very familiar to me. the 1997 suburban steering is unsafe. when the vehicle was first purchased the variable assist failed pulling an rv trailer. whenever a vehicle passed our suburban the steering had so much oversteer that if turned in any direction it would dart left and right either going off the highway or in the other lane. several attempts were made to repair the steering,then lemon law was invoked. two more attempts were made,the final one resulted in all of the service manager's steering components being removed from his 98 truck and placed on the suburban. the steering was better but poor compared to the 95 and 93 suburban. today the vehicle is still scary to drive on rutted wet roads at speed. just recently a chip failed in the steering when turning left, causing over correction into other lanes. the dealer said this had happened in other vehicles and repaired the vehicle. unless gm fixes this problem,my intent is to buy another vehicle that is safe for family. it will not be a gm suburban. the steering needs to be completely replaced with previous non variable assist. *ak | |||
| 10/01/1997 | |||
| Power steering keeps fluctuating between feeling tight and sloppy. at certain points the steering wheel seems to be pulled from my grasp, and oversteering occurs. steering also sometimes makes a moaning noise. also, brakes need to be replaced every 20,000 miles. last time i had brakes replaced at dealer, i had to return 5 times to have them corrected. i was told shims broke off the front pads and were binding. all i know is that i could see the rotors glowing blue and the brakes smelled like they were burning, they were also making a horrible grinding noise when they were warm. *ak | |||
| 02/05/1999 | |||
| Failure of this component results in immediate and drammatic loss of normal power steering control when engaging in turns. the loss of resistence results in immediate oversteer which, at highway speeds, is very dangerous, sometimes causing the driver to drop a wheel from pavement. my writing is prompted by: 1) experience with my suburban; 2) a call to me today from a dealership mechanic who worked on my vehicle who informed me he had another bad one, identical to mine; 3) i drove another suburban of the same vintage & mileage with the identical problem. though anecdotal, the multiple occurances in vehilces with which i am acquainted raise a compelling question about a dangerous problem with suburbans. thank you for your consideration. | |||
| 100 | 09/01/1997 | ||
| Steering goes soft unexpectedly in turn, resulting in tendency to oversteer, possibly into oncoming traffic. *ak | |||
| Ea9901 eratic power steering; when driving straight or more often on curves there is slip in the steering. the dealer is aware of the problem. the problem has not been corrected. | |||
| 09/01/1997 | |||
| The power steering on right turns oversteers. it is like a sudden surge of power steering. since it is intermetant it is a suprise and has on a number of occasion the suprise was enough to almost lose control of the suburban. we had it in once for repair but they couldnt find anyting. it has become worse and we have taken it back again for a repair. the service man said he has had three other complaints of the same type of problem. | |||
| 03/01/1997 | |||
| Pulls left while driving down road or when braking. multiple service attempts. still not fixed. dealer cannot fix, gm won't replace vehicle. vehicle is not safe and is a safety hazard. | |||
| 10/20/1998 | 12 | 06/01/1997 | |
| Speed sensitive steering fails when driving. especially dangerous when negotiating a turn, the steering is hard, the sss fails, causing the steering to become loose, resulting in oversteering, causing swerving or loss of control. | |||
| 08/27/1997 | |||
| The low speed power assist intermittently activates at cruise speed when making course corrections such as turning to follow the road, turning to pass and turning to correct for side wind. | |||
| 09/16/1997 | 1 | 09/20/1997 | |
| Speed sensitive power steering does not operate properly, it has little if any road feel, the vehicle floats when driven in wind or around trucks and other traffic. consumer feels the vehicle is very unstable, difficult to control. | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES | |||
| 10/24/1997 | 1 | 08/01/1997 | |
| Have had a total of 6 complaints dierctly connected with front steering, controlability, poor handling characteristics and 2 instances of total loss of control while driving in a straight line. the vehicle has 2 timwes suddenly swerved to the right while driving straight and the steering wheel does not move. fortunately, both instances occured while traffic was light andno accident happened. the vehicle is parked at a chevrolet dealer's yard and chevrolet motor division has stated that no problem exists and that i should continue to drive. i have refused. now i have determined to file a complaint with texas motot vehicle division and pursue the ;lemon law because chevrolet has failed to recognize or take any action in an attempt to resolve the problem. | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION | |||
| 07/01/2003 | 90000 | 50 | |
| Experiencing unintended power steering assistance when making turns (tupically to the right), losing cotrol of steering for a brief moment before it recovers. | |||
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||
| Steering wheel over compensates when making a turn. dealer has replaced sensor several times. however, problem still exists. please provide additional information.*ak | |||
| 1 | 02/28/1998 | ||
| There is a grinding in the steering column. *slc | |||
| Ea-99-011; while driving and upon attempting to make a left or a right hand turn, steering wheel locked up. problem was more likely to occur when making a left hand turn. also, noticed play in steering wheel ,causing vehicle to pull left and right. consumer has contacted dealer and manufacturer, case number c00509683. please provide any further details. *ak | |||
| 07/01/1999 | |||
| The vehicle would dart to the left or right especially going around a cure. the steering would have a momentary effect of having no resistance on the steering column. this problem would occur intermitently. the vehicle would also oversteer and made it hard to keep the vehicle going straight down the road. i recently had the steering gear box replaced and everything is working fine. | |||
| 09/20/1999 | |||
| There is an unanticipated steering wheel movement at highway speeds. the dealer has been notified. *ak | |||
| When making a turn the wheel loosens up and then will kick back in . *ak | |||
| When changing lanes or turning corners steering wheel becomes loose, and driver loses control of the vehicle. dealer has changed the ecm chip and the problem still exists. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1998 | |||
| Ie98079, while driving steering system malfunctioned, causing the steering wheel to be too loose which may result a loss of vehicle control. please provide further information and vin#. *ak | |||
| 01/27/1999 | 2 | 08/01/1997 | |
| Failure/ loss of steering control without warning or change of steering wheel movement. | |||
| 08/19/1998 | 3 | ||
| An intermittent problem. after turning a curb, the steering wheel would go limp or slack. dealership had replaced the evo but problem has reappeared. *ak | |||
| 10/31/1997 | |||
| While driving the vehicle suddenly the steering wheel became loose, causing the driver to lose control and running into a ditch. the dealer has been notified. *ak | |||
| 01/31/1997 | 1 | 12/12/1996 | |
| 'variable effort steering' does not tighten up the faster you drive, also steering is too sensitive. | |||