Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Jan 7, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 182 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jan 7, 2021
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND THE CLUSTER IS OUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT MODEL THIS IS OTHER THAN A Z66 SO I CANNOT SEE ON HOW TO PROGRAM MY PHONE AT TO THE ONSTAR OR ANY OF THAT I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE SATELLITE RADIO THERE IS NO AUXILIARY PLUG IN HEATED SEATS IT'S ONLY THE BACK OF THE SEAT THAT WORKS I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S ALL THAT IS HEATED AND IT SAYS THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE COME WITH A KEY FOB I DID NOT RECEIVE MY CAR COMPLETELY DIES I HAVE TO TURN IT COMPLETELY OFF TURN THE KEY AROUND AND STARTED AGAIN THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BEEN REPLACED I DID NOT RECEIVE THE KEY FOB I CANNOT LOCK THE DOORS BECAUSE THE KEYS DON'T WORK IN THE DOOR BUT THEY DO AN IGNITION SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY AROUND SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING I HAVE TO CUT IT COMPLETELY OFF BECAUSE IT WILL STALL OUT TURN KEY AROUND AND IT START IT AGAIN. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE REAL MILAGE IS. JELP IM A SINGLE AND ONLY IN COME PARENT TO 3 BOUS AND THIS MOMMA NEEDS HELP PLEASE
NHTSA ID
11386897
Incident
Jan 5, 2021
Steering
Filed Mar 27, 2019
I CAN HEAR A CLUNKING OR RATTLING NOISE IN MY STEERING WHEEL. I CAN ALSO FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA ID
11192061
Incident
Mar 8, 2019
Mileage
121,000 mi
Body & structureSteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 11, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported
I WAS DRIVING WEST ON PETERS RD IN MIDDLEFIELD WHEN I HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE PUTTING THE TRUCK INTO A SKID WHICH PUT ME IN THE DITCH I HIT A MAILBOX AND A CULVERT (DRAIN PIPE) HEAD ON TEARING UP THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE AVALANCHE IT HIT RIGHT ON THE SENSORS BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10693585
Incident
Jan 5, 2015
Mileage
172,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 9, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.. ..UPDATED 11/09/12 *BF UPDATED 11/14/12
NHTSA ID
10479444
Incident
Oct 13, 2011
Mileage
50,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 9, 2011
TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS POWER STEERING PUMP STOPS WORKING AT LOW SPED. NO APPARENT PROBLEMS W/ THE PUMP NO LOOSE BELT. NEED TO REV TO 1500 RPM TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO WORK. SEAMS TO WORK OK WHEN IT IS COLD PROBLEM STARTS WHEN VEH.. IS WARMED UP. REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN MADE YET. *TR
NHTSA ID
10375336
Incident
Dec 27, 2010
Mileage
70,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 24, 2007
2003 AVALANCHE WITH Z71 SUSPENSION OPTION. AFTER LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD VEHICLE STARTED MAKING SEVERE CLUNKING NOISE FROM DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL WHEN MAKING A TURN. TAKEN TO DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER REPLACED A PART AND STATED THAT SOME CLUNKING WAS "NORMAL". NOISE CEASED AFTER REPAIR. CLUNKING RETURNED IN ABOUT ANOTHER YEAR AND IS ONCE AGAIN SEVERE. SOUNDS LIKE THE FRONT WHEEL IS GOING TO FALL OFF. CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10212660
Incident
Aug 1, 2003
Mileage
10,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Nov 3, 2006
AFTER ONLY 26K MILES HAD A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END AND ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A HARD TURNING MOTION. EVIDENTLY THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CHEVY DEALER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE DESCRIPTION ON THE REPAIR INDICATES END-LUBE I-SHAFTAND THEY USED A GN LUBE KIT FP#26098419. AFTER ONLY 19 MONTHS AND 8K MILES LATER IT'S DOING THE EXACT SAME THING.
NHTSA ID
10172508
Incident
Mar 4, 2005
Mileage
26,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 11, 2006
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE IT HAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT . THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AT APPROX. 25000 MILES . NOW AT 56000 MILES IT IS CLUNKING AGAIN. THE DEALER SAYS THAT CHEVY DOESN'T SELL THE PART ANY MORE AND THAT THEY ONLY CAN GET IT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND JUST MAKING NOISE ISN'T ONE OF THEM THEY ALSO CLAIM THERE IS NO DANGER BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE IF THERE IS SOMETHING LOOSE IN THE STEERING THAT IT WON'T BE DANGEROUS. WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN GET IT REPAIRED. I'VE WORK AS A MECHANIC FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND DID N.Y.STATE INSPECTIONS AND HAD TO FAIL CARS WITH BAD STEERING PARTS BUT MAYBE THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC ISN'T IMPORTANT ANYMORE JUST THE PROFIT OF THE COMPANIES . THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *JB
NHTSA ID
10162165
Incident
Jul 10, 2006
Body & structureSteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 1, 2006
PURCHASED A USED 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE AT A DEALERSHIP IN FEB 2006 UPON SERVICING THE VEHICLE TWO MONTHS LATER WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD EXTENSIVE UNDER CARRIAGE RUST. THIS CAR ORIGINATED IN MICHIGAN BUT I AM WONDERING IF IT WAS A KATRINA VEHICLE DURING AUCTION? RECENTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH U-JOINTS WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. GM MECHANIC SAYS THE RUST IS EXTENSIVE AND CAUSED THIS PROBLEM IT WILL NEED A LUBE KIT TO RE-LUBE ALL THE MECHANICS UNDER THE TRUCK. NONE OF THIS UNDER CARRIAGE BODY RUST WAS DISCLOSED TO US UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN FACT THE DEALER TOLD US HE ONLY GETS THE BEST USED VEHICLES. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL - THE MECHANIC AT THE GM DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM. *NM
NHTSA ID
10158780
Incident
May 1, 2006
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own