RoadVitals

2003 Chevrolet Avalanche Steering Problems

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.
8
Latest Jun 17, 2015
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.
4%
of 204 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

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 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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

Steering
Filed Jun 17, 2015

THE OTHER DAY I STARTED NOTICING THAT WHEN I TURN RIGHT (OR LEFT IN REVERSE) AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND MY STEERING IS AFFECTED. I STARTED LOOKING ONLINE FOR A REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO REPORT IT. I DON'T FEEL IT IS FAIR THAT AS THE CONSUMER THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR A DESIGN FLAW BY GM. I ALSO DON'T FEEL ITS FAIR TO HAVE TO SPEND UP $400 WHEN ITS ALL SAID AND DONE EACH TIME THAT IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
10725848
Incident
Jun 13, 2015
Mileage
181,062 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 28, 2014

SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN 2004 IT SOUNDS AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE. IT MAKES A NOISE LIKE ITS LOOSE. THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS STURDY IT'S JUST UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL IT SOUNDS LOOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10629236
Incident
Aug 28, 2013
Mileage
6,000 mi
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed Nov 29, 2010

I HAVE A 2003 AVALANCHE WITH APPROX.113000 MILES. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN A MINI SHOPPING CENTER I WENT TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON ME. I COULD NOT MOVE MY STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I THEN PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND CRANKED IT BACK UP AND MY STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY UNLOCKED. ON THAT FRIDAY WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 264E COMING OF EXIT MY STEERING LOCKED AGAIN. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO VEHICLE BEHIND ME, AND I WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I WAS DRIVING AT TWO DIFFERENT SPEEDS. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP. IS THERE A RECALL IN THE WORKS? THIS IS SO DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID
10368825
Incident
Nov 15, 2010
Mileage
113,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 21, 2007

NOTICED CLUNKING IN STEERING, GMC DEALER REPLACED INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, UNDER WARRANTY AT APPROX. 20,000. CLUNKING RETURNED AGAIN AT 40,000 MILES, AND AGAIN REPLACED INTRMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT., AT THE COST OF $270. THIS IS A LOT TO SPEND EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS SO WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED IN CHEVY AND GMC PRODUCTS OF THIS TYPE (AVALANCHE, SUBURBANS,TAHOE AND YUKONS) ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE A "SAFET ISSUE", IT IS QUITE DISCERNING, AND I BELIEVE GM SHOULD PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF APPOPRIATE ACTION TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10185771
Incident
Mar 1, 2007
Mileage
20,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 27, 2006

THE VEHICLE (2003) CHEVROLET AVALANCHE HAS A VERY NOTICEABLE POPPING SOUND WHEN STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE POPPING SOUND IS STILL PRESENT DESPITE HAVING THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR IT ABOUT FIVE TIMES. I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE SOUND IS IN THE STEERING BOX AREA AND IS A DEFECT WITH IT AND THAT GM IS INVESTIGATING. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IF IT CONCERNS THE STEERING BOX, I AM CONCERNING ABOUT AN (POSSIBLE)EVENTUAL STEERING FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10163595
Incident
Jun 20, 2004
AirbagsBody & structureHeating & air conditioning+1 more
Filed Dec 7, 2004

AIR BAGS DO NOT WORK. AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. VEHICLE IS BEING TAKEN TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR INVESTIGATION AND REPAIR.*AK THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING AND THE POWER STEERING MADE A SQUEALING NOISE. THE RUNNING BOARDS FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNK IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE 4X4 LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A FLUID LEAK IN THE ENGINE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER 7.5 MONTHS OF HAVING REPAIRS DONE ON HIS VEHICLE THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO CLASSIFY IT UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *TC

NHTSA ID
10099700
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Mileage
5,955 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Nov 19, 2004

THE STEERING GEAR BOX APPEARS TO BE LOOSE, VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY ARE GETTING REPAIRED BUT THOSE OUT OF WARRANTY ARE NOT. WHEN I HAD THE TAILGATE HINGES REPLACED, THE DEALER EXPLAINED WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK BUT COULD NOT REPAIR IT. IT'S A NERVE RACKING VIBRATION WHICH SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF AND FEELS LIKE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLT IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID
10100181
Incident
Oct 27, 2004
Mileage
44,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 17, 2004

1. LOOSE STEERING: INETMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, 2. IT HAS NOT FAILED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IT WAS TWISTED. 3. PART WAS STRAIGHTENED OUT, AND A NEW REPLACEMENT PART WAS ORDERED. AS OF THIS WRITING THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THE SAME PART. IT HAS BE OVER 30 DAYS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10100118
Incident
Oct 8, 2004
Mileage
22,304 mi

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .