RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck 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.
13
Latest Oct 1, 2000
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.
27%
of 48 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 1997 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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

BrakesSteering
Filed Oct 1, 2000

BRAKES PULL TO THE RIGHT MOMENTARILY UPON EVERY APPLICATION. ALL BRAKE HARDWARE HAS BEEN REPLACED, INCLUDING CALIPERS; HOWEVER, PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS WILL DEFINITELY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT EVENTUALLY. STEERING BECOMES "SQUIRRELLY" OFTEN WHEN CORNERING OR WHEN NEGOTIATING CURVES. WHEEL TENDS TO "OVERSTEER" BY ITSELF WITH APPARENT MOMENTARY BOOSTS IN POWER STEERING FORCE. THESE EVENTS ARE NOT PREDICTABLE AND WILL ALSO LIKELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT SOME POINT IN TIME. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I HAVE DRIVEN MORE THAN ONE MILLION MILES IN MY LIFE AND CURRENTLY OWN TWO VANS, ONE SUBURBAN, AND ONE PICKUP TRUCK AND ONE AUTO. I DARN SURE KNOW WHEN A VEHICLE IS OPERATING PROPERLY OR WHEN IT HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
733046
Incident
Jan 29, 2000
Steering
Filed Aug 23, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
728833
Steering
Filed Apr 26, 2000

MAKES TRUCK TURN SHARPLY TO LEFT AND RIGHT AT ABOUT 1/4 TURN EITHER WAY MOSTLY AT ABOUT 20 TO 50 MPH

NHTSA ID
9005395
Steering
Filed Jan 18, 2000

WHEN MAKING A LONG SWEEPING TURN TO THE RIGHT, STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES TURNS UNEXPECTEDLY, MAKING MY TRUCK ADVANCE TO THE RIGHT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND WOULD NOT FIX DUE TO MILEAGE. I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
717518
BrakesSteering
Filed Nov 29, 1999

THESTEERING WHEEL SEEMS TOJERK OR MOMENTARY OVERSTEERS AT MODERATE SPEEDS CAUSING THE TRUCK TO MOVE TOWARDS OTHER LANE ALSO DOES IT WHEN THE WHEEL IS HELD TURNED LIKE ON AN ON RAMP OR EXIT RAMP OF HIGHWAYS. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES LOCK IN WET WEATHER WHEN FIRST STARTING OUT WITH VEHICLE.. A REPLY WOULD BE APPRECIATED....

NHTSA ID
715398
Incident
Sep 15, 1999
Steering
Filed Nov 14, 1999

STEERING FEELS LOOSE, AND YOU CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL JUST PULL TO THE LEFT. IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT IT COULD . I KNOW OF TWO 1997 CHEVROLET TRUCKS THAT THE STEERING BOX HAS BEEN REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $500.00 PER PART, NOT COUNTING LABOR. I THINK GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS AND HAVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT IS LIKE SOMEONE IS TRYING TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF YOUR HANDS WHEN IT HAPPENS. I COULD SEE HOW THIS COULD CAUSE SOME SERIOUS INJURIES IF IT GETS BAD ENOUGH. MY TRUCK IS JUST STARTING TO DO IT. BUT WILL ONLY GET WORSE IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD. *AK

NHTSA ID
714745
Incident
Nov 1, 1999
Steering
Filed Oct 21, 1999

PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURN ONLY. THE STEERING HAS NO FORCE, FOR A SPLIT SECOND, CAUSING YOU TO OVERSTEER. THE STEERING NORMALLY HAS A NORMAL AMOUNT OF FORCE WHICH THE DRIVER HAS TO OVERCOME TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE FORCE TO CEASE, LIKE STEERING IS DISCONNECTED FOR A SPLIT SECOND.

NHTSA ID
713632
Incident
Sep 15, 1999
Steering
Filed Jul 11, 1999

AT CONSTANT HIGHWAY SPEED STEERING FORCE DECREASES FOR BRIEF PERIODS UP TO SIX OR SEVEN MINUTES. WHILE IN A CURVE OR HOLDING AGAINST A STRONG WIND VEHICLE MOVES IN DIRECTION OF FORCE BEING APPLIED. ON FIRST REPAIR DEALER STATED THAT POWER STEERING VALVE WAS CHANGED. CONDITION RETURNED WITHIN A WEEK. I HAVE BEEN DERELICT IN ALLOWING CONDITION TO PERSIST WITHOUT REQUESTING REPAIRS. PROBLEM HAS BEEN ALMOST CONTINUOUS SINCE DELIVERY OF VEHICLE. SECOND REPAIR SCHEDULED FOR 13 JUL 1999.

NHTSA ID
708494
Incident
Jul 8, 1999
Steering
Filed Jun 28, 1999

POWER STEERING IS ERRATIC IN TURNS LEFT OR RIGHT - STARTED AT 49000 MILES

NHTSA ID
707974
Incident
Jun 28, 1999
Steering
Filed Jun 2, 1999

THIS VEHICLE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING ASSIST TO EASE THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. IT WOULD TIGHTEN UP AS THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING, HOWEVER NOW, IT SEEMS TO WORK ALL THE TIME MOVING OR NOT.

NHTSA ID
707134
Incident
May 1, 1998
Steering
Filed May 27, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A TSB (76-30-01) FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC VARIABLE ORIFICE (EVO) SYSTEM AS A RESULT OF LOW VOLTAGE CONDITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR, WHICH RESULTED IN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. MJS

NHTSA ID
545790
Incident
May 27, 1999
Steering
Filed Dec 1, 1998

LIGHT DUTY C1 TRUCK, SPEED ASSISTED STEERING "GIVES WAY" AT FAST SPEEDS RENDERING THE VEHICLE VIRTUALLY UNCONTROLLABLE. SPOKE WITH WORKMATE WHO'S TRUCK (SAME YEAR) DID SAME UNTIL REPAIRED. THIS IS SEVERELY DANGEROUS!!!

NHTSA ID
701030
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
Steering
Filed Apr 28, 1998

STEERING PROBLEM CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE TURNING RIGHT.

NHTSA ID
534828

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 .