Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 Silverado 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 141 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.
The 25 most recent of 141, in the owner's own words
WHEN DRIVING AND ENTERING A CURVE THE POWER STEERING JERKS TO THE DIRECTION OF STEER. THIS IS SAID TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING POSITION SENSOR CAUSING THE VARIABLE ASSIST STEERING TO OVER-COMPENSATE AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER DANGEROUSLY. THE FORUMS ARE FULL OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED THIS SYSTEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO STEER ON ITS OWN, MOVING RIGHT TO LEFTAND BECOME VERY HARD TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC MODULE ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY KNEW THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE REPAIR WAS DONE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET K1500. WHILE DRIVING ONLY 35 TO 45 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL ACTS AS IF IT IS GOING TO LOCK AND IT ONLY HAPPENS AT THOSE SPEEDS. HE WAS FORCED TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT; HOWEVER, IT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE IN THE DESIRED DIRECTION. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THEY HAVE REPAIRED THE ECM IN THE STEERING COLUMN FOR SEVERAL CHEVROLET K1500 VEHICLES. THE DEALER GAVE THE CONTACT AN ESTIMATE OF $70 TO REPLACE THE ECM; HOWEVER, DO NOT HAVE THE PART SINCE THE VEHICLE IS 12 YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,400. UPDATED 12/17/09 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO UNPLUG THE CONNECTION TO THE STEERING PUMP TO DETERMINE IF THE CAUSE OF THE HARD SPOT IN THE STEERING. THE CONSUMER DID SO AND THE CONDITION STOPPED. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE MAKING A TURN AT ABOUT 35-45 MPH. THE CONSUMER WOULD EXPERIENCE A HARD SPOT AND EXTRA FORCE WAS NEEDED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS EITHER THE SENDING UNIT IN THE STEERING COLUMN OR THE POWER STEERING PUMP. UPDATED 12/21/09
GOING THROUGH A LEFT HAND CURVE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30MPH TO 60MPH I GET A FEELING OF THE STEERING WHEEL WANTING TO DIVE & A BRIEF LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN GOING AROUND A LONG SWEEPING CURVE. IT HAPPENS ON EVERY LONG SWEEPING LEFT HAND CURVE. IF YOU AREN'T READY FOR IT YOU COULD LOSE CONTROL & HIT AN ONCOMING CAR HEAD ON. TO CORRECT THE FAILURE I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE SENSOR & I WILL KEEP THE OLD PART. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THESE SENSORS IS THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THESE ISSUES & SOME THAT HAD THEM REPLACED UP TO 3 TIMES IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. ALL AGREED THAT IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE PART INVOLVED IS CALLED THE "POWER STEERING SPEED SENSOR" (VARIABLE ASSIST POWER STEERING) & IS LOCATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE PARTS THAT FAIL BUT THERE ARE NO WARNINGS THAT WOULD LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS PART IS FAILING UNTIL IT HAPPENS & IT IS A STRANGE FEELING. YOU DON'T ACTUALLY LOSE CONTROL BUT IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DO WHICH COULD LEAD YOU TO LOSING CONTROL. IF THE PARTS ARE FAILING AS OFTEN AS I HAVE READ ABOUT THEN SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO MAKE THEM BETTER & TO KEEP THE PEOPLE SAFELY ON THE ROAD. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ALONG A CURVE, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE. THIS HAPPENS WITH SLIGHT TO MODERATE CURVES, AS WELL AS SEVERE CURVES. THE PROBLEM BEGAN TO OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS NEW. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO WORSEN DURING COLD WEATHER. WE HAVE TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IN SEVERAL WAYS, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE. *NM
MY STEERING IN MY 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO IS ERRATIC. IT IS ULTRA EASY AT TIMES AND ULTRA DIFFICULT AT OTHERS. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO WHEN IT WILL SUDDENLY JERK OUT OF MY HAND. I HAVE HAD TO DISCONNECT MY STEERING SENSOR LOCATED ON MY STEERING COLUMN. THERE ARE MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS OUT FOR THIS ISSUE. THE WARRANTY PERIOD UNDER WHICH CHEVROLET WOULD INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE EXPIRED BEFORE I COULD TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHILE I WAS IN AGHANISTAN. MY VEHICLE NO LONGER FALLS UNDER THE WARRANTY PERIOD. MY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE DID NOT NOTIFY MY AT ANY TIME OF A RECALL/CONCERN. I WAS UNAWARE OF ANY CONCERNS UNTIL JUST RECENTLY. *NM
MY SON WAS TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY WHEN THE POWER ASSIST WAS LOST. THIS MADE THE TRUCK ALMOST UNDRIVEABLE AND VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. I HAVE REMOVED THE PUMP AND FOUND THE INTERNAL SHAFT HAD BROKEN. I AM AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN WITH OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS A MANAGER FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT FLEET. I NETWORK WITH A LARGE GROUP OF EXPERIENCED TECHNICIANS INCLUDING INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE ON THESE TRUCKS. *NM
MY 1997 CHEVY 1500 PICKUP HAS A STEERING PROBLEM THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE WHEEL WILL JERK TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT AS YOUR ENTERING A TURN CAUSING THE TRUCK TO CROSS THE CENTER LINE OF THE ROAD. TO DATE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MECHANICS OFFER SUGGESTIONS RANGING FROM THE STEERING BOX TO STEERING SENSORS. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM TO THIS TRUCK, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SAME YEAR MODEL ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. I GUESS GM WILL WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED BEFORE THEY DECIDE RECALL THIS YEAR MODEL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB
'97 CHEVROLET C1500 PICKUP STEERING "SLIPS" AND THEN GRABS AGAIN. THIS SOMETIMES CAUSES SLIGHT TO MODERATE LANE CHANGES UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BUT DEALERSHIP IS AT A LOSS AS TO HOW TO REPAIR IT. WHY DOESN'T GM RECALL THESE VEHICLES? *AK
UPON COMING AROUND A SLOW TURN AT ABOUT 25-35 MPH, THE STEERING ALL OF A SUDDEN GIVES AND SLIPS FURTHER THEN YOU INITIALIZE IT, WHICH SEEMS TO ME NOT SAFE. ALSO A FRIEND WITH THE SAME TRUCK AND YEAR BUT A 4X4 DOES THIS EXACT SAME THING. *JB
STEERING SLIPPAGE PRIMARILY WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS OR GOING AROUND CURVES TO LEFT HAND SIDE. STEERING IS TIGHT AND THEN "SLIPS" CAUSING OVERSTEERING AT TIMES.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT STEERING GEAR BOX MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE LEFT OR RIGHT IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE WAS JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT MADE DRIVING VERY DIFFICULT. THE EVO STEERING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK
POWER STEERING SENSOR CAUSING THE STEERING TO "OVER STEER" IN CURVES. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED BY GM, HOWEVER NO RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THIS APPEARS TO CREATE A SAFETY CONCERN. *JB
THE POWER STEERING "GRABS", SORT OF LIKE IT OVER ASSISTS WHEN MAKING TURNS AND THEN "LETS GO" SUDDENLY CAUSING A PERSON TO OVER STEER TRYING TO CORRECT WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO TURN TOO FAR. THIS HAPPENS WITH BOTH LEFT & RIGHT TURNS. THE TURNS CAN BE GRADUAL AND IF LONG, LIKE FREEWAY EXITS, IT DOES THIS PHENOMENON REPEATEDLY DURING THE TURN. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I BOUGHT IT USED IN AUG. 2000 AND I HEARD ON A LOCAL RADIO STATION THAT GM WAS GOING TO NOTIFY OWNERS IN FEB, 2004 OF THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT FOR FREE. I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AS YET.*AK
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS COMPLAINT VERY CLEAR AND TO THE POINT. I HAVE BEEN VIEWING THE COMPLAINTS LOCATED ON YOUR WEBSITE AND FEEL THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PUPOSE FOR RECALLING THESE VEHICLES. I PURCHASED A 1997 CHEVY K20 APPROX 1 1/2 YEARS AGO. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK FINE UNTIL A FEW MONTHS LATER. I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE SOME STEERING PROBLEMS. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I AM DRIVING AROUND A CORNER OR STRAIGHT BUT THE STEERING WILL BECOME VERY LOOSE AND VEER INTO ONE DIRECTION ALL ON ITS OWN. THAT IS JUST ONE OF THE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH OWNING THIS VEHICLE. I NOW HAVE COME TO FIND THAT THERE IS EVEN A GREATER THREAT TO MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY FAMILY BECAUSE I HAVE NOW BEEN INFORMED THAT MY FUEL GAUGE AND FUEL PUMP WIRES, INSIDE THE GAS TANK, MELTED INSULATION AND BURNT THE CONNECTOR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLY EXPERIENCE FOR MYSELF AND THAT OF ANYONE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME IF IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE PRIOR TO MY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS INFORMATION. I FEEL THAT THE FIRST SIGN OF THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THE GAS GAUGE WILL START TO MALFUNCTION, WHICH LEAVES YOU GUESSING AT THE AMOUNT OF GAS IN THE TANK. I FEEL THIS MATTER NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION DUE TO THE FACT THAT OWNERS/DRIVERS OF VEHICLES ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY AUTO INSURANCE, HOWEVER, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NONE OF US HAS ANY CONTROLL OVER. IF WE WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE BECOMES INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THAT WOULD SEEM SENSELESS THAT POSSIBLY SOMEONES LIFE WOULD HAVE TO END BEFORE THIS SITUATION BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I HAVE TO DEMAND THAT SOME ACTION BE TAKEN BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE FOR SOMEONE. *AK
CONSUMER SAW A RECALL NOTICE ON TV CONCERNING POWER STEERING. ALTHOUGH SHE DID NOT THINK THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE MANIFESTED A SIMILAR FAILURE. WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN VEHICLE CUT OFF. CONSUMER NOTICED THIS PROBLEM AROUND LOST STEERING. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM AROUND DECEMBER 2002 RIGHT AFTER SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A POWER STEERING PUMP ACCELERATOR. THE CONSUMER HAD THIS PART PUT ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER AND PULL TO THE LEFT. *AK *JB
I OWN A 1997 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REALLY HARD TO FIX BECAUSE IT COMES AND GOES AND IT DOES SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS. THE FIRST PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 1 1/2 TO 2 YEARS AGO AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE TO PROBLEM YET. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN YOU GO INTO A TURN TO THE LEFT, YOU CAN ACTUALLY LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE WHEEL WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER. THE TRUCK WILL ACTUALLY GO AROUND THE TURN BY ITSELF IF YOU LET GO OF THE WHEEL. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN YOU GO INTO A TURN IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN PULLED BY SOMETHING. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE ONE THAT HAS ME CONCERNED BECAUSE AT TIMES IT WILL OVER STEER WITHOUT YOU ACTUALLY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE TWO FRIENDS WITH THE SAME YEAR MODEL AND MAKE OF TRUCK AND ALL THREE TRUCKS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT AT THIS TIME AND I HAVE TALKED WITH GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH NO HELP FROM THEM WHAT'S SO EVER. I AM NOT SURE WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN A ACCIDENT, POSSIBLY WITH A FATALITY. REALLY WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS FOR SOMEONE TO JUST HELP WITH FINDING A FIX WITHOUT CHANGING OUT PART AND HOPING FOR A FIX WITH NO TELLING HOW MANY $$$$ LATER. AT THIS TIME I HAVE CHANGED MY STEERING BOX AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WITHOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. I DID CHANGE THESE OUT FROM A WRECKED TRUCK HOPING TO FIND THE PROBLEM BEFORE GOING AND BUYING A NEW PART THAT I COULD NOT RETURN. UP UNTILL THIS POINT EVERY THING THAT HAS BEEN CHANGED ON THIS TRUCK WAS FACTORY GM PARTS. THAT INCLUDES NORMAL WEAR PARTS SUCH AS BRAKE PADS, OIL FILTERS, BRAKE ROTORS, ALTENATORS (3), WINDSHEILD WIPER MOTORS (BEFORE THE RECALL), RADIATOR TANK, DOOR PINS AND BUSHINGS, DOOR HANDLE, INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING. I KNOW ALL OF THAT IS NOT NORMAL WEAR PART BUT ONCE I STARTED I JUST COULD NOT HARDLY QUIT.
MY VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING WILL OVERCOMPENSATE FOR CURVES CAUSING AN UNSAFE LOSS OF STEERING. HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS AND BOTH DIRECTIONS.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TIGHTEN THEN SUDDENLY RELEASE. THIS IS DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE EVO SENOR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR. *NM
VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING CONTROL DURING SHORT OR LONG RIGHT HAND TURNS. THE WHEEL SKIPS OR MOVES ON ITS OWN TO THE RIGHT CAUSING DRIVER TO OVER CORRECT THE WHEEL. *CB
WHEN TURNING LEFT VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. *AK
1997 CHEVROLET 1500 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP 2WD WHEN TURNING SLIGHTLY TOWARDS THE RIGHT THE POWER ASSIST BOOST INCREASES CAUSING THE TRUCK TO QUICKLY TURN TOWARDS THE RIGHT. I HAVE NOTICED FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVEN'T KNOWN WHO TO REPORT THIS TO. IT HAPPENS QUICKLY AND I HAVE TO GRAB THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE TRUCK UNDER CONTROL. I NOTICED THE RECALL NOTICE ON THE 1996 AND 1997 CARS BUT HAVE HAD THIS IDENTICAL OVER ASSIST PROBLEM ON MY TRUCK. *LA
VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STEERS INDEPENDENT OF DRIVER ACTION CAUSING WHELL TO PULL FROM THE DRIVER'S HANDS. NUMEROUS "NEAR ACCIDENTS" HAVE OCCURED DUE TO DEFECT. *AK
THE STEERING OF THE 1997 CHEVY SUBURBAN GIVES AN ALMOST TICKING, OR PULSATING MOVEMENT AS IT GOES THROUGH A STEADY WIDE SWEEPING CURVE. OTHER TIMES IT FEELS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL GETS LOCKED INTO A POSITION. IT'S TURNING STRAIGHT AND IT DOES NOT MATTER WHEN IT HAPPENS AND IT HAS TO BE PULLED HARDER IN THE DIRECTION DESIRED; IN ADDITION, IT GIVES A SLIGHT WHIPPING MOTION WHEN IT BREAKS FREE. *LA
WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS GOING OVER SLIGHT BUMPS, THE STEERING WHEEL EITHER PULLED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS WAS RELATED TO A STEERING SECTOR PROBLEM. *AK *NLM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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