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 2001 Chevrolet Silverado submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 37 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 37, in the owner's own words
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN MADE A RATTLING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED. AS THE SPEED INCREASED, THE FAILURE WORSENED. THERE WAS NO STEERING LOSS OR WARNING LIGHTS. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,437 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
2001 SILVERADO POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. *TS *** NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *JB
STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 30,000 MILES. FIRST FAILED AT 30K, SECOND 60K, THIRD 100K. FAILURE STARTS WITH LIGHT CLUNKING SOUND AND PROGRESSES TO LOUD CLUNK AND LOOSENESS IN STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER AND GM ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM INCLUDING EVEN THE 2005 MODELS. THE QUALITY OF STEERING FELL GETS QUITE VAGUE IF NOT REPLACE BEFORE NOISE GETS LOUD. *NM
I STARTED HAVING A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING OF MY 2001 CHEVY SILVERADO 4WD PICKUP. THE DEALER SAID THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO INADEQUATE LUBRICATION. IT COST ME OVER $300. AFTER THAT, I SPOKE TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. AN ONLINE SEARCH SUGGESTS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS, TOO. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO LOOK INTO? *NM
I OWN A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD PICKUP TRUCK THAT I PURCHASED USED IN JUNE 2003 WITH APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. UNTIL RECENTLY, THE TRUCK HAD PROVEN TO BE VERY SAFE AND RELIABLE. THE TRUCK CURRENTLY HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. ON JULY 18, 2005, MY WIFE LOADED OUR FIVE-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER INTO HER CAR SEAT AND THEN PROCEEDED TO GET IN TO DRIVE. UPON STARTING THE TRUCK, SHE PRESSED ON THE BRAKE TO SHIFT. SHE THEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE ONLY TO HAVE THE TRUCK DRIFT FORWARD DESPITE HER BRAKING EFFORT. AT THAT TIME, SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT SHE COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. AFTER SIGNIFICANT EFFORT, SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK FROM ITS VERY LOW SPEED. WE TOWED THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND PROBLEM AND PROVIDE A REPAIR COST ESTIMATE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP (PUMP) FAILED. THE POWER BRAKES ARE HYDRAULICALLY ASSISTED BY THE PUMP RATHER THAN USING ENGINE VACUUM ASSIST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INPUT SHAFT TO PUMP HAD SHEARED IN HALF. THE DEALER REQUIRED ME TO PAY A CORE CHARGE SINCE THE PUMP WAS SO SEVERELY DAMAGED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN IT FOR A CORE THEMSELVES. THE REPAIR TOTAL COST $356. THE PUMP IS LOCATED DEEP WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE ARE NO MEANS TO EXTERNALLY DAMAGE THE PUMP SUGGESTING A MATERIAL OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITHIN THE PUMP. THE PURPOSE OF THIS LETTER IS TO CALL ATTENTION TO A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH OF MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAD THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THIS POWER STEERING PUMP PROBLEM, IF SYSTEMIC RATHER THAN ISOLATED, COULD POSE A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK TO THE OWNERS OF THESE TRUCKS AND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROADS. I ASK THAT YOU INVESTIGATE THE SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM AND HOW MANY TRUCKS IT AFFECTS, TAKING FURTHER ACTION IF NECESSARY. *JB
THE EVENT BEING REPORTED IS THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE MY 15 YEAR OLD WAS DRIVING. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OR WARNINGS OF THIS FAILURE. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN CORRECTED BY OUR LOCAL DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP.
DT: PROBLEMS BEGAN 10/04 WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, BRAKES WOULD FAIL. DEALER REPORTED NO PROBLEMS. PULSATING CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM BRAKES. CONTACT HAS PULLED THE ABS FUSE TO REMEDY PROBLEM. STEERING SHAFT: WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, SLACK IS FELT IN THE WHEEL, CONTACT HAS THE STEERING SHAFT TWICE. POPPING AND GRINDING IS HEARD WHEN TURNING. *NM
THE CONSUMER STATED HE PLACED THE CAMPER ONTO THE TRUCK AND THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAILED. JUST WENT A COUPLE YARDS WITH TRUCK AND ALL AT ONCE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES BECAUSE OF BROKEN SHAFT.CAMPER WAS A PULL BEHIND 30 FT. DEALER REPORTS THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAD HAPPENED WITH THIS TRUCK.
THE VEHICLE'S INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FAILED AND CAUSED A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM *JB
A CLUNKING NOISE IS HEARD IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *TC THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND THAT IT WASN'T A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE BETWEEN 21,300 AND 23,200 MILES THE NOISE HAD BECOME PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER. *NM
WHILE BRAKING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE CONTROLLED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE MECHANIC REPAIRED/REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT FOUR TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES DO NOT ACTIVATE. THE CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE 10 MINUTES LATER AND NOTHING HAPPENED. TWENTY MINUTES LATER, CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND THIS TIME EVERYTHING WORKED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED INTERMITTANTLY. *AK *NM
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK GM STATED THAT THE FAULT WAS ON THE ENGINEERING AND COULD NOT BE FIXED PERMANENTLY. GM OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. *SC *JB
WHILE TURNING A CORNER AT 10 MPH CONSUMER LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER AND BRAKE. CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK
POWER ASSIST STEERING FADED TO NOTHING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER REPLACED MAJOR FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, INCLUDING TIRES, BUT THE STEERING FAILURE STILL PERSISTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. MANUFACTURE RWAS NOT CLAIMING ANY RESPONSIBILITY AT THIS TIME. *AK
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING BELT FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE OWNER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. *NLM THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT WHILE IN MOTION. THE RIGHT WIPER DID NOT CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A RATTLE NOISE WHICH HAD COME FROM THE DASH AREA ON THE LEFT SIDE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DEALER FOUND FOUR MISSING BOLTS UNDER THE STEERING. DUE TO THE VEHICLE GOING TO THE LEFT, THE FRONT CALIPERS WERE REMOVED, TO CHECK MOVEMENT, THE REAR DRUMS FOR DRAGGING, BINDING, ADJUST AND REASSEMBLE. *SCC *JB
RACK&PINION STEERING WAS LEAKING AND CAUSING RAPID/UNEVEN FRONT TIRE WEAR AT 13000 MI.DEALER REPLACED WITH REMANUFACTURED PART THAT IS NOW LEAKING AGAIN AT 18000 MI. AND IS NOW MAKING GROWLING NOISE.DEALER REFUSED TO ALIGN VEHICLE OR REPLACE EITHER BADLY WORN TIRE. DEFECTIVE RACK & PINION CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID CREATING DANGER OF LOSS OF STEERING HAD IT NOT BEEN DISCOVERED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE, AND STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER REPLACED THE PITMAN ARM, AND IDLE ARM. SHORTLY AFTERWARS PROBLEM REOCCURED, AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. *AK
THERE IS A CLUNK OR DEEP FREQUENCY RATTLE IN THE STEERING WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS. GM HAS PERFORMED THE REPAIR WITH THE "KIT" FOR LUBRICATION IN THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ONCE ALREADY. THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED IN ONLY 6 MONTHS AND 12,000 MILES. AS AN ENGINEER, I AM CONCERNED LONG-TERM THAT THE PROBLEM WILL MANIFEST INTO A SAFETY ISSUE RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIFE WHILE WAITING FOR A FINAL AND COMPLETE REPAIR SOLUTION.*AK
A MONTH AGO I TOOK MY 2001 CHEVROLET EXT CAB SILVERADO IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE WHEN I DROVE ACROSS PARKING LOTS WITH MINOR BUMPS I COULD FEEL A RATTLE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THEY LUBRICATED THE INTERMEDIATE U-JOINT IN THE STEERING COLUMN, THERE WAS GM KIT PROVIDED FOR THE REPAIR. CURRENTLY THE STEERING FEELS LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE DRIFTS WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. I PERSONALLY JACKED UP THE VEHICLE AND ASSESSED FOR LOOSENESS. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. A CLICKING NOISE CAN BE HEARD AND FELT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED BACK AND FORTH. I WILL BE TAKING THE TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE THIS WEEK. I DON'T THINK THAT GM IS CORRECTLY ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM AND IT MAY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS IN THE FUTURE. IF A MANUFACTURER PREPARES A KIT FOR REPAIR, IT TELLS ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. I FEEL GM IS TAKING THE CHEAP WAY OUT BY LUBRICATING VS. THE HIGH COST WAY OR REPLACING THE FAULTY PART. *NLM
THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING UPON COLD START UP AT APPROX. EIGHT THOUSAND MILES, AND A PROBLEM STARTED WITH A ENGINE PINGING NOISE(VALVE CLATTER) AT THE SAME MILEAGE. THE PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES IN WHICH NO ATTEMPT FOR CORRECTION WAS MADE ON REPAIRING THE ENGINE KNOCK. THE VALVE CLATTER PROBLEM HAS BEEN WORKED ON MORE THAN THREE TIMES WITH NO SOLUTION. NOW THE PROBLEM IS DEEMED UNREPAIRABLE OR AS THE DEALER STATES "NORMAL" AS MY REPLY IS THAT THE TRUCK DID NOT MAKE ANY NOISE UNTILL 8,000 MILES, IF THE NOISE IS NORMAL WHY DID IT TAKE 8,OOO MILES FOR THE PROBLEM TO ARRISE. AT THE PRESENT TIME THE ENGINE KNOCKS ON BOTH HOT AND COLD START AND VALVE CLATTER IS EXPERIENCED UPON ACCELERATION, CONSTANT SPEEDS, AND IS THE WORST WHEN TRYING TO TOW A TRAILER OF LESS THAN 30% OF VEHICLES MAX GVWR. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE BUMPING, KNOCKING LOOSE STEERING SENSATION FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM HAS ALSO BEEN WORKED ON SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SOLUTION. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE ARE NEW INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT PARTS THAT ARE SUPPOSE TO FIX MY PROBLEM, BUT I AM NOT BEING TOLD OF A COMPLETION OR DELIVERY DATE ON THIS CORRECTION. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE STEERING IS GOING TO MALFUNCTION CAUSING A ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES WITH MY CONCERNS. THE ONLY REPLIES I HAVE RECEIVED ARE "YES THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT, OR WILL CALL YOU!" IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A MANUFACTURER THAT CAN DESIGN AND MANUFACTURER MILLIONS OF VEHICLES SHOULD KNOW HOW TO FIX WHAT THEY PRODUCE. DT
BENT AND TWISTED FINGERS MR. ULATOWSKI OWNS A BUILDING SUPPLY COMPANY AND WEARS OUT A PICKUP TRUCK EVERY YEAR OR TWO BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE DRIVING. MR. ULATOWSKI'S FINGERS ARE CRIPPLED FROM HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE INDEX, MIDDLE AND RING FINGERS OF BOTH HANDS ARE BENT OVER THE BABY FINGERS. INFORMATION SUBMITTED ON THE BEHALF OF MR. ULATOWSKI BY MIKE TOMICH 989-665-2311 MR. ULATOWSKI WISHES HIS IDENTY BE HELD CONFIDENTIAL. DT
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
Data on this page last refreshed .