RoadVitals

1996 Chevrolet Suburban 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.
15
Latest Jun 27, 2014
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 360 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.
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 1996 Chevrolet Suburban submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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 27, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH WHILE TOWING A TRAILER, THE TRAILER BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK AND BLOWING THE TRAILER FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HARNESS WAS UNDERSIDE CAUSING ONE OF THE WIRES TO BURN OUT. AS A RESULT, THE WIRING HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 250,000. UPDATED 08/11/2014*LJ

NHTSA ID
10606400
Incident
Jun 9, 2009
Mileage
140,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 31, 2004

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT THE STEERING WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY STIFF. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FOUND INOPERATIVE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10084038
Incident
Jun 24, 2001
Mileage
49,049 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 14, 2004

WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10054059
Incident
Jan 14, 2004
Mileage
89,200 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 14, 2004

WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10054048
Incident
Dec 31, 2003
Mileage
89,200 mi
Steering
Filed May 22, 2003

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10020399
Incident
May 22, 2003
Steering
Filed Jan 29, 2002

INTERMITTENTLY STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN TURNING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8003060
BrakesElectricalSteering+1 more
Filed Oct 5, 2000

CONSUMER HAS REPLACED BRAKES 5 TIMES; 2 SETS OF ROTORS & REPLACED DRUMS 1 TIME. DEALER SAID THAT VEHICLE WAS HEAVY, AND IT WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH BRAKES. THEY HAVE TRIED TO PUT DIFFERENT PADS ON, BUT NOTHING WORKED.*AK PINION SEAL WAS LEAKING AND THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISE WHILE TURNING. WIPERS MALFUNCTION DUE TO WIPER MODULE FAILURE. THERE IS A WHINE IN THE FRONT PART OF THE ENGINE DUE TO ALTERNATOR FAILURE. *YH

NHTSA ID
872388
Incident
Dec 1, 1998
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Oct 5, 2000

CHEVROLET, SUBURBAN 1996, LS 1500, 4 X 4 I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR 2YRS, I HAD TO PUT ON 5 SETS OF BRAKES, 2 SETS OF ROTORS, DRUMS, STEER KNUCKLES, ALTERNATOR, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, BATTERY, DIFFERENTIAL/AXLES REPLACED AND AIR CONDITION UNIT HAS FOWL SMELL AND THE BACK PASSAGER DOOR STICKS AND WON'T OPEN MOST OF THE TIME. I BOUGHT IT AS A LEASE RETURN WITH 34,900 MILES ON IT. PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT WHY THIS CAR IS STILL BEING SOLD. I ONLY DRIVE THIS SUBURBAN IN EMERGENCY.*AK

NHTSA ID
733543
Incident
Sep 26, 2000
Steering
Filed Aug 7, 2000

EA 97 007/STEERING SHAFT SEPARATION: WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH HAS DISCONNECTED FROM SHAFT JOINT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS DEFECT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN FREELY DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FASTNER FOR STEERING COLUMN AND STEERING MECHANISM. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS PREMATURE FAILURE AND SHOULD FIX IT BEFORE SOME ONE IS HURT. *YH

NHTSA ID
867078
Incident
Jul 9, 2000
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 25, 1999

RIGHT REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLT WASN'T IN PLACE, FELL OUT. ALSO, STEERING LINKAGE: IDLER ARM CAME APART, CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK UP. *AK

NHTSA ID
841185
Incident
Feb 13, 1998
Steering
Filed Feb 18, 1999
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO POWER STEERING PUMP MALFUNCTIONING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
835029
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+5 more
Filed Sep 23, 1997

HAVING BREAKING PROBLEMS THAT WERE BEING CAUSED BY INCORRECT CLEARANCE AT THE SPINDALS, SPINDALS CORRECTED.

NHTSA ID
522380
Incident
Feb 20, 1996
Steering
Filed Apr 10, 1997

WIRING BUNDLE IN STEERING WHEEL HOUSING PINCHES WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS IN A PARTICULAR POSITION.

NHTSA ID
603035
Incident
Dec 31, 1996
Steering
Filed Dec 11, 1996

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING ROD DISASSEMBLED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
804095
Incident
Oct 25, 1996
AirbagsExterior lightingSteering
Filed Jan 17, 1996

LEFT FRONT PARKING LIGHT NOT ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY, UPPER SCREW NOT IN PROPER HOLE/LOWER SCREW MISSING.

NHTSA ID
500926
Incident
Jan 10, 1996

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 .