2001 Chevrolet Suburban Steering Problems

AFTER TOWING OUR TRAVEL TRAILER 60 MILES, MY WIFE WAS BACKING SUBURBAN INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND PULLED FORWARD TO ADJUST THE TRAILER ANGLE AND LOST ALL STEERING. WHEN I WENT TO SEE WHAT IT WAS DOING, NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE ALSO VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. WAS ABLE TO BACK THE TRAILER INTO THE DRIVEWAY WITH MUCH EFFORT TO ADJUST THE STEERING. HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WENT WHILE TOWING A TRAILER ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. VERIFIED FLUID WAS FULL AND BELT AND PULLEY WERE SPINNING NORMALLY. MECHANIC SUGGESTED TO CHECK PULLEY, WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT FORWARD FROM THE POWER STEERING UNIT EASILY WITH A SCREW DRIVER. *KB

NHTSA ID

10429515

Incident

Oct 10, 2011

Mileage

107,009 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH HE HEARD A RATTLING AND KNOCKING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR SERVICED BY THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ID

10318421

Incident

Jun 16, 2009

Mileage

105,000 mi

CLUNKING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION, GM KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM, WHAT HAPPENS IF INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILS? *TR

NHTSA ID

10267908

Incident

Feb 11, 2005

Mileage

25,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT OFF AND COMPLETELY STOP. THE OTHER COMPONENTS, SUCH AS THE RADIO, WERE STILL OPERABLE. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE ALWAYS AFFECTED AND WOULD BECOME INOPERABLE. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTS AND OTHER TIMES, THE CONTACT MUST WAIT A COUPLE OF MINUTES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ID

10254702

Incident

Sep 12, 2008

Mileage

59,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING THE VEHICLE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. AFTER TOWING IT TO A CHEVY DEALER, THEY INFORMED US THAT THE SHAFT IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BROKEN. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL ON GM/CHEVY TRUCKS FOR THIS PROBLEM. GM DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RECALL FOR POWER STEERING PUMPS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232049

Incident

Jun 19, 2008

Mileage

88,180 mi

NOVEMBER 2004 I HAD AN AUTO ACCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING HOME LATE AT NIGHT AFTER MY HUSBAND AND I HAD BEEN OUT TO DINNER WITH A FRIEND ON LEAVE FROM THE MILITARY. WE WERE ON THE WAY TO PICK OUR KIDS UP FROM MY PARENTS AND IT WAS MISTING OUTSIDE. I WAS ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON THE FAR INSIDE LEFT HAND LANE, THE NEXT THING I KNEW I WAS FACING THE POLICE STATION HEAD-ON AT 35 MPH. I TRIED TO CORRECT THE WHEEL AND MY HUSBAND ALSO GRABBED THE WHEEL AND TRIED TO CORRECT IT, DIDN'T WORK I THINK THE WHEEL BROKE BECAUSE WE CRASHED INTO THE POLICE STATION. I HAD TO KICK MY DOOR OPEN AND RUN INSIDE TO HAVE THEM CALL AN AMBULANCE, MY HUSBAND WAS PINNED AGAINST THE WALL, HIS FACE BUSTED THE PASSENGER WINDOW OUT, AND THE DASH,THE RADIO AND GLOVE BOX WAS IN OUR LAP AND THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. WE WERE WEARING SEATBELTS AND THE FRONT AND SIDE WAS TOTALED BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ONLY WORKING DOORS WERE THE BACK HATCH AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS CAVED IN ON MY HUSBAND AND HE WAS FORCED ACROSS THE CONSOLE HE HAD TO BE PULLED FROM THE AUTO. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE ER AND ENDED UP MISSING WEEKS OF WORK FROM HIS INJURIES , I REFUSED TREATMENT WITH ONLY MY KNEE AND FOOT HURT. I WAS FOUND NOT AT FAULT AND NO TICKECTS WERE WROTE. WE HAD BEEN HAVING FRONT END PROBLEMS THAT CHEVY MECHANICS AND OTHER MECHANICS COULD NOT EXPLAIN. YES THEY SAW AND HEARD THE PROBLEM BUT DIDN'T KNOW HOW OR HAVE A WAY TO FIX IT,I BELIEVE THAT IS WHY WE CRASHED SOMETHING WITH THE FRONT END. I REPORTED TO THE POLICE THAT MY HUSBAND GRABBED THE WHEEL TRYING TO CORRECT IT BUT THEY WROTE IT AS HE GRABBED ME CAUSING THE WRECK; NEEDLESS TO SAY I CORRECTED THE ERROR BUT THEY DIDN'T CORRECT THEIR REPORT. I CONTACTED CHEVY ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND WANTED TO KNOW WHY MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, THEY CALLED ME ON A SUNDAY BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. *CN

NHTSA ID

10213769

Incident

Nov 14, 2004

Mileage

105,000 mi

2001 SUBURBAN-STEERING SHAFT POP TURN OVER BUMPS,CAUSE STEERING TO SHAKE/ POP. STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED ON 10/23/2007. COMPLAINT HOW MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS OUT THERE THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS BULLETIN MY TRUCK HAVE 116737 MILES I SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THIS. WHAT IF I WOULD HAVE HAD A ACCIDENT.(2) I HAVE A STEERING GEAR BOX FAILURE AND LIKE THE BULLETIN SAYS NOISE WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. I THINK THE STEERING SHAFT CAUSE THE STEERING GEAR BOX TO GO OUT. HAVING THIS STEERING SHAFT PROBLEM FOR OVER 1,167,37 MILES SOME RELATED PROBLEM SURE TO CAUSE ANOTHER PROBLEM. BILL HEARD CHEVROLET WORKED ON MY VEHICLE. I FOUND THE BULLETIN AND BROUGHT THIS TO THEIR ATTENTION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10206703

Incident

Oct 23, 2007

Mileage

4,500 mi

I OWN A 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN WITH 68,000 MILES AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING TWICE BECAUSE IT CRACKED IN HALF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. CHEVY SAYS IT WAS MY FAULT. HOW DOES A LADY WHO IS NOT THAT STRONG CRACK TWO POWER STEERING IN HALF WHILE SHE IS DRIVING? *JB

NHTSA ID

10157502

Incident

Jan 7, 2006

Mileage

37,000 mi

WHILE TURNING SHARPLY THE STEERING AND BRAKES SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE HYDRAULIC PUMP DRIVESHAFT IN THE STEERING BROKE. THIS PART WAS A RECALL IN THE 2000 GM TRUCK LINE, WHILE MINE IS A 2001. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY RECALL WHY WON'T THEY PAY FOR MY REPAIR? *NM

NHTSA ID

10132908

Incident

Aug 13, 2005

Mileage

66,122 mi

2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HYDRAULIC PUMP DRIVESHAFT BROKE IN THE STEERING. *MR THE VEHICLE LOST THE STEERING AND BRAKES. *SC

NHTSA ID

10133436

Incident

Aug 1, 2005

ON APRIL 30,2005 WHILE OPERATING THE 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN THE POWER STEERING PUMP PULLY SHAFT FAILED. THE STEERING ASSIST WAS IMMEDIATLY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF BEFORE THE SHAFT LEFT THE HOUSING WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE PULLEY COMING OFF AND CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TOO, FRONT BRAKE LINE SEVERING AND LOSS OF FRONT BRAKING. GM NOTICE 05V00500 IS SUSPICIOUSLY SIMULAR IN NATURE, BUT GM IS ACCEPTING NO RESPONSIBILITY AT THIS TIME. FILE #1-332-115018 TO GM IS UNDER REVIEW. THE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS NATURE OF THE FAILURE HAS PROMPTED ME TO CONTACT THE NHTSA.

NHTSA ID

10120166

Incident

Apr 30, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHILE MAKING A ROUTINE TURN THE POWER STERRING FAILED CREATING AN UNSAFE SITUATION. FURTHER INVESIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PUMP SHAFT HAD BROKEN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10112676

Incident

Mar 5, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

POWER STEERING PUMP FLOW CONTROL VALVE ACTUATOR OR POWER STEERING GEAR VALVE IMBALANCE CAUSING TIRE WEAR AND UNNECESSARY ALIGNMENTS. EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR IN ONLY 2 MONTHS SINCE BRAND NEW. VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AT ALL SPEEDS. TWO SEPARATE ALIGNMENTS AND NUMEROUS TIRE ROTATIONS (COSTS TO CUSTOMER) FAILED TO CORRECT. UNIQUE SYMPTOM IS STEERING WHEEL TURNS TO ONE SIDE WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED (PUMP ACTIVE) AND STEERING WHEEL MOVED EASILY TO ONE SIDE AND HIGH STEERING EFFORT TO OTHER SIDE. OTHER SYMPTOM WHINE FROM STEERING PRESSURE HOSES (CAVITATION). STEERING BLEED OF AIR DID NOT FIX. (HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/)

NHTSA ID

10112296

Incident

Feb 25, 2005

Mileage

51,000 mi

DRIVING ON SNOW COVERED ROAD. POWER STERRING PUMP SHAFT FAILED MAKING TRUCK EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. POWER STEERING SHAFT FAILED-REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP-OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO BE MOVING SLOWLY .*AK

NHTSA ID

10106041

Incident

Jan 6, 2005

Mileage

74,108 mi

MY 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN MADE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY LUBED THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FOR $110.00. WHEN I GOT HOME I LOOKED THIS PROBLEM UP ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND LOTS OF COMPLAINTS AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND A REPLACEMENT SHAFT TO CORRECT WHAT APPEARS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT. I CAN NOT FIND THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP ON FINDING IT. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE WORK DONE AND WANT MY VEHICLE TO GET THE REPLACEMENT SHAFT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10104904

Incident

Dec 28, 2004

POWER ASSIST PUMP SHAFT BROKE LEAVING ME UNABLE TO STEER OR BRAKE. POWER ASSIST PUMP WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE AND OLD UNIT RETAINED BY DEALER VEH HAD TO BE TAKEN BY TOW TRUCK. *NM THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM STATING THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND LOW ON FLUID, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DISAGREED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10093895

Incident

May 5, 2004

Mileage

43,118 mi

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT, HOWEVER THE DRIVER MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE DEALER STATED THE POWER STEERING PUMP SHAFT HAD BROKEN. *JB *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10082034

Incident

Jun 19, 2004

Mileage

34,000 mi

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED OR VEHICLE DRIVEN OVER A PUMP IN THE ROAD ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN SHOOK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND PACKED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE PROBLEM RECURRED A YEAR LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10081602

Incident

Jul 9, 2002

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THEN, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SPIN THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE COLUMN WITHOUT TURNING THE TIRES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10063357

Incident

Mar 16, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPART FROM PICKING UP OUT TRAVEL TRAILER, BOTH THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WENT OUT ON OUR 2500 4 WHEEL DRIVE SUBURBAN. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE SUBURBAN WAS THE TRAILER'S BRAKES. LUCKLY WE WERE STILL IN THE PARKING LOT AND THEREFORE GOING SLOW. UPON EXAIMINATION, I PULLED THE SURPINETINE BELT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING PULLY AND SHAFT CAME OFF. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES ARE CONNECTED. THIS CAN ALSO HAPPEN WHEN THE BRAKE BOOSTER GOES OUT. THE GOOD THING IS THAT THIS NOT ONLY HAPPENED IN TOWN BUT NOT ON THE FREEWAY GOING DOWN A GRADE PULLING A 9,000 LBS TRAILER. I HAVE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE BRAKES BLEED AS THEY DON'T "FEEL" RIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10060670

Incident

Mar 1, 2004

Mileage

49,000 mi

MY 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAS THE POWER STEERING BRIEF FAILURE PROBLEM I READ ABOUT IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. USUALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING MOMENTARILY GIVING ONE A BRIEF MOMENT OF PANIC.

NHTSA ID

10053113

Incident

Jan 12, 2004

Mileage

35,000 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT INTERMIDIATE STEERING SHAFT PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LUBRICATION OF THE SHAFT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10046742

OIL CONSUMPTION, STEERING COLUMN, SIDE DOOR PANELS, REAR-END, SEATS CRACKING, FRONT POPPING NOISE, STEERS TO RIGHT CONSTANTLY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING THING SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2001. WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY HERE IN N.C. AND ALSO TALKED TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. DEALER SAID THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH OIL CONSUMPTION THAT THEY HAVE TRADED BECAUSE OF IT AND THEY JUST KEPT TELLING US IT IS WITHIN MANUFACTURE LIMITS. THEY HAVE TRIED TO FIX THE OIL PROBLEM BUT WITH NO SUCCESS. ALSO THE STEERING HAS BEEN BROKEN DOWN TWICE BECAUSE OF ITS PROBLEM. THE DOOR PANELS ARE STILL NOT FIXED AFTER 2 TRIES. THE REAR-END HAS BEEN WORKED ON 2 TIMES BECAUSE OF DIFFERENTIAL FLUID, THE STEERING WHEEL STILL SCRUBS WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS STARTING TO CRACK. THE CONSUMER PEOPLE IN RALEIGH WILL NOT HELP US AFTER WE FILLED THE COMPLAINT, THEY WROTE US AND TOLD US TO HIRE A LAWYER AND THE MANUFACTURE ONLY OFFERED US A $1000.00 OWNER/LOYALTY CERTIFICATE TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE. WHAT IS OUR NEXT STEP WITHOUT HIRING AN ATTORNEY? *JB

NHTSA ID

10041312

Incident

Apr 9, 2001

Mileage

3,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAIL, RESULTING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS IS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE POWER ASSIST AND POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THESE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED AND REPLACED IN JANUARY 2002. THE SECOND TIME OCCURRED IN FEBRUARY 2003. ON 6/11/2003 THE VEHICLE AGAIN SHOWED INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AND STEERING. THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO PULSATE, AND A HIGH-PITCHED WHINE COULD BE HEARD WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS WHEN BRAKING OVER ROUGH ROAD, SUCH AS RUMBLE STRIPS. AS THIS IS A THIRD PROBLEM WITH THESE CRITICAL COMPONENTS, THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE IS IN QUESTION. THE LAST VISIT TO THE DEALER WAS SAID TO BE LOOSE BOLTS ON THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX. THE POWER ASSIST DESIGN IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SERVICE WRITERS, SERVICE MANAGERS AND HAVE READ OTHER REPORTS CONCERNING OTHER INCIDENTS LIKE I EXPERIENCED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023075

Incident

Jun 12, 2003

Mileage

58,000 mi

I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SECOND FAILURE OF THE "POWER ASSIST" FEATURE ON MY 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURED DURING JANUARY OF 2002, AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED AT FOX CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN LAUREL, MD. IN THE 2002 EVENT, I EXPERIENCED A HIGH PITCH WHINING AND VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING, AS WELL AS THE BRAKE PEDAL. IN EFFECTING THIS REPAIR, CHEVROLET REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. DURING THE LATTER PART OF NOVEMBER 2002, THE HIGH PITCH WHINING AND VIBRATION RETURNED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BILL SEIDLE'S CHEVROLET IN CLERMONT, FL IN NOVEMBER OF 2002, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING OR BRAKING SYSTEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WERE WRONG. ON TUESDAY EVENING, 2/4/2003, WHILE DRIVING WITH MY SEVEN YEAR OLD, THE SAME HIGH PITCH WHINING, AND PULSING IN THE BRAKE PEDAL RETURNED. THIS TIME IT RESULTED IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WHILE EXITING A LOCAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM IN THE ORLANDO AREA. FORTUNATELY, I WAS DRIVING AS IT TOOK QUITE A BIT OF STRENGTH, TO STEER AND STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER THE LOSS OF THE POWER ASSIST SYSTEM. AT WHAT POINT DOES THE FAILURE OF SUCH A CRITICAL PART OF THIS VEHICLE GET LABELED AS A DEFECT IN THIS SYSTEM. THE FAILURE OF THIS SYSTEM, COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY TO ME AND MY FAMILY (SON). HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING THIS TRUCK, THE RESULT MAY HAVE BEEN GRAVELY DIFFERENT. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE REPUTATION FOR DURABILITY IN THE INDUSTRY, WITH THE EXPECTATION OF PURCHASING A QUALITY VEHICLE. I AM NOW FEARFUL OF PUTTING MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE AFTER A SECOND FAILURE OF THIS CRITICAL SYSTEM. I AM REQUESTING THAT I BE CONTACTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BY SOMEONE THAT CAN ADDRESS MY CONCERNS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT PLACING MY FAMILY IN A VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD THE POWER STEERING/BRAKING SYSTEM FAIL TWICE.

NHTSA ID

10005779

Incident

Feb 4, 2003

Mileage

58,821 mi