RoadVitals

2008 Chevrolet Uplander 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.
8
Latest Apr 30, 2020
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.
7%
of 118 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 2008 Chevrolet Uplander submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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

SteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 30, 2020

I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN MARCH AND ABOUT 3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING AND I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH CONTROLLING THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE A LOT OF SHAKING IN VIBRATIONS AND IT SEEM TO WANDER ACROSS THE ROAD BACK-AND-FORTH I TAKE ITI TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP AND I HAVE ATTACHED THE DOCUMENTS THAT THEY GAVE ME REGARDING WHAT NEEDED FIXED ON THE VIVO I BEGAN MAKING REPAIRS DOING THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS THE SWAY BAR LINKS THE CONTROL ARMS THEE IN TRANSMISSION PUSHING MOTOR MOUNT ON THE FRONT LOWERI DIDN'T OIL CHANGE. THEY'RE STILL AN ISSUE WITH CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL THERE'S LOTS VIBRATION AND THE CAR SEEMS TO WANT TO PULL TO THE RIGHT OR OF THE LEFT WHEN YOU ACCELERATE THERE'S A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR OR WHEN I ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE. IT ALSO LIKE THE CAR IS LEANING TO THE RIGHT ON ALL DIFFERENT ROAD TYPES IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE JUST AN INCLINE ROAD OR WENT 9A JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT RANDOMLY FALLS TO THE RIGHT I HAVE THEN EVERYTHING THAT I CAN I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND REPLACED A TIRE ON IT AND IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP TRYING TO BE DIAGNOSED I FEEL THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IT SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE THE TIRE IS GOING TO JUST GO OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING I DON'T KNOW IF THIS SOUNDS ARE COMING FROM THE FRONT OR THE BACK I DON'TWHAT I CAN DO TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM BUT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE I PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO IT AND LIKE I SAID I JUST PURCHASED IT SO ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN SUSPENSION ISSUES BRAKE ISSUES TRANSMISSION AND SHOES AH IF IT'S I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT I NEED THIS PROBLEM FIXED A AS APPLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME. IT DIDN'T APPEAR TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME WHEN I GOT THE VEHICLE A MONTH AGO BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO NOW EVERY SINGLE TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE IT'S VERY SCARY

NHTSA ID
11322872
Incident
Mar 17, 2020
Mileage
153,479 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 10, 2019

VEHICLE WONT START AT TIMES: AFTER DRIVING FOR AN HOUR OR SO AND MAKING SEVERAL STOPS SUCH AS SHOPPING STARTER WILL NOT ENGAGE OPENING THE HOOD TO ALLOW MOTOR TO COOL DOWN SEEMS TO HELP. TRYING TO START VEHICLE TAKES UP TO 15 TO 25 TRIES. ALL BATTERY CONNECTIONS SEEM TO BE SECURE. STARTER WAS REPLACED THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. OTHER ISSUES POWER STEERING LEAKING FROM UNDER CARRIAGE. PROBLEMS STARTED SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FEBRUARY 2019.

NHTSA ID
11254491
Incident
Feb 8, 2019
BrakesDriver assistanceOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Mar 7, 2015

ON 08/04/14 I TOOK MY 2008 CHEVY UPLANDER TO LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER ([XXX]) DUE TO ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WERE APPEAR ON THE SCREEN. THE TECH DIAGNOSED THAT 2 PROBLEMS WERE FOUND FAULTY LEFT FRONT HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY AND WIRING HARNESS. THE TECH REPLACED AND FIXED THE ISSUES. AND THIS YEAR ON 03/05/15 I HAVE THE SAME LIGHTS APPEAR ON MY SCREEN AGAIN (ABS & TRACTION CONTROL) AND I DID THE SAME THING TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALER ([XXX]) THE TECH DIAGNOSE THE SAME ISSUES OCCUR AGAIN. I REFUSE TOO HAVE THEM FIX AND WOULD LIKE GM START RECALL ALL 2008 CHEVY UPLANDER DUE TO HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY AND WIRING HARNESS PROBLEMS SINCE THE COST OF FIXING THESE ISSUES ARE BETWEEN $650 - $700. IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE FOR PERSON THAT LIVE ON PAYCHECK BY PAYCHECK EACH WEEK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10692699
Incident
Mar 5, 2015
Mileage
64,500 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 14, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,226.

NHTSA ID
10655074
Incident
Nov 11, 2014
Mileage
128,226 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Oct 4, 2014

ENGINE CUT OFF WITH RESULT OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. IT HAPPENED AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN IN WET ROAD CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING THROUGH THE SMALLEST OF PUDDLES. RESULTING LOSS OF ANY CONTROL OVER VEHICLE. ENGINE HAS KICKED BACK ON AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF UNCONTROLLABLE COASTING. SO FAR I HAVE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. BUT NOW I DO NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN RAIN OR THREAT OF RAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10641364
Incident
Sep 15, 2012
Mileage
35,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 18, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10626172
Incident
Aug 18, 2014
Mileage
140,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 26, 2013

WHEN DRIVING MY UPLANDER THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED WHILE I WAS TURNING. SYSTEM CHARGING FAILURE LIGHT HAS APPEARED. SERVICE CENTER TESTED ALTERNATOR AND EVERYTHING THEY COULD THINK OF AND WERE UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHY STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I WAS INFORMED TO DRIVE THE UPLANDER BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IF IT LOCKS AGAIN. I AM UNSURE HOW I'M SUPPOSE TO DRIVE IT WITH THE STEERING LOCKED. I HAVE HAD IT LOCK NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION. I HAVE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURN IT OFF THEN WAIT A FEW MINUTES. WHEN VEHICLE IS RESTARTED THE STEERING WHEEL WILL THEN TURN. I ASKED CHEVY SERVICE DEPT ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY STATED I COULD RENT A CAR FOR $35.00 A DAY BUT THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHEN OR IF THEY COULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY I ONLY HAVE ONE VEHICLE SO I MUST CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE UPLANDER AND PRAY I WILL NOT BE INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT OR ANYONE ELSE. I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL COMING ON WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. THEY KEPT TELLING ME THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND RESET THE CONTROLS. THE ABS AND TRACTION GOT SO BAD WHEN I TOOK IT IN THE LAST TIME THEY DEEMED MY UPLANDER UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND REFUSED TO GIVE IT TO ME. 1 MONTH LATER THEY CHANGED OUT THE ELECTRICAL BOX AND RETURNED IT TO ME. WHEN I READ THE PAPERWORK ON THE REPAIRS THEY STATED THE PASSENGERSIDE AIRBAG HAD BEEN REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504631
Incident
Oct 1, 2012
Mileage
115,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 1, 2011

THERE IS A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AS YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE 2008 UPLANDER AND MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2007 UPLANDER AND BOTH VEHICLES ARE MAKING THE SAME NOISE. CHEVROLET REPAIR SHOP SAYS COST OF REPLACE THE STEERING RACK WILL BE $750. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 49,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10393948
Incident
Apr 1, 2011
Mileage
49,000 mi

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 .