1997 Chevrolet Silverado steering problems

STEERING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT INTERMITTENTLY. THE PULLING OCCURS SUDDENLY AND LAST FOR ONLY A SECOND. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED FOR THE PROBLEM BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP IN 2000. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS UNABLE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PULLING. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER YESTERDAY. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE A POSSIBLE CAUSE BY PHONE AND SUGGESTED REPAIRING THE STEERING SENSOR. *NM UPDATED 03/17/06.

NHTSA complaint #10147904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1997, STEERING PINION GEAR SEPARATION. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE PULLED TO LEFT OR RIGHT REAL HARD AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE JUST LIKE THE CHEVROLET MALIBU HE HAD WHICH HAD A RECALL ON THE RACK AND PINION, WHICH NEVER EXHIBITED A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10115924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

BELOW IS A COPY OF THE E-MAIL I HAVE SENT TO THE DEALERSHIP HERE IN AUBURN AL. I DID NOT GET AN E-MAIL BACK SO CALLED A FEW DAYS LATE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WOULD BE $240 . I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS OCCURRED IN MANY CASES AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I KNOW OF 4 GM TRUCKS WITHIN 1997-1998 RANGE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS! AT THIS TIME NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND I HOPE THAT AN ACCIDENT IS NOT CAUSED BECAUSE OF IT. DYAS, I HAVE A "97 SILVERADO EXT CAB 2WD 1500 WITH A 350 VORTEX. DYAS HAS DONE RECALL WORK FOR ME IN THE PAST (WIPERS). I HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WILL COME AND GO EVERY FEW WEEKS THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE STEERING. DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN, BUT I WILL DO MY BEST. IT WILL SEEM TO SURGE IN TURNING POWER WHILE TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, CAUSING YOU TO HAVE TO STEER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHILE IN A CURVE TO ADJUST COURSE. IT CAN BE VERY NERVE-RACKING FOR ME AND FOR SOMEONE THAT IS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM I CAN SEE WHERE IT COULD EASILY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. MY FATHER WAS ACTUALLY UNAWARE AND HAS INSISTED THAT I HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS. IT BECOMES EVEN MORE DANGEROUS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME TYPE OF CONTROL MODULE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE POWER STEERING ON THESE TRUCKS..? WHICH HAS LED ME TO INQUIRE NOW ABOUT A RECALL / REPAIR FOR THE PROBLEM. BEING A COLLEGE STUDENT A COSTLY REPAIR MAY NOT BE AN OPTION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM REGARDLESS OF COST.

NHTSA complaint #10078457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

VEHICLE HAS SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE LANES WITHOUT NOTICE. OWNER HAD THE SPEED SENSOR DISCONNECTED.

NHTSA complaint #10066687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. CONSUMER LOST THE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER INDICATED DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION FAILED. *AK CONSUMER CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, AND WAS TOLD TO FIX THE VEHICLE AT OWN EXPENSE. IF VEHICLE WAS RECALLED, CONSUMER WOULD BE REIMBURSED AT A LATER TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10059265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

IN JANUARY 2004 THE NEWS REPORTED A RECALL ON CHEVROLET CARS WITH THE EXACT PROBBLEM I HAVE BEEN HAVING SINCE 2000. THE POWER STEERING WILL OVER-ASSIST CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO JERK AND HENCE THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY STEER RIGHT OR LEFT. IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN ON A CURVE OR WHEN DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THIS PROBLEM IS UNPREDICTABLE AND HAS CAUSED SOME NEAR MISSES AND SCARY MOMENTS, PARTICULARLY WHEN DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SNOW COVERED STREETS. THE FAILURE OCCURS FREQUENTLY AND LASTS FOR A DAY OR A WEEK AT A TIME THEN GOES AWAY FOR AN UNDETERMINABLE PERIOD. BEFORE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE TEST DRIVING OTHER 1997 PICKUPS. SINCE THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON CHEVROLET CARS I FEEL IT SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE C/K, SILVERADO PICKUPS AS WELL. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE AN ACCIDENT WILL OCCUR.

NHTSA complaint #10056775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. SOME TIMES WHEN DRIVING AND MAKING EITHER A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN IT FELT AS IF POWER STEERING SHUT OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THERE WAS A DEVICE BUILT INTO THE VEHICLE FOR PROTECTION. *AK THE EVO (EXHAUST VALVE OPENING) WAS REPLACED. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10057470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL JERK TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10055748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AT 45 MPH STEERING FELT LOOSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE 8 O'CLOCK POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #10055488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AND A LEFT TURN WAS MADE, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. *JB

NHTSA complaint #10054143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO EXT. CAB. 1500 SERIES, AT LOW SPEED I AM EXPERENCING INTERMITTENT LOSS IN MY POWER STEERING ON LEFT TURNS.

NHTSA complaint #10053224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL GETS LOOSE. IF I'M ON A ROAD WITH A CURVE AND I HAVE PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT LET'S SAY OR LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SUDDENLY LOOSEN UP AND QUICKLY TURN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PRESSURE I'M APPLYING. AS IF OPENING A JAR. IT GETS THAT LOOSE. I ALMOST HIT A COUPLE OF PARKED CARS BECAUSE OF THIS. THE ONLY REASON WE FOUND OUT ABOUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS IS WE OVERHEARD A CHEVY OWNER SHOWING SOMEONE THE PART HE HAD TO CHANGE. THIS WAS AFTER WE HAD THE FRONT END DONE TO NO AVAIL. THIS GUY HAD THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF FRONT END WORK DONE AT THREE DIFFERENT CHEVY DEALERS TO NO AVAIL. OUR PART COST $50 AND THE LABOR WAS $100. I'VE TALKED TO TAHOE OWNERS AND RODE IN THEIR VEHICLES AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DID. WE HAD TO TELL THEM WHAT THE FIX WAS. PRETTY LAME SEEING THE DEALERS DON'T EVEN KNOW. IF CHEVY WOULD AT LEAST TELL THEIR MECHANICS IF THEY WON'T RECALL. BY THE WAY THE PART IS A EVO SENSOR AND IT RAPS AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN INSIDE THE VEHICLE RIGHT ABOVE THE BRAKE PEDAL. WE WOULD HAVE CHANGED IT OURSELVES BUT YOU HAVE TO FOOL WITH THE AIRBAG, SO WE PAID SOMEONE TO DO IT. ALSO, THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED HUNDREDS OF TIMES BEFORE WE FIXED IT. THERE WASN'T JUST ONE INCIDENT DATE AS YOU MADE ME FILL OUT ON YOUR FORM. THANK-YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10047091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL GIVES AND CAUSES TEMPORARY STEERING LOSS. TS THE VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED THE FOLLOWING FAILURES, THE PCV VALVE MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE #2 AND #3 HEAT SHIELDS IN THE TRANSMISSION TO CRACK. THIS MALFUNCTION WAS REPAIRED AND NOW THE 4 LOW GEAR IS INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE FUEL PUMP, OXYGEN SENSOR, AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND PUMP MALFUNCTIONED. NOTICEABLY AFTER PURCHASE, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT GIVES WHEN BRAKING.

NHTSA complaint #8023926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

AUTO THEFT.

NHTSA complaint #760896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

AUTO THEFT.

NHTSA complaint #760896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING BOX WAS THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8005872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHILE TRAVELING AROUND A CURVE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO TRAVEL INTO OTHER LANE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE EOV SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #899193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

I HAVE TWO GM TRUCKS ONE A 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND ONE A 1997 GMC SIERRA K-2500 THIS WILL BE THE THIRD REPLACMENT OF THIS STEERING PART, IT IS A DANGER BECUSE WHEN YOU TURN THE VEHICLE OVER STEERS LIKE YOU JUST HIT ICE. ITS A SIMILAR FEELING TO HITING THE BRAKES AND THE WHEEL BEING JERKED OUT OF YOUR HAND. THIS WOULD BE VERY HAZARDEST ON ICE COVERED ROADS. BOTH TRUCKS HAVE ONLY ABOUT 42K MI. AND HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE ABOUT 15K MI. I HAVE REPLACED THREE NOW. THE DEALERS SAY IT IS A VERY COMMON PARK TO REPLACE.

NHTSA complaint #747585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHILE MAKING A TURN BY TURNING STEERING WHEEL VEHICLE TRAVELED LIKE ICE WAS ON ROAD, SOON AFTER RETURNING TO NORMAL TRAVEL. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFNORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #888819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR (SWP, MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN ABOVE THE BRAKE PEDAL) SENDS AN INPUT TO THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE (PSCM) WHICH IN TURN THEN CONTROLS POWER STEERING PUMP FLUID FLOW BASED ON VEHICLE SPEED AND STEERING WHEEL POSITION. THIS ELECTRICAL STEERING CONTROL SYSTEM IS CAUSING A VERY SERIOUS INTERMITTANT STEERING PROBLEM ONLY DURING A RIGHT HAND TURN. THIS HAS TWICE ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS THE NATURAL REACTION TO THIS FAILURE (WHICH MANIFESTS ITSELF AS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL) IS TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL FURTHER TO THE RIGHT TO REGAIN STEERING CONTROL. IN BOTH NEAR ACCIDENT SITUATIONS THERE WAS A CAR ON MY RIGHT SIDE WHICH I CAME CLOSE TO HITTING. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE THE FASTER YOU GO AND AT LOW SPEED NOT MUCH OF A CONCERN BUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT IS SERIOUS. THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS. DEALER, WHICH HAS BEEN COURTEOUS AND HELPFULL, TELLS ME THEY HAVE HAD TWO TRUCKS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS IN FOR THE SAME TROUBLE (SWP SENSOR) AND A CO-WORKER ALSO HAS THE SAME TROUBLE, SO THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AFFECTING OTHER GM VEHICLES INCLUDING SUBURBAN, TAHOE, YUKON AND SIERRA. I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED AT THIS TIME BUT PLAN TO REPLACE THE SWP SENSOR MYSELF QUITE SOON AS THE DEALER SAYS MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES. ESTIMATED DEALER REPAIR COST IS 160.00. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND IS THE FIRST TIME IN SOME 30 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE ENCOUNTERED A MALFUNCTION OF THIS TYPE, WHEN IT HAPPENS AT FREEWAY SPEED IT GETS YOUR ATTENTION VERY FAST! AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE ROLL OVER AS WELL SHOULD THE DRIVER JERK ON THE WHEEL TO HARD TO CORRECT IT. I FEEL CHEVROLET IS AWARE OF THIS TROUBLE AND SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY COVERAGE AS LAW SUITES AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT/S WILL COST THEM MUCH MUCH MORE.

NHTSA complaint #745552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN STEERING WHEEL SLIPS. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #888392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

STREEING ON VEHICLE JERKS FROM ONE SIDE OR OTHER , SOMETIMES IT PULLS REAL HARD TO ONE SIDE, AND SOMETIMES NOT HARD AT ALL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY HAVE TRIED TO FIX PROBLEM TWICE ALREADY, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.*AK INSTALLING A NEW SENSOR SOLVED THE PROBLEM. DRIVE BELT AND TENSIONER REPLACED BECAUSE THE STEERING IS HARD TO TURN

NHTSA complaint #882460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

STEERING LOCKS WHILE MAKING A TURN AND WHILE BRAKING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #785236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

ERRATIC STEERING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK SPEED DEPENDENT STEERING ELECTRONIC VARIABLE DEVICE SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING ERRATIC.

NHTSA complaint #874806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

STEERING SENSOR GOES OUT MAINLY AT HIGH SPEED. STEERING GETS REAL TIGHT. FASTER CONSUMER GOES. WHEN VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN STEERING IS SO LOOSE, IT'S LIKE BEING ON ICE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. IT'S BEEN REPAIRED 10 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THERE IS NO REMEDY.*AK THE SENSOR HAD BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL NOT SOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #870964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

FAULTY STEERING SENSOR; REPLACED ONE SENSOR AT 16,000 MILES OR LESS, THE SECOND SENSOR FAILED AT 31000 MILES AND REPLACED. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #869305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING DUE TO STEERING WHEEL SENSOR FAILURE. YH

NHTSA complaint #553340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

SEVERAL TIMES DURING LONG SWEEPING TURNS THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME MORE EFFECTIVE AND A QUICK CORRECTION WAS NEEDED TO REMAIN IN MY LANE. AS IT WAS, THE TRUCK BECOMES SLIGHTLY UNBALANCED DUE TO THE QUICK CHANGES AND THIS COULD BE A REAL PROBLEM .

NHTSA complaint #723499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. *AK

NHTSA complaint #863912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. POWER STEERING SHAFT PUMP BROKE INTERNALLY. CONTACTED THE DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #863166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.