This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
When driving at highway speeds or even around town the vehicle randomly jerks to one side or another alignment was just done and was told all was good tires are new Pitman armor place ball joints replaced still having the issue of it darting specially when going around curves it wants to pull vehicle to the ditch and I look like I am driving drunk which I'm not I've had my mechanic try to inspect the issue he couldn't find it I heard they're made possibly be a TSB out for it but it's hidden
The steering pump has plenty of fluid in the reservoir and has been changed regularly. All of the sudden all power assisted steering disappeared when turning to the left making parking nearly impossible causing a great safety concern as this is my only vehicle and now my wife cannot take the truck anywhere. According to other owners, it's a common issue caused by the booster valve sticking shut and when I inquired about repair, I was quoted a part cost of 300 bucks which I don't have at all. Hopefully enough folks report this issue resulting in action taken by NHTSA even though the vehicle is almost 20 years old.
Have 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 4WD 5.3 engine A/T. was driving 45 mph when vehicle suddenly stalled out & lost all steering/brakes. 131,589 miles on odometer at time. Managed to coast vehicle onto shoulder, waited 2 minutes, started vehicle again, pulled out into busy traffic just to make it 2 blocks before stall out again. Repeated this process several more times before I found a gas station. Suspecting water in gas, added 1 bottle of gas line anti-freeze. Drove rest of way home without incident. Replaced fuel filter, PCV valve, air filter, spark plugs, and cleaned throttle body just to have stall out the very next day. No codes are displayed in message center in dash board. Stalls out randomly without a pattern. Wait 1-2 minutes then will start again.
I had just pulled away from my home ( approximately going 5 mph) and my steering wheeled locked to the right and I side swiped 2 parked vehicles. I had both hands on the wheel, was seat belted, not on my cell phone nor was I texting...my full attention was on driving and I had no control over the steering for a few seconds. I checked the power steering fluid and belts for any signs of leaks or wear, but there were no obvious signs of a malfunction. My great concern is, will this happen again...why did it happen and if those people were getting into their cars...I most probably would have killed them!
Sudden loss of power steering and very heaving steering requiring great effort. I made a hard U-turn and then found the steering was extremely heavy. It took both hands and a lot of force to steer the car. I pulled over, popped hood, and saw nothing wrong. No dash malfunction lights were on. At repair, the steering pump shaft had sheared where it necks down from about 3/4" to 3/8" diameter. An internet search provides many instances of the same failure. The dealer replaced the pump with a different part number which does not have the variable effort steering feature. I very much don't like the resulting lack of road feel and am pursuing that problem with the dealer. This sudden steering pump failure is a definite safety related issue.
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact heard a knocking sound coming from the wheels when the front wheels were turned. She stated that the cause of failure may be the upper intermediate steering shaft. The dealer and manufacturer stated that she would have to pay $275 for the repair. The dealer did not have any recalls for the failure. The contact feels that there should be a recall due to the many repairs related to the wheel failure. She stated that a running board light is dim on the front left side of her vehicle, which she has noticed on many Suburban. The current mileage is 65,000 and failure mileage was 40,000. Updated 02-01-08.
I have a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban, 1500 lt, 4WD. The Suburban was serviced routinely at the dealer and had 69,000 miles. The shaft in the power steering pump broke causing complete and total loss of steering control. Fortunately this happened off of the main roadway and at low speed, but caused a complete loss of steering ability. If this had happened on the highway at high speed, the events could have been fatal.
The truck had an ongoing problem with a clanging noise in the steering column, mostly when the steering wheel was turned. Consumer was afraid that it may cause a steering component to break, resulting in loss of steering, and could cause an accident. A service representative was contacted by phone and informed of the noise, to which he replied that there wasn't any recalls, and the noise was not dangerous/serious. The dealers tech indicated that the intermediate shaft was the cause of the problem.
While driving vehicle completely shut down. Consumer had to wait for about 15 minutes before starting it again. Consumer stated that he had this problem since purchasing the vehicle. It stalled intermittently. Consumer had the fuel pump replaced a total of five times. Also, fuel filter had to be replaced several times. The consumer stated that onstar called the problem code red. Consumer was told not to drive the vehicle. At 70 mph the vehicle would surge and lurch. The consumer stated that a clunking noise is heard when turning tight corners.
Follow up to see if an investigation has been opened regarding two vehicles with off center steering problems. Serial number #[xxx] and [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Popping noise and clinking felt in steering and excessive play. It is harder to turn to the right-literally you feel the wheel going around much further than if turning to the left, although it does not need an alignment. I took the vehicle to the dealer where they replaced the bushings and fixed lower clearance arms (which had excessive clearance). Picked it up and felt the same clinking and heard the noise again!! I returned it and the service manager took a test drive-he only had to turn out of the parking lot and he knew something was wrong. They replaced the steering shaft. After driving for a few days, I once again felt the same sensation and noise-not as bad as before but still there. Steering has a lot of play in it-I can rock it back and forth and it doesn't move the vehicle. If you go over any bump in the road you feel the clinking in the steering. It has once again been taken to the dealer for repairs. I also have problems stopping at around 20-30 miles per hour, especially over bumps-it does not feel like it will stop-brake pedal seems to go to the floor-I have to release it and press again-I have had several close calls. I reported this and the service dept. Told me this is how ABS works-I don't think so. There are too many complaints on this site of the same problem. This vehicle has 10,000 miles on it.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Maple Park, IL, USA