NHTSA Complaint #10100189 — 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

I HAVE A 2003 SUBURBAN THAT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN STEERING. THE STEERING ALSO FEELS LOOSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I ALSO TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS CLUNKING NOISE. THEY SAID IT ALWAYS HAPPENS AND THAT THEY WOULD TIGHTEN IT UP. THIS HOWEVER IS NOT ON MY INVOICE ONLY THE BRAKE INSPECTION. BRAKES CAME BACK FINE(ALTHOUGH THEY STILL SQUEAK) AND THEY SAID THAT THEY TIGHTENED THE STEERING PROBLEM UP. CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NOW I HAVE 41,000 MILES ON IT AND WE ARE GOING TO L.A. FOR THANKSGIVING. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP OF MY CHOICE FOR ONCE AGAIN A BRAKE INSPECTION AND THIS CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING. UPON ARRIVAL TO THE SHOP THE OWNER HAS AN 02 SILVERADO AND SAID HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH WAS CORRECTED BY CHEVY. APPARENTLY THEY ARE REPLACING THE STEERING SHAFT NOW. BEFORE THEY WERE REMOVING IT AND LUBING IT AND THEN PUTTING IT BACK. WHEN MY MECHANIC ASKED IF THEY WOULD COVER IT THEY SAID NO BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED EVEN THOUGH I BROUGHT IT IN BEFORE FOR THIS BUT I HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT THIS. MY MECHANIC ASKED TO GET THE PART BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. SOUNDS LIKE CHEVY IS GOING THROUGH QUITE A BIT OF THESE, THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED IN MY OPINION. I KNOW ANOTHER PERSON WITH A SILVERADO HD AND HIS CLUNKS ALSO. I'M NOT SURE WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE AND DON'T KNOW IF IT IS DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD NO INJURIES OR CRASHES FROM THIS YET. PLEASE HELP IF POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.*AK