NHTSA Complaint #10137661 — 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE

I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN IN MY 2002 CHEV. TAHOE REPLACED TWICE AND FIXED ANOTHER. THE VEHICLE STARTS MAKING A NOISE WHEN IT IS TURNED. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE STEERING GETS LOOSE AND IT SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE WORN BALL JOINTS. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND OCCURS WITH THE OTHER SIMILAR GM VEHICLES (YUKON AND ESCALADE). I HAD MY STEERING COLUMN REPLACED IN JULY AND IT IS ALREADY MAKING THE NOISE AGAIN. THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT I DON'T SEE HOW IT COULDN'T BE. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL RUN OUT SOON AND THE NEXT TIME I REPLACE IT WILL BE OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE AN ISSUE THAT WOULD CAUSE ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *NM