NHTSA Complaint #10168178 — 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

IN SEPTEMBER 2003, I PURCHASED A2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Z71. ON FEBRUARY 6, 2005, I HAD TO HAVE A "LUBE PACK" REPLACED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. EVERYTIME I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2005, I HAD TO HAVE THE "LUBE PACK" REPLACED AGAIN, FOR THE SAME REASON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER AGAIN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME NOISE. HE TOLD ME, AFTER CHECKING IT, THAT IT WOULD BE BEST IF I WAITED A LITTLE LONGER, BECAUSE GM WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE "LUB PACK" ONE MORE TIME AT THEIR COST. AFTER SEARCHING FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE WEB SITE, I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS PROBLEM; MANY OTHER PURCHASERS OF GM TRUCKS ARE HAVING THE PROBLEM AND IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE 1999. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT PART OF NHTS'S JOB WAS TO INVESTIGATE AND SEE THAT CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN SO THAT THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS WAS INSURED. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT NO ONE, ESPECIALLY NHTS, KNOWS WHETHER THIS STEERING PROBLEM CONSTITUTES A DANGEROUS CONDITION. I REALIZE THAT A RECALL OF VEHICLES TO FIX THE PROBLEM WOULD BE MOST EXPENSIVE FOR GM, WHICH IS HAVING FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME, BUT GM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING NOTHING ABOUT A PROBLEM THAT COULD BE A SERIOUS ONE, EVEN IF JUST ONE LIFE IS LOST BECAUSE OF IT. *NM