NHTSA Complaint #10283649 — 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE THAT COULD BE FELT WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING COLUMN. EVENTUALLY BECAME A RATTLE SO BAD THAT IT WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM. #00-02-35-003C. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. IT WAS STATED ON THE N/C INVOICE THAT THE SOLUTION WAS 'REPACK STEERING SHAFT WITH GREASE KIT' PART #26098419, VEHICLE HAD 6,941 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. VEHICLE WAS FINE FOR SOME TIME, BUT BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DONE. VEHICLE NOW HAS JUST OVER 20,000 MILES AND IS STILL MAKING THIS NOISE AND THE FEELING IN THE STEERING COLUMN IS VERY BAD. FEELS AS IF SOMETHING IS GOING TO FALL APART AT ANY MOMENT. WE HAVE RECEIVED NO FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS SITUATION AND WILL NOW TRY TO CONTACT GM TO FIND OUT IF A SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN FOUND. IT ACTUALLY FEELS 'DANGEROUS', LIKE THE STEERING IS NOT 'SURE' AND VERY LOOSE AND SLOPPY. WE HAD A FRONT END ALIGNMENT PERFORMED JUST A MONTH AGO BUT THAT DID NOT IMPROVE THIS ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY IT IS THE STEERING SHAFT PROBLEM AGAIN. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO FIND OUT IF INDEED THERE IS NO SAFETY RISK. *TR