NHTSA Complaint #10315948 — 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

POWER ASSIST TO THE STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THIS STARTED OCCURRING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST NEW AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT DIDN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WHEN BROUGHT IN FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS. NOW THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE. AT LOWER SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY UNDER 25 MPH, THERE IS OFTEN LITTLE OR NO POWER ASSIST TO THE STEERING. THIS MAKES IT ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TO GO AROUND CORNERS AND MANEUVER IN PARKING LOTS. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2000-2006 SILVERADO AND SIERRA PICKUPS, AS WELL AS TAHOES, SUBURBANS AND YUKONS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT IN THAT THE POWER ASSIST CAN SUDDENLY CUT OUT WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE OR CORNER, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON COURSE AND AVOIDING STRIKING STATIONARY OBJECTS OR PEDESTRIANS. AS THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1000 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RACK TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. TRUCK IS PARKED AND NOT BEING USED NOW, AS IT IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED. *TR