NHTSA Complaint #10432892 — 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500

WHEN TRAVELING ON A GRAVEL ROAD OR DRIVING ON SOME PAVED ROADS, THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY TRUCK PULLS BACK AND FORTH IN MY HAND AND GRABS ON BUMPS. THIS SUMMER THE PROBLEM WAS SO SEVERE I GOT UNDER THE TRUCK TO SEE WHAT MAY BE CAUSING THE MOVEMENT. I FOUND OUT THERE WAS NO STEERING STABILIZER SHOCK INSTALLED ON THE TRUCK. THE BRACKETS TO HOUSE THE STABILIZER SHOCK ARE THERE, BUT THE STEERING STABILIZER SHOCK ITSELF IS NOT THERE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE TRUCK DOESN'T COME WITH A STEERING STABILIZER SHOCK. HE DIDN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHY THE TRUCKS DON'T COME WITH THE STABILIZER SHOCK, BUT THERE IS AN AFTER-MARKET PART THAT THE CUSTOMER CAN ORDER AND THEY WILL INSTALL FOR ABOUT $200. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS TO ASK FOR AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY SUCH AN IMPORTANT STEERING COMPONENT WAS NOT PROVIDED IN THE TRUCK. RAMON FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED ME TO EXPLAIN THAT THE TRUCK WAS "DESIGNED" WITHOUT THE STEERING STABILIZER SHOCK. THERE WERE BRACKETS TO HOUSE THE SHOCK INCLUDED FROM THE FACTORY AND INDEED THERE IS AN AFTER-MARKET SHOCK I COULD BUY AND HAVE INSTALLED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I ARGUED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FELT THAT THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE FACTORY ISSUE. THE TRUCK SHOULD COME WITH THE SHOCK AND IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WITHOUT IT. I DON'T BELIEVE PEOPLE WHO ARE BUYING THE NEW TRUCKS ARE EVEN AWARE THAT THE STEERING STABILIZER SHOCK IS MISSING. IT WILL BE JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY STABLE STEERING FAILURE. I WOULD LIKE IT PUT ON RECORD THAT IF ANY INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS ARE CAUSED BY THIS "DESIGN" FLAW, THERE SHOULD BE RECOURSE PUT DIRECTLY UPON THE SHOULDERS OF GENERAL MOTORS WHO DELIVERED THE TRUCKS WITHOUT THIS IMPORTANT PART, WHO REFUSES TO PUT THE PART ON WHEN THE CUSTOMER FINDS OUT, AND DOES NOT EVEN TELL THE CUSTOMER THAT THE PART IS NOT THERE.