NHTSA Complaint #10671566 — 2014 CHEVROLET VOLT

BEGINNING AT APPROXIMATELY 11,000 MILES AND ON RELATIVELY STRAIGHT SECTIONS OF HIGHWAY ABOVE 50MPH, THE STEERING DEVELOPS A MECHANICAL LOCK OR CATCHING SENSATION THAT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 5LBS OF FORCE TO OVERCOME AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE FINE CHANGES TO THE STEERING TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT DRIVING. AFTER THE LOCKING IS OVERCOME, THERE IS THEN AN INCREASED DEGREE OF PLAY IN THE STEERING (A FEW DEGREES OF TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL RESULTS IN NO CORRESPONDING TURN IN THE FRONT WHEELS) THAT LEAVES ME WITH THE SENSATION THAT I AM NOT IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS MORE OF AN ANNOYANCE, BUT IT IS VERY FATIGUING AND DISTRACTING ON LONGER DRIVES TO BE CONSTANTLY GRAPPLING WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. INTERESTINGLY, I DISCOVERED EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM ON A RENTED CHEVROLET CRUZE IN DECEMBER. SINCE THE VOLT AND CRUZE SHARE MANY COMPONENTS, I WONDER IF THIS IS AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM. *TR