NHTSA Complaint #10981588 — 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500

2016 SILVERADO 3500 EQUIPPED WITH "DIGITAL STEERING ASSIST" THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. AT APPROXIMATELY 11,000 MILES STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE WITH ABOUT 3-4 INCHES OF FREE PLAY AT THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK TO 1ST DEALER, STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET TSB AND SYSTEM WORKED AS DESIGNED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-4K MILES. AT THAT TIME STEERING AGAIN BECAME LOOSE BUT NOT AS BAD AS THE FIRST TIME, ABOUT 1-2 INCHES OF FREE PLAY AT THE WHEEL WITH WHAT FEELS LIKE TOO MUCH POWER STEERING, VERY LIGHT, DANGEROUSLY LIGHT STEERING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 2, SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT DEALER STATED SYSTEM WORKING AS DESIGNED, AT THIS TIME THE DIGITAL STEERING ASSIST WORKED AS IT SHOULD FROM 0 MPH TO 45 MPH ABOUT 1-2 INCHES OF FREE PLAY AT THE WHEEL WITH WHAT FEELS LIKE TOO MUCH POWER STEERING WITH VERY LIGHT STEERING FROM 46-74 MPH, THEN WORKS AS DESIGNED FROM 75 MPH ON. I WENT FOR A TEST DRIVE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE STATED "I FEEL EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING TIGHT FROM 0-45 THEN LIGHT FROM 46-74 THEN TIGHT FROM 75 ON BUT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING AS DESIGNED". IN SPITE OF THIS THEY CHANGED STEERING GEAR BOX AGAIN, 3RD PART, WITH SAME RESULT. WORKS AS IT SHOULD FROM 0 MPH TO 45 MPH ABOUT 1-2 INCHES OF FREE PLAY AT THE WHEEL WITH WHAT FEELS LIKE TOO MUCH POWER STEERING, VERY LIGHT STEERING FROM 46-74 MPH, THEN WORKS AS DESIGNED FROM 75 ON. TRUCK IS USED TO PULL 9.000 LBS ENCLOSED TRAILER. PULLING ENCLOSED TRAILER AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS IN WINDS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES EXHAUSTING CONCENTRATION AND CAUSES SEVERE FATIGUE AFTER ONLY 150-200 MILES. THIS IS THE VERY THING DIGITAL STEERING ASSIST WAS SUPPOSED TO ELIMINATE. VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 45-75, AND ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING THROUGH THE 44-46 MPH RANGE WHILE TURNING DUE TO SUDDEN CHANGE IN STEERING PRESSURE FROM SYSTEM SUCH AS ON/OFF RAMPS