NHTSA Complaint #11315856 — 2016 GMC CANYON

I WAS DRIVING THE LISTED TRUCK ON A SIX LANE HIGHWAY (270) IN MISSOURI WHEN MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY BY USING EVERY BIT OF STRENGTH I HAD AND I'M A SIX FOOT TALL 200LB MAN. IT WAS SATURDAY BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND PROVIDED THEM WITH A MEMO DETAILING THE FAILURE. THEY WERE CLOSED FOR THE WEEKEND. THE STEERING HAD BEEN ACTING SUSPECT BEFORE AND IN FACT I HAD AN APPOINTMENT THE FOLLOWING MONDAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED. HAD IT BEEN MY WIFE OR GRANDDAUGHTER DRIVING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE RESULTS MIGHT HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. FOLLOWING MY EXPERIENCE I DID A SOCIAL MEDIA SEARCH AND FOUND MANY INCIDENTS IDENTICAL TO MINE WITH THE SAME TYPE OF TRUCK. MY TRUCK IS A GMC AND THE CHEVY COLORADO IS THE SAME. THIS TRUCK HAD 62,000 MILES AND I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE STEERING PUMP IS ELECTRICAL WHICH REPLACED AN OLD AND PROVEN HYDRAULIC STYLE THAT RARELY FAILED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING 60 YEARS AND NEVER HAD ONE FAIL . I QUESTION THE ABILITY OF GM ENGINEERING TO DESIGN A NEW TYPE OF PUMP THAT IS RELIABLE. THEIR INABILITY TO DO SO RESULTS IN A $1900 REPAIR NOT TO MENTION A POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE. IN MY CASE GM DID PICK UP A PORTION OF THE REPAIR BUT MY SHARE STILL EQUALED $750.