1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 Steering Problems

WHEN DRIVING AND ENTERING A CURVE THE POWER STEERING JERKS TO THE DIRECTION OF STEER. THIS IS SAID TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING POSITION SENSOR CAUSING THE VARIABLE ASSIST STEERING TO OVER-COMPENSATE AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER DANGEROUSLY. THE FORUMS ARE FULL OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED THIS SYSTEM.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET K1500. WHILE DRIVING ONLY 35 TO 45 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL ACTS AS IF IT IS GOING TO LOCK AND IT ONLY HAPPENS AT THOSE SPEEDS. HE WAS FORCED TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT; HOWEVER, IT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE IN THE DESIRED DIRECTION. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THEY HAVE REPAIRED THE ECM IN THE STEERING COLUMN FOR SEVERAL CHEVROLET K1500 VEHICLES. THE DEALER GAVE THE CONTACT AN ESTIMATE OF $70 TO REPLACE THE ECM; HOWEVER, DO NOT HAVE THE PART SINCE THE VEHICLE IS 12 YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,400. UPDATED 12/17/09 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO UNPLUG THE CONNECTION TO THE STEERING PUMP TO DETERMINE IF THE CAUSE OF THE HARD SPOT IN THE STEERING. THE CONSUMER DID SO AND THE CONDITION...

GOING THROUGH A LEFT HAND CURVE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30MPH TO 60MPH I GET A FEELING OF THE STEERING WHEEL WANTING TO DIVE & A BRIEF LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN GOING AROUND A LONG SWEEPING CURVE. IT HAPPENS ON EVERY LONG SWEEPING LEFT HAND CURVE. IF YOU AREN'T READY FOR IT YOU COULD LOSE CONTROL & HIT AN ONCOMING CAR HEAD ON. TO CORRECT THE FAILURE I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE SENSOR & I WILL KEEP THE OLD PART. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THESE SENSORS IS THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THESE ISSUES & SOME THAT HAD THEM REPLACED UP TO 3 TIMES IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. ALL AGREED THAT IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE PART INVOLVED IS CALLED THE "POWER STEERING SPEED SENSOR" (VARIABLE ASSIST POWER STEERING) & IS LOCATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE...

WHILE DRIVING ALONG A CURVE, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE. THIS HAPPENS WITH SLIGHT TO MODERATE CURVES, AS WELL AS SEVERE CURVES. THE PROBLEM BEGAN TO OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS NEW. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO WORSEN DURING COLD WEATHER. WE HAVE TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IN SEVERAL WAYS, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE. *NM

MY STEERING IN MY 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO IS ERRATIC. IT IS ULTRA EASY AT TIMES AND ULTRA DIFFICULT AT OTHERS. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO WHEN IT WILL SUDDENLY JERK OUT OF MY HAND. I HAVE HAD TO DISCONNECT MY STEERING SENSOR LOCATED ON MY STEERING COLUMN. THERE ARE MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS OUT FOR THIS ISSUE. THE WARRANTY PERIOD UNDER WHICH CHEVROLET WOULD INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE EXPIRED BEFORE I COULD TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHILE I WAS IN AGHANISTAN. MY VEHICLE NO LONGER FALLS UNDER THE WARRANTY PERIOD. MY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE DID NOT NOTIFY MY AT ANY TIME OF A RECALL/CONCERN. I WAS UNAWARE OF ANY CONCERNS UNTIL JUST RECENTLY. *NM

MY 1997 CHEVY 1500 PICKUP HAS A STEERING PROBLEM THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE WHEEL WILL JERK TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT AS YOUR ENTERING A TURN CAUSING THE TRUCK TO CROSS THE CENTER LINE OF THE ROAD. TO DATE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MECHANICS OFFER SUGGESTIONS RANGING FROM THE STEERING BOX TO STEERING SENSORS. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM TO THIS TRUCK, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SAME YEAR MODEL ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. I GUESS GM WILL WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED BEFORE THEY DECIDE RECALL THIS YEAR MODEL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB

STEERING SLIPPAGE PRIMARILY WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS OR GOING AROUND CURVES TO LEFT HAND SIDE. STEERING IS TIGHT AND THEN "SLIPS" CAUSING OVERSTEERING AT TIMES.*AK

I OWN A 1997 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REALLY HARD TO FIX BECAUSE IT COMES AND GOES AND IT DOES SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS. THE FIRST PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 1 1/2 TO 2 YEARS AGO AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE TO PROBLEM YET. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN YOU GO INTO A TURN TO THE LEFT, YOU CAN ACTUALLY LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE WHEEL WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER. THE TRUCK WILL ACTUALLY GO AROUND THE TURN BY ITSELF IF YOU LET GO OF THE WHEEL. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN YOU GO INTO A TURN IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN PULLED BY SOMETHING. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE ONE THAT HAS ME CONCERNED BECAUSE AT TIMES IT WILL OVER STEER WITHOUT YOU ACTUALLY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I...

VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING CONTROL DURING SHORT OR LONG RIGHT HAND TURNS. THE WHEEL SKIPS OR MOVES ON ITS OWN TO THE RIGHT CAUSING DRIVER TO OVER CORRECT THE WHEEL. *CB

CONSUMER SAW A RECALL NOTICE ON TV CONCERNING POWER STEERING. ALTHOUGH SHE DID NOT THINK THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE MANIFESTED A SIMILAR FAILURE. WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN VEHICLE CUT OFF. CONSUMER NOTICED THIS PROBLEM AROUND LOST STEERING. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM AROUND DECEMBER 2002 RIGHT AFTER SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A POWER STEERING PUMP ACCELERATOR. THE CONSUMER HAD THIS PART PUT ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER AND PULL TO THE LEFT. *AK *JB

VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STEERS INDEPENDENT OF DRIVER ACTION CAUSING WHELL TO PULL FROM THE DRIVER'S HANDS. NUMEROUS "NEAR ACCIDENTS" HAVE OCCURED DUE TO DEFECT. *AK

THE STEERING OF THE 1997 CHEVY SUBURBAN GIVES AN ALMOST TICKING, OR PULSATING MOVEMENT AS IT GOES THROUGH A STEADY WIDE SWEEPING CURVE. OTHER TIMES IT FEELS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL GETS LOCKED INTO A POSITION. IT'S TURNING STRAIGHT AND IT DOES NOT MATTER WHEN IT HAPPENS AND IT HAS TO BE PULLED HARDER IN THE DIRECTION DESIRED; IN ADDITION, IT GIVES A SLIGHT WHIPPING MOTION WHEN IT BREAKS FREE. *LA

STEERING HAS MIND OF ITS OWN. ITS LIKE THAT FEELING WHEN YOU ARE SITTING ON A CHAIR AND JUST ABOUT READY TO GO OVER, YOU CATCH YOURSELF... IT HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER MOST OFTN. WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY, IT JUSTS SEEMS FOR A BRIEF SECOND THE WHEEL IS ATTACHED TO NOTHING. DEALER SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. I THINK I WILL HIT A TRUCK NEXT WINTER........... *AK

AT JUST ABOUT ANY SPEED, WHEN STEERING TO LEFT OR RIGHT, STEERING JERKS. SO FAR, HASN'T CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS. WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN FEAR OF HER SAFETY AND OUR SON! PROBLEM STARTED INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. CAN'T COUNT THE NUMBER OF FAILURES. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST 2-3 TIMES A DAY WHILE DRIVING. AFTER TALKING WITH MANY OTHER OWNERS, I REALIZED MY SITUATION WAS NOT UNIQUE. *NLM

THE DEALERSHIP MADE 3 ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE LOOSE STEERING IN THE VEHICLE.*JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STRAIGHT FORWARD, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT INTERMITTENTLY. PH

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN QUICK AND HARD TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR BOX. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

WHEN TURNING TO LEFT VEHICLE OVERSTEERS. DEALER STATED THEAT POSITIONING SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR FAILURE CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO OVERSTEER AND BECOME VERY UNPREDICTABLE DURING TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, WHEEL SLIPS. DEALER REPLACED EVO SENSOR.*AK

SPEED SENSOR CAUSING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF VEHICLE TO OPERATE ERRATICALLY AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. *AK *SLC

SPEED SENSOR IN STEERING COLUMN IS CAUSING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF VEHICLE TO OPERATE ERRATICALLY AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. *AK

STEERING CONTROL SENSOR FAILED. *SLC

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT WHILE IN OR WHILE ENTERING A CURVE, CONSUMER STATES IT FEELS AS IF SOMEONE IS GRABBING STEERING WHEEL, DEALER SUGGESTED THE PROBLEM WAS THE EVO SENSOR, HOWEVER AT THE TIME THEY COULD NOT GET VEHICLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM, THEREFORE NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *SLC

STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR FAILED WHEN MAKING SHORT OR LONG RIGHT HAND TURNS, THE WHEEL SKIPS OR MOVES ON ITS OWN, WHEN THIS HAPPPENS THE CONSUMERS FIRST RESPONSE IS TO OVERCORRECT THE WHEEL. NLM

STEERING BECOMES ERRATIC AT SPEEDS OVER 35 MPH, VEHICLE WILL TURN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. STEERING POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES, PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.*AK

EA 99011; CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 75 MPH WHEN A DEER JUMPED OUT OF THE MEDIAN, CONSUMER SWERVED TO MISS DEER, BUT STEERING WHEEL OVERSTEERED, AND VEHICLE SLID INTO A DITCH AND ROLLED OVER.*AK

THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED INTERMITTENT STEERING PROBLEMS, WHICH PULLS THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY, UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *MJS

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN STEERING WHEEL WILL ACTUALLY TURN MORE, WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. STEERING SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN APRIL 1998/ AUG 1998, AND APRIL1999. SENSOR WAS STARTING TO GO AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD POWER STEERING IS NOT CONSTANT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL FROM ONE SIDE TO ANOTHER INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SENSOR ON POWER STEERING UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

CHECK STEERING WANDER AT HWY SPEEDS, REPLACED STEERING EVO SENSOR ASSEMBLY

EVO SENSOR ASSEMBLY FAILURE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WANDER. YH

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL IT JUMPED, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL TEMPORARILY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY PUT A PINION ROD ON, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE, CAUSING ERRATIC POWER STEERING OR LOSS STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY SCARY, AND AVOIDS DRIVING VEHICLE. ALSO, ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HAS POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE. *AK

STEERING IS DEFECTIVE. WHEN DRIVING AT 40- 50 MPH STEERING WHEEL JERKS AND HESITATES, AND TURNS TO THE LEFT. *AK

THE DESIGN OF SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING CAUSED SUDDEN OVER STEERING DURING TURNS OR LANE CHANGED. YH

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & WOULD MAKE TURN AROUND ON CORNER OR CURB AND VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY OVERSTEER BY ITSELF. LATER ,IT WOULD STRAIGHTEN UP ON ITS OWN. DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. PROBLEM WOULD BE INTERMITTENT. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC OF NO RECALLS. *AK

WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS ONLY THE STEERING WHEEL SHIFTS, CAUSING AN OVERTURN. WHEEL MOVES 1 TO 2 INCHES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR ONCE, THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. *AK

STEERING FAILURE. LOSS OF STEERING AT VARYING SPEEDS. WHEEL IS EXTREMELY LOOSE AND UNRESPONSIVE.INCIDENTS OCCURRED ABOUT 10 TIMES PRIOR TO MAJOR OCCURANCE.MAJOR OCCURRANCE NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED 'EVO' SENSOR.

WHEN TURNING A CORNER LEFT OR RIGHTSTEERING WHEEL JERKED IN THE DIRECTION THAT VEHICLE WASGOING. IF IT WAS SHARPER IT COULD PROBABLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SENSOR. *AK

HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST DIE BEFORE GM ISSUES A RECALL ON DEFECTIVE STEERING SPEED SENSORS? THIS IS A WELL-KNOW PROBLEM IN 1997 AND 1998 CHEVROLET PICKUP TRUCKS. THE DEALER CALLS THIS A 6.624 STEERING SENSOR FAILURE; PART NUMBER 26064468. THIS FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY CHANGE LANES WHEN CORNERING. I THINK IT IS DEPLORABLE FOR GM TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS TRUELY A LIFE-THREATENING COMPONENT FAILURE. *AK

STEERING SPEED SENSOR REPLACED TO FIX OVERSTEER PROBLEM; ABS REGULARLY FAIL TO KEEP WHEELS FROM LOCKING UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING; ELECTRONIC 4WD TRANSFER CASE CONTINUES TO STICK IN 4HIGH FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER DISENGAGED WITH BUTTON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT IS BEING JERKED RIGHT OUT OF DRIVER'S HAND, ERRATIC POWER STEERING. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING SENSOR IS BAD. *AK

EA99011, THE STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE STEERING TO BIND AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED IF STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED VEHICLE WILL GO INTO THE NEXT LANE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AND SLIGHTLY MOVING STEERING WHEEL, VEHICLE STEERS BY ITSELF, WILL CHANGE LANES, WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED 1/4 INCH. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE, BUT NO RECALLS OR KNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS WITH STEERING CONTROL CONTINUALLY, LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY WHEN PASSING OR IN LARGE SWEEPING CURVE. *YC

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE EXPERIENCES UNCONTROLLABLE STEERING MOVEMENT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

STEERING AND BRAKING FAILURE

VEHICLE STEERING CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCING CONTROL PROBLEMS, REPLACEMENT OF COIL,GEAR BOX AND STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR DID NOT RECTIFY STEERING PROBLEMS.