2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE ABS, CHECK ENGINE, AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I PURCHASED MY CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCK IN 2003 NEW OFF THE LOT AT [XXX] IN ROSEVILLE CALIFORNIA. WITHIN A COUPLE YEARS, I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND LOST POWER. I NEARLY HIT A HOMELESS MAN WITH A SHOPPING CART, AS I CAME UP OVER A SIDEWALK. I CALLED CHEVY AND GOT TOWED BACK IN. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A SOLENOID? THEY FIXED IT AND THAT WAS THAT. A YEAR LATER, I AM DRIVING DOWN A BUSY MAJOR STREET AND MAKE A LEFT TURN. AS TURNING I LOSE POWER AND MY TRUCK DIES. CARS BEHIND ME HONKING. LIGHT CHANGES TO RED AND CARS STILL BEHIND ME. NOW OTHER LIGHTS ARE GREEN. I TURN MY KEY AGAIN AND IT TURNS ON AND I GET OUT OF THE WAY. I HAVE 4 TEENAGERS IN MY TRUCK WITH ME SCREAMING. I TAKE MY TRUCK TO [XXX] AND THEY TEST...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER REVISED THE STEERING BOX BECAUSE OF THE FAILURES, BUT DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

HAD FUEL IN OIL NEW INJECTORS REPLACED AND 5000 MILES LATER HAD TO REPLACE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP LEAKING ON BOTTOM. NOW TRUCK LOSE FUEL FROM FILTER AND HAS TO BE HAND PUMPED TO START TRUCK CAN SAT FOR DAYS AND BE OK OR MAY SAT FOR JUST COUPLE HOURS LOSE FUEL PRESSURE. HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE STEERING PUMP REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED DURING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $350. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE POWER STEERING BOX; HOWEVER, IT HAS NOT YET BEEN REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER IS WAITING FOR A DIAGNOSTIC FROM THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500. UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF THE POWER STEERING FAILED AT PARKING LOT SPEEDS, THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN UNTIL VEHICLE SPEED WAS INCREASED. UPDATED 10/07/08. *JB

WE HAVE A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO WITH 58,000 MILES. THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING SHAFT. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT IT I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE GREASED BUT THE NOISE WOULD RETURN. MY SON IS AN AUTO SALESMAN AND HAS TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OR HAVE HAD THE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED. SHOULD NOT THE DEALER OR GM IN PARTICULAR BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR

2003 CHEVY SILVERADO AND TAHOE WITH DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFT. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THEY REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT IT ONLY LASTS A FEW THOUSAND MILES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. *KB

CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN. GM FLAW IN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, THAT SOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

ON 25500HD SILVERADO, STEERING HAS TO MUCH FREE PLAY AND IS SLOPPY. STEERING ALSO WANDERS. HAD ALIGNMENT DONE 3 TIME WITHIN 2 MONTH PERIOD, AND STEERING SHAFT REPLACEMENT PER BULLETIN - DID NOT CORRECT SITUATION. STILL WONDERS TO LEFT. NOT SAFE WHEN HAULING A TRAILER OR NOT. TO DATE THIS HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED PROPERLY. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE STEERING MAKES A RATTLE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED OR RESOLVED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND BELOW, THE STEERING ALLOWED TOO MUCH PLAY AND MANEUVERED LOOSELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE RACK AND PINION HAD A SLIGHT LEAK. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPONENTS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE SUCH AS WHEEL BEARINGS, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS, CONTROL ARMS, STEERING GEAR, SHOCKS, STEERING LINKAGES, COILS SPRINGS, WHEEL HUBS STEERING COLUMN AND THE POWER STEERING GEAR. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AND LUBRICATED THE LAST TIME. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE STEERING DESIGN WAS FLAWED, WHICH CONTAINS A LOOSENESS THAT CAN'T SEEM TO BE CORRECTED. THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED AT TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THE CLUTCHES WERE BURNT AND GLAZED. THE TIRES WERE EXHIBITING PREMATURE WEAR. UPDATED 08/02/06. *JB UPDATED 04/16/08

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN THE OUTSIDE CONDITIONS ARE COLD THE STEERING IS STIFF. THIS OCCURS AT ANY SPEED. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE VALVE IN THE POWER STEERING. THIS HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, #10013533, REGARDING THIS, BUT NO REPAIR AVAILABLE. THE WATER PUMP GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE TRANSFER CASE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/22/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 5MPH, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAD 21,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE STEERING SHAFT WAS FRACTURED AND BROKEN. THE DEALER MADE ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE STEERING SHAFT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED AT 10,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS OCCASIONALLY DRIVEN AND ONLY ON PAVED ROADS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS OCCURRED WHILE TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND DURING NORMAL STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT WHICH REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 03/03/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE PURCHASE, EVERY SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, THERE IS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT 4 TIMES, BUT THIS HAS NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 3/17/2006 - *NM

WHEN TURNING VEHICLE AT SLOW SPEED, "CLUNKING" HEARD AND FELT THROUGH STEERING WHEEL. GM DEALER IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS DEFECTIVE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THERE IS A HUGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. IF THE SHAFT FAILS, WOULD THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING? WHY IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ITEM NECESSITATING A RECALL? *NM

KNOCKING FEELING THROUGH STEERING WHEEL AND FLOOR WHILE TURNING AND ON BUMPS AS IF SOMETHING IS LOOSE. STEERING SHAFT REPLACED AT 13K MILES, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. NOW VEHICLE HAS 17600 MILES AND PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. DEALER REFUSES TO ATTEMPT ANY REPAIR. *JB

DT: 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WAS POPPING. THIS WOULD OCCUR WHEN VEHICLE WOULD HIT A LITTLE BUMP OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT 20,000 MILES, AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT ON JUNE 21, 2004. THE VEHICLE STARTED DOING IT AGAIN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AT APPROXIMATELY 41,000 MILES. THE CONSUMER WADS GOING TO CALL AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT IN AGAIN. *AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. *NM

LOOSENESS IN FRONT END STEERING. CLUNKING AND WOBBLE IN FRONT END FELT THROUGH STEERING WHEEL. REPEAT OCCURRENCE. FIRST TIME REQUIRE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACEMENT PN 88963611. FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED AT 28162 MILES, SECOND OCCURRENCE HAPPENED AT APPROX 46,000 MILES. PROBABLE DESIGN FLAW. *JB

DT: CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLANKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN FOR ABOUT A PERIOD OF 2 YEARS. HE HEARD THE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE GOING OVER A BUMP. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. DEALERSHIP TRIED TO PUT A LUBE KIT IN IT, AND IT DID NOT HELP IT. THE DEALER ORDERED A KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY AND REPLACED IT. ROUGHLY 10,000 MILES LATER IT STARTED TO MAKE THE NOISE AGAIN. ON 7-26 HE NOTICED THAT WHEN TURNING OFF THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKING. IT OCCURRED AT ANY SPEED. *AK

DT:CONTACT STATED THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE PEDAL WENT DOWN VERY FAR AND WAS SPONGY. IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR THE TRUCK TO STOP. THE CONSUMER STATED PUMPING THE PEDAL DID NOT HELP. CONTACT BOUGHT VEHICLE NEW AND WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM SOMEWHAT SINCE HE PURCHASED IT, BUT DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS SO BAD UNTIL HE DROVE OTHER VEHICLES. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN THE CONSUMER DROVE 45 MPH DOWN A GRAVEL ROAD, AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, THERE WAS NO ABS FUNCTION AND THE WHEELS DID NOT LOCK. ALTHOUGH THE TRUCK DID EVENTUALLY STOP, IT TOOK A GREAT DISTANCE TO DO SO. THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. *JB

VEHICLE SHIFTS HARD AND MAKES CLUNKING SOUND IN ALL GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY SLIPPING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS AND SLAMS INTO SECOND GEAR. ALSO HAVING INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH TRUCK SLIPPING IN FIRST GEAR FROM A DEAD STOP. THERE IS A CONSTANT "KNOCKING" FEELING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND TURNING. DEALER CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL GM CUSTOMER FOR YEARS AND AM EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED.*AK

WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS PRODUCED. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

THE STEERING SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED THREE TIMES. THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART, AND IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT THE PARTS WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. *AK THERE WAS A POPPING AND CRACKING SOUND. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. *SC THE PART WAS FINALLY REPLACED. *JB

DEFECTIVE SEAL IN STEERING MECHANISM. ( IN THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ) A REPAIR KIT IS OFFERED BUT IS ONLY TEMPORARY FIX. WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THIS IS COMMON AND MAY HAVE TO BE REPEATED EVERY 15 TO 20,000 MILES AT OWNERS COST. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *AK

WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE DEALER STATED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

KNOCK IN FRONT END, FELT IN STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS, NORMALLY WHEN TURNING. SERVICED EVERY THREE THOUSAND MILES (DOCUMENTED), AND I ASKED THE SHOP FORMAN/MANAGERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM SINCE EARLY 2003 WHEN IT WAS FIRST NOTICED. WAS FINALLY TOLD IT WAS A SPLINE (?) NEEDING LUBED OR REPLACED BY A DEALERSHIP AND WAS ALSO ADVISED TO CONTACT GM AS IT IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE EARLY 2003 AND DEALERSHIPS NEW ABOUT IT THEN, HOWEVER, DIDN'T KNOW HOW OR WHAT TO DO TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS. NOW VERY NOTICEABLE. SAFETY PROBLEM (??) . *NM

WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, THE CONSUMER HEARD A DISTURBING NOISE COMING FROM THE CLUTCH. *JB INITIALLY RTHE DEALER REPLACED THE U-JOINT BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. *NM

STEERING SYSTEM EXHIBITS BUMPING VIBRATION AT ALL SPEEDS, WHICH DEALER ATTRIBUTES TO INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY MANUFACTURER. CURRENTLY, NO PERMANENT FIX IS AVAILABLE, AND TEMPORARY FIX INVOLVES REPACKING SHAFT WITH GREASE AT 10K INTERVAL. *NM

VEHICLE SAFETY: QUADRASTEER (4 WHEEL STEER) MANEUVERABILITY WHEN SLIDING ON ICE. WAS DRIVING MY CHEVROLET 1500HD CREW CAB 4X4 QUADRASTEER PICKUP 30 MPH (IN 40 MPH ZONE) AND COMING AROUND A RIGHT HAND BEND IN THE ROAD WHEN THE TRUCK HIT ICE ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO SLIDE OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT. THE QUADRASTEER WAS ON AND ENGAGED. AT THIS SPEED THE QUADRASTEER HAS THE REAR WHEELS TURN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE FRONT WHEELS. AS THE TRUCK WAS SLIDING TO THE RIGHT, I RESPONDED AS CONVENTION DICTATES, WHICH IS TO TURN INTO THE SLIDE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT (INTO THE SLIDE), THE REAR WHEELS TURNED TO THE LEFT, WHICH ALMOST INSTANTLY PUT THE TRUCK IN A FREE SLIDE NOW GOING SLIDE WAYS BECAUSE THE REAR WHEEL STEERING CAUSED THE BACK OF THE TRUCK...

MY DAUGHTER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN OUR 2003 CHEVROLET 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCK DUE TO A STEERING PROBLEM. SHE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A LOW SPEED AND SAID SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THE STEERING. IT MADE A POPPING/GRINDING SOUND, SPUN HER IN A CIRCLE AND CAUSED HER TO HIT A CURB AND THEN A YIELD SIGN. WE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT SOUNDED LIKE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE DEALER CONTACTED GM AND THEY SAID THAT THE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE ANYONE COULD CHECK OUT THE STEERING. THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ESPECIALLY SINCE I READ AN ARTICLE REGARDING THE RECALL OF CERTAIN GM CARS WHOSE DRIVERS EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO READ IN THE ARTICLE THAT NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THE 2500...

THERE IS A KNOCK OR A HARD PECKING FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. ESPECIALLY WHEN ON ROUGH HIGHWAYS AND WHILE TURNING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED 3 TIMES. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT INTERMEDIATE. FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT IT CAME BACK ABOUT AFTER 6 WEEKS. TOOK IT BACK DOWN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY DIDN'T REPLACE ANYTHING THE SECOND TIME? PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *LA

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT VERY HARD. HAS BEEN WORKED ON 5 TIMES, AND HAS BEEN ALIGNED 3 TIMES. VEHICLE STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX IT. TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH, YOU CAN LET THE STEERING WHEEL GO AND YOU WILL BE OFF THE ROAD IN ABOUT 2 SECONDS. *LA

STEERING WHEEL BINDS WHILE STOPPED AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL OR TAKING OFF AND TURNING. IF BACKING UP SLOWLY OR MOVING FORWARD SLOWLY AND TURNING THROUGH PARKED CARS COULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ONE WHEN THE STEERING BINDS UP. ALSO COULD CAUSE A CRASH WHILE TURNING AND STEERING BINDS AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO THE DITCH. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED 3 TIMES. THEY REPLACED THE SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND GEAR BOX. BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *LA

DETERIORATION IN INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. REPAIR REQUIRED AT 16,500 MILES. DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAS BEEN AWARE OF FAULTY PART SINCE THE MODEL CHANGE IN 1999. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT AUTHORIZE REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY PART BECAUSE THE NEW PART IS NOT EXPECTED TO LAST ANY LONGER THAN THE ORIGINAL.*JB

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE LEFT IT LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK WHEN TURNING AND DRIVING, THERE WAS A POP IN THE FRONT END. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS STEERING MADE A NOISE. ALSO, BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM