1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER OF A 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH DOWNHILL, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE REACHED SPEEDS OF BETWEEN 95-100 MPH BEFORE CRASHING INTO A BUILDING WITH AN ALUMINUM STRUCTURE. THE CRASH WAS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LACERATION OVER THE RIGHT EYE WHICH REQUIRED SEVERAL STITCHES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED REGAL DODGE LOCATED AT 1223 BLUE VALLEY DR, PEN ARGYL, PA 18072, (610) 863-6900, WHERE IT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE DIAGNOSED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

SHIFT GEAR BOX BROKE WHEN PUTTING CAR IN CAR. WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE (BROKEN PART).

I PURCHASED MY 1999 SUBURBAN IN MARCH 2010 WITH 56,000 ORIGINAL MILES. IT CURRENTLY HAS 60,000 ORIGINAL MILES. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL RANDOMLY JERK/PULL WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME BUT IT HAPPENS OFTEN ENOUGH THAT IT IS A CONCERN OF MINE. AFTER A THOROUGH CHECK OF FLUIDS AND STEERING COMPONENTS THERE IS NOTHING "WRONG" WITH THE VEHICLE. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I AM DRIVING AT A LOWER SPEED OR A HIGHER SPEED JUST THAT I AM GOING AROUND A BEND OR CURVE IN THE ROAD. I HAVE GRAZED A CURB ONCE. I ALSO HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE LOCKS/LATCHES AND DOORS OPENING. *TR

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN SMITH ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL IN HIS 1999 CHEVY SUBURBAN *TGW THE CONSUMERS MECHANIC DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE HIGH SPEED STEERING CONTROL LOCATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE CONTROL FROM THE ELECTRICAL PLUG. THE CONSUMER STATED THE LOSS OF STEERING HAS CEASED. *JB

WHEN MAKING ANY SLIGHT TURN, STEERING WILL SEEM TO LOOSE PRESSURE WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK 2-3 INCHES. THE DRIVER MUST PAY CLOSE ATTENTION AT ALL TIMES TO CORRECT THIS OVERSTEER OR THE VEHICLE WILL END UP IN ANOTHER LANE OR OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. ALL OF THE EVIDENCE AND COMPLAINTS EXIST FOR A SAFETY RECALL BUT 7 YEARS LATER....NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY SPORADIC AND MAY NOT OCCUR FOR WEEKS AT A TIME AND THEN SUDDENLY IT WILL OCCUR CONSTANTLY FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES. I RAN INTO AN INTERSTATE MEDIAN ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO, WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, TRYING TO CORRECT A STEERING "JERK." THIS COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE ALL BECAUSE A SAFETY RECALL WAS NEVER ISSUED EVEN AFTER A DEFECT INVESTIGATION RECOGNIZED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *NM

1999 SUBURBAN STEERING WHICH LOCKED UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN INTO THE GUARD RAIL. *TS THE STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN COOLER WEATHER(NOT NOTICIBLE IN HOT MONTHS), AND NOT EVERY SINGLE TIME, TURNING TO THE RIGHT AROUND A CURVE OR TURNING A CORNER THE STEERING HOLDS THE TURN AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN LETS GO OF THAT HOLD (TENSION IS LOST). I CAN CORRECT FOR IT BY RETURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT SLIGHTLY AND THEN BACK INTO THE TURN. SOMETIMES IT HOLDS THE SECOND TIME AND SOMETIMES IT LETS GO AGAIN. THIS IS REPEATED UNTIL THE END OF THE CURVE OR TURN. *NM

I PURCHASED A 1999 SUBURBAN ON FEB. 28, 2004. WHEN WE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE IT DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. ON THE WAY HOME IT STARTED WANDERING ALL OVER THE ROAD AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK. WE THOUGHT MAYBE IT NEEDED POWER STEERING FLUID OR PERHAPS TIRES. ON MARCH 11, 2004(TWO WEEKS LATER) I WAS WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND GLANCED DOWN AT MY CLOCK. WHEN I LOOKED BACK UP THE VEHICLE HAD VEERED INTO THE WRONG LANE. WHEN I TRIED TO GET BACK INTO MY LANE THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE RIGHT, WAY OVER CORRECTING ITSSELF. I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN IT BACK OUT BUT IT OVERCORRECTED AGAIN AND CAUSED ME TO GO INTO THE DITCH AND ROLL.*AK

WHEN DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE ACCELRATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE FROM GLENDALE CAR CONNECTION AT ON 8/28/03. I NOTICED ON THE DAY OF PURCHASE IT SEEMED HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE SO I MENTIONED IT TO THE SALES PERSON AS WELL AS THE OFFICE MANAGER. IT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED. I DROVE THE VECHICLE HOME THAT NIGHT I BEGIN TO NOTICE A HARD TURN MADE THE VEHICLE MAKE A NOISE I TOO THE VEHICLE BACK TO GLENDALE CAR CONNECTION WERE THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS GOING OUT AND HE CHANGE IT I ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE BRAKES SQUEALING AND HE SAID THE VEHICLE NEEDED BRAKE FLUID WHICH HE PUT IN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND BEGIN TO DRIVE IT I NOTICED IT WAS GETTING HARD TO TURN AND IT WOULD SWERVE WHILE DRIVING IT, I CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN. THE OFFICE MANAGER KATHY BAGGETT TOLD ME IT WAS NOT...

EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOSSE OF POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING LEFT TURN, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEED. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY HAD A SIMILAR TYPE PROBLEM. *AK

I PURCHASED MY SUBURBAN IN MARCH OF 2001, I HAVE HAD 3 NEW SETS OF TIRES PUT ON IT. AND 4 FRONT END ALIMENTS. EACH SET OF TIRES HAVE SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE. IF MY TIRE PRESSURE GET JUST A LITTLE LOW IT IS VERY HARD TO STEER. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO CHRISWELL CHEVROLET SEVERAL TIME. THEY TELL ME THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM.(IF THEY EVEN LOOK) OR THEY JUST DO A FRONT END ALIMENT OR PUT MORE AIR IN THE TIRE. I HAVE EVEN HAD MY TOW END CHECKED TWICE. MY TRUCK IS VERY HARD TO DRIVE AND IT IS PULLING HARDER TO THE RIGHT ALL THE TIME. I LOVE MY TRUCK, BUT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH IT. I STILL HAVE OVER 5,000 MILE MORE ON MY WARRENTY. I HOPE I CAN GET CHRISWELL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY OR FAST, AT DIFFERENT TIMES, AND NOT EVERY SINGLE TIME, TURNING TO THE RIGHT AROUND A CURVE OR TURNING A CORNER THE STEERING HOLDS THE TURN AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN LETS GO OF THAT HOLD. I CAN CORRECT IT BY SLIGHTLY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND THEN BACK INTO THE TURN. SOMETIMES IT HOLDS THE SECOND TIME AND SOMETIMES IT LETS GO AGAIN. THIS IS REPEATED UNTIL THE END OF THE CURVE OR TURN. STEERING GEAR, PITMAN ARM, STEERING PUMP ALL REPLACED AND PROBLEM STILL IS PRESENT. *LA

CONSUMER WAS HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS. IT FELT AS THOUGH STEERING WAS GOING TO GIVE AWAY. THEN, VEHICLE JERKED, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES. HE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE IT CHECKED, AND ENDED UP HAVING IT REPAIRED OUT OF HIS POCKET BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A RECALL.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST STEERING AND WAS SERVICED. CONSUMER STATES AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF HAS PASSED PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. *AK

DURING A LEFT HAND TURN, AT APPROX. 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES LOOSE, THEN STIFF AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE FLUID LEVEL OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS A T IT'S PROPER LEVEL AND THE BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE HAD IT AT (2) SEPARATE SHOPS AND NEITHER HAVE REPORTED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END AT ALL. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****770103

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE DRIVER LOST STEERING CONTROL. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATED OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM

STEERING BOX LEAKED AND PINION SEAL LEAKING. ALSO THE VEHICLES STEEING WAS ERRACTIC AND THE STEERING FEELS LOOSE AT TIMES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 25MPH. STEERING BOX AND PINION SEAL WERE FIXED. THE STEERING SENSOR WAS CHECKED BY DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. CAR CONTINUES TO DRIVE "ERRACTIC" FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS, OCCURING DAILY.

CONSUMER STATES THAT TRAVELING ON THE ROAD AND WHEN TRYING TO TURN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL THE STEERING WHEEL WILL GET A REALLY BAD TENSION. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE SPEED TENSION CONTROL HAD PROBLEMS. MR

STEERING IS ERRATIC. VHICLE BOUNDS ABOUT AS IT TRAVEL AND WANDERS EXCESSIVELY ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVER MUST FIGHT THE WHEELANDWILL UNEXPECTEDLY PULL OR VEER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE STEERING SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLEACE 5 OR 6 TIMES ,BEARINGS 4 GEAR BOX 3 ADJUST BEARING 1 TOTAL TIMES TO MACHANIC CEVROLET 9 TIMES SAME PROBLEM AND TODAY AGAIN SAME STEERING THIS WILL BE IO TIMES DATES.4/29/99 5/17/99 7/10/00 9/7/00 2/11/02 5/12/02 5/24/02 5/27/02 5/29/02 5/30/02 SOMETHING MUST TO BE DONE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS IT IS NOT SAFETY WE HAVE ALMOST HIT CARS ,CEMENT BARRIER OR THIS PROBLEM WILL STOP UN TILL THE TRUCK KILL MY FAMILY AND MORE INNOCET PEOPLE PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION .IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING ON A NEW VHICLE .

STEERING BECOME HARD WHENEVER MAKING A TURN. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WOULD BE DRIVING AND VEHICLE WOULD BE HARD TO CONTROL. STEERING IS ERRATIC. FEELS AS IF VEHICLE HIT A PATCH OF ICE. WOULD TURN STEERING WHEEL AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. THEN, SUDDENLY WOULD WHIP AROUND LIKE IT WAS FREE WHEELING. PROBLEM WAS STEADILY GETTING WORSE AFTER TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP.*AK CONSUMER STATES HAPPENS MAINLY WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT, IT IS NOT THAT THE TIRES DON'T TURN, BUT IT FEELS LIKE IT IS IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT IT JERKS. *JB

STEERING SEEMS LOOSE AND SLOPPY, VEHICLE WANDERS, SAME AMOUNT OF INPUT PRODUCES DIFFERRENT RESULTS AT DIFFERENT TIME. ALMOST LIKE TIE ROD ENDS ARE BAD. 3 TRIPS TO DEALER - ONCE SAID IT WAS JUST SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING; ONCE @ 38,510 MILES REPLACED EVO SENSOR; AGAIN @ 39,846 MILES ALIGNED AND REMOVED KNOCKOUT SAYING THAT SHOULD FIX. STILL WANDERS, FEELS SLOPPY, AND MAKES ME WONDER IF I'M IN FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. ALSO, BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING, AND STEERING WHEEL ROTATION SENSOR (EVO) WAS REPLACED, FUEL TANK SENDER PUMP UNIT WAS REPLACED, AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPAIRED. *AK MIDDLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WON'T LOCK. *YH

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHEN HITTING A BUMP, STEERING WILL JUMP TO THE RIGHT AND BEGIN TO DRIFT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AS HAS ALIGNED AND ADJUSTED STEERING WITH NEW TIRES, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

WHEN MAKING A GRADUAL RIGHT HAND TURN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS STEERING WILL OVERSTEER, FEELING A LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY USUALLY LASTING FOR 1 SECOND. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. REPLACED STEERING SENSOR, PROBLEM TEMPORARILY SOLVED. *AK *ML

STEERING IS ERRATIC.VEHICLE BOUNDS ABOUT AS IT TRAVELS THE HIGHWAY.DRIVER MUST FIGHT THE WHEEL AT ALL TIMES.VERY TIRING TO DRIVE.RETURNED TO DEALER TWICE WITH NO IMPROVEMENT.THIS IS THE WORST HANDLING MACHINE I HAVE EVER DRIVEN.I HAVE SEVERAL YEARS DRIVING 18 WHEELERS,AND SEVERAL AUTOS AS WELL AS THREE OR FOUR SUBURBANS.I BELIEVE THE MACHINE IS UNSAFE AND AM WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN. *AK