2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE Steering Problems

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING. DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME COMES AND GOES. IF YOU GIVE VEHICLE A LITTLE GAS IT WILL START WORKING AGAIN BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS AN OPTION. I NOTICE IT MOST IF MY VEHICLE IS MOVING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED OR STOPPED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO OFFER ANY IDEAS ON FIXING IT.

STEERING GOES OUT WHEN BRAKING AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN OR WHEN TRYING TO MANEUVER INTO A PARKING PLACE , TO HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL WITH NO STEERING POWER VERY DANGEROUS. IN TRAFFIC. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY OR HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

WHEN I TURN THERE IS A POPPING NOISE THAT CAN ALSO BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO WHEN I AM DRIVING AND FEEL A BUMP. THE FUEL WILL AT TIMES SHOW A FULL TANK THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN GO TO 1/4 TANK IT CHANGES ALL THE TIME AND IS NOT ACCURATE, I CANNOT DEPEND ON IT BECAUSE I NEVER REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL IT ACTUALLY HAS. THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER GOT EXTREMELY HOT AND WE WILL NOT USE BECAUSE ARE SCARED IT MIGHT BURN THRU THE SEAT SINCE IT ALREADY LEFT A SMALL BURN MARK. THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE ALSO DID THE SAME ON ANOTHER CHEVROLET WE HAD AND HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND IT SEEMS IS A BIG ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET VEHICLES. *TR

YESTERDAY WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND CAME TO A ROUND ABOUT, SLOWED DOWN AND VEHICLE DIED (ALTERNATOR GAUGE WENT BELOW 14, OIL PRESSURE DROPPED BELOW 40, AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON). I LOST ALL STEERING AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS STIFF. NOW VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY IDLES ROUGH AND WILL STALL OUT IF NOT ON THE THROTTLE, IDLES 500 AND LOWER. I HAVE REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AIR FILTER, PLUGS, WIRES, O2 SENSORS, FUEL FILTER, EVAP CANISTER, ALTERNATOR, AND HAD THROTTLE BODY CLEANED. SEE THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS FILED OF THE SAME ISSUES AND WONDERING IF ANYONE AT GM HAS FOUND A SOLUTION. ALSO HAVE NOTICED GM HAS RECALLED THE INTAKE GASKET BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING ON THIS RECALL. *TR

MY 2003 TAHOE Z71 HAS ALWAYS MADE POPPING NOISES WHEN TURNING AND YOU ARE ABLE TO FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND IT IS VERY APPARENT THAT THIS IS EXPERIENCED BY ALMOST EVERYONE. TODAY I WAS BACKING INTO THE DRIVEWAY WITH A TRAILER OF MULCH ATTACHED AND WHEN I CUT THE WHEEL, THE STEERING WAS LOST. THERE IS FLUID IN THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR AND THERE WAS NO LEAKS OR FLUID ANYWHERE. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE TAHOE AND THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY BROKEN SWAY-BARS OR STEERING SHAFT. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS THE PUMP WHICH WOULD BE STRANGE IN THE MANNER THAT IT GAVE OUT BUT READING ALL OF THE ISSUES OTHERS HAVE HAD, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT GM IS NOT FIXING THE SITUATION. SOMEONE IS GOING TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT TRYING TO TURN AND IT IS GOING...

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN DOWN A HILL OUT OF A PARKING LOT I HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING BROKE ON MY VEHICLE. WENT HOME ABOUT 6 BLOCKS AWAY LOOKED TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS WRONG. I ONLY LOOKED AT THE FRONT END; DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE PULLING UP TO MY DRIVEWAY IN A DIFFERENT VEHICLE I NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING UNDER THE REAR END OF MY TAHOE. PROCEEDED TO CHECK IT OUT AND FOUND THAT MY SWAY BAR IS COMPLETELY BROKE WHERE IT'S MOUNTED ON A BRACKET. I RESEARCHED THIS AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH MY MAKE, YEAR. *TR

POPPING NOISE FROM UNDER HOOD, MAINLY WHEN TURNING LEFT (HAS NOW STARTED WHEN TURNING RIGHT). ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE THE WHEELS ARE GOING TO FALL OFF. IT CAN ALSO BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. FEELS VERY UNSTABLE, LIKE FRONT-END COULD FALL APART AT ANY MINUTE. GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN SINCE 2001 (NHTSA ITEM #10009991, #10010873, #10000950, #10004991, #1004239, #10005172, #10004723, AND FINALLY THEIR "FIX" #10025148) . HOWEVER, THEY ACT AS THOUGH THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE (EDMUNDS.COM, YAHOO...JUST SEARCH FOR I-SHAFT ASSEMBLY) AND THIS IS A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM ON NUMEROUS GM/CHEVY/CADILLAC VEHICLES AND GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. THIS SITUATION IS AS-MUCH, IF NOT WORSE THAN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/DASHBOARD PANEL PROBLEMS, THAT GM HAS RECALLED. PLEASE, HELP THE MASSES WHO HAVE BEEN SOLD THIS DEFECT. BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR

THERE A NOTICABLE SHAKING WHEN IT COMING TO A STOP AND SOMETIMES IT WILL TURN OFF. IT ALSO TURNS OFF WHEN MAKING A RIGHT / LEFT TURN AND SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN TRUCK IS RUNNING. THERE A CLICK NOISE THEN TURNING. ALSO WINDOW'S WILL GET STUCK AND WILL NOT GO UP COMPLETELY AND NOW THE LEFT SIDE WINDOWS ARE COMPLETELY DEAD (DO NOT GO UP OR DOWN). *TR

JAN 24, 09 VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING N ON CO 145, PREPARING TO TURN LEFT ONTO CO 184. DRIVER HEARD A "POP" IN THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN SHE BEGAN THE TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. SHE THEN PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY STOP AND CAME TO REST NEAR A GUARDRAIL IN AN ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. SHE BACKED THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE OPPOSING LANE AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN RELEASED AND SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN ONTO 184 AND EXIT THE ROADWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL ANTI-THEFT LOCK NO LONGER OPERATES, AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS DEVICE HAS FAILED. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT PIECES FROM THIS DEVICE BECAME LODGED IN ROTATING PARTS OF THE STEERING SYSTEM. *TR

HAD KNOCKING IN FRONT END FIXED AT DEALER. ONE YEAR LATER RETURNED. SOMETHING IN THE STEERING WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. TOLD IT WAS NOT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS, I AM SURPRISED GM IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

THERE IS A WEAK FEELING AND A KNOCKING IN THE STEERING BOX OR STEERING COLUMN IN THE VEHICLE. IT FEELS UNSTABLE LIKE THE CAR'S FRONT END COULD FALL APART AT ANY MINUTE. *TR

CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SHAFT OF MY 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. STEERING SHAFT AND FRONT END "POPPING" AND LOOSENESS CONTINUE EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT. DEALERSHIPS KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED BY GM SERVICE TO NO LONGER REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT AS THIS "FIX" IS NOT WORKING. THEY ARE CURRENTLY UNSURE HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IN THE MEAN TIME OWNERS HAVE A VEHICLE THAT DRIVES AS IF IT IS GOING TO FALL APART IN THE FRONT END. THE TAHOE HANDLES BADLY OVER ROUGH ROAD AND CORNERING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER AT TIMES ESPECIALLY AT HI-WAY SPEED. *JB

THE STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN I TURN LEFT IN MY 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED DURING AN EVASIVE MANEUVER THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I HAVEN'T HAD IT FIXED YET, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS THE RESULT OF DAMAGE DONE BY ME. *JB

2003 TAHOE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. *TS THE INPUT SHAFT FROM THE PULLEY HAD COME OFF. *JB

I HAVE REPLACED THE I-SHAFT 2 TIMES ON MY 2003 TAHOE. GM IS NOT OFFERING ANY TYPE OF REPLACEMENT OR HELP IN FIXING THIS ISSUE *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE STEERING HAD LOCKED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN RETURNED TO THE CONTACT. UPDATED ON 05/16/2006-*AK *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25MPH A CLUNKING NOISE CAME FROM THE STEERING SHAFT. AFTERWARDS, THE STEERING WHEEL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL VIBRATED. THE VIBRATION AND NOISE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT OR COASTING, NOT WHILE MAKING TURNS. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED IN JANUARY 2005 THE FIRST TIME. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT, WHICH REMEDY THE PROBLEM UNTIL NOW. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE CURRENT VIBRATION.

CONSUMER 2003 CHEVY TAHOE HAD A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING THAT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TS *SC

GM IS AWARE OF A STEERING AND SUSPENSION PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM THERE ARE ALREADY MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS AND IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A FATALITY TO RECALL THESE ISSUES. *JB

2003 TAHOE DEVELOPED A NOISE IN THE STEERING.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BE CHEVROLET THERE IS CURRENTLY NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. *JB

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 04 WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, HEARD POPPING NOISE FROM FRONT END AND COULD FEEL A VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING. TOKK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS, ADDED LUBRICANT TO FRONT END AND NOISE/VIBRATION STOPPED FOR A FEW MONTHS. REPEATED THE LUBRICANT PROCES TWO MORE TIMES. NOW REPLACING TIE RODS.

THE STEERING SHAFT AND FRONT SUSPENSION WAS REPLACED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR A POPPING NOISE AND LOOSE STEERING. THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REMOVED AND LUBED AND THE FRONT LOWER CROSSMEMBER WAS TIGHTENED. THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN HE LOST CONTROL . THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE, END OVER END THE SIDE OVER SIDE ONE AND A HALF TIMES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE NOTIFIED OF HOW MANY OF THESE STEERING, BRAKING AND OR OTHER PROBLEMS INCURRED WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL. *SC *JB

THE STEERING MADE POPPING NOISES AND THE STEERING FELT LOOSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT AND FRONT SUSPENSION. *NM THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TC *JB

CLUNKING NOISE AND FEEL IN STEERING - LOOSE STEERING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE STEERING RACK AND PINION SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

STEERING LOOSE/WOBBLY SINCE BUYING VEHICLE. IN FOR REPAIR NUMEROUS TIMES. AT FIRST TOLD SOMETHING WAS LEAKING, THEN REPLACED STEERING SHAFT THING, THEN TOLD IT WAS JUST THE WAY THE TAHOE DRIVES. THIS WEEK WAS TOLD THEY "TWEAKED" THE ALIGNMENT AND WERE GOING TO PUSH IT BEYOND WHAT CHEVROLET NORMALLY RECOMMENDS. PICKED VEHICLE UP AND THEY HAD PUT TWO NEW TIRES ON REAR OF VEHICLE IN ADDITION TO ALIGNMENT. I DON'T TRUST THE STEERING AND SINCE THEY STILL SAY THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT DRIVES, NOT SURE WHY THEY KEEP REPAIRING THINGS IF THAT "IS JUST THE WAY THE TAHOE DRIVES". *AK

POPPING SOUND IN STEERING. CHEVORLET TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY LUBRICATION ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT SYMPTOMS RETURNED *AK.

THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WOULDN'T ACTIVATE THE AIR BAGS FOR 80 POUNDS OR LESS, BUT IT DID WHEN THEIR 62 POUND CHILD WAS IN THE SEAT. *PH OTHER PROBLEM ARE AS FOLLOWED: DRIVER'S DOOR EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT RATTLES, STEERING VIBRATIONS/GRINDING WHEN TURNED TO LEFT, SUNROOF LEAKED HEAVILY WHEN IT RAINED OR WHEN GOING THROUGH THE CAR WASH, DASH LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT WHEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE, WINDOW MOLDING WAS LOOSE, STEREO LIGHTS FLICKERED, SEAT MEMORY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE TO PRESET MEMORY POSITIONS AND WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS REMOVED, AND THE FRONT POWER WINDOW ALONG WITH THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WERE INOPERATIVE. *SC

WHEN I HAD MY 2003 TAHOE FOR ONLY 6 MONTHS, MY TAHOE STALLED IN THE ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. WELL, THEY FIXED IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES. ALSO, I HAD TO BRING BACK MY TAHOE TO THE DEALER LAST WEEK BECAUSE OF A THUMPING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT JUST NEEDED SOME LUBRICATION. MY CONCERN IS THAT I ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 14 MONTHS WITH 15700 MILES ON IT AND I ALREADY HAVE PROBLEMS. COULD MY VEHICLE BE A LEMON? PLEASE RESEARCH ABOUT OTHER 2003 TAHOE'S IF THEY HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *JB

INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT PLAY. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER LUBRICATES THE STEERING SHAFT AND THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. THE PROBLEM WILL RESURFACE AND YOU WILL HAVE TO RETURN TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT AND YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THIS WHEN PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAS ALSO OCCURED WITH MY OTHER VEHICLE A 2003 GMV SIERRA. I HAVE HEARD THIS FROM SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE AND I FEEL GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF PUTTING A BANDADE ON IT.*AK