1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET C2500. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MECHANIC THEN STATED THAT THE METAL CRUMBLED FOR THE WORM STEERING SHAFT. HE MADE THE REPAIR AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE IDLING ARM AND PITMAN ARM. THE FRONT END WAS REALIGNED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS DETERMINED THERE WAS A DEFECT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT CONTACTED. UPDATED 9/5/2006 - THE FAULTY PART WAS THE STEERING WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. *NM

(1) ONGOING (2) POWER STEERING SUDDENLY GOES TO TOO MUCH ASSIST TO NORMAL ASSIST, ESPECIALLY IN LEFT HAND TURN (3) DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS "EVO" SENSOR, WANTS $280 TO FIX IT. THIS PROBLEM IN 1997 CHEV C/K PICKUP TRUCKS READS LIKE A RASH IN QUANTITY REPORTS TO NHTSA, YET NHTSA SEEMS TO WANT MANY DEATHS BEFORE REQUIRING A DEALER RECALL. DO SOMETHING!!!*AK

POWER STEERING PROBLEM IDENTICAL TO KNOWN DEFECTS AFFECTING GM CARS. I HAVE IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS REGARDING SUDDEN ROTATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL IN A LEFT TURN. THE UPCOMING RECALL OF 1996-7 CARS DOES NOT INCLUDE PICKUP TRUCKS BUILT IN THE SAME TIME FRAME. MY '97 3/4 TON CHEVROLET WAS BUILT IN SEPT OF 96, AND HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS. MY (RENO,NV) CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IT WILL COST ME APPROX $240 TO FIX IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE TO EXPAND THE RECALL, AS I'VE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS ALREADY! *AK

WHILE IN MOTION AND IN A SLOW TURN THE AMOUNT OF FORCE REQUIRED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL CHANGES, RESULTING IN SUDDEN AND ABRUPT MOVEMENTS. THIS SOMETIMES RESULTS IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JG *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO THE NEXT LANE. *AK

WHENEVER MAKING A TURN, STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT'S FREE WHEELING. WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN IT HAPPENS. MAINLY OCCURS WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. WAS INFORMED MIGHT BE STEERING COLUMN. *AK