1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Steering Problems

1) NEAR CRASHES HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AN ERRATIC CONDITION IN THE STEERING. CALLED GM NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND GAVE ALL INFORMATION AND WAS PROMISED SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME. (NEVER HAPPENED) 2 OTHER FAMILIES HERE IN ROCHESTER HAVE THE SAME VEHICLE AND THE SAME PROBLEM. 2) UPON TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE WHEEL ITSELF SUDDENLY FREE-WHEELS SEVERAL INCHES. THIS RAPIDLY ACCELERATES THE DEGREE OF TURN AND MAKES THE DRIVER FEEL AS IF THEY HAVE LOST CONTROL AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE OFTEN SWERVES OUT OF CONTROL. 3) I BROUGHT IT TO 2 DEALERS HERE IN ROCHESTER AND NEITHER WAS ABLE TO DETECT THE PROBLEM ON A TEST DRIVE. THE PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT WILL SCARE THE LIVING OUT OF YOU, AND THE DRIVER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE HAVE ALL BUT LOST CONTROL ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. A FRIEND OF MINE WHO ALSO HAS A SUBURBAN SAID HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND FINALLY SOMEONE SUGGESTED REPLACING SOMETHING CALLED THE POWER STEERING ASSIST? WE HAVE A 98' SUBURBAN AND HAVE HAD IT SINCE IT WAS 7,000 MILES OLD. IT HAS A 350 AND IS AN LT AND HAS 3RD SEAT AND FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. I THINK THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS MOST IF NOT ALL SUBURBAN'S IN OUR YEAR CLASS. CHEVY IS NOT RESPONDING TO MY QUESTIONS. PLEASE HELP. *JB

Mileage: 70,000

STEERING SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO SKIP WHEN TURNING AND FEELS LIKE CONTROL OF STEERING IS LOST MOMENTARILY. SENSOR WAS REPLACED ONCE AND PROBLEM WAS CURED FOR A TIME, BUT IT IS NOW RECURRING.*AK

Mileage: 69,588

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. WHEN TURNING LEFT RESISTANCE INCREASESED ALL AT ONCE, DRIVER RECEIVED POWER ASSISTANCE WHEN TURNING RIGHT.*AK

Mileage: 75,000

I AM HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE WITH MY 1998 SUBURBAN THAT WAS FILED ON NHTSA INVESTIGATION EA99011. I ALSO NOTICE THAT IT HAPPENS WORSE WHEN DRIVING IN WINTER WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE COLDER. IT SEEMS ONCE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AWHILE ITS NOT AS BAD. BUT STILL SEEM TO LOOSE STEERING CONTROL AS INDICATED IN THE REPORT MENTIONED ABOVE. A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND SCARY. LOSS OF STEERING FOR SPLIT SECOND CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK IN BOTH DIRECTIONS WHEN THE LOSS OCCURS. *LA

Mileage: 76,000

1998 SUBURBAN ALMOST WRECKED SEVERAL TIMES TO DO FAULTY ELECTRONIC VARIABLE ORIFICE (EVO) SENSOR LOCATED UNDER STEERING COLUMN. WHEN IN A RIGHT HAND TURN VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY LUNGE TO THE RIGHT TO DO SUDDEN INCREASE IN POWER STEERING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND GM OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I THINK IT SHOULD BE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY. THERE ARE PLENTY OF DOCUMENTED CASES OF THIS PROBLEM AND GM KNOWS IT TOO... BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *LA

STEERING WOULD GRAB MOMENTARILY WHILE MAKING RIGHT CURVE TURNS AT 55-70 MPH. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN TURNING TO RIGHT VEHICLE WILL MAKE A SHARPER TURN, LIKE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING JERKED IN THAT DIRECTION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY CHANGED STEERING SENSOR. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS, CAR COULD TIP OVER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AROUND CURVES STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE NOISE. LATER, NOISE WOULD DISAPPEAR WHILE STILL DRIVING AROUND CURVES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DEALER SAID THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME? WHY NOT HAVE A RECALL? NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AFTER THE PUMP WAS REPLACED THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR A SQUEALING BELT SOUND, DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A BAD BELT AND REPLACED IT. NLM

THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AFTER THE PUMP WAS REPLACED THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR A SQUEALING BELT SOUND, DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A BAD BELT AND REPLACED IT. NLM

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AT 25000 MILES. *YH

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AT 25000 MILES. *YH

WHEN DRIVING AT ALMOST ANY SPEED STEERING SLIPS AND JERKS TO RIGHT OR LEFT. THE TIRES DON'T MOVE WITH THE SLIP. IT STARTED OUT AS JUST A RIGHT SHIFT, AND NOW IT IS JERKING BOTH TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. *AK

THE STEERING GEAR WAS LEAKING FLUID, THE SPOOL VALVE IS LEAKING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPOOL VALVE, SUPPORT, AND SEALS, THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR END DUE TO IT LEAKING. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO ME WITH A NOTICEABLE PULL TO THE RIGHT. REPEATED TRIPS BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND REPEATED TALKS WITH VARIOUS LEVELS OF MANAGEMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. IN FACT, THE SERVICE PERSONNEL REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AT ALL. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP HAS ALSO BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE GIVEN UP ON TRYING TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED, BUT STILL CONSIDER IT TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

VEHICLE VEERS TO LEFT / RIGHT, COUNTER CLOCKWISE FROM THE WAY ITS SWINGS. THIS HAPPENS AT 55 TO 60 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUED COMPONENT REPLACEMENTS IN THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING DUE TO DEFECT. ALSO POWER STEERING SENSOR WAS REPLACED/NUTS:BOLTS THAT HOLD TIRE TOGETHER SHEARED OFF, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF. *AK

WHENEVER A TURN IS MADE IT APPEARS THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN MORE THEN THE DRIVER REQUIRED. CAN NHTSA HELP OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO POWERS THE BRAKING SYSTEM. BRAKES FAIL AT PANIC STOPS AND PEDALS GO TO FLOOR. POWER STEERING SYSTEM CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO WANDER AT HWY SPEEDS. REQUIRES CONSTANT READJUSTMENTS. AT TIMES WILL LOSE CONTROL. GM SAYS NORMAL. HAVE CONTACTED THEM AND REFUSED ASSITANCE IN THESE ISSUES BUT RECEIVED ONLY STANDARD CORPORATE NO ASSISTANCE/FORM ANSWERS.

STEERING WHEEL "SKIPS" DURING TURNS AT 30 TO 50 MPH. *AK

STEERING SENSOR FAILED CAUSING STEERING TO BIND MOMENTARILY-THEN FULL POWER ASSIST OCCUR. NLM

STEERING WHEEL SENSOR FAILED. IN ADDIRION, RADIO/ELECTRICAL C OMPONENTS WILL NOT CUT OFF WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STAYS ON AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF.

NO STEERING CONTROL.