1997 GMC SUBURBAN Steering Problems

THE IGNITION SWITCH STARTED TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. FIRST THE HEATER FAN WOULD QUIT AND THE ABS LIGHT WOULD INSTANTLY TURN ON, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT WOULD BE ON THE ABS WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE. THEN SUDDENLY ALL OPERATIONS WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL. IT WOULD BE UNPREDICTABLE WHEN THE HEATER FAN AND THE ABS WOULD FAIL AND COME BACK. THEN YESTERDAY, THE SUBURBAN STARTED AND DIED 3 SECONDS AFTER STARTING. I RESTARTED THE SUBURBAN AND ALL SEEMED GOOD. I PUT THE SUBURBAN IN DRIVE AND ROLLED AT ABOUT 5 MPH AND THE TRUCK DIED. I STOPPED AND PUT THE SUBURBAN IN TO PARK AND RESTARTED. PLACED IT INTO DRIVE AND MADE IT HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME, I TURNED OFF THE SUBURBAN AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. IT WOULD CRANK BUT NOT FIRE THE ENGINE. THE RADIO AND HEATER AND ALL OTHER ELECTRONICS WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL, BUT THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON I.E. THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON", "BRAKE", "AIR BAG", "ABS". THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED ON IT AND NOW SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

STEERING SPEED SENSOR FAILS CAUSING THE STEERING TO SUDDENLY JERK WHILE TURNING UNDER SPEED. IT FEELS LIKE THE FRONT WHEELS HIT "SLIPPERY ICE". I HAVE REPLACED THIS ITEM 3 TIMES ON MY OWN AND THE SENSOR KEEPS FAILING. THE ONE IN MY CAR CURRENTLY IS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AGAIN AND WILL NEED REPLACING. *TR

Mileage: 185,000

POWER STEERING ASSIST IS ERRATIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. STEERING INPUT FORCE WILL INCREASE UNTIL THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY MOVES BECAUSE OF AN INCREASE IN POWER STEERING ASSIST. PROBLEM IS ERRATIC, AND IT HAS ONLY OCCURRED AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. THIS PHENOMENOM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH THIS VEHICLE.*AK

Mileage: 50,000

IN AUGUST OF 2002 MY 1997 GMC SUBURBAN STARTED TO TO SLIGHTY LOOSE CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT. OVER THE YEARS THE LACK OF CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT HAS INCREASED AS WELL AS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. IT IS A VERY SCARY FEELING BUT OVER THE TIME I MYSELF HAVE LEARNED HOW TO HANDLE IT. I HAVE NOTIFIED GMC OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY SAID MY MODEL IS NOT UNDER A CURRENT RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND WHERE SOME GMC MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. GMC IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM YET THEY IGNORE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE A TERMINALLY ILL HUSBAND SO I CANNOT AFFORD TO GO OUT AND BUY A NEW OR USED VEHICLE. I LOVE MY GMC SUBURBAN SO I ALWAYS WANTED TO PURCHASE A NEW ONE OR EVEN MAYBE A GMC YUKON. YET WITH THE DISTRUST I HAVE WITH GMC ABOUT FIXING PROBLEMS THEY KNOW ABOUT I WOULD HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT SUCH A PURCHASE. I HAVE A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD SON WHOM IS LEARNING TO DRIVE AND IT IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION WHEN HE IS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A VEHICLE THAT MIGHT LOOSE COMPLETE POWER STEERING CONTROL. *AK

IN AUGUST OF 2002 MY 1997 GMC SUBURBAN STARTED TO TO SLIGHTY LOOSE CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT. OVER THE YEARS THE LACK OF CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT HAS INCREASED AS WELL AS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. IT IS A VERY SCARY FEELING BUT OVER THE TIME I MYSELF HAVE LEARNED HOW TO HANDLE IT. I HAVE NOTIFIED GMC OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY SAID MY MODEL IS NOT UNDER A CURRENT RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND WHERE SOME GMC MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. GMC IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM YET THEY IGNORE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE A TERMINALLY ILL HUSBAND SO I CANNOT AFFORD TO GO OUT AND BUY A NEW OR USED VEHICLE. I LOVE MY GMC SUBURBAN SO I ALWAYS WANTED TO PURCHASE A NEW ONE OR EVEN MAYBE A GMC YUKON. YET WITH THE DISTRUST I HAVE WITH GMC ABOUT FIXING PROBLEMS THEY KNOW ABOUT I WOULD HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT SUCH A PURCHASE. I HAVE A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD SON WHOM IS LEARNING TO DRIVE AND IT IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION WHEN HE IS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A VEHICLE THAT MIGHT LOOSE COMPLETE POWER STEERING CONTROL. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS A INVESTIGATION#PE98060 CONCERNING STEERING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. *JB

Mileage: 5,000

THE FIRST DATE OF FAILURE WAS AROUND MAY 2001 AND STARTED WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AND CONTINUED SINCE. THE STEERING WOULD COMPLETELY GO OUT FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. IT FELT LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS JERKED FROM MY HAND. I COULD NOT GET ANYONE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT DO IT DURING TEST DRIVE. ON JUNE 30, 2002, WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, THE STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. I IMMEDIATLY WENT TO EXPERTTIRE AND A PART WAS REPLACED REGARDING THE STEERING. AFTER CHECKING WITH THE LOCAL DEALER, FOUND THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ANOTHER SUBURBAN OWNER HERE IN LAUREL, MISSISSIPPI AS WELL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY WHEN YOUR STEERING GOES OUT COMPLETELY AND I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT BUSHING WAS REPLACED AND THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN BUSHING/BEARING WAS REPLACED. *TT

WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED FOUR TIMES IN THE 2 YEARS WE OWNED IT, 50,000 MILES. THE STEERING IS ERRATIC AT HIGH SPEEDS.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AS YOU MOVE THE WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT THERE IS A SUDDEN PULLING OF THE WHEEL INB THAT DIRECTION

WHILE DRIVING WOULD TURN A BIT & STEERING WOULD TAKE OFF TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, ALMOST FREE WHEELING. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP & INFORMED STEERING SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM. HAD LOW VOLTAGE COMING FROM SENSOR WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

STEERING WOULD PULL TO RIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND MECHANIC REPAIRED IT, BUT CURRENTLY VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO LEFT. STEERING SENSOR WAS REPLACED. HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO STEERING PROBLEM. STEERING WENT RIGHT, AND VEHICLE HIT CURB. THEN, SPUN AROUND, BACKWARDS. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WENT ACROSS 4 LANES. AXLE BROKE , AND VEHICLE TUMBLED DOWN A HILL. *AK

LOST OF STEERING MOMENTARILY WHEN ROUNDING CURVES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED STEERING RECEIVED AN INCREASED POWER BOOST. POWER BOOST WAS MORE NOTICEABLE AT GREATER SPEEDS, BUT PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTICED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED. HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. SIMILAR TO NHTSA'S INVESTIGATION # PE98060. *AK

AT HIGHER SPEEDS, STEERING WOULD BECOME ERRATIC AND LOOSE CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE WITHOUT WARNING. OCCURRED ONCE WHILE TURNING A CORNER AND VEHICLE WENT UP OVER CURB. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO REPLACED, AT MY EXPENSE, FAULTY STEERING WHEEL SENSOR WHICH WAS SWITCHING FROM LOW PRESSURE TO HIGH PRESSURE AND BACK AT HIGHER SPEEDS CREATING ERRATIC STEERING. NOTED IN YOUR COMPLAINT DATABASE WELL OVER 80 COMPLAINTS JUST ON GMC VEHICLES ALONE. ONE WOULD WONDER IF THIS DIFFICULTY COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER OR CRASH IF THE ERRATIC SWERVE OCCURRED WHILE ON A SHARPER CURVE AND/OR IN DIFFERING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

WHEN DRIVING STEERING BECOME LOOSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. THERE WAS NO CONTROL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED A SPEED SENSORY. *AK

STEERING SENSOR IS BAD, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME LOOSE AND JERKS VERY HARD WHEN MAKING A TURN. DEALER CONTACTED, EVO SENSOR REPLACED AT OWNER'S COST. *AK *ML

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURN VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO TURN THE WHEEL FARTHER THEN YOU DESIRE TO TURN

STEERING 'SLIPS' WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND MOVING AT A MODERATE RATE OF SPEED. PROBLEM OCCURRED IN FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. DEALER TRIED TO FIX PROBLEM 3 TIMES BEFORE FINALLY SUCCEEDING. PROBLEM HAS NOW OCCURRED AGAIN, TWO YEARS LATER. HAVE NOT YET CONTACTED DEALER.

WHEN TURNING RIGHT, IT FEELS LIKE STEERING IS SLIPPING & LOSES CONTROL. WHEELS NOT RESPONDING WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING. WHEN TURNING LEFT, THE STEERING IS SOFT BUT OKAY. TAKING TO DEALER. *AK DEALER FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE IN THE POWER STEERIGN AND REPLACED IT, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING STILL FEELS MUSHY. *SLC

PE 060, ERRATIC STEERING BOOST WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER REPORTED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE STEERING SENSOR AND WOULD LIKE FOR NHTSA TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

POWER STEERING FAILING OCCASSIONALY. YH

PE98060, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STEER TO RIGHT OR LEFT UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. BEEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES, AND DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SENSOR 3 TIMES. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

ERRATIC STEERING, USUALLY GOES TO LEFT, DEALER SAYS THEY CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, IT DOES IT INTERMITTANTLY BUT FREQUENTLY

STEERING SENSOR COMPUTER CHIP MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME VERY SLOPPY AND LOOSE AS IF STEERING WAS ON ICE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

INADVERDENT AND SUDDEN WHEEL MOVEMENT, OVERSTEER IN TURNS

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH OR ABOVE STEERING OPERATED POORLY. IT FELT LIKE CONSUMER WAS NOT CONTROLING VEHICLE WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. IT FELT LIKE A VOID. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERELY PULLS TO THE LEFT. DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR MODULE WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT INDICATED IN SUMMARY. *AK

THE CHILD SAFETY SEATS DO NOT WORK WITH THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM OF THE SUBURBAN. ONLY THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WILL SECURELY HOLD THE SEAT. I CONTACTED NHTSA TWICE AND GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE 3 TIMES AND MANY OTHER PLACES. FINALLY A GM ENGINEER IN THE SAFETY DEPT. CALLED ME TOOK MY COMPLAINT. HE TRIED TO PUT A SEAT IN A SUBURBAN AND SAID YES THEY DO NOT WORK RIGHT. THEY WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM IN HOUSE. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING MORE FROM THEM. THE VECHILE PULLED TO THE RIGHT FROM DAY ONE HAD IT ALIGNED PROBLEM CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. THE LEFT REAR DOOR HINGE ON DRIVERS SIDE BUSTED OFF. THE DOOR DID NOT OPEN AND SHUT PROPER. HAD PROBLEMS WITH FUSES BLOWING CONSTANTLY. THE BRAKES WORE OUT AT 26000 MILES AND EVERY 10 TO 15 SINCE. THE BRAKES AFTER 10,000 MILES WORE THROUGH THE ROTORS. THE PEDAL WILL OFTEN GO TO THE FLOOR OR THE VECHILE WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT WORSE THAN IT ALREADY DOES. THE EGR VALVE ALSO FAILED AND HAD TROUBLE GETTING IT HOME. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON ANY OTHER GM PRODUCT. I TALKED TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY SO MANY PROBLEMS AND THEY DIDN'T CARE. THEY WOULD NOT LOOK INTO IT. I AM FILLING OUT ANOTHER FORM WITH THE CONTINUATION OF SAFETY PROBLEMS.

THE SHAFT IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP BUSTED IN TWO AS MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING INTO A CURVE @ 60 MPH. HE WAS ABLE TO KEEP FROM CRASHING. BUT IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT I WOULDN'T OF BEEN ABLE TO STEER IT. MY HUSBAND WALKED IN THE HOUSE WHITE AS A GHOST. THE DEALER WANTED ME TO DRIVE IT IN 10 MILES ON A CURVING ROAD WITH NO POWER STEERING. I TRIED TO DRIVE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO. THE BRAKES WORE OUT AND WERE REPLACED A SECOND TIME (FRONT) @ 36000 MILES. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED, HAD BEEN 10,000 MILES SINCE LAST BRAKE JOB. THE REAR BRAKES NEEDED READJUSTMENT AGAIN AT 43200 MILES THE PEDAL KEPT GOING TO THE FLOOR AND WAS SOFT. 11/98 BEGAN HAVING MORE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR FAN BLOWER WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND WILL RUN THE BATTERY DEAD CONSTANTLY. 1/99 BOTH FRONT AND REAR U-JOINTS WERE BAD, HAD REPLACED THE CAR WAS WANDERING EVEN WORSE THAN IT USED TO THEY COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING AND FRONT BRAKES NEED REPLACING AGAIN. 2/16/99 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN THE VECHILE AT 53174 MILES. I DROVE THE CAR 3 MILES INTO TOWN THE RPMS STARTED GOING UP TO 4000RPMS WASN'T SHIFTING I STOPPED AND PARKED I TRIED TO BACK UP IT STARTED WHINNING AND CLUNKING AND WOULDN'T MOVE. THREE MILES EARLIER I BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE WITH NO HINT OF TROUBLE 3 MILES LATER I AM STRANDED WITH TWO BABYS. MY HUSBAND CONTACTED GM THEY REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. I CONTINUED CONTACTING GM THROUGH OTHER AVENUES I CALLED ROY ROBERTS ONE OF THE VP EXPLAINED I HAD SOME SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE SUBURBAN. I WAS TOLD HE WOULD RETURN MY PHONE CALL, NO RETURN CALL EVER RECEIVED. I FINALLY FOUND A FACTORY REP. THAT IS LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM BUT I DON'T HOLD OUT MUCH HOPE THAT GM WILL RESPOND TO OUR CONCERNS. EVERY TIME I HAVE TALKED TO A GM REP. THEY TELL ME NO ONE ELSE HAS THESE PROBLEMS, BUT ACCORDING TO YOUR RECORDS LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILIAR PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALL RECORDS AND RECEIPTS AND WOULD LOVE TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL WITH YOU.

WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN AND INCREASING SPEED, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR. ALSO, REPLACED THE PROGRAM ECM, AND SOME METALS PARTS THAT FELL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH UPHILL WHEN THE SHAFT OF THE STEERING PUMP SNAPPED. CONSUMER LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GMC 97 TAHOE'S AND SUBURBAN. DEALERS ARE REPLACING THE POWER STEERING UNITS WITH THE EXACT UNITS . *AK

DUE TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX FREEZING UP, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL, WHILE TAKING VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AGAIN, DEALER REPLACED STEERING GEAR BOX. *AK *TT

STEERING PROBLEMS CAUSED DRIVER TO RUN OFF OF ROADWAY.

ERRATIC STEERING WHEEL BEHAVIOR.

STEERING BOX CONTINUALLY FAILED.

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING SOMETHING CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO TWITCH FOR LESS THAN A SECOND AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS TO THE RIGHT. THIS IS DUE THE VES (VARIABLE EFFECT STEERING). THE POWER STEERING CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED END OF AUGUST OR EARLY SEPTEMBER. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK