2003 Chevrolet Suburban Steering Problems

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN THAT HAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING. WHILE TURNING AT SPEED OR SIMPLY CORRECTING AS DRIVING. I HAVE NOTICED MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE SITE ABOUT IT BUT IT APPEARS GM IS NOT PAYING FOR A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. HAS ANYTHING BEEN DONE ON GM'S BEHALF TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS OR AM I STUCK FIXING THIS? THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO BECOME VERY LOOSE WHEN DRIVING. *TR

VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY LOST ALL STEERING. STEERING WHEEL SIMPLY ROLLED AROUND ON THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE IN MOTION. *NM

THE FUEL GAUGE QUIT FIRST, THEN THE SPEEDOMETER. THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN A TURN IS MADE. *JB

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURAN, 4X4. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED 9/2004. IT HAS DEVELOPED A RATTLE/CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STERRING COLUMN. I CALLED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THEY HAVE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AND THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REMOVED AND GREASED, AND OR REPLACED. I WOULD THINK SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS "STEERING" COLUMN PROBLEMS WOULD RESULT IN A RECALL. PLEASE HELP!!

THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB SHAFT WAS REPLACED. *TC

STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT DEFECTIVE. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS BARELY ATTACHED BY 1 LOOSE PIN. *BF NO ANSWER REQUIRED - SEE RESPONSE TO ODI REF. NO. 10109124. *MJJ *JB

RE DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN FOR A 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN, REPLY ATTN ESTHER CLARK. *BF THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND HE WAS INFORMED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THE PART WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND IT TOOK OVER SEVERAL MONTHS FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE. *JB

THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND MOMENTARY WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER BEING INSPECTED. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *NM *TC

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN THAT HAS A STEERING /CLUNKING NOISE IN THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. I HAVE CALLED MANY DEALERS AND THEY SAID IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THE PARTS ARE ON ORDER, I CHECKED OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINT SITES AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE PARTS FOR OVER 6 MONTHS. MY DEALER TOLD ME HE HAS A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER 4 MONTHS. HAS ANYTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM OR IS GM DISREGARDING THE DEFECT IN THE PARTS. WHEN WILL MY SUBURBAN BE FIXED, IF AT ALL ? *NM

I HAVE A 2003 SUBURBAN THAT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN STEERING. THE STEERING ALSO FEELS LOOSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I ALSO TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS CLUNKING NOISE. THEY SAID IT ALWAYS HAPPENS AND THAT THEY WOULD TIGHTEN IT UP. THIS HOWEVER IS NOT ON MY INVOICE ONLY THE BRAKE INSPECTION. BRAKES CAME BACK FINE(ALTHOUGH THEY STILL SQUEAK) AND THEY SAID THAT THEY TIGHTENED THE STEERING PROBLEM UP. CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NOW I HAVE 41,000 MILES ON IT AND WE ARE GOING TO L.A. FOR THANKSGIVING. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP OF MY CHOICE FOR ONCE AGAIN A BRAKE INSPECTION AND THIS CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING. UPON ARRIVAL TO THE SHOP THE OWNER HAS AN 02 SILVERADO AND SAID HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH WAS CORRECTED BY CHEVY. APPARENTLY THEY ARE REPLACING THE STEERING SHAFT NOW. BEFORE THEY WERE REMOVING IT AND LUBING IT AND THEN PUTTING IT BACK. WHEN MY MECHANIC ASKED IF THEY WOULD COVER IT THEY SAID NO BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED EVEN THOUGH I BROUGHT IT IN BEFORE FOR THIS BUT I HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT THIS. MY MECHANIC ASKED TO GET THE PART BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. SOUNDS LIKE CHEVY IS GOING THROUGH QUITE A BIT OF THESE, THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED IN MY OPINION. I KNOW ANOTHER PERSON WITH A SILVERADO HD AND HIS CLUNKS ALSO. I'M NOT SURE WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE AND DON'T KNOW IF IT IS DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD NO INJURIES OR CRASHES FROM THIS YET. PLEASE HELP IF POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.*AK

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. I VISITED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE PREVIOUS DAY I HAD TAKEN MY 2003 SUBURBAN PURCHASED NEW FROM THE LOCAL DEALER TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SERVICE SHOP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK. I WAS ADVISED I HAD A LOT OF SLACK AND VIBRATION AT BOTH ENDS OF MY STEERING COLUMN. I HAD LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THIS AREA WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE WHEELS TURNED THEY DID NOT TURN SMOOTHLY, BUT ROUGHLY, AND JUMPED IN THE TURNING PROCESS AS THOUGH IT STOPPED AND STARTED CONTINUOUSLY. THE REPAIR SHOP HAD SINCERE CONCERNS THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS, AND SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER FULL BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT BACK TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE SERVICE DEALERSHIP KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG, AND STATED THAT IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. MECHANIC HAD TO ORDER THE REPAIR PARTS, WHICH WOULD TAKE 3 TO 4 WEEKS. NEVERTHELESS, I WAITED FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO CALL ME WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN. AFTER OVER A MONTH I CALLED TITLE BACK, AND HE AGAIN SAID IT COULD BE 3 OR 4 WEEKS BEFORE THEY COME IN, AND THEY WOULD CALL ME. AS OF THE DATE OF THIS LETTER I NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THESE PARTS WERE RECEIVED. APPARENTLY, THEY COULD NOT GET THE PARTS NEEDED TO DO THE WARRANTY REPAIRS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WHEELS JUMP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNING. *TC *JB

WHEN TURNING A CORNER STEERING COLUMN SHOOK AND MADE A CLANKING NOISE. DEALER STATED INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILED, AND THEY WERE AWAITING INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE THE REPAIRS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING, AND CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED.*AK

LOOSE MOTION IN STEERING AND KNOCKING SOUND. HAD TO WAIT ON REPAIR DUE TO DEALER INFORMING US OF BACKORDERS ON INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS. DEALER HAD SAID THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME NATURE. WE ALSO HAD 2 FAMILY MEMBERS TO HAVE THEIRS REPAIRED. DEALER REPAIRED, BUT WE HAD TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS.*AK

1. 2003 SUBURBAN Z71 , RATTLE AND CLUNK IN STEERING COLUMN, NOTHING LOOSE IN THE STEERING JUST CLUNKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. 2. SECOND ROW MIDDLE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND UNABLE TO FASTEN BELT WITHOUT FORCE. CORRECTED 3. LATCHES LOCATED ON THE BACK OF THE SECOND ROW SEATS TO HOLD UP THE THIRD ROW FLOOR BOARDS WHEN USING THIRD ROW HAVE BROKEN NUMEROUS TIMES (LATCHES ARE PLASTIC WHICH MAKES NO SENSE) 4. PAINT ON THE REAR BUMPER AND LEFT BY GAS TANK FILL RUSTED (THIS WAS CORRECTED) 5. DRIVER SEAT MOTOR RUNS AFTER VEHICLE TURNED OFF. THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION MANY TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. 6. REAR ACCESS DOOR WEATHER STRIPING STRETCHED. 7. TRUCK FAILED TO START FOR NUMEROUS REASONS OTHER THEN DEAD BATTERY. FUEL TANK PUMP MODULE WENT BAD. CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WENT BAD. THE MOST RECENT OF 1/20/07 HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AS THE TRUCK IS NOT RELIABLE. INFACT MY 1994 FORD EXPLORER IS MORE RELIABLE THEN THIS TRUCK PROBLEMS BEGAN IN 2003, STARTING WITH 2ND ROW SEAT BELT ISSUES 8. EXCESSIVE SQUEAKING FROM FRONT END, NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS MADE TO DEALER, BELTS REPLACED AND PULLEYS CLEANED SEVERAL TIMES THEN PULLEYS READJUSTED. 9. LEFT REAR DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. *TR

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, REPLACED STEERING SHAFT, INNER TIE RODS, FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS, IDLER ARM AND RELAY ROD, POWER STEERING PUMP AND GEAR ASSEMBLY. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LEADS ITSELF AND ESSENTIALLY LOCKS INTO A HARD RIGHT OR LEFT TURN AND RARELY AUTOMATICALLY RELEASES FROM THE TURN BY ITSELF. CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE FOUR TIRES WERE CUPPED. *TC

2003 CHEVRLOET SUBURBAN, POSSIBLY OTHER SUVS AND TRUCKS BASED ON THE SAME OR SIMILAR CHASSIS (E.G. SILVERADO) ACCORDING TO PERSONAL RESEARCH: <P> VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WITH REGARDS TO STEERING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND SOMETIMES EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS AT THE SLIGHTEST INFLUENCE OF "EXTERNAL FORCES" SUCH AS WIND, ROAD GROOVES, ROAD UNEVENESS. FEELS LIKE BUMPSTEER, BUT WITH THE ABILITY OF WIND OR TURBULENCE FROM PASSING LARGE TRUCK TO INDUCE IT. ESSENTIALLY VEHICLE DARTS LEFT AND RIGHT NO MATTER THE STEERING INPUT. DOES NOT OCCUR ON STRAIGHT SMOOTH ROADS. HAS HAPPENED SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND NOTHING HAS IMPROVED NOR HAS ANY REAL DIAGNOSIS BEEN MADE (THEY REFUSE TO IF YOU INSIST). HAS OCCURED SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASING VEHICLE. <P> EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH 2002 SILVERADO, DISCUSSED AND RESOLVED ON EDMUNDS.COM: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX?50@157.GLWCCUXWWQO.3@.EF12499 <P> OTHER VERY SIMILAR NHTSA COMPLAINTS/ODI: COMPLAINT # 10045857 "CONSUMER PURCHASED 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAS REPEADEDLY TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER DUE TO THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLING INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC WHEN MILD WINDS OCCUR." <P> COMPLAINT # 10058005 "WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHILE MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT STEERING BECAME LOOSE" <P> COMPLAINT # 10025081 (2003 SILVERADO) "WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL."*AK

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL JERK TO THE RIGHT. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT ARE ON BACK ORDER. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

LOOKING FOR A CONSUMER RECALL REPORT. NO INCIDENT OCCURRED. ATTEMPTED TO REGISTER WITH DATA BASE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHILE MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT STEERING BECAME LOOSE. *AK