Ongoing / erratic problem with power steering system causing momentary loss of steering control. Dealer notified, and replaced steering sensor. Year later problem reoccurred. Please feel free to provide any further details.
1997 Chevrolet Suburban steering complaints
Page 3 of 5: complaints 41 to 70 of 105, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Steering suddenly jerked toward the direction of pressure on the steering wheel. This should be a recall emergency before it turns into causing fatalities like the tire situation.
Steering tension changes drastically causing oversteering, steering also locks up when applying brakes.
Erratic power steering assist while driving.
While traveling and without any indication vehicle would travel from left or right without steering wheel being turned, sensor was gone. Please provide further information.
No summary
When making a right turn there is some oversteering due to a bad power steering: hydroboost unit. The dealer has been contacted.
At speeds above 30 MPH the steering becomes unstable/loose especially in turns when the vehicle jerks suddenly in the same direction as the turn. The vehicle also wanders at highway speeds and causes oversteering when changing lanes. This is a very unsafe situation when towing causing the trailer to swerve back and fourth. I bought an extended warranty on this vehicle and I am planning on taking it in to the dealership where I bought it to have it checked/repaired but based on the number of complaints I have read about this problem I believe this should be addressed by the manufacturer because it is a definite safety hazard. I have owned three gm trucks (1989,1993 and 1996) and none has felt as unstable or as dangerous as this suburban. If the dealer is unable to correct the problem under my extended warranty do I have any other recourse to correct this problem?
Steering wheel position sensor was faulty, causing steering to float feeling like a momentary loss of steering for a second. Consumer wrote chevrolet a letter.
Odi # on last report: 720833. No safety defec tlisted in summary.
Apparent unrepairable dangerous steering situation, battery problem, transmission failure. Vehicle does not seem to merchantable for purpose for which it was offered for sale.
Intermittently vehicle would lose steering power. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further information.
Ea-99-011; while driving and upon attempting to make a left or a right hand turn, steering wheel locked up. Problem was more likely to occur when making a left hand turn. Also, noticed play in steering wheel ,causing vehicle to pull left and right. Consumer has contacted dealer and manufacturer, case number c00509683. Please provide any further details.
Ongoing problem; dealer's aware- no fixing problem- while driving exhibits a loose behavior at various speeds like driving on ice.
Fuel pump and sending unit melted and shorted out causing car to stall on the road.torque convertor replaced/ trans reconditioned, power steering box leaking/ replaced. Both catalytic converters replaced,AC compressor replaced. Numerous coolant leaks fixed. Windshield replaced due to defect. Battery replaced due to acid leak. Whats next?
Please note there seems to be a problem in steering that allows steering pressures to change while turning wheel, it is an odd feel that is noticed at low speeds
Vehicle steering would be very unstable and give way in turns at high and low speeds. Steering wheel was very loose and would be tight in a left turn and normal in right turns. Took it to the dealer and they said it was a bad steering gear box. I looked under the plastic shroud for the steering input shaft and the locking nut was loose. This steering problem seems to be a problem for other suburban owners as well, I don't htink this gear box is the only cause and don't think I should have to pay 1000.00 dollars for a repair that is a manufacturer defect.
The failure manifested itself by means of oversteering to the point of losing traction and skidding on rh or lh front wheel depending in which direction I was turning. It usually happened at approx. 30 MPH. It is like the vehicle is "taking over" the steering. This occurred many times until I had the "steering wheel position sensor" replaced. According to chevrolet's customer service they are looking in to the problem, but at this time do not feel that it is a safety problem. I feel othervise since I almost lost control of the vehicle the first couple of times it happened.
Sterering wheel rotation sensor failed causing the steering wheel to jerk while driving. This family has three suburbans all the same year/model and they where all repaired for the same problem. Nlm
Subject vehicle has pulled, severely, to the right since purchase. The saleman said an alignment would fix the problem. The vehicle has been realigned three or four times, the steering wheel sensor has been replaced and the castor adjusted. The service department doesn't seem to know what else to do. The vehicle steering continues to pull dangerously to the right, especially when driving on a road (interstate or local) which has been sloped in that direction. The steering wheel constantly pulls in a clockwise direction. When driving in town or on the interstate, if the steering wheel were to slip out of your hand or you were to let go of the steering wheel for a second, the vehicle would run off the road. The steering also feels unstable and vague when driving on the interstate.
Steering sensor replaced several times due to steering jerking and directional problems, not able to rectify, finally consumer had the steering sensor taken out to remedy problem (design).
There is a grinding in the steering column.
Steering on this vehicle at highway speeds is not positive, has a floating.. Wander that makes it feel like you have no steering, and when you try to recover, it over corrects and sways.
Engine knocking occurs at cold temperatures 35f or below sounds come from lower engine rods possibly or crankshaft . --dealer refuses to acknowledge both problems
When driving at any speed the steering wheel is going to the left or to the right or wherever the steering takes the vehicle. Dealer replaced steering wheel sensor.
While driving and turning right the steering releases pressure and the steering wheel moves to the right about three inches, and then the pressure gets restored. Please provide any futher information.
The vehicle would dart to the left or right especially going around a cure. The steering would have a momentary effect of having no resistance on the steering column. This problem would occur intermitently. The vehicle would also oversteer and made it hard to keep the vehicle going straight down the road. I recently had the steering gear box replaced and everything is working fine.
Experience erratic steering. Steering system makes erratic jolts in either direction. System was bled, but still persists. Feels like power steering is unstable.
Brakes surge / pulsate when coming to a stop which results in smoking when braking.
There is an unanticipated steering wheel movement at highway speeds. The dealer has been notified.
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