The failure is the variable ratio steering which is meant to be high effort\low ratio once the vehicle reaches a certain speed (10-20 MPH ? )(or gear?) what occurs is the steering will intermittently go back and forth between the high effort -'cruising' ratio and the low speed -low effort -quick ratio at a speed above when it should remain in the high effort mode. I also owned a 97 k1500 chevrolet pickup that also had a very similar problem. It however would stay one way or the other and not go between the 2 ratios which at least made it more predictable. It had a valve replaced under warrenty that fixed the problem at about 35,000.
1997 Chevrolet Suburban steering complaints
Page 4 of 5: complaints 71 to 100 of 105, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Steering sensor has failed again this time at 38,000 miles. Presently not safe to drive.
Transmission: torque converter blew up.....fuel pump failed and had to be replaced, wiring overheated and insulation melted off inside fuel tank .....steering: erratic while making right turn
Steering pulling from side to side.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Vehicle would wander while driving at 50 MPH or more and oversteering would occur whenever changing lanes or making turns. Vehicle been in dealer shop on several occasions, and some repairs were made on gear box, but problem still occurs. Passing on information concerning the federal safety agency investigation.
I have owned a 86,93,95,and 97 suburban. So suburban steering is very familiar to me. The 1997 suburban steering is unsafe. When the vehicle was first purchased the variable assist failed pulling an rv trailer. Whenever a vehicle passed our suburban the steering had so much oversteer that if turned in any direction it would dart left and right either going off the highway or in the other lane. Several attempts were made to repair the steering,then lemon law was invoked. Two more attempts were made,the final one resulted in all of the service manager's steering components being removed from his 98 truck and placed on the suburban. The steering was better but poor compared to the 95 and 93 suburban. Today the vehicle is still scary to drive on rutted wet roads at speed. Just recently a chip failed in the steering when turning left, causing over correction into other lanes. The dealer said this had happened in other vehicles and repaired the vehicle. Unless gm fixes this problem,my intent is to buy another vehicle that is safe for family. It will not be a gm suburban. The steering needs to be completely replaced with previous non variable assist.
While driving steering resistance holds, resulting in dangerous oversteer. Dealer has been contacted.
Power steering keeps fluctuating between feeling tight and sloppy. At certain points the steering wheel seems to be pulled from my grasp, and oversteering occurs. Steering also sometimes makes a moaning noise. Also, brakes need to be replaced every 20,000 miles. Last time I had brakes replaced at dealer, I had to return 5 times to have them corrected. I was told shims broke off the front pads and were binding. All I know is that I could see the rotors glowing blue and the brakes smelled like they were burning, they were also making a horrible grinding noise when they were warm.
Failure of this component results in immediate and drammatic loss of normal power steering control when engaging in turns. The loss of resistence results in immediate oversteer which, at highway speeds, is very dangerous, sometimes causing the driver to drop a wheel from pavement. My writing is prompted by: 1) experience with my suburban; 2) a call to me today from a dealership mechanic who worked on my vehicle who informed me he had another bad one, identical to mine; 3) I drove another suburban of the same vintage & mileage with the identical problem. Though anecdotal, the multiple occurances in vehilces with which I am acquainted raise a compelling question about a dangerous problem with suburbans. Thank you for your consideration.
Ea9901 eratic power steering; when driving straight or more often on curves there is slip in the steering. The dealer is aware of the problem. The problem has not been corrected.
When changing lanes or turning corners steering wheel becomes loose, and driver loses control of the vehicle. Dealer has changed the ECM chip and the problem still exists.
When making a turn the wheel loosens up and then will kick back in .
Steering goes soft unexpectedly in turn, resulting in tendency to oversteer, possibly into oncoming traffic.
Ie98079, while driving steering system malfunctioned, causing the steering wheel to be "too loose" which may result a loss of vehicle control. Please provide further information and VIN#.
Steering front sensor has become defective and replaced twice, causing loss of control.
Have had a total of 6 complaints dierctly connected with front steering, controlability, poor handling characteristics and 2 instances of total loss of control while driving in a straight line. The vehicle has 2 timwes suddenly swerved to the right while driving straight and the steering wheel does not move. Fortunately, both instances occured while traffic was light andno accident happened. The vehicle is parked at a chevrolet dealer's yard and chevrolet motor division has stated that no problem exists and that I should continue to drive. I have refused. Now I have determined to file a complaint with texas motot vehicle division and pursue the ;lemon law" because chevrolet has failed to recognize or take any action in an attempt to resolve the problem.
Vehicle has a steering defect causing vehicle to oversteer. Yh
Failure/ loss of steering control without warning or change of steering wheel movement.
As consumer turns the steering wheel she sometimes reaches a spot like a( black hole) where she loses control momentarily. There is an open investigation at this time.
Pulls left while driving down road or when braking. Multiple service attempts. Still not fixed. Dealer cannot fix, gm won't replace vehicle. Vehicle is not safe and is a safety hazard.
Speed sensitive steering fails when driving. Especially dangerous when negotiating a turn, the steering is hard, the sss fails, causing the steering to become loose, resulting in oversteering, causing swerving or loss of control.
An intermittent problem. After turning a curb, the steering wheel would go limp or slack. Dealership had replaced the evo but problem has reappeared.
The power steering on right turns oversteers. It is like a sudden surge of power steering. Since it is intermetant it is a suprise and has on a number of occasion the suprise was enough to almost lose control of the suburban. We had it in once for repair but they couldnt find anyting. It has become worse and we have taken it back again for a repair. The service man said he has had three other complaints of the same type of problem.
The low speed power assist intermittently activates at cruise speed when making course corrections such as turning to follow the road, turning to pass and turning to correct for side wind.
Vehicle steering suddenly and abruptly fails while in motion. On one occurrance while traveling 70 MPH steering failed and vehicle moved to the left half a lane width; driver had no control.
Variable effort steering kicks in/out, causing a significant reduction in the back pressure of the steering wheel. The effect involves momentary oversteer as if someone has grapped the steering wheel and moved it 4-5 inches toward insid eof curve. If driven on icy roads, could lead to loss of control.
While driving the vehicle suddenly the steering wheel became loose, causing the driver to lose control and running into a ditch. The dealer has been notified.
While driving at approx 55 MPH steering lost power for about 3 seconds to 10 seconds. During this time consumer cannot control vehicle, it begins to wander from side to side, in order to gain control, needs to apply brakes. Eventually power comes back. Took vehicle to dealership 2nd time, dealer changed steering sensor. 1st time, dealer claimed could not find problem.
Speed sensitive power steering does not operate properly, it has little if any road feel, the vehicle floats when driven in wind or around trucks and other traffic. Consumer feels the vehicle is very unstable, difficult to control.
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