2000 Chevrolet Suburban: sudden loss of power

Filed Mar 24, 2005 · Steering · 91,893 miles · OR

2000 suburban 2500 [xxx] - loss of steering and brakes at speed. My 73 year old father was driving my 4 year old daughter to school and was rounding a corner when the steering wheel became nearly impossible to turn and the brakes barely able to stop. He went straight midway through the turn and applied the brakes as hard as he could. Luckily, no cars were approaching and he eventually stopped. I had the suburban towed to the dealer and was informed that a recall was in progress for my vehicle and the parts and labor would be replaced for free. I would have to put the repair on my visa and then be reimbursed. I called gm and they said they would send the reimbursement forms. They then called on march 17th and said that my vehicle was just outside the VIN recall range but was in the same year and I would not be reimbursed. My concern is that the parts that were recalled were in my vehicle but gm claims that my vehicle is not affected. Here is the recall description from gm - "the hydraulic pump driveshaft can fracture in the 98,221 vehicles mentioned, which causes immediate loss of power steering assist and can result in loss of braking assist". The repair was over $600 but more importantly, many of the vehicles with the bad parts (like mine) will not be recalled and someone could easily be killed ( a pedestrian, a head on crash, etc). We're talking about catastrophic steering and brake failure at the same time! Normally, I'm not too caring about this stuff and I regard it as someone elses problem but I don't want this blood on my hands if I don't do something about it. *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed Oct 21, 2004 · Fuel system · PA

The fuel pump module was defective. The wiring on the fuel pump module often melted when the fuel tank was routinely run below a quarter tank of gasoline. This caused a short and a fuse to blow in the vehicle, there was also an immediate lost of all power. Which causes a dangerous position for the driver. The fuel pump was replaced 4 times.

Filed Feb 23, 2004 · Steering · 81,301 miles · MI

My 2000 chevrolet suburban lost all power steering when turning wheel left to avoid sliding on ice. Harbor chevrolet/michigan city in replaced power steering pump; total cost $650.10, including towing.

Filed Sep 3, 2003 · Fuel system · 85,993 miles · CA

While traveling approx. 70 MPH, car quit suddenly and completely. Quickly lost power steering and brakes. Luckily, we were on a straightaway not the mountain road we were travelling one hour earlier. Car towed to quality chevrolet in escondido. Diagnosis = catastrophic fuel pump failure.this is highly dangerous. We have a friend who had exactly the same failure at approximately the same mileage, 85,000 - 90,000 miles.*ak notwithstanding the danger, this repair cost over $900 to repair. This is a bad design...failure results in a lifethreatening situation and repair is exhorbitantly expensive.

Filed Sep 21, 2002 · Fuel system · FL

Total loss of engine power and steering control and braking while at highway speed was caused by fuel control module shorted out and ECM-b fuse blown. Fortunately, my wife was able to steer the vehicle off the highway safely, but she and two passengers were terrified.