2002 Chevrolet Suburban Steering

I HAD JUST PULLED AWAY FROM MY HOME ( APPROXIMATELY GOING 5 MPH) AND MY STEERING WHEELED LOCKED TO THE RIGHT AND I SIDE SWIPED 2 PARKED VEHICLES. I HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL, WAS SEAT BELTED, NOT ON MY CELL PHONE NOR WAS I TEXTING...MY FULL ATTENTION WAS ON DRIVING AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING FOR A FEW SECONDS. I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND BELTS FOR ANY SIGNS OF LEAKS OR WEAR, BUT THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF A MALFUNCTION. MY GREAT CONCERN IS , WILL THIS HAPPEN AGAIN...WHY DID IT HAPPEN AND IF THOSE PEOPLE WERE GETTING INTO THEIR CARS...I MOST PROBABLY WOULD HAVE KILLED THEM! *TR

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND VERY HEAVING STEERING REQUIRING GREAT EFFORT. I MADE A HARD U-TURN AND THEN FOUND THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY HEAVY. IT TOOK BOTH HANDS AND A LOT OF FORCE TO STEER THE CAR. I PULLED OVER, POPPED HOOD, AND SAW NOTHING WRONG. NO DASH MALFUNCTION LIGHTS WERE ON. AT REPAIR, THE STEERING PUMP SHAFT HAD SHEARED WHERE IT NECKS DOWN FROM ABOUT 3/4" TO 3/8" DIAMETER. AN INTERNET SEARCH PROVIDES MANY INSTANCES OF THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PUMP WITH A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER WHICH DOES NOT HAVE THE VARIABLE EFFORT STEERING FEATURE. I VERY MUCH DON'T LIKE THE RESULTING LACK OF ROAD FEEL AND AM PURSUING THAT PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER. THIS SUDDEN STEERING PUMP FAILURE IS A DEFINITE SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. *TR

WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, THE STEERING RESISTS VERY STRONGLY A TURN TO THE RIGHT IN THE FIRST 10-20 DEGREES OF STEERING WHEEL TURN TO THE RIGHT OF STRAIGHT. THE STRENGTH OF RESISTANCE IS VARIABLE, DEPENDING ON THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. SITTING STILL, THERE IS A SLIGHT ?HITCH? OR NOTHING AT ALL. AS VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES, THE AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE INCREASES TO A MAX AT ABOUT 20-25 MPH, WHERE IT TAKES AN ?ARM WRESTLE? FORCE TO MOVE THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT. IT RESISTS, FIGHTS BACK, THEN WITH A LOT OF MUSCLE ? POPS THROUGH THIS RESISTANCE AND FEELS PERFECTLY NORMAL. THE HARD MUSCLE PULL TO THE RIGHT, AND SUBSEQUENT RELEASE MAKES THE TRACK OF THE CAR TEND STRAIGHT, AND THEN JERK RIGHT. WHEN THE CAR HAS THIS MALFUNCTION, IT REQUIRES THE MOST PHYSICAL POWER TO PULL THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. SUCCESSIVE TURNS TO THE RIGHT ARE EASIER AND EASIER, UNTIL AFTER ABOUT 4-5 CYCLES TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING IS ?NORMAL.? SYMPTOMS ARE GONE WITHIN 1 MILE OF DRIVING. THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS USUALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL DAYS. IT ALSO IS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE IS COLD. THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO BOTH. IT RESISTED TURNS TO THE RIGHT IN THE MORNING, AND EQUALLY AS MUCH THAT EVENING RETURNING HOME FROM WORK. IT HAS SHOWN UP IN THE SUMMER, BUT MORE OFTEN IN THE WINTER. IT DOES NOT DO IT EVERY DAY. I DESCRIBE IT AS PERMANENT, PERSISTENTLY INTERMITTENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, AND LEFT DAYS AND WEEKS AT A TIME. AT THE LAST INCIDENT, THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING POSITION SENSOR. FREQUENCY OF MALFUNCTION DECREASED, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TAKE NORMAL STEERING COMMANDS IS IN ITSELF HAZARDOUS. ON SLIPPERY SURFACES, THE LIKELIHOOD OF LOSS OF CONTROL IS SEVERE. *TR

POWER STEERING ON 2002 CHEVY. SUBURBAN FAILS. HAD POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AND PROBLEM CONTINUES. *JB

3RD FAILURE OF THE INTERMEDITE STEERING SHAFT ON THE 2002 CHEVROLET 1/2 TON SUBURBAN. *AK

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 SUBURBAN. MY INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED/REPAIRED AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEGUN TO MAKE NOISES AGAIN, INDICATING IT IS TIME FOR YET ANOTHER SERVICE TRIP. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SHOP. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT THE POWER STEERING BECAUSE HE COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. UPDATED 07/18/11

CONSUMERS 2002 SUBURBAN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, 1500 LT, 4WD. THE SUBURBAN WAS SERVICED ROUTINELY AT THE DEALER AND HAD 69,000 MILES. THE SHAFT IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE CAUSING COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. FORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED OFF OF THE MAIN ROADWAY AND AT LOW SPEED, BUT CAUSED A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED, THE EVENTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. *JB

2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING SENSORS. *MR THE SENSORS REACTED SPORADICALLY. THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH HIS 1999 GMC YUKON. *SC *JB

THE TRUCK HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH A CLANGING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, MOSTLY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID THAT IT MAY CAUSE A STEERING COMPONENT TO BREAK, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING, AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND INFORMED OF THE NOISE, TO WHICH HE REPLIED THAT THERE WASN'T ANY RECALLS, AND THE NOISE WAS NOT DANGEROUS/SERIOUS. *AK THE DEALERS TECH INDICATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAD POWER STEERING FAILURE.*MR WHEN THEN POWER STEERING FAILED THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM SHOULD ALLOW THE DRIVER TO HAVE FULL CONTROL OF THE STEERING EVEN IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING WENT OUT. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS EXAMINED, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

FOLLOW UP TO SEE IF AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN OPENED REGARDING TWO VEHICLES WITH OFF CENTER STEERING PROBLEMS.*MR SERIAL NUMBER #[XXX] AND [XXX]. *CB *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING SINCE APRIL 2003. VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

THE STEERING COLUMN IS OFF CENTER TO THE RIGHT, WHICH MEANS IF THE AIR BAG IS NEEDED IT WILL NOT PROTECT THE BODY IN THE CENTER. PETITION SENT TO EXEC SECT.... CONSUMER PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVY TAHOE AND A 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN. BOTH VEHICLES STEERING COLUMN WAS OFF CENTER. THE CONSUMER'S MOTHER DROVE THE SUBURBAN AND WHEN SHE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, SHE SAT IN FOUR OTHER SUBURBAN'S. THREE OUT OF THE FOUR WERE WORSE THAN HER VEHICLE. THE FOURTH ONE WAS OFF CENTER TO THE LEFT. ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER LEASED A TRAILBLAZER AND THAT VEHICLE IS FINE. THE CONSUMER LEASED THREE OTHER CHEVY EXPRESS VANS AND THEY ARE FINE. ALL VEHICLES WERE LEASED AT THE SAME PLACE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD NO DEFECT WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE FIRST RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *PH

THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT TECHNICALLY INSPECT MY TRUCK THAT IS THEY JUST LOOKED AT IT ACCORDING TO THE WRITE UP PERSON. *JB

POPPING NOISE AND CLINKING FELT IN STEERING AND EXCESSIVE PLAY. IT IS HARDER TO TURN TO THE RIGHT-LITERALLY YOU FEEL THE WHEEL GOING AROUND MUCH FURTHER THAN IF TURNING TO THE LEFT, ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT NEED AN ALIGNMENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BUSHINGS AND FIXED LOWER CLEARANCE ARMS (WHICH HAD EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE). PICKED IT UP AND FELT THE SAME CLINKING AND HEARD THE NOISE AGAIN!! I RETURNED IT AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOOK A TEST DRIVE-HE ONLY HAD TO TURN OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND HE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW DAYS, I ONCE AGAIN FELT THE SAME SENSATION AND NOISE-NOT AS BAD AS BEFORE BUT STILL THERE. STEERING HAS A LOT OF PLAY IN IT-I CAN ROCK IT BACK AND FORTH AND IT DOESN'T MOVE THE VEHICLE. IF YOU GO OVER ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD YOU FEEL THE CLINKING IN THE STEERING. IT HAS ONCE AGAIN BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS STOPPING AT AROUND 20-30 MILES PER HOUR, ESPECIALLY OVER BUMPS-IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE IT WILL STOP-BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS TO GO TO THE FLOOR-I HAVE TO RELEASE IT AND PRESS AGAIN-I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS. I REPORTED THIS AND THE SERVICE DEPT. TOLD ME THIS IS HOW ABS WORKS-I DON'T THINK SO. THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS 10,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT HAS BEEN ON FRONT COLLISION. PLEASE ADD MORE DETAILS. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. TS

STEERING COLUMN IS NOT CENTERED PROPERLY WITNIN VEHICLE AND MAY CAUSE SEVERE INJURY IF DEPLOYED. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK