general problems of the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado

I purchased my chevy Silverado truck in 2003 new off the lot at [xxx] in roseville California. Within a couple years, I made a left hand turn at an intersection and lost power. I nearly hit a homeless man with a shopping cart, as I came up over a sidewalk. I called chevy and got towed back in. They told me it was a solenoid? they fixed it and that was that. A year later, I am driving down a busy major street and make a left turn. As turning I lose power and my truck dies. Cars behind me honking. Light changes to red and cars still behind me. Now other lights are green. I turn my key again and it turns on and I get out of the way. I have 4 teenagers in my truck with me screaming. I take my truck to [xxx] and they test drive. Nothing happens. They say there is nothing to fix. Couldn't get it to die on them. A year later, make a u turn on busy street. It dies and loses power. I have no brakes and no steering. Cars honking. Again take it to [xxx]. Nothing. A year later, taking a car load of women out to dinner and drinks. All hard working mothers. I am the only non drinker. At midnight I am taking the women home. U-turn at intersection, and truck dies. Again. No brakes or steering. Scared women. Turn it over and it goes. I take my truck to [xxx]. They have just moved to another building down the street. All my records of ignition problems gone. They have no idea where any of them went. They test drive. Nothing. They have yet to fix anything on it. It hasn't done it in over a year. But no telling when it does happen. It just happens. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

We have a 2003 chevy Silverado with 58,000 miles. There is a loud clunking sound coming from the steering shaft. When I asked about it I was told it could be greased but the noise would return. My son is an auto salesman and has talked to other people who have the same problem or have had the steering shaft replaced. Should not the dealer or gm in particular be responsible for this repair.

: the contact stated since purchase, every several thousand miles, there is excessive play in the steering wheel. The dealership has replaced the intermediate steering shaft 4 times, but this has not repaired the problem. Updated 3/17/2006 -.

When turning vehicle at slow speed, "clunking" heard and felt through steering wheel. Gm dealer immediately identified problem as defective intermediate steering shaft. There is a huge number of complaints about this. If the shaft fails, would the vehicle experience loss of steering? why is this not a safety item necessitating a recall?.

Knocking feeling through steering wheel and floor while turning and on bumps as if something is loose. Steering shaft replaced at 13k miles, but problem still existed. Now vehicle has 17600 miles and problem is getting worse. Dealer refuses to attempt any repair.

On 25500hd Silverado, steering has to much free play and is sloppy. Steering also wanders. Had alignment done 3 time within 2 month period, and steering shaft replacement per bulletin - did not correct situation. Still wonders to left. Not safe when hauling a trailer or not. To date this has not been corrected properly.

Looseness in front end steering. Clunking and wobble in front end felt through steering wheel. Repeat occurrence. First time require removal and replacement of steering intermediate shaft replacement pn 88963611. First occurrence happened at 28162 miles, second occurrence happened at approx 46,000 miles. Probable design flaw.

: the contact stated while driving there was a knocking sound in the steering wheel. This occurred while turning left and right on normal road conditions and during normal steering. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for inspection. Upon inspection, the dealership replaced the steering shaft which remedied the problem. The manufacturer was alerted. Updated 03/03/06.

When turning in either direction a grinding noise from the drive shaft was produced. The dealer has replaced the steering shaft, however the problem still exist. Please provide additional information.

Defective seal in steering mechanism. ( in the intermediate steering shaft ) a repair kit is offered but is only temporary fix. Was informed by dealer that this is common and may have to be repeated every 15 to 20,000 miles at owners cost. Not covered by warranty.

While turning the steering wheel in either direction a grinding noise was heard. The dealer stated the part was not available. Please provide additional information.

When shifting gears, the consumer heard a disturbing noise coming from the clutch. Initially rthe dealer replaced the u-joint but that did not correct the problem. The vehicle was returned to the dealer where they replaced the upper intermediate steering shaft.

2003 Chevrolet Silverado. The consumer stated the steering was popping. This would occur when vehicle would hit a little bump or turn the steering wheel to the right or left. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer at 20,000 miles, and they replaced the steering shaft on June 21, 2004. The vehicle started doing it again about two weeks ago at approximately 41,000 miles. The consumer wads going to call and make an appointment to take it in again. Updated 12/7/2005.

Steering system exhibits bumping vibration at all speeds, which dealer attributes to intermediate steering shaft problem which has been acknowledged by manufacturer. Currently, no permanent fix is available, and temporary fix involves repacking shaft with grease at 10k interval.

The steering shaft was defective. The vehicle was serviced three times. The dealer ordered the part, and it has been several months, but the parts were still not available. There was a popping and cracking sound. The consumer was informed that the problem was with the upper intermediate shaft. The part was finally replaced.

Vehicle safety: quadrasteer (4 wheel steer) maneuverability when sliding on ice. Was driving my Chevrolet 1500hd crew cab 4x4 quadrasteer pickup 30 mph (in 40 mph zone) and coming around a right hand bend in the road when the truck hit ice on the road. The vehicle immediately started to slide off the road to the right. The quadrasteer was on and engaged. At this speed the quadrasteer has the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels. As the truck was sliding to the right, I responded as convention dictates, which is to turn into the slide to maintain control of the vehicle. When I turned the steering to the right (into the slide), the rear wheels turned to the left, which almost instantly put the truck in a free slide now going slide ways because the rear wheel steering caused the back of the truck to come around from the left side. The quadrasteer system in a vehicle's free slide acted counter-intuitively and put the vehicle completely out of control in the free-slide. The rear wheels complete for control against the front wheels control and make the outcome of the slide on ice even more unpredictable. Additionally, nowhere in the driving manual, which comes with the truck, does it state anything about the driving control being different from conventional handling when the vehicle is in a free slide on ice or snow. There are no warnings in the manual to a give heads up for this potential problem, nor is there any safety device in the quadrasteer system which would help one overcome the complications brought upon by the quadrasteer in this situation.

My daughter had an accident in our 2003 Chevrolet 1500 series pickup truck due to a steering problem. She was making a left turn at a low speed and said something went wrong with the steering. It made a popping/grinding sound, spun her in a circle and caused her to hit a curb and then a yield sign. We had the truck towed to the dealer because I thought it sounded like a mechanical problem. The dealer contacted gm and they said that the damage would have to be repaired before anyone could check out the steering. The damage has been repaired, but the dealer said they could find nothing wrong with the steering. I don't believe that especially since I read an article regarding the recall of certain gm cars whose drivers experienced the exact same problem. I also read in the article that NHTSA is investigating the 2500 and 3500 series trucks and feel that the 1500 series should also be investigated.

Deterioration in intermediate steering shaft. Repair required at 16,500 miles. Dealership acknowledges that general motors has been aware of faulty part since the model change in 1999. Manufacturer will not authorize replacement of faulty part because the new part is not expected to last any longer than the original.

Steering wheel binds while stopped and turning the steering wheel or taking off and turning. If backing up slowly or moving forward slowly and turning through parked cars could cause vehicle to crash into one when the steering binds up. Also could cause a crash while turning and steering binds and causes the vehicle to go into the ditch. Dealer has been notified 3 times. They replaced the shaft assembly and gear box. But the problem still exists.

When turning the steering wheel towards the left it locked up, causing the consumer to lose control of the vehicle. When turning and driving, there was a pop in the front end.

There is a knock or a hard pecking felt in the steering wheel. Especially when on rough highways and while turning. Dealer has been notified 3 times. They replaced the steering shaft intermediate. Fixed the problem but it came back about after 6 weeks. Took it back down to the dealer but they didn't replace anything the second time? problem still exists.

Vehicle pulls to the right very hard. Has been worked on 5 times, and has been aligned 3 times. Vehicle still pulls to the right. Dealer was unable to fix it. Traveling about 65 mph, you can let the steering wheel go and you will be off the road in about 2 seconds.

Knock in front end, felt in steering wheel at low speeds, normally when turning. Serviced every three thousand miles (documented), and I asked the shop forman/managers about the problem since early 2003 when it was first noticed. Was finally told it was a spline (?) needing lubed or replaced by a dealership and was also advised to contact gm as it is now out of warranty. Problem has existed since early 2003 and dealerships new about it then, however, didn't know how or what to do to solve the problems. Now very noticeable. Safety problem (??) .

2003 chevy Silverado and tahoe with defective steering shaft. Consumer states that when they replace the steering shaft it only lasts a few thousand miles. Consumer states that the vehicle will not pass inspection.