Steering complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 8 | 6% | 14,000 miles |
| 2016 | 1 | 20% | 0 miles |
| 2015 | 13 | 17% | 11,000 miles |
| 2014 | 19 | 15% | 12,000 miles |
| 2013 | 8 | 13% | 18,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 3% | 34,000 miles |
| 2011 | 3 | 4% | 12,000 miles |
| 2010 | 6 | 10% | 36,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 3% | 52,000 miles |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2007 | 9 | 5% | 46,000 miles |
| 2006 | 9 | 5% | 15,000 miles |
| 2005 | 24 | 8% | 28,000 miles |
| 2004 | 44 | 7% | 34,000 miles |
| 2003 | 80 | 12% | 20,000 miles |
| 2002 | 39 | 5% | 25,000 miles |
| 2001 | 37 | 4% | 31,000 miles |
| 2000 | 73 | 6% | 43,000 miles |
| 1999 | 69 | 4% | 70,000 miles |
| 1998 | 21 | 8% | 51,000 miles |
| 1997 | 59 | 22% | 60,000 miles |
| 1996 | 4 | 2% | 126,000 miles |
| 1995 | 2 | 1% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at 15 mph, the power steering had failed while making a turn and the steering wheel would not turn. The contact crashed into a light pole. The contact hit his head on the seatbelt anchor ring. No medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but the dealer could not replicate the failure after a test drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure occurred on two separate occasions. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact there was no recall for the vehicle's year and model. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and turning, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH the "loss of power steering" warning illuminated. The contact felt the steering wheel was hard to turn to the left or right. The contact was able to stop the vehicle and turn the vehicle off, when he turned the vehicle on the power steering was engaged, however, the failure was reoccurring. The contact stated that failure was also occurring at any speed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the power steering system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V586000 (Steering), however the vehicle was not part of the VIN selection. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated when she was pulled over to the side of the school entrance to pick her child up, she observed that the "service power steering" warning had illuminated on the instrument cluster. The contact stated that the steering wheel was very hard to turn to the left or right. The contact stated that she turned the vehicle off and on and the power steering functionality had returned. The contact stated that the failure re-occurred while she was driving at approximately 30 MPH. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V586000 (Steering). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at 10 MPH and making a turn, the vehicle inadvertently lost power steering and stopped on the side of the road by a curb. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated the failure had been reoccurring while driving, almost causing the vehicle to crash into another vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who did not diagnose the vehicle and advised the contact that his VIN was not included in the recall for NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V414000 (STEERING). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 82,100.
While driving my 2014 Chevy Silverado, I have had 3 instances where the stability control light came on and I suddenly lost lost all steering and brakes. Within a 2-3 seconds the cluster and radio went dead and then the engine stopped. I had no ability to control the vehicle. I took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated the logs showed 1 1/2 pages of vehicle communications errors including loss of communications to steering, loss of communications to brakes, etc. After 8 days of analysis, the dealer notified me that this was a known issue with GM and that there is an active pi number for the issue. However, there is no known resolution for the issue. Because there is no known solution, they asked me to come pick up the vehicle and continue driving it and they will contact me when a solution is found. …
I bought this used 2013 truck in late nov 2015. When making (usually) a right turn at low speed, especially from a stop like entering traffic from an inclined access driveway, occasionally (maybe 3 times per month) there is a sudden and total failure of power assist in steering, making the turn extremely difficult and unable to keep from drifting out of the intended lane of travel. Collisions were avoided several times by (thankfully) oncoming traffic veering out of the way. This sudden loss of steering control particularly at this unexpected time while accelerating to negotiate a traffic entry is extremely dangerous. This one-ton truck is not like a subcompact that is easy to turn 90 degrees without power steering, believe me. If my wife were driving, the truck would surely go completely across all lanes of oncoming traffic. …
Traveling at about ten miles per hour. Vehicle became unresponsive to any attempt to steer and a loud ding noise played. Vehicle struck concrete light pole. Had been driving the vehicle for an hour and had just came off of the interstate. Pulled into a parking lot and that is when steering quit working.
Related recalls (6)
Steering › Electric power assist system
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra, and Yukon XL vehicles, equipped with electric power steering (EPS). Due to a problem with the EPS module, the affected vehicles may experience a sudden loss of power steering assist during vehicle operation.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering assist motor kit, free of charge. The recall began on November 17, 2014.
Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Silverado vehicles manufactured May 23, 2013, through March 25, 2014, 2014 GMC Sierra vehicles manufactured May 25, 2013, through March 31, 2014, and 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles manufactured January 29, 2014, through March 27, 2014.
Remedy: GM notified all owners, and dealers will inspect the inner tie rods to make sure that they are correctly tightened, replacing the steering gear, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 14, 2014.
Steering › Linkages
GM is recalling certain model year 2011cadillac escalade, escalade esv; Chevrolet silverado hd, silverado ld, suburban, tahoe; and GMC sierra hd, sierra ld, yukon, and yukon xl vehicles. The intermediate steering shaft attaching bolts May not have been tightened to the proper specification.
Remedy: GM dealers will inspect and ensure that the intermediate steering shaft bolts are tightened to the proper specification. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about July 13, 2011.
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
Certain passenger vehicles May have been built with a power steering hose that is not to specification. Under extreme steering maneuvers, such as turning the steering wheel fully to the left or right while braking, the hose May fracture and leak fluid.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the power steering hose(s) for two suspect date codes and replace them if required. The recall will begin on October 14, 2005.
Steering › Gear box › Shaft sector
On certain trucks, the bolt that attaches the intermediate steering shaft to the steering gear May not meet specification. The bolt May fracture resulting in the loss of steering.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the intermediate steering shaft bolt free of charge. The recall began on January 24, 2005. Owners May contact GMC at 1-866-996-9463 and Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.
Show 1 more recall
Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Vehicle description: extended cab 4-wheel drive pickup trucks. Some of these vehicles have a lower than specified torque on all three of the steering gear to frame attachment bolts. The bolts can loosen over time allowing the steering gear to move.
Remedy: Dealers will retorque the steering gear to frame bolts to proper specifications.
NHTSA investigations
Steering gear/grame attaching bolts
These vehicles May have lower than specified torque on the three steering gear to frame attachment bolts.these bolts May loosen causing unresponsive steering and eventually the bolts May back out or fracture, resulting in loss of steering control
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Silverado years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (80), 2000 (73), 1999 (69), 1997 (59) and 2004 (44) model years. Steering complaints make up 12% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Silverado steering problems?
Yes — 6 recalls, including 14V-719 (electric power assist system, Nov 10, 2014); 14V-246 (tie rod assembly, May 14, 2014); 11V-339 (linkages, Jun 28, 2011). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Silverado steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 29,000 miles; 73% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the hydraulic power assist system (71 mentions), followed by the steering wheel/handle bar (45).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.