Steering complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2010 | 2 | 4% | 73,000 miles |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% | 114,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% | 51,000 miles |
| 2006 | 1 | 3% | 32,000 miles |
| 2005 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2004 | 13 | 7% | 40,000 miles |
| 2003 | 9 | 5% | 25,000 miles |
| 2002 | 8 | 7% | 85,000 miles |
| 2001 | 4 | 4% | 98,000 miles |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% | 56,000 miles |
| 1999 | 4 | 5% | 150,000 miles |
| 1998 | 1 | 7% | 177,000 miles |
| 1997 | 2 | 13% | 130,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Transmission slippage; driver side mirror defects; head lamps & loose steering column. Biggest issue is transmission. While driving on highway at 70 MPH, transmission began slipping without any prior warning. Situation was extremely dangerous as it was night-time driving with little or no opportunity to get vehicle off the interstate. Other family vehicles have had the same issue with the transmission going out without warning. Also, the driver side mirror goes out gradually, as the liquid that defrosts the mirror goes bad and leaks into the mirror. This mirror has already been replaced once, at the cost of $400+. This mirror is also a hazard as the driver is unable to use the mirror to adequate lane and traffic maneuvering. The steering column always seems to be loose. Nothing has been done, as of today's date, to correct the transmission issue as it is a costly repair.
Bought this vehicle a few days before the first incident. I drove it home from over two hours away, drove it all around the day before, no problems. Then I was driving down a bypass at about 60 miles an hour and the engine shut off! I had no power steering, nothing! I was able to pull over, shut it off and once I turned it back over it was just fine. So I cautiously started driving, it happened again a few miles down the road only this time it stalled then regained power and quickly shut off again. Once engine was turned off and restarted, it was fine, it did this to me 5 times within 5 miles. I almost got hit two of those times by other vehicles, once when I was turning onto a road. I am glad my kids were not in it. I am scared to drive on two lane roads without room to pull over.
10/11/2 brakes failed plus parking brake failed and parking brake shoe assembly was not found upon dealer inspection. Replaced disc brakes and had parking brake shoe installed. 11/09/12 check engine light revealed ignition problem. New ignition wire set installed. 01/29/13 dash cluster failed, had no horn, no headlights, no interior lights, no speed control , no steering wheel lights for control buttons, no speedometer reading, no radio. Replaced dash cluster. 05/05/14 check engine light and stranded when vehicle would not start. Misfire messages on dealer equipment reading. 06/16/14 stranded again , vehicle would not start. Replaced ignition switch. 07/15/14 stranded again , vehicle would not start. Replaced starter relay. 02/16/15 driver heated seat coming on/off while driving on its own. 4 wd engaged on its own while driving and made driving uncontrolled. …
"reduced engine power" light comes on and truck slows to less than 10 MPH and the power steering stop working. This has happened six times in the last year. 1st incident I took it to the dealer and they said nothing was wrong with it. Diagnostics performed and nothing came back wrong. I think the wiring to the throttle is possibly to blame. If I hit a bump in the road or cross railroad tracks, the reduced engine power can come on. I have a hunch after researching online & finding that several other people have the same problem, that leads me to believe that Chevy knows about it & is doing nothing about it. "typical"!! I am very displeased, especially because I love my Suburban. I suggest an investigation & recall of this problem.I ask that Chevy takes responsibility for poor quality & repairs the problem pronto! …
Have 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 4wd 5.3 engine a/t. Was driving 45 MPH when vehicle suddenly stalled out & lost all steering/brakes. 131,589 miles on odometer at time. Managed to coast vehicle onto shoulder, waited 2 minutes, started vehicle again, pulled out into busy traffic just to make it 2 blocks before stall out again. Repeated this process several more times before I found a gas station. Suspecting water in gas, added 1 bottle of gas line anti-freeze. Drove rest of way home without incident. Replaced fuel filter, pcv valve, air filter, spark plugs, and cleaned throttle body just to have stall out the very next day. No codes are displayed in message center in dash board. Stalls out randomly without a pattern. Wait 1-2 minutes then will start again.
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.
My 2001 Suburban completely shuts off and the steering stops when I am at speeds below 10 MPH, if I am making a turn, backing out of my driveway, or come to a stop at a stop sign. I took it to many places to have it tested and they all stated that everything is fine nothing was detected. I have had the fuel pump replaced by dealership when it just completely stopped running on the highway. I am at a loss for words and this is dangerous when it is the only car you have to haul yourself and kids around in. This is happening everyday and it seems that I am not the only one having this problem. This is a serious problem for americans trying to make an honest living.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. When attempting to make a right turn, the steering froze and then corrected itself. There were no warning indicators. The vehicle has not been diagnosed. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage is 131,186 and failure mileage was 98,000.
Related recalls (1)
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Suburban 1500 years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2004 (13), 2003 (9) and 2002 (8) model years. Steering complaints make up 7% of all complaints for the 2004.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Suburban 1500 steering problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 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 Suburban 1500 steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles; 33% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the gear box › shaft sector (5 mentions), followed by the hydraulic power assist system (2).
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.