Steering complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
My vehicle, a 1999 GMC Suburban, and now has a tendancy to suddenly veer to the right while rounding any right had curve, at low to high speed. At some point in the turn it is as if there is a peice of the steering missing. We are the second owner of the vehicle. It was sold to us by the dealer and it had 20,000 miles on it when we got it. We asked if there was any problems and they assured us there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. I have explained this condition to several wheel alignment shops, and the consistant statement from them is is sounds like the "steering wheel position sensor is bad". They suggested I call the GM dealer and see if there was a recall for this vehicle because there is one for the problem. I called the GMC dealer and explained it to them and told them what the wheel alignment places are saying, to which they agreed. I asked if there was a recall for that . …
I have a 1999 GMC Suburban that is having a problem with the power steering. I have taken it 3 times to a repair shop to have it looked at but what happens does not occur every day. It seems that the power steering "goes out" for a few seconds - usually when going around a curve, causing the steering wheel to jerk and the vehicle to swerve. I read about a recall that GMC was doing to replace a faulty bearing in the power steering that was causing this problem and I contacted them about it. They opened a file for me but informed me that my year vehicle was not included in the recall and if enough people complained, they might do a recall. Otherwise, I would be responsible for the repairs myself. I have contacted a GMC dealer and this repair is very costly, according to them. …
This concerns NHTSA action number : ea99011. I had a steering module that failed. Prior to replacement of the module, the steering wheel would periodically jerk as if to increase the rate of turn significantly when I was in a turn, either left or right. After replacement of this module at the GMC dealership (at about 50,000 miles, as I recall), the jerking instantly stopped. I now have about 111,000 miles, and the same jerking has begun again (at about 100,000 miles) from time to time. If a driver unfamiliar to the propensity to jerk in turns was driving, I could definitely see where the unexpected jerking May cause them to lose control. The latest jerking comes and goes and is not very consistent from week to week yet. When it gets more consistent, I will ask the dealership to replace the module. …
Steering speed sensor intermitantly failed causing unpredictable steering movement when making right turns at speed. Steering power assist would suddenly change resulting in sudden veer of vehicle. Couple of "near misses" when pulling trailers and entering freeway. Vehicle has been repaired and problem resolved.
The ignition switch started to fail while driving. First the heater fan would quit and the ABS light would instantly turn on, and the cruise control would fail to operate. When the ABS light would be on the ABS would fail to operate. Then suddenly all operations would go back to normal. It would be unpredictable when the heater fan and the ABS would fail and come back. Then yesterday, the Suburban started and died 3 seconds after starting. I restarted the Suburban and all seemed good. I put the Suburban in drive and rolled at about 5 MPH and the truck died. I stopped and put the Suburban in to park and restarted. Placed it into drive and made it home. When I got home, I turned off the Suburban and tried to restart it. It would crank but not fire the engine. The radio and heater and all other electronics would operate as normal, but the dash lights would not turn on I.e. …
Steering would pull to right. Took vehicle to dealership and mechanic repaired it, but currently vehicle was pulling to left. Steering sensor was replaced. Had an accident due to steering problem. Steering went right, and vehicle hit curb. Then, spun around, backwards. Air bags did not deploy. Vehicle went across 4 lanes. Axle broke , and vehicle tumbled down a hill.
Truck pulls when braking. Tbs fix implemented with little to no improvement. Last time at dealer, dealer said GMC has problem with 3/4ton Suburban brakes but doesn't have fix. Nothing he can do. Truck has had combination valve replaced, rear shoes replaced, front pads replaced (5x total), calipers replaced, rotors replaced, tie rods replaced, idle arm replaced, steering box and pitman arm replaced, front brake hoses replaced, control arm bushings replaced, and aligned several times with no fix to the problem. Braking at highway speeds it is very dangerous. You don't know which way the vehicle will go and how hard it will try to get there. As an engine designer I find it amazing that GM has a handling/safety issue of this magnitude. This is a big truck to have such a controlability problem. Please help. A shaull
While driving about 45 MPH going around a curve, driver lost control of the Suburban because it would not correct from the steering attempt. The steering wheel would rotated at 360 degrees, but would not correct the direction of the vehicle. GMC would not respond to complaint.
NHTSA investigations
Steering shaft separations
Odi opened this pe on November 13, 1995 based on an owner complaint concerning a September 1995 accident involving a 1995 1/2 ton GM pickup truck.the vehicle owner alleged the bolt used to join the 2-piece steering shaft was missing.the shafts then separated and steering control was lost.
Erratic steering boost while driving
Alleged that the variable effort steering unit intermittently provides full boost tot he power steering gear at moderate to high speeds.
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Suburban years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1997 (39), 1999 (23), 1995 (8), 1996 (8) and 1998 (7) model years. Steering complaints make up 20% of all complaints for the 1997.
Is there a recall for GMC Suburban steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for any GMC Suburban model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do GMC Suburban steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles; 24% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the hydraulic power assist system (23 mentions), followed by the steering wheel/handle bar (8).
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.