5.9

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$150
Average Mileage:
46,350 miles
Total Complaints:
64 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. all the dealer did was lube it up (16 reports)
  2. replaced steering shaft (15 reports)
  3. not sure (14 reports)
  4. dealer replaced steering shaft (10 reports)
  5. lube failed replaced lower shaft three times (3 reports)
  6. dealer took a grinder to steering shaft. (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Chevrolet dealer.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #44

Feb 032009

Silverado LS 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,252 miles

I think this should be a recall as I know of others that have had this problem. I really like the truck except for the front end clunking.

- Rodney L., Clovis, CA, US

problem #43

May 162006

Silverado LS 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,000 miles

Felt like ball joints were going out, when you were turning there would be a clunking noise. When I described the problem to the dealer he said he knew what the problem was and that it would be covered under warranty. Dealer said that the steering column was pressed together and that this was a common problem. He indicated the part had been re-engineered and that they would replace it with a new part.

The problem returned about 20,000 miles latter. I have not followed up with the dealer but reading the complaints on this site it appears that GM is not stepping up to the plate and correcting the problem.

I am disappointed that GM is failing it's customers like this. There is no doubt this is a defective part and that a recall should be in order. How can customer loyalty be expected???

- Mark M., Melbourne, KY, US

problem #42

Dec 002006

Silverado LS 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 31,000 miles

got 12k and having to replace it again plus another part of steering shaft. I bitched to gm but this is going to cost me $500 just for the new part plus a $100 for the other part that was replaced once before

- Jonathan J., Petaluma, CA, US

problem #41

Feb 012008

Silverado 4.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

Noticed an annoying clunking sound coming from steering and pulling to one side while driving. Brought it to the dealership and they said it was a common problem and they would replace it for nothing. Dealership also said the steering gear was junk and needed to be replace, but of course the extended warranty expired at 75000 and my truck had 75,200 on it. They tried to get me for $700 for the steering gear. I complained enough and they fixed it for $100.

- J Y., Hugo, MN, US

problem #40

Nov 212008

Silverado Z71 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,561 miles

I have bought 3 new Z71 Chevrolet Silverados over the years and they all have had the same

terrible knocking in the steering column and it is a pain in the ass, you would think GM could figure this out by now. They should od a recall and fix it for free.

- donnielowe, Troy, AL, US

problem #39

Oct 282004

Silverado LS 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 300,000 miles

Had many problem with the steering shaft. Once the warranty and the extended warranty, that was not free, had run out the dealer said I was pretty much on my own. This is after the parts were supposed to be new they used to fix the problems. Why I am I stuck fixing parts "in my opinion" were incorrectly engineered and applied to the problem more than once!

- jameltle, Duncan, SC, US

problem #38

Feb 072005

Silverado LX 4.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 17,888 miles

I love My 2003 Silverado........But : with 17000 Miles experienced annoying thumping and rattling in the Steering. The Dealer lubed the Steering Shaft under Warranty . At 35000 the problem came back again and this time the Dealer ( after prolonged waiting for a back ordered " improved Version " ) replaced the shaft.Now the truck has 57000Miles on it and all started back again !?? The Dealer does not ( as I suggested ) want to lube the shaft for me but only replace it for ca $ 240 ! Why don't they install some Lube Fittings on this thing so we could service it ourselves ??

- mroger, Northridge, CA, US

problem #37

Oct 062005

Silverado LS 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles

I bought 2003 Silverado and the steer shaft had replaced in 2005 because there was rattle and fixed under warranty and a few month ago it came back as same problem and went to dealer that I have to pay 450 dollars to replace steering shaft. THATS BULLSHIT. This should have RECALL.

- Lloyd E., Oak Lawn, IL, US

problem #36

Sep 162004

Silverado LS 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,000 miles

my truck now has 22000miles and its now 2008 the dealer worked on it four times since i bought it , almost once every two years and i have hardly any miles on it and now to fix it they want me to pay. this problem has started since day one and there should be a recall on this vehicle.

- R W., Cleveland, OH, US

problem #35

Oct 012003

Silverado 3500

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles

started of barely noticeable but has worsened to constant now

- silverado, Westminster, MD, US

problem #34

Aug 132003

Silverado 1500 HD 6.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,000 miles

dealer fixed first time... been back twice more, 2 lubes and 1 shaft, still knocking...4th GM truck ive owned...will never buy another one

- Derek S., Houston, TX, US

problem #33

Oct 282007

Silverado 2500 HD V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,000 miles

Two months after purchasing my first 2003 Chevy HD 2500 truck the intermediate steering shaft started making noises everytime I turned right. I brought it in had it and replaced. Since then the heat exchanger has also went bad.

- Rob H., Eden, NC, US

problem #32

Aug 082007

Silverado LT 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

happened at 30,000 miles, got lube kit fix, now back at 50,000 miles. This so common from my search of the internet, that Chevrolet should definitely recall and permanently fix this problem!!

- Fred F., Missoula, MT, US

problem #31

Sep 062006

Silverado 2500 V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

once again I was out of a vehicle for the day this was the 2nd time the truck went in for this problem (the dealership did replace the steering column shaft ).They gave me a very hard time because my warranty had just expired....I pushed the issue until they covered the whole cost( it was not a pleasant experience) 2nd time same problem think Chevrolet should recall this??????

- loudon3, Laconia, NH, US

problem #30

Aug 102005

Silverado 2500 V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,000 miles

made loud thump dealer took it in greased it....Was under the normal 3 year they told me it was all set boy were they wrong

- loudon3, Laconia, NH, US

problem #29

May 212008

Silverado LT V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,000 miles

I've had the thumping fixed by Chevrolet 3 times, and each time they claimed they had the problem fixed by their latest solution. Now I have 93,000 miles and they won't fix it anymore and admit that it is a problem and they can't understand why it would do it again. Duh??!!! The say that the joint gets dry and they couldn't explain why the company did not put a grease fitting on it. They assure me that it is not a safety issue.

- Ed B., Yelm, WA, US

problem #28

Jan 312008

Silverado 1500 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,000 miles

This is the second time the steering column has started thumping. The first time the truck had less than twenty thousand miles on it. They contacted me and I took it into the dealership. The repairs were covered under warranty. Now, at thirty-three thousand miles it's thumping again. No warranty this time. The dealership wants ninety-two dollars for the intermediate shaft and eighty-two dollars for one hour labor to install it. It's more annoying than anything else.

- David B., Orlando, FL, US

problem #27

Aug 202007

Silverado LS 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

I have a thump in my steering column, i bought the truck in august and it would only do it when i turn the air on once or twice then stop, but nows it does it every time i start the truck for about a minute and then my air doesn't blow out the vents but out the defrost only!!! no matter what the setting just defrost. any ideas?

- dblaylock04, Chattanooga, Tn, US

problem #26

Aug 312003

Silverado 1500 EXT CAB 4.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

This started out as a minor annoyance and barely noticeable. I guess I tuned out the sound. The thumping gradually has gotten worse but now warranty is expired. I'm not going to pay for any repairs to something that should be recalled in the first place. GM really is irresponsible - this is a SAFETY issue don't you think? I hope the steering column fails (thump - thump - kerplunk) the truck loses control, crashes and burns to the ground!

Next time I'll buy a Toyota.

- Alan R., Heber Springs, AR, US

problem #25

Mar 142007

Silverado LT 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Chevy has no fix, they told me I will have to keep bringing it in for repair, and they will not

sell the lube kit to the shade tree mechanic, that bull sh*t!

- Kevin W., Winterset, IA, US

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