Clunking sound started from day one when I drove it off the lot in San Antonio, Texas. I was told repeatedly that it was no real problem. Since I had the vehicle in storage for two of the four years I have owned it, the problem did not fully aggravate me until I returned from Iraq. When I took it in to the Chevrolet dealer here in Watertown, New York, that's when I was told the the noise came for the intermediate steering shaft. It cost me $190.75 to have the shaft replaced, and that's after the paltry $50.00 that the extended warranty covered. Since this is a decent running vehicle with 35,120 miles on it, I feel the manufacturer's warranty should have covered it. I am considering asking the New York and Texas Attorney General's Office for assistance in this matter.

I remember when I first bought my Tahoe, I noticed a slight popping sound, but the Tahoe was the first SUV that I bought so I thought it was normal, especially with going over bumps. As of this year, the popping noise was so annoying that I took it to a shop and the manager informed me that it was the steering shaft. He said that GMC realized it was a problem, but the problem was not deemed as a serious safety issue, so a recall was not initialed...go figure. I had the shaft replaced, which costed $247.00 (including labor) and that stopped the popping and made the steering more firm. Too bad GMC did not initiate a recall and it did not surprise me, especially with GMC asking for a Government Bail-out Loan.

Every time I took a slow corner in a neighborhood or in town I would hear a bumping or popping noise in the front end and could feel it in the steering. It didn't sound or feel safe. I took it to the dealership and they immediately told me that they knew about the problem with the vehicles and that all they had to do was "install a grease kit in the intermediate steering shaft". It was quiet from the day I got it fixed (10/17/2006) until a month ago (Feb 2008), that is when the noise came back. I am not sure if I am supposed to lube the grease kit every oil change or what. Hope it isn't something else other than just lack of grease.

Dealer originally told me the steering shaft needed lubrication (first I've heard of that), and apparently greased it. Problem subsided for about a year, then the knocking up the steering shaft (mainly on left hand turns) began again. Took it back in, at which point the dealer indicated it was actually a defective lower or mid steering shaft, and that GM would replace it free if I was below 50,000 miles. At that point I was over 50K, so had to do a lot of bitching to get them to cover it under the GM Good Will plan ($50 deductible payment), as I had originally came in for that very problem when I was under 50K. Trying to limit their liability by assigning some random mileage limit to a problem that existed before I even purchased the vehicle - stupid. I've had several other chronic problems (dropping into 4x4 all by itself to name one)that the dealer just seems to play dumb about. They act all helpful, but never give you an answer until the 3rd or 4th service call, at which point you've dropped $600 on diagnostics alone, and wasted hours off work. Seems like they just want to wear you down so you eventually go away. I even spent over 2 hours on the phone with GM directly trying to get answers about the 4x4 issue, and the incompetence runs even deeper at the Corporate level. I don't think Customer Service could have stepped someone through using their cup holder, let alone providing answers for a 4-wheel drive issue.

I have been on the internet ever since my Chevrolet dealership service department says "I hear a noise but I can't find anything wrong with your 2005 Tahoe". I had just purchased this vehicle from Orr Chevrolet in Texarkana, Texas. I had owned it less than a week when I noticed problems with the brakes, After "not fixing" this problem, the popping noise started. I have found out this is a major problem with trucks and sport utility vehicles from 2001 to 2005. Why is this not a recall? I have found at least 200 people on the internet with the same problem. (Even though my dealer obviously couldn't). I am totally sick about this. I paid a lot of money for this vehicle and don't want anybody to ride in it because it is embarrassing. It is really sad that Chevrolet hasn't recalled this and an even greater shame that we buy these vehicles in good faith only to find out the dealerships won't stand behind their word.