You believe that the steering wheel fell off the car... this is just one of many problems with the Tahoes... Tracks to a few other people that have similar GMCs
I just purchased a used 1999 Tahoe with 92,000 miles. As the rest of the write in's I also experienced a steering loss while traveling approx. 50 mph and making a long right turn, It scared the heck out of me and for a moment it felt like I was on ice and lost control. Any known fixes from the factory would be helpful. Thanks
Had just bought the truck used, went around a corner and it felt like the steering column was no longer connected to the front end.
There is an electrical steering rate encoder at the base of the steering column that tells the steering system when to firm up and when to relax for the variable rate steering and firmness....
Removal of steering column required, $105 part replaced, with a whole lot of labor. $565 for repair.
I?f you feel like the steering "lets go" when going around a corner, it is this sensor, and it needs to be replaced to fix the problem. In my opinion this should be a recall item, along with the intake gaskets, but little chance of that.
This problem occurred in 04, but i can every now and then feel the steering "let go" a little bit, so the new sensor is starting to go again........
I really hate this truck.
- Steve H.,
Golden, CO, US
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Exactly the same as earlier complaint on this site. I can add if there is a groove or hitting the paint on a road causes the same effect. I've learned not to panic when it happens.. which is almost all the time now. I've replaced idler arms and tires. No difference! Maybe a caliper hanging? I saw a recall on something called a wheel rotation sensor in the NE due to salt. Well crap, I live less than a half mile from the ocean. Salt air causes corrosion too GM. Duh. Maybe that's the problem?
Most importantly, it scares the hell out of you. The steering wheel will go loose as you're into a turn. Then pull to the right (in our case) then reset itself as nothing happened. Your immediate reaction is to correct the steering and it sends the car (Tahoe) out of line. In the research I've done, the steering mechanisms are fine. The tires have no visible wear.
What I've found on the internet is that the problem is caused by a steering sensor. (EVO I believe) I'm still finding out what I can before I take it to the dealer for an expensive troubleshooting.
If this is all correct, this should absolutely be a recall. Because the wheel goes loose (it feels like the front wheels hit ice) and your natural reaction is to correct, you end up over steering the car on a curve. If the road is wet, or worse snow covered, it could send the car out of control.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I JUST BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN FEB 2014, REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND PITMAN ARM, STILL NO SOLUTION TO PROBLEM
- William D., Warwick, RI, US