The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has closed an investigation into purported power steering issues with the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain crossovers.
NHTSA began investigating roughly 781,000 examples of the 2010-2012 Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain compact crossover models after receiving complaints from owners saying the power steering system exhibited a “sticking,” condition and, in some cases, required increased steering effort.
GM issued a Service Bulletin for this problem in 2014 that instructed technicians to replace the original steering gear with a redesigned part that addressed the sticking condition. Investigators say they were satisfied with the results of the special coverage following the investigation and have thus elected not to issue a safety recall on these models. GM also offered extended warranties to certain customers whose vehicles exhibited this issue.
A GM spokesperson previously described the sticking condition as an “annoyance,” and said it did not pose a diect safety hazard to customers.
“In view of the special coverage, low rate of failure and low potential hazard to drivers, this preliminary evaluation is closed,” NHTSA said in a related document posted on its website this week, as quoted by the Associated Press.
The Service Bulletin indicated that affected vehicles “may have increased friction in the steering system,” which “could cause the steering wheel to stick in the straight-ahead position after driving long distances on a straight highway. The bulletin also noted that while the “steering wheel can be turned,” by the user when this condition arises, it “may require increased effort.” Repairs made under this bulletin were performed at no cost to Equinox or Terrain owners.
No further action will be taken by NHTSA on this matter.
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Comments
GM must have hired another NHTSA retiree.
This 2013 Chevy equinox is the worst car ever I had no luck will recall the deaer won’t fixes no recall I have a warranty that won cover anything I spended $19.000 on a piece of junk to sit in my yard Jim Ellis is horrible
I keep putting money into my 2013
Chevy equinox most power steering they go out as well drop them out with new engine in it but a new sensor to go inside and it still not able to be on the road I keeps shutting off
Can u talk?Don’t understand what ur trying to say.
Maybe they better fix the headlights on the GMC terrain. It’s been three months and they still don’t have a solution. Absolutely ridiculous! Get your sh*t together GMC! They probably won’t fix it because they want everybody to buy electric vehicles. Not happening!
Well said!
I had the same issue with a 2004 Malibu. It was a known issue then. You’d think that 18 years later they wouldn’t be having the same issues.
I have a 2013 Chevy equinox now will not move to years ago put a new engine in it and put a Sensor and a starter steering column won’t term some time to time and it will not say started
I have. A Chevy. Equinox. 2011. I. Just. Put. A new. Timer change. On. It. I’m. Still. Having. Probably. On. The. Driver. Side. Here. Like. Poppin. Sounds. Want. Pick. Up. Speed. Those. Cars. Is. Not. No. Good
GM is always on the cutting edge…
Their Killing Ignitions, were, in a word, Cutting Edge Killers, as they made it appear to be driver error.
A steering rack that gives out, at just the right moment, would work perfectly! GM always tries their best to design, engineer and manufacture a component that makes the crash appear to be driver error. And I, for one, applaud them. The Ignitions Killed for a decade. Its going to take some creative way to capitalize upon GM’s vast knowledge of Killing to come up with another decade of Killing. Maybe the steering rack is a perfect start.
my gmc 2010 is a lemon i cant even get to start i always thought gmc was good but i found out the hard way they aint worth shiy
they did a horrible job putting 2013 Chevy equinox together in the last year I have put in 10.000.00 dollars in it still owe money on it rust is every where underneath rocker panels are gone. will not pass inspection
I have 2011 terrain and it’s the biggest piece of sh*t I have ever owned. Car has problem after problem been to several shops and nobody can figure out what the issue is and we have changed so many different parts. We believe it might be a wiring issue.
Rust is also really bad. I wish this thing would just blow up! I will NEVER buy another GM product.
2015 Terrain 90k miles. Bought new & had all recommended services done at the dealer for the last 7 years.
I thought I was crazy when the steering wheel would seem to lock temporarily on the highway, asked the dealer & the they said they’ve never heard of anything like that.
Eff’n liars!
We have a 2014 terrain and the engine went out two months ago and gm swears there’s no recall liars liars liars it’s all over the internet and just a month ago we got the recall letter for the wiper blade motor that we paid over 500 for a year ago plus we got the recall letter for the headlights get it together gm or lawsuit will happen
I have 2017 Equinox it’s been one of the best SUVs I’ve owned! Maybe they worked out all the issues by 2017 model 😊😊😊
My 2019 Terrain has just started exhibiting odd steering behavior this year (June 2024). It doesn’t “stick”, but while either driving or at a stop, it will randomly have a “tick” where it turns to the left a bit all on its own. This is unacceptable as the report listed – NO repairs should be made. So, if this causes an accident, because I cannot control my steering wheel, will it get fixed then? What happens if it not only injures myself and my family, but potentially kill my family or someone else’s when it jerks to the left for absolutely no reason. My vehicle is never remote started as the diagnostic tip suggests this is the issue. Trying correcting the issue instead!