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2003 GMC Envoy Steering problems

Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 2003 GMC Envoy's steering with NHTSA - 3% of all its complaints, most recently on December 20, 2016. They describe 3 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries. Loss of power steering, stiff or loose steering, wandering, column and rack problems.

Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
4
Deaths
0

Steering complaints

Steering

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc envoy. While driving approximately 30 mph, the steering ability failed while attempting to make a turn. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact managed to drive the vehicle home. The failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that that was the first time the failure occurred. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10936472
SteeringAcceleration & cruise controlWheels & tires

Vehicle power steering hose busted. My truck isn't idling right it sounds like my transmission is slipping. Also my tire traction seems off and I repeatedly have to put air in tires. Tires always makes a certain sound on the highway, I don't know if its normal or not. *Tr

Filed Incident Steering · Vehicle speed control · WheelsNHTSA 10694235
SteeringAirbagsSeats & seat beltsCrash2 injuries

Entering straight stretch of 2 lane hwy.,I swerved to miss object in my lane and part of adjacent lane. I could not straighten up vehicle. The vehicle rolled and struck a tree. The engine was off and the air bags did not inflate. My door was damaged and had to be cut off to free myself. The envoy was totaled. My wife's harness did not hold and she was facing the rear between the front seats. The side air bags and front air bags did not work. The vehicle was well maintained with new tires and brakes. I was life flighted, and my wife was carried by ambulance to the hospital where we sustained multiple injuries. *Tr

Filed Incident Steering · Air bags · Seat beltsNHTSA 10662196
Steering

Power steering has been leaking. Took it to the shop to find it has two leaks. One in the return line on top of where the wheel well is (under a big piece of rubber holding it to the frame), and one in the power steering cooler. *Tr

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10610038
SteeringSuspensionElectrical system

The car dies for no reason it has been doing this since the first day I got the car. The car also functions like it has hydrolics for a while it will be low to the ground while I'm driving it then out of no where it would raise up I had to get the suspension done when I got it because it was old and also the key gets stuck in the ignition also if I press the unlock button it will turn on the heat this car has been a headache. *Js

Filed Incident Steering · Suspension · Electrical systemNHTSA 10579068
Steering

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc envoy. The contact stated that while reversing from a driveway, the power steering assist failed as the service engine light illuminated. The steering wheel also became hard to turn. The failure was recurring over a four month period. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who made unknown repairs to the vehicle but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 129345.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10576292
SteeringEngine & cooling

All of a sudden the power steering of the envoy slt 2003 was completely interrupted due to a broken shaft in the power steering pump. As a result the serpentine belt slipped on the edge of the power steering pump pulley and was wearing out quickly, which would have resulted in a broken belt. *Tr

Filed Incident Steering · Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10564651
Steering

2003 Envoy xl , power steering cooler leaks!!!! Constantly putting fluid in resevoir..There is a current recall for the exact same thing on the 2006 model, but the vehicle is exactly the same from 2003 thru 2006... I believe this recall for the 2006 model should include the 2003,2004 and 2005 models also since they are the same part for the vehicles. *Tr

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10405321
Steering

2003 Gmc envoy has a massive power steering leak. It's coming out on the drivers side , behind the tire. *Tr

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10356531
Steering

1/17/09 Gmc envoy 2003 I made a sharp u-turn in a snowy yard while vehicle was in traction assist. Then I pulled into the driveway and parked, turned off the vehicle and went in the house. I was in there approximately 30 minutes then got back in the vehicle to leave and the power steering was gone. Excessively stiff.I pulled forward got out, looked at the ground and there was a puddle of bluish liquid located near where the left front side of the vehicle was sitting. *Tr

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10255522
Steering

Ne wisconsin, driving on very cold and snow covered highways, the steering wheel became increasingly difficult to turn. After twenty minutes, lost all power steering. Vehicle was inspected for: proper pwr strg fluid level (dip stick indicated full), any snow/ice obstructions between tire & inner fender (none), any fluid leaks (none), any puncture/ruptured hoses (none), any tire damage or improper inflation (all perfect). No noise from power steering pump at any speed, no pump shaft seal leak or pump bearing...

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noise, pulley/shaft are not overheating (no excess friction). Vehicle has only 41k miles, has been treated with kid gloves and is serviced regularly at 3500 miles vs gmc recommended intervals. Though the vehicle was in 4-wheel high drive mode at the time, selecting 2wd, awd or 4wd lo makes no difference. Vehicle is always parked in a heated garage and after sitting in 60f for 24 hours, problems remains. With all the steering complaints for the vehicle on this website (i have 11 printed, most recent 12/23/07), I cannot fathom why you continue to reply to owners with the same, canned letter? Obviously, steering is a critical item on any vehicle. I truly feel a smaller/less experienced driver may have had a serious problem with the same incident with the same road conditions with horrible consequences. Folks, something is wrong with gm's design of this pump. Failures are virtually unheard of for almost every other make & model, import or domestic. Please assist us with this ever-increasing problem. Now I am left with the distasteful task of arguing with the gmc dealership. *Tr

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10216771
Steering

Made sharp right turn---lost all power steering---checked , belt,fluid--power steering did not return --car can not be driven. *Tr

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10212676
Steering

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 gmc envoy xl. Occasionally, when the vehicle was started, the power steering would make a squealing noise. Presently, the squealing noise occurs each morning when the vehicle is first started. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The powertrain was unknown. The current mileage was 101,163 and failure mileage was 93,829. Updated.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10207648
Steering

Making a u turn in an "03 gmc envoy. Power steering went out and almost lost control of automobile. The vehicle has only 39,00 miles on it. *Jb

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10157966
SteeringCrash1 injury

Consumer was not able to steer vehicle properly. *Ts the consumer lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a guardrail. The consumer believed there was a problem with the steering. *Jb

Filed SteeringNHTSA 10140981
Steering

We paid 30.000 This gmc envoy because we wanted a car that would run and that we would not have to spend a lot of money on to be repaired. The dealer said we should only have to pay for upkeep and minor repairs. That is a joke if you buy a gmc (part number 26089516). *Nm

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10138577
SteeringBody, doors & structure

Various problems with 2003 gmc envoy. *Mr the was a "pinging," on the drivers side. The power steering fluid was low and the steering gear had an internal failure, the drivers door made a rattling noise along with hood rattling. *Sc *jb

Filed Incident Steering · StructureNHTSA 10092770
SteeringBrakesAirbagsCrash1 injury

My wife was driving around 35 mph during a clear day when suddenly the steering wheel of our 2003 gmc envoy started wobbling and she couldn't control it anymore. She stepped on the brakes but the vehicle wouldn't stop. The vehicle went over the curb and initially hit a utility pole on the left passenger side, then eventually hit the tree with the front bumper and knocked the two stationary objects down. Surprisingly, the airbag didn't even deploy. The insurance company declared the vehicle total wrecked and...

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unrepairable. As expected, gmc declined responsibilities. They sent a so called independent investigator but they wouldn't give me his phone number. The report they sent contained only raw data about the airbag and nothing about the steering wheel. I will never buy or recommend a gmc again.*Ak

Filed Incident Steering · Service brakes, hydraulic · Air bagsNHTSA 10049443
Steering

While driving at 65 mph, the steering wheel jerked hard to left. The vehicle then suddenly accelerated without any warning. The driver was able to control the vehicle and pull over to the shoulder. The vehicle was towed. The mechanic noticed that the rear passenger wheel had folded underneath the vehicle. The axle had sheared off and needed replacing. *Ph

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10047860
SteeringElectrical systemEquipment & accessories

Purchased a 2003 envoy xl on 27 dec 02 - since that time it has been to the garage two times - no clamp on one end of the power steering line (luckily it blew off while still in our drive way - god help us if it had let loose at high speed on a crowded highway) second time was for a bad cam sensor. And we haven't made the first payment yet. First cass number from gmc is s1-68773551 - second case number I don't have yet as I just reported it this morning. Needless to say that my wife and I have no trust in this car now - what else will go wrong next.

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · EquipmentNHTSA 10005160
Steering

Was driving approx. 60 Mph when a semi decided to move into my lane. I assumed I was in his blind spot so I sped up to be in front of him. When his front started moving into my lane I moved over a tiny bit onto the burm. I then turned the steering wheel a little to the right to get back into the center of the road in front of the truck. Just then the steering wheel started responding to the wheels as they began small back and forth (left and right) jerks. The jerks (wheels) became larger, swirving the envoy...

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back and forth (left and right) within the lane. This movement increased to where the car began to spin out of control accross all lanes of the freeway, luckely stopping all busy freeway traffic around me. The wheels seemed to be sliding around as if on a sheet of ice. I did my best to control the wheel to avoid going into the ditch because the envoy was swirving so much it most likely would have tipped over. The envoy did at least 5 complete donuts while the semi was heading towards me. The envoy shut down while in drive. I opened my door and waved to the semi driver. He waved back to tell me good luck and to move out of the busy freeway if I could. I put the envoy in "park" then it started back up and drove away without a scratch on it. I brought the envoy back into the dealership "preston" immediately and they said this is the 2nd or 3rd incident of the same nature. There was a envoy in their parking lot that had been only going 35mph and hit a telephone pole. I cannot emphasize the fact that this could have easily been a fatality. I thought my life was over. Please do not wait to research this problem. I have absolutely no doubt there is a manufacturing problem. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. I'm sure your expediting this matter will save lives!*Ak

Filed SteeringNHTSA 767344

GMC Envoy steering complaints by year

Envoy steering problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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