1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

I HAVE A1997 CHEVROLET 6.5T DIESEL, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK DOING ABOUT 45 MPH CROSSING A STOP LIGHT AND THE TRUCK JUST SHUT OFF FOR NO REASON AND A SEMI WAS BEHIND ME AND ALMOST PLOWED IN TO THE BACK OF MY TRUCK BUT HE WAS ABLE TO GO AROUND AT THE LAST SECOND. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DOING 70 MPH AND THE TRUCK DID THE SAME THING JUST SHUT OFF FOR NO REASON AND A CAR ALMOST HIT ME BUT WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. ON ALL OCCASIONS I LOST ALL POWER TO EVERYTHING BRAKES,STEERING AND ENGINE POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND AFTER THE TWO ABOVE. FOUND OUT THAT GM HAD PUT OUT AN UNDER THE TABLE RECALL OF THE PMD AND INJECTOR PUMP ON THE 6.5T DIESEL MOTOR 12YR/100,000MILES BUT DID NOT PUBLICLY SAY ANYTHING. THE OTHER THING THAT I JUST CAN'T GET OUT OF MY HEAD IS WHAT IF I HAD MY FAMILY WITH ME GOING CAMPING AND TOWING MY TRAILER WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED GOING DOWN A STEP MOUNTAIN PASS AND THE TRUCK TO SHUT OFF WITH NO POWER TO STOP. I KNOW THAT CAR MAKERS HAVE A % OF ACCIDENTS BEFORE THEY WILL LOOK AT RECALLS AND DEATHS ARE INCLUDED IN THOSE %'S AND FOR GM TO HIDE THE RECALL IS VERY DISHONEST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET C2500. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MECHANIC THEN STATED THAT THE METAL CRUMBLED FOR THE WORM STEERING SHAFT. HE MADE THE REPAIR AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE IDLING ARM AND PITMAN ARM. THE FRONT END WAS REALIGNED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS DETERMINED THERE WAS A DEFECT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT CONTACTED. UPDATED 9/5/2006 - THE FAULTY PART WAS THE STEERING WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. *NM

(1) ONGOING (2) POWER STEERING SUDDENLY GOES TO TOO MUCH ASSIST TO NORMAL ASSIST, ESPECIALLY IN LEFT HAND TURN (3) DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS "EVO" SENSOR, WANTS $280 TO FIX IT. THIS PROBLEM IN 1997 CHEV C/K PICKUP TRUCKS READS LIKE A RASH IN QUANTITY REPORTS TO NHTSA, YET NHTSA SEEMS TO WANT MANY DEATHS BEFORE REQUIRING A DEALER RECALL. DO SOMETHING!!!*AK

POWER STEERING PROBLEM IDENTICAL TO KNOWN DEFECTS AFFECTING GM CARS. I HAVE IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS REGARDING SUDDEN ROTATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL IN A LEFT TURN. THE UPCOMING RECALL OF 1996-7 CARS DOES NOT INCLUDE PICKUP TRUCKS BUILT IN THE SAME TIME FRAME. MY '97 3/4 TON CHEVROLET WAS BUILT IN SEPT OF 96, AND HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS. MY (RENO,NV) CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IT WILL COST ME APPROX $240 TO FIX IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE TO EXPAND THE RECALL, AS I'VE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS ALREADY! *AK