2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · symptom sheet
Power steering cuts out or goes heavy
- 35owner reports
- 50,000median miles
- 3involved a crash
Newest report Oct 9, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
66 of the 837 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 35 of those describe power steering loss.
Tick what matches of 35 reports
Power steering loss on other Silverado 1500 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Power steering loss is the steering wheel suddenly going heavy, usually with a warning on the dash. Nearly six in ten complaints in this group mention a warning light or message, and almost two thirds mention driving or highway speed rather than parking.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the EPS motor or module (6 reports) and the steering rack (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the steering system covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the steering system on the Silverado 1500
Steering gear/grame attaching bolts. Closed nov 27, 2001, led to recall 98V-242.
None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 29,000 and 92,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 13 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with additional information on the functionality of Lane Keep Assist.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the power steering control module to correct a condition of Loss of Steering Assist due to a software abnormality.
This Preliminary information communicates a power steering control module calibration error that does not allow its DTC's to transition to history and they always stay current, which can mislead a technician diagnosis.
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Action Required Steering Assist is Reduced Drive with Care Or Service Power Steering Message And Or Current Power Steering Control Module DTCs.
9 more on the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 page.
What owners wrote
“Power steering (EPS) quit working out of nowhere. I was out camping in Idaho. The power steering issue caused my battery to die and I was essentially stranded. No issues with the vehicle beforehand or warning lights.”
Filed Nov 22, 2023
“While turning a corner at a reduced speed the Power Steering went out and I couldnât turn the wheel to the right. I almost ran into a car pulling out of the street I was turning into. a few seconds later the Power Steering came back on.”
Filed Apr 2, 2023
“Stabilitrac service light comes on and dash lights flicker for a second, radio sound cuts out a second, then power steering is lost until putting in park or restart of vehicle. Just like recalls for other silverado 1500s. Happens intermittently.”
Filed May 25, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 3 of 35 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 222 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 108 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 71 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 55 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 48 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 43 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 35 reports