2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · symptom sheet
Power steering cuts out or goes heavy
- 52owner reports
- 24,155median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 15, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
74 of the 732 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 52 of those describe power steering loss.
Tick what matches of 52 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 (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the steering system covers the 2020 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 2020 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 4,100 and 48,000 miles, from the 26 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 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 service bulletin advises the technician of a possible loose ground that may be causing customer concerns of Loss of Steering Assist and/or Loss of Brake Assist and Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated.
This Preliminary information communicates a diagnostic tip to inspect the main ground connection when diagnosing any lack of power steering assist issues with DTCs C1597 and/or C1599.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with additional information on the functionality of Lane Keep Assist.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have Lane Keep Assist inoperative with the lane keep assist switch LED is always on and the lane keep assist Icon is not illuminated on the IPC after a ...
What owners wrote
“Without warning (no warning lights or previous mechanical indications) the power steering failed making it extremely difficult to turn the steering wheel. Fortunately this happened while I was parking and not on the highway. The truck had approximately 48,000 miles on it at the time. (8/30/25) Repairs required replacing the rack and pinion steering and a heavily corroded "grounding strap". Repair cost was appx $3500”
Filed Oct 22, 2025 · 48,000 miles
“Lost power steering in the middle of a corner..Almost but me into pole ..No warning..later on warning came on.Truck has 32000 miles on it”
Filed Jul 29, 2025 · 32,000 miles
“Lost power steering! Almost impossible to make any turns. The dash has ESC fault and power steering fault. Says drive careful! How can I drive careful if I can't turn the truck? Only 79k miles! GM must recall their bad design and replace it with a design that is proven not to fail!”
Filed Jun 18, 2025 · 79,000 miles
“I keep getting battery saver activated. I go to start my truck and it will not start. On dash says battery saver activated. I have had in the dealer 4 times and it keep happening. I also have had the power steering go out while driving. This has only happened once and after a couple hours it started working again but seems very dangerous.”
Filed Nov 21, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 52 reports involved a crash. 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 113 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 107 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 92 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 85 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 80 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 39 reports