2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · symptom sheet
Power steering cuts out or goes heavy
- 26owner reports
- 12,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report May 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
41 of the 828 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 26 of those describe power steering loss.
Tick what matches of 26 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
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the steering system covers the 2021 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 2021 model year.
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2021 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 communicates an issue with adaptive cruise and lane keep assist inoperative due to an internal issue with the front view windshield camera. Dealers are to replace the camera.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with additional information on the functionality of Lane Keep Assist.
What owners wrote
“All of a sudden my check engine light came on with the sudden loss of power steering. Almost impossible to steer at low speeds. After turning it off I waited about 15 minutes then restarted the engine and there was no problem steering. Concern about it happening again in the middle of traffic.”
Filed Apr 10, 2026
“Started The Vehicle and the Steering wheel would not turn. Warning said: Service ESC & Service Power Steering Drive and the Stability Control Light came on. After ready many complaints about the same thing, we turned the car off for 20 minutes and then on again and it worked. But this is dangerous.”
Filed Jan 19, 2025
“- Warning came up that said to service power steering system. Steering wheel became extremely hard to turn. -I could barely complete my turn to get the vehicle clear of the road -Vehicle is scheduled to be seen by a dealer -No other parties have inspected the vehicle”
Filed Jul 16, 2024
“On October 31st while driving my vehicle my power steering light came on stating ESC POWER STEERING Failure/Issue. This caused me to have no power steering. I was able to safely stop the vehicle. I restarted it numerous times with the same message showing up. About 5-10 minutes later it started with no issues and without the same power steering message. This is extremely dangerous!”
Filed Oct 31, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 26 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
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 176 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 168 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 121 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 95 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 44 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 30 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 30 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 28 reports
- Tailgate or liftgate will not open or close 26 reports