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2017 Gmc Sierra 1500 Steering Problems

28 owner-reported steering complaints from NHTSA data

28
Complaints
2
Crashes
Jan 2020Nov 2024
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (28)

mediumSTEERING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2025

Driving in town going 20mph and the truck shut down not allowing for braking or gas and the steering locked up. Placed the vehicle in neutral, shut the truck off and turned it back. Was able to continue driving. Attempted to have the dealership we bought it from run a diagnostic and the battery was replaced but it continues to shut down at random times. Took the truck to a local auto shop after this happened again, another diagnostic was run, I am waiting the report to confirm what was done.

NHTSA #: 11694024
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Sep 2025

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a stop, the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to make a turn, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

NHTSA #: 11688158
mediumSTEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2025

The vehicle consistently shuts off unexpectedly when trying to park or slow down, making it difficult to steer or control.The electric power steering stops working, especially when turning at low speeds.

NHTSA #: 11669441
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Jun 2025

AT APPROXIMATELY 98,000 MILES, THE DASHBOARD ERROR MENU NOTICE TO SERVICE THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. WHILE REVERSING AT LOW SPEED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I STOPPED THE TRUCK, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, WAITED 15 SECONDS, AND RESTARTED THE TRUCK. THE ERROR NOTICE REAPPEARED AND STEERING POWER RETURNED AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS. DURING THAT 15 SECONDS THE STEERING WHEEL APPEARED TO OSCILLATE SLOWLY ABOUT AN INCH, THEN STOPPED. STEERING HAS BEEN NORMAL SINCE, THOUGH THE ERROR MESSAGE STILL APPEARS. I KNOW 2015 MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ERROR. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED.

NHTSA #: 11667029
mediumSTEERING
Filed: May 2025

While driving the power steering goes off intermittently during a low speed turn either right or left. The dash goes dark and then the steering assist warning comes on or the trailer control light comes on. This looks to be the same issue that’s recall was issued for the year 2015.

NHTSA #: 11661705
mediumSTEERING,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Filed: Nov 2024

Simply driving down the road an all your lights insode an out glitching along with steering. The steering locks up an comes back. It does not matter what you are doing. It will lock up at any giving moment. Putting you in dangerous way of others. 3months an you can barely turn it because the power steering is totally out. It now does not want to start as it needa jumped. Something electrical is draining it daily. Power steering assist light has been on.

NHTSA #: 11627801
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Oct 2024

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The message "Power Steering Failure" was displayed. The contact continued driving until he could safely pull over to the side of the road. The contact stated that he was able to pull to the side of the road by using physical force to steer the steering wheel. The contact then drove to the residence at low speed. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact the vehicle was not covered. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA #: 11620106
mediumSTEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2024

On [XXX], on or about [XXX], while leaving out the garage the steering wheel locked-up and would not turn unless exceptional strength was used. We immediately notified Garlyn Shelton in Temple, TX dealer and had the 2017 GMC Denali towed with AAA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #: 11612084
mediumSTEERING,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Aug 2024

The vehicle while driving just rapidly steers to one side out of nowhere and some of the times even breaks.

NHTSA #: 11606320
mediumSTEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
Filed: Jul 2024

My vehicle has on two separate occasions experienced a failure where the steering locks up, the engine shuts down, and the dash displays warnings about stabilitrac and trailer wiring. The vehicle has had random electrical glitches for some time, but they have escalated to a safety issue. In doing research, my issues sound very similar to those issues which resulted in a recall to earlier vehicles of the same generation, on report 17V-414. Googling the issue also points to insufficient grounding at the battery and / or the G218 grounding connection.

NHTSA #: 11605593
mediumSTEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jun 2023

1st incident - tried to park turned in and steering went wild stability control light came on & others then truck shut down. 2nd Incident 2 days later- tried to turn off street (with grandkids in car) same thing steering about snapped my wrists off- check engine light came on and others then truck off this was all in a matter of seconds. I turned it on the info system on dash told me to roll down and then roll up window. Husband when driving noticed barking issues - really having to pump brakes (week before) We looked up recalls they are there for both issues for my year make but I have a bigger engine that the recall states so I am not covered yet it is doing all that same stuff for the recall which my husband put it what the truck was doing and found recalls just not for our engine size- THIS TRUCK IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AS WHEN YOU TURN IT WILL SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. AND YOU LOSE ALL STEERING ETC I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK, ESPECIALLY AS WE HAUL OUR GRANDKIDS AND TRAVEL TO IDAHO ON VERY HIGH CURVY ROADS AGAIN NOT SAFE YOUR COMPONETS IT WANTS ME TO CHECK OFF WONLT LET ME CLICK ON ENGINE & AND OTHER

NHTSA #: 11527122
mediumSTEERING,STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Jan 2023

Back up sensors not working. Truck also not having a vin number even though it was bought from the the Chevy dealership. Also was told the electrical system is not working properly

NHTSA #: 11504235
mediumSTEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Nov 2022

The trucks power source starts failing when going at about 15 mph and turning a bit, it happens when coming to a stop or when you’re about to park. The steering wheel starts getting super stiff and all the power buttons and lights start going dim and the truck shuts off. The truck can turn on right after but at times it takes about 15 minutes for the system to reboot and then the truck will finally turn. When this happens you can’t turn on hazard light making it a dangerous situation at night! I’ve talked to other gmc owner with the Denali models and they have stated as well that they’ve had the same issue occur at least once to them, this truck currently does it very often and even more in the cold weather! There has been a recall on earlier an earlier year of the same model truck but just not this one making it tedious to try to get it fixed. I’ve took it to the mechanic and they’ve changed the ground wires, it made the problem just happen less frequently, but it still occurs.

NHTSA #: 11494475
mediumSTEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Nov 2022

While making a quick left hand turn at low speed, steering wheel suddenly locked, all lights and electrical went out and engine died. This left me stuck in a busy intersection with no lights. I was able to restart engine after a minute or so. Error message appeared "roll driver side window up, etc." Needless to say, no longer have confidence driving my truck not knowing when this situation may re-occur.

NHTSA #: 11492937
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Oct 2022

The power steering failed on three different occasions, all while making a low speed turns. Two of the times it was only a matter of a half a second or so, but the most recent time it failed and I couldn't steer my truck at all and I almost got in an accident. I needed to come to a complete stop, and put my vehicle in park, the power steering warning light had came on. After I stopped, it was another 5-10 seconds before the warning light went off and the steering returned.

NHTSA #: 11488046
mediumSTEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE
Filed: Nov 2021

Randomly all electronics shut down engine stalls and lane assists wont let me turn wheel while driving in road. Normally at slow speeds. Get random warning lights that go away after seconds. When I activate a window switch all the electronics turn off and on. This happens randomly. No codes have been left to pull up when trying to solve issue. Twice with children in the car in traffic that we have almost got in a wreck due to these random issues.

NHTSA #: 11439323
mediumSTEERING
Filed: May 2021

A WARNING APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY IT SAYS SERVICE POWER STEERING DRIVE WITH CARE AND I THINK IT DOESN'T MEAN ANY GOOD THING SO PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO TO DRIVE MY TRUCK SAFELY OUT OF ANY RISK. THANKS EXACTLY I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BUT THAT WARNING APPEARS ANY TIME AFTER TURN THE TRUCK ON.

NHTSA #: 11416377
mediumSTEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Nov 2020

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, WHEN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY POWERED OFF. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THIS OCCURRED ON 11/22/2020 AND 11/23/2020. THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS ON MY DASHBOARD 'STEERING ASSIST IS REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE.'

NHTSA #: 11375999
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Jul 2020

WAS PULLING MY TRAILER OUT OF THE WATER AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING, FLUIDS FULL, PUMP WORKING, JUST ELECTRICAL ISSUE. HAD TO DRIVE HOME 20 MILES WITHOUT POWER STEERING, VERY HARD TO TURN. THEY SAID THEY 'FIXED' THIS IS ISSUE IN 2015, BUT HERE I AM IN A 2017 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, LOW SPEED AND COMPLETELY LOST POWER STEERING, THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T PULLING ON TO A HIGHWAY OR IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE.

NHTSA #: 11340234
mediumSTEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Mar 2020

WHEN I'M DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED TURNING THE TRUCK LOOSES ALL POWER AND THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS OUT OF MY HAND, STABILITRAK IS ON THE DISPLAY AND IT SAYS ROLL DOWN DRIVER WINDOW AND ROLL BACK UP! IT ALSO LOOSES ALL POWER JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD NO MATTER THE SPEED! I HAVE ALSO BEEN STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT AND IT LOST ALL POWER WOULDN'T COME BACK ON SO I HAD TO GET OUT POP THE HOOD AND BANG I. THE BATTERY BOX AND CABLES AND IT STARTED AGAIN! VERY SCARY GOING 75 MPH AND IT SHUTS OFF LEAVING YOU NO STEERING NO BRAKES NO LIGHTS NO NOTHING! SOMETIMES IT SAYS POWER STEERING FAILURE SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES IT SAYS STABILITRACK PROBLEM AT SOMETHING ABOUT TOWING! THE BRAKES WERE ALSO AFFECTED NO BRAKES

NHTSA #: 11316706
mediumSTEERING
CrashFiled: Jan 2020

THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO TURN I AM STILL USING LIKE THAT THE TRUCK HAS 40500 MILES, IT FEELS MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN TURNING ON A STREET, DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IS NOT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA #: 11302092
mediumSTEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Apr 2019

THE STABILITRAK SENSOR KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF. I'VE HAD THIS ISSUE WHEN I FIRST GOT THE TRUCK IN THE END OF OCTOBER IN 2017. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIX IT AT FIRST BUT FINALLY HAD TO FIX SOME WIRING. I'VE SEEN IT GO ON A FEW TIMES SINCE THEN BUT NEVER STAYED ON. AND FOR ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS IT'S BEEN COMING ON AND OFF BUT STAYING MORE ON AND NOT GOING AWAY NOW. I FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A NEWER TRUCK

NHTSA #: 11203277
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Sep 2018

ON AUGUST 24TH 2018 WHILE DRIVING MY NEW 2017 GMC SIERRA THRU WEST BRANCH MICHIGAN THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND COMPLETELY WENT OUT. I COULD BARELY GET THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD SAFELY. STEERING THE TRUCK WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I CALLED THE GMC DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERSON SAID TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, WAIT A BIT AND RESTART THE TRUCK. I DID THIS AND EVERYTHING REENGAGED. A WHILE LATER DOWN THE ROAD IT HAPPENED AGAIN. POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN. THIS VEHICLE IS A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WE CHOSE AFTER OUR NEW 2016 GMC SIERRA CONTINUED TO SHUT DOWN OVER 30 TIMES WITH ECM PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. MY WIFE WAS TERRIFIED AND RELUCTANT TO EVER DRIVE THAT VEHICLE AFTER THAT. AFTER MANY HURDLES, GMC DECIDED TO EXCHANGE THE TRUCK WITH OUR CURRENT 2017 GMC SIERRA THAT WE HAVE NOW. THIS 2017 GMC SIERRA HAS LOST ITS POWER STEERING OVER15 TIMES WHILE UNDERWAY DRIVING. THANK GOD IT WASN'T EVER MY WIFE DRIVING. ITS BAD ENOUGH FOR HER TO BE A PASSENGER NOW WHEN THE STEERING GOES OUT AS WELL. SHE IS TERRIFIED, AND I AM VERY LEARY AND CONCERNED ABOUT THIS HAPPENING AT ANY TIME AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEEDS. ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM M-65 ON TO MAPLE RIDGE RD WHITTEMORE, MICHIGAN, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WHIPPED BACK TO THE LEFT SO HARD AND FAST I COULD BARELY CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO MANEUVER. I ALSO SUFFERED A SERIOUS LEFT SHOULDER INJURY THAT I CONTINUE TO SUFFER WITH. MY WIFE IS LITERALLY DEATHLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK. I AM AFRAID THAT I MAY KILL SOMEONE OR MYSELF AND WIFE WITH THIS DANGEROUS TRUCK. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AFTER THE POWER STEERING RESET AFTER I TURN IT OFF, FROM THE DAY BEFORE. IT LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN AT 65 MPH. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ECM AND POWER STEERING MODULE FROM DEALER PATSY LOU WILLIAMSON BUICK GMC

NHTSA #: 11129770
mediumSTEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: May 2018

VEHICLE HAS HARD SHIFT AT 5-6 MPH. DEALER STATED COULD NOT FIND ISSUE, AND REFLASHED TCM.APPROX MONTH LATER, AT 10K MILES, TRUCK HARD SHIFTED FROM RED LIGHT ON HIGHWAY, ONCE UP TO 45 MPH, SHUTDOWN. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, NO BRAKES, NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE AT 45-50 MPH.DEALER KEPT FOR ONE WEEK, STATED LOOSE CABLE ON STARTER FROM BATTERY. EXACTLY 1K MILES LATER (5 WEEKS), NOW AT 11K MILES, TRUCK HARD SHIFTED AT 5-6MPH, AND AT 45-50 MPH TRUCK TRIED TO SHIFT IN 4WD. ALL LIGHTS ON DASH CAME ON AS A RESULT. DEALER HAS CURRENTLY HAD THE TRUCK FOR TWO WEEKS AND CAN NOT FIND ISSUE. THEY SUPPOSEDLY CONSULTED GM, AND INSTEAD OF SENDING AN EXPERT TECH TO HELP DEALER FIND ISSUE, ADVISED DEALER TO REPLACE ECM. REPLACING ECM IS THE GENERAL ANSWER TO NOT SURE WHAT IS WRONG. THIS TRUCK IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS WHEN IT SHUTS OFF GOING 45-50 MPH THERE IS NO CONTROL OR BRAKES OPERATIONAL ON THE VEHICLE. GM WILL REPLACE THE ECM, AND JUST LIKE RIGHT NOW, WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND EXPECT ME AS THE CONSUMER TO TAKE DELIVERY BACK OF THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY ALL OF MY DOCUMENTATION IS IN THE DASH OF THIS TRUCK, AT THE DEALERSHIP. TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW MYSELF AS THE CONSUMER CAN HELP ENSURE THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS CORRECTED, AND NOT PASSED ON.

NHTSA #: 11093687
mediumSTEERING
Filed: May 2018

I WAS TURNING AROUND A CURB AT A FAST FOOD WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED OUT OF MY HANDS THE OPPOSITE WAY I WAS TURNING THE SLIGHTLY BACK AGAIN. WHEN I TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL IT DID IT AGAIN. I PAUSED AND WAS THEN PERMITTED TO COMPLETE MY TURN. I THEN EXPERIENCED IT AGAIN ABOUT A WEEK LATER WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPOT. UPON COMPLETION OF MY APPOINTMENT I IMMEDIATELY DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE TRUCK NEW A YEAR AGO AND INQUIRED OF ANY RECALLS OR PROBLEMS OF THE STEERING DOING THIS AND THE SERVICE GENTLEMAN LOOKED ON THE COMPUTER AND SAID NO. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK TO TAKE IT IN TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. I WILL NOT KNOW THE OUT COME TILL THEN, BUT SINCE IT HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES. THE SITUATION SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT SLOW SPEED( THANK GOD) AND WHILE TURNING SHARPLY. IT IS DANGEROUS AT ANYTIME WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER CONTROL.

NHTSA #: 11092455
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Oct 2017

LOUD CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. STIFF, DIFFICULT TO TURN. HAZARDOUS.

NHTSA #: 11040689
mediumSTEERING,POWER TRAIN,WHEELS
Filed: Oct 2017

VIBRATION 65+ MPH, FELT IN STEERING WHEEL AND SEAT. STEERING WHEELS QUIVERS AT 65+ MPH. TRUCK FEELS VERY UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER STATES IT'S NORMAL.

NHTSA #: 11039665
mediumSTEERING,SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE
Filed: Jun 2017

MY NEW 2017 GMC SIERRA VIBRATES BADLY AT ALL SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. THE SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSES MY HANDS TO GO NUMB AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE INFORMED GM OF THIS AND HAD IT REPAIRED 3 TIMES. THIS DIDN'T CORRECT THE ISSUE AND GM IS STATING THE VEHICLE IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED" AND WILL NOT DO ANY FURTHER REPAIRS. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE A VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO HAVE A CONSTANT VIBRATION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE MODEL YEAR 2014 AND GM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE OR CORRECT THE ISSUE. IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE'S SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH FOR THEM TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM. PLEASE OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO ALL GM HALF TON TRUCKS FROM MODEL YEAR 2014 THROUGH 2017.

NHTSA #: 10992896

Other 2017 Gmc Sierra 1500 Issues