This preliminary informational bulletin provides a procedure to apply dielectric grease and a piece of adhesive shim stock to the steering angle sensor connector to correct a condition of service stabilitak message displayed in DIC and DTC C0455 or C0710
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Chevrolet Silverado steering problems
severe Owners of the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 54,984 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Silverado | 104 |
| 2006 Silverado | 52 |
| 2007 Silverado | 32 |
| 2008 Silverado (this page) | 10 |
| 2009 Silverado | 11 |
| 2010 Silverado | 10 |
| 2011 Silverado | 11 |
| 2012 Silverado | 6 |
2crashes
2injuries
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to flush and bleed the power steering system to correct a condition of power steering noise or fluid leak from power steering pump, gear or high pressure hose during extreme low temperature conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗GM: THERE IS UNWANTED STABILITY ACTION OR STABILITY LIGHT ON. THIS CAN BE CAUSED BY THE SUSPENSION BEING MODIFIED. UPDATED 6/18/12. MODELS 2007-13 ALL ESCALADE; AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; SIERRA, SIERRA DENALI, ALL YUKONS. UPDATED 11/28/12. UPDATED 4/1015.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an instrument panel backlighting flashes, flickers or inoperative, unwanted horn activation, radio controls inoperative or unwanted activation, OnStar unwanted activation, and cruise control inoperative. Technician should inspect for a short to ground on the steering wheel near the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint coil connector X2 and make necessary repairs to any shorted circuits and then position the wiring.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with the installation of Cruise Control on a vehicle which did not come equipped with the option. Technician will need to contact the Techline Customer Support Center to determine if a calibration is available for the vehicle. If they are able to provide a calibration for the vehicle then order steering wheel with cruise control buttons, steering wheel sir coil, and steering column wiring harness.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Ten owners of 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500s report serious power steering failures. The most common failure is complete pump breakdown—shaft breakage, internal collapse, or sudden loss of function—occurring between 18,600 and 58,000 miles. Several owners describe harrowing incidents: steering locked up mid-turn on a residential street (collision with parked car and curb), steering wheel flailed unexpectedly at 35 mph (driver wrist injury), and catastrophic loss of steering and brakes simultaneously at 30 mph on a truck purchased new.
Owners also report leaking power steering fluid at very low mileage (1,522 miles) and steering gear racks that leak and fail despite replacement. One owner had the steering gear replaced, then the pump replaced a month later, yet returned to the dealer five more times for identical failures with no fix.
Chevrolet issued TSB SB-07-02-32-002N and TSB 070232002 for power steering issues, but owners state dealers failed to follow the corrective actions and the manufacturer refused warranty repair when fluid leaks were present. The pattern suggests a systemic defect affecting multiple steering components on this model year.
Same Chevrolet Silverado steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering Pump Failure
Power steering pump fails internally, sometimes with shaft breakage, causing loss of power steering and power brakes. Pump may emit abnormal noise before failure. Multiple owners report catastrophic loss of steering control while driving.
When: 18,600 to 58,000 miles; one case at low mileage on new vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering and power brakes simultaneously; Abnormal grinding or clicking noise from pump; Steering wheel unexpectedly moves back and forth; Complete steering lockup during turns
Codes mentioned: Stabilizer trackability code (reported in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering pump replacement; dealer replaced pump multiple times with recurring failures in one case (5 dealer visits with no resolution)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB SB-07-02-32-002N and TSB 070232002 issued for power steering repairs; manufacturer refused to honor repair under one TSB when fluid leak was present; dealers failed to follow corrective action in at least one case
Power Steering Fluid Leak
Fluid leaks from power steering system, discovered during routine maintenance or inspection. Leak originates from power steering pump or steering gear. Leak is non-repairable and requires component replacement.
When: 1,522 miles; 58,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fluid leak visible under vehicle; Abnormal noise from power steering pump
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering pump and steering gear rack replacement required; repair refused by manufacturer in one case citing the fluid leak
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB SB-07-02-32-002N available but not followed; manufacturer refused warranty repair when leak was present
Steering Gear Rack Failure
Steering gear rack develops fluid leaks and fails mechanically. Abnormal noise develops from rack assembly. One replacement followed by continued failures.
When: 18,600 to 58,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fluid leak from steering gear rack; Abnormal noise from steering assembly; Steering malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Steering gear rack replaced; one owner had rack replaced one month before pump replacement, with continued failures on five dealer visits
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 070232002 referenced but not followed by dealers
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2008 Chevrolet Silverado?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 30,000 and 67,500 miles, with the median around 54,984. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 67,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Chevrolet/Silverado.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.