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 ↗2009 Chevrolet Silverado steering problems
severe Owners of the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 52,083 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Silverado | 104 |
| 2006 Silverado | 52 |
| 2007 Silverado | 32 |
| 2008 Silverado | 10 |
| 2009 Silverado (this page) | 11 |
| 2010 Silverado | 10 |
| 2011 Silverado | 11 |
| 2012 Silverado | 6 |
| 2013 Silverado | 18 |
2crashes
1injury
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
Owners report three distinct steering failure categories. The first involves sudden loss of steering control: one owner's steering column shaft disconnected from the steering wheel mid-turn, causing collision with parked cars; another's power steering motor shaft snapped during parking lot exit, causing loss of control; a third experienced complete steering failure when exiting a parking lot.
A second category covers steering angle sensor faults tied to electrical/control issues. At highway speeds, one truck's all electronics cut out repeatedly (lights, engine, gauges), with dealer unable to diagnose; another experienced similar complete electrical shutdowns with instruments and lights flashing erratically. Two owners report faulty steering angle sensor failures that disabled ABS and stability control systems—one dealer stated the part was no longer manufactured after 9 years.
Third, owners describe degraded steering feel and components. One reports constant need to over-correct with high turning resistance at any speed and dragging sensation. Another's truck failed inspection due to leaking steering gear at only 14,000 miles; dealer attributed it to tie rod connection into steering box being loose, citing a known recall the dealer was supposed to complete under warranty. One spindle broke in two from minor motorcycle impact (50cc at 50 mph), a failure owners believe suggests design weakness.
Several issues involved dealer inability to reproduce problems or complete repairs, and owners note difficulty obtaining replacement parts.
Same Chevrolet Silverado steering reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Steering column shaft disconnection
Steering column steering shaft disconnected from the back of the steering wheel, causing complete loss of steering control
Symptoms owners cite: steering wheel turned but no steering response; inability to turn vehicle; collision with parked vehicles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Claim denied without stated reason
Power steering motor shaft fracture
Motor shaft of electrical power steering snapped, causing complete power steering failure and loss of vehicle control
Symptoms owners cite: loss of power steering assist; loss of vehicle control; inability to steer
Steering angle sensor failure
Faulty steering angle sensor disables ABS and traction/stability control systems; part no longer manufactured
When: 220,000 miles on one vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: ABS activation without warning; brakes seized without warning; all safety controls shut off while in motion
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated steering angle sensor part no longer being manufactured; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Part discontinued after 9 years
Leaking steering gear with loose tie rod connection
Steering gear leaking at low mileage due to tie rod connection into steering box not being tight enough, damaging gearbox
When: 14,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: steering gear leak
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of steering gear quoted at $800
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Known recall; dealer supposed to fix at no charge
Degraded steering feel and high turning resistance
Constant need to over-correct, high turning resistance at any speed, dragging sensation; unclear root cause
Symptoms owners cite: constant need to over-correct; high turning resistance at any speed; dragging sensation; difficult to drive
Repairs/costs cited: Ball joints not able to be greased; possible low pump pressure or other internal issue; dealer found nothing wrong
Spindle fracture from minor impact
Spindle broke in two at point behind tie rod end connection when struck by 50cc motorcycle at 50 mph, causing loss of steering on that wheel
Symptoms owners cite: loss of steering on affected side; spindle fracture
Repairs/costs cited: Heavy-duty part failure from relatively low-energy impact
Widespread electrical/control module failures affecting steering systems
Complete electrical shutdowns at highway speeds with all dashboard instruments, lights, and gauges failing; direct correlation to steering angle sensor and control system failures
When: Multiple incidents reported 2014-2017
Symptoms owners cite: all external and internal lights going dark; engine quit; hazard lights inoperative; RPM surge; all gauges failing; door/key bell malfunction; radio playing loudly; door locks and gauges cycling; ABS and stability control shutting off
Codes mentioned: random codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer ground cable replacement and mega fuse check mentioned; multiple visits resulted in no diagnosis from official dealers; YouTube search revealed widespread similar problems; second dealer unable to find anything after 2 months
Synthesized from 11 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 2009 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 2009 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 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 27,860 and 73,000 miles, with the median around 52,083. A quarter of owners report trouble before 27,860; a quarter make it past 73,000. 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/2009/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.