[c6vette]

2018 new 250 miles--Drive the car this AM --it pulled to the right (non-braking) Was able to get to the dealer, put it up on the lift and oiled or greased the steering knuckles (what ever they are) The problem is intermittent after fix it now steers to the left. again not all the time and at low speeds mostly.
Anyone experience this?
Thanks in advance
Al

 

[sniper27]

I may be spoiled by my weekend car, which is a GTI with adjustable sport suspension, aftermarket swaybars and underbrace. But I find that driving the Volt is nothing like driving my GTI. The Volt just tracks all over the place and I have little confidence compared to driving my GTI on the weekends. I just figured that's just the nature of this car and it's not fair to compare it to my modified hatch.

In any case, I don't think I am experiencing any major pulling like you are describing though.

 

[obermd]

My 2017 steers true. It has a slight understeer but it's consistent and doesn't wander at all. I'd be looking at the front suspension alignment, particularly the toe numbers.

 

[Stockholm Volt]

I have no issues like this with my 2017. It tracks true like my Chrysler 300. I love how I can totally rely on it during long freeway stints.

 

[Off Oil]

None, the alignment should be checked. You're under warranty so take it back to be checked.

 

[Insight Refugee]

On the old Insight, the factory specs called for zero toe-in; I assume that it was to squeeze every bit of efficiency out of the car. The Insight would definitely wander and on bad roads it was noticeably squirrelly as the rear wheels were tucked in relative to the fronts and so the trammeling was tricky. New owners would often complain on the message boards until they got accustomed to it.

In comparison, the Volt feels like it's on rails but I wonder if it has less toe-in than average? I didn't see the alignment specs on a quick Owner's Manual and google search. Anyone have them?

 

[c6vette]

None, the alignment should be checked. You're under warranty so take it back to be checked.

Thanks for you input. . If it was an alignment problem it would happen all the time. The problem I have is intermittent.

 

[JRRF]

Thanks for you input. . If it was an alignment problem it would happen all the time. The problem I have is intermittent.

Intermittent wander in any car is highly unusual unless something on the front end is broken, but not broken too much. Are you sure they aren't milling the roads near you, or that you're not encountering other pavement irregularities?

 

[c6vette]

Intermittent wander in any car is highly unusual unless something on the front end is broken, but not broken too much. Are you sure they aren't milling the roads near you, or that you're not encountering other pavement irregularities?

Happens on all roads near me and far away.

 

[JRRF]

Happens on all roads near me and far away.

You could have something loose, but then it should happen all the time. I've driven cars with VERY loose steering, but they were clunkers with serious front end problems.

Let someone else drive your car and see what they think. I'm not used to driving sports cars, but I think the Volt is pretty well planted.

 

[timoshev]

Find a stretch of road near your dealer where the problem reliably recurs. Then have the service manager drive the car there.

 

[Loboc]

First thing is to ge the service manager to see there is a problem. I suspect it’s a loose suspension connector. Like a loose upper strut mount. This would appear intermittent as the thing snaps back and forth. A loose or broken motor mount could do the same.

 

[Loboc]

First thing is to ge the service manager to see there is a problem. I suspect it’s a loose suspension connector. Like a loose upper strut mount. This would appear intermittent as the thing snaps back and forth. A loose or broken motor mount could do the same.

 

[RonL]

Where I live there is a garage called "Stephenson Steering Specialists". Guess what their are good at.
If you can find such a business near where you live, you should try them for a diagnosis. Especially since the dealer didn't solve it first try.
Your problem sounds just like one I had 40 years ago with my '73 Z28 Camaro except I found the problem most noticeable at higher speeds (but it was sharp turns (which are done while driving at low speeds) which trigger it. Stephenson's diagnosed it with a 10 minute road test followed by a few minutes on the hoist, as an idler arm bearing that was binding. Most modern GM cars have rack and pinion steering so no idler arm. But I would suppose that any bearing which is part of steering such as the steering knuckles that your dealer lubricated could be the cause. The steering rack has slide type bearings which I would expect could also be the cause. My problem was intermittent like yours also. The reason it was intermittent was because the binding bearing still moves when the steering is turned but not quite all the way and tries to resist the movement of the steering. So if your last sharp turn was to the right, the car will pull to the right. If your next sharp turn is the left then the car will now pull to the left. If you then turn to the right again but only half way to the steering limit, the car may now steer straight or at least straighter.
And of course I am not a steering expert so the cause of your problem could be different. but I think the dealer should have at least road tested when they were finished as I just described.
Best wishes with this.

P.S. One other difference with my experience was that I knew my problem was inconsistent when I took it to the garage and told them so. So perhaps your dealer deserves the benefit of the doubt for not fixing the problem first try.

 

[c6vette]

Went to the dealer this AM They ordered upper strut mounts. I'l know in a week or so if replacing the mounts wiil fix the problem.
Thank all for their inputs and I will post the outcome.

 

[JRRF]

Went to the dealer this AM They ordered upper strut mounts. I'l know in a week or so if replacing the mounts wiil fix the problem.
Thank all for their inputs and I will post the outcome.

I'm surprised they ordered a part without being 100% sure it will solve the problem.

 

[c6vette]

I'm surprised they ordered a part without being 100% sure it will solve the problem.

They maybe 100% sure , I'm not.

 

[c6vette]

The good news, the steering was fixed. Replaced Top bearing mount of both struts . I saw the bad one , the race was ripped and the ball bearings were falling out, it was causing the steering to bind and made a terrible drumming like at low turning speed. Part#'s 39028988 39008472 . That was the good news. THE BAD NEWS THE MECHANIC CRACKED MY WINDSHIELD. Seems the windshield goes all the why down to the engine compartment,. To remove the struts a bar right next to the windshield had to be removed . In the process of removing the bar he cracked the shield. Part# 23390457 $350 without labor, my cost $0. I insisted on a GM shield ,not some crappy Mexican knock off. Shipping in a week to 10 days. My mileage when I brought the Volt to the dealer was 666!!!!

 

[jcanoe]

Is your Volt named Christine by any chance?

 

[c6vette]

Is your Volt named Christine by any chance?

Not yet, but it is Cajun Red. GM should have named the devil red. I still love the car ,its my second Volt , the first a 2012 that was near perfect, had it for 7 years. It was white!