Ignition Key Won't Turn

[Phidi2014]

Owner of a 2014 Silverado LTZ Crew Cab ordered and bought new in June 2013. On several occasions after vehicle is parked and shut off, ignition key is inserted to start vehicle and the key will not turn. Only known remedy is to pull hard on the steering wheel in a left or right rotation while turning key at same time to unlock an otherwise locked ignition/steering wheel. Finally after 3-4 times to the dealer, the service department gets problem to repeat for them. My service ticket states, "Tech found ignition key won't turn when steering column is in the locked position. Steering wheel has to be turned very hard to release the key. - GM STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION. No repairs needed at this time. " This is NOT normal operation! GM is either crazy or thinks I am (we are) stupid! Shame on GM for this comment. I will follow up soon with GM requesting a buy back which is too bad as otherwise I like the truck.

Edited May 31, 2015 by Phidi2014

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

There's no need to try to get them to buy it back. Mine does it to and my 98 also did it. It's just from the steering wheel locking and it make it hard to turn the ignition if the steering is turned a lot when it's shut off. I only have it do this when I park the truck on the street since I turn the tires like you should be parking on a slight hill on the street. Any other time it doesn't do it because I don't have the wheel cranked to almost full lock. I have had it do it a couple times if pulling into a tight parking spot and I didn't think to straighten the wheel.

[Chad2815]

Mine has done the same thing, I use the on star app to start it and then it turns, my guess is that it's a product of the electric steering instead of the old style, I am sure they will come out with a fix.

[RyanbabZ71]

Will toyota buy our van back because it occasionally does the same thing?

[beetle]

Same here, in my case I found out the key has to be inserted completely to work, and sometimes the s/w needs to be wiggled.

Edited May 31, 2015 by beetle

[patriot]

There's no need to try to get them to buy it back. Mine does it to and my 98 also did it. It's just from the steering wheel locking and it make it hard to turn the ignition if the steering is turned a lot when it's shut off. I only have it do this when I park the truck on the street since I turn the tires like you should be parking on a slight hill on the street. Any other time it doesn't do it because I don't have the wheel cranked to almost full lock. I have had it do it a couple times if pulling into a tight parking spot and I didn't think to straighten the wheel.

Hell, My '02 Silverado did the same thing when there was tension against the key from the wheel.

 

No big deal. Locks don't release when there's a load on them. It binds the tumblers.

[SteveBBB]

Welcome to the group. I've had several trucks do this and my daughter's minivan and my granddaughters VW beetle do the same thing, My truck has done it several times but it really doesn't bother me. I'm not trying to make light of your problem, but there is really nothing wrong with the truck. If you can, try to shut it off with the front wheels straight.

Edited May 31, 2015 by SteveBBB

[TJay74]

It is normal, one way to help it not happen is once you have killed the truck and removed the key from the ignition don't grab the steering wheel and yank on it to get out of the truck. If you do you will turn the internal locking ring against the stop while under resistance from the power steering unit. It will cause the extra tension that keeps the key from being able to turn over, only way to correct it at that point is to turn the steering wheel to get the pressure off of the internal locking plate.

 

It is 100% normal and all GM vehicles and most all other manufactures do this when the steering wheel is turned hard after the key is removed.

[tbarn]

OR, TO PUT IN OFFICIAL TERMS,

 

#PIT5233B: Normal Characteristic - Hard Or Unable To Rotate Ignition Key From The Off Position - (Mar 2, 2015)
Subject: Normal Characteristic - Hard Or Unable To Rotate Ignition Key From The Off Position

Models: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2015 Chevrolet Colorado, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe
2014 GMC Sierra 1500
2015 GMC Canyon, Sierra, Yukon Models
Without Keyless Start (RPO BTM)

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This PI was superseded to update Models. Please discard PIT5233A.

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The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.

Condition/Concern
A steering column lock has been incorporated into the ignition key housing assembly as standard equipment. If the steering wheel is turned with the ignition key in the off position, this may cause excessive pressure between the lock plate and lock pin. The next time the ignition key is rotated from the "Off" to the "On" position, it may be difficult or unable to be rotated.

Recommendation/Instructions
The steering wheel will need to be rotated in either direction (depending on how the locking pin engaged to the locking plate) to alleviate the pressure between the steering column lock pin and lock plate. This will allow the ignition key to rotate from the "Off" position. The ignition key may need to be rotated at the same time the steering wheel is being rotated.

Customer Information
Please communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle. It will not impact the designed performance or reliability of the vehicle. Please share this information with the customer, including a copy of this message.

[fondupot]

This is a security feature, and likely to keep people from turning the wheel when the engine is off. Since these trucks have an EPAS you could damage the gear box if you force it to turn while their is no power to the steering gear.

 

If you don't want the wheel and ignition to lock up, don't turn the wheel after you turn the truck off.

Edited May 31, 2015 by fondupot

[don1965]

Im finding mine hard to turn when its hot outside. Its not locked, but there is resistance when I turn the key.

[355HP Z71]

I had this happen to me one time . I used the remote start to start the truck and the wheel unlocked and the key turned .

[DanMan_S]

I know people that would have this consistently when they would park with their front tires against a parking curb while turned. It would put enough stress on the steering system that it would jam the steering lock and the ignition as a result. It's pretty much normal automotive behavior.

Edited June 1, 2015 by DanMan_S

[txchevy4ever]

Perfectly normal. My 2000, 2006 and 2015 all work that way.

[Phidi2014]

There's no need to try to get them to buy it back. Mine does it to and my 98 also did it. It's just from the steering wheel locking and it make it hard to turn the ignition if the steering is turned a lot when it's shut off. I only have it do this when I park the truck on the street since I turn the tires like you should be parking on a slight hill on the street. Any other time it doesn't do it because I don't have the wheel cranked to almost full lock. I have had it do it a couple times if pulling into a tight parking spot and I didn't think to straighten the wheel.

 

Thanks for your reply. I had a 1999 Sierra and a 2006 Silverado and neither truck ever had this problem. This issue is frequent even when parked in my driveway, level surface, wheels straight.