---
title: "Chevy Pickup’s Vise Grip Steering Wheel Worked Until It Didn’t"
date: "2025-07-30"
modified: "2025-07-30"
authors:
  - name: "Andrew P. Collins"
    job_title: "Executive Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/andrew-p-collins"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/chevy-pickups-vise-grip-steering-wheel-worked-until-it-didnt"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "pickup"
---

# Chevy Pickup’s Vise Grip Steering Wheel Worked Until It Didn’t

![Vice grip steering wheel failure](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/truck-steering.jpg>)
*\<em\>Oklahoma City Fire Department\</em\>*

An old GMT400-era [GM](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/chevrolet-news>) pickup ended up high-centered on a highway divider after it escaped its driver's control in Oklahoma City this week. When first responders came to clean up, they noticed that the truck had Vise Grip-style pliers locked onto the steering column instead of a wheel. Apparently, it doesn't work as well in real life as it did in *[Mad Max: Fury Road](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/33438/the-story-behind-mad-max-fury-road-is-as-epic-as-the-movie-itself>)*.

I have definitely seen locking pliers (Vise Grip is just the most ubiquitous brand selling these) used for steering like this on social media for comedic effect. And, yeah, I may be guilty of doing similarly sketchy stuff to move a damaged or partially restored vehicle a very short distance. But this little oopsie documented by the [Oklahoma City Fire Department's Facebook page](<https://www.facebook.com/OKCFD/posts/pfbid0VmTmJC2Kk8gKP4DgkcnHxkU5D3L6C5foEBc1MAZaUS6XiqrQk4CrMWhkeaKYYpMVl>) makes a pretty strong case for, you know, putting your car all the way back together before taking it out on the road.

Luckily, there were no reported injuries, so we can chuckle with minimal guilt here. And frankly, this is kind of inspiring me to make sure I've got a pair of locking pliers in all my cars in case the helm or shift knob falls off on its own. But yeah, let's stay safe out there, this could have easily gone much more disastrously.

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wheel1.jpg>)

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wheel3.jpg>)

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wheel2.jpg>)

*Seen or done any shenanigans like this to get somewhere in a busted car? Tell me about it at andrew.collins@thedrive.com.*

## Author
As Executive Editor, Andrew touches everything on the site from daily news coverage to feature stories, sponsored content, product reviews, road testing vehicles, ecommerce, and more. He's held pretty much every role there is to have at an automotive news site and has been with The Drive's publisher Recurrent since 2020. Andrew's a lifetime gearhead and longtime writer with a particularly strong penchant for road trips, off-road adventures, and archaic vehicles. His passions outside of the automotive world include skiing, obsolete video games, and his dog Bramble who occationally helps review cars.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/andrewatlarge>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetercollins/>)