2000 Chevrolet Impala Steering

DT: THE CONTACT HEARD A CRACKING SOUND COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER TO BE CHECKED. THE SOUND WOULD BE MORE EVIDENT IF THE WHEEL WAS TURNING. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE NOISE HAS BEEN HEARD FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.*AK

DT: HARD TO STEER. CLUNKING, POPPING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. LAST YEAR STEERING SHAFT REPLACED (INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, 12/21/04). THEN IN JANUARY PROBLEM STARTED. FEELS LIKE POWER STEERING COMES AND GOES. *NM *NM

CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL

01-10-02, COMPLAINED OF PULSATION FELT IN STEERING. MECHANIC RESURFACED ROTORS. 01-11-02, SAME COMPLAINT, REPLACED INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN. 11-07-02, REPORTED A SQUEAL IN STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE, GREASED STEERING COLUMN. 09-09-03 COMPLAINED AGAIN OF SQUEAL IN STEERING, REPLACED RACK AND PINION.

STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST 2004 BECAUSE OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) ABOUT BINDING. IN MARCH 2005 THE STEERING SHAFT BROKE IN HALF, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL WITH STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH A NEW STEERING COIL. THE PART WAS STILL BINDING AND SLIPPING AS IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WHEN FIXED IN 2004. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS DONE IN APRIL 2005, AND CHEVROLET TOLD ME IT WAS MY BRAKES. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND THEY SAID MY BRAKES WERE FINE. PROBLEM NEEDED TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GOT HURT THE NEXT TIME IT BREAKS. *AK

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *BF *NM

DT: WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING ROD BROKE. WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. DEALER TOLD CALLER THEY DID NOT HAVE A MECHANIC. LATER, THE DEALER TOLD CALLER WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT, AND CALLER'S FATHER SAID IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN WELDED BEFORE. MANUFACTURER STATED THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP HIM. CALLER HAS NOT GOT THE PROBLEM FIXED YET. *AK

I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND WITHIN 32000 MILES YOU COULD FEEL A CLUNK IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE IMPALA WAS DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL DAY TO DAY USAGE AND WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. TOOK THE CAR IN FOR WARRANTY WORK AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO LUBE AND REPLACE A PIECE ON THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OF THE STEERING. NOW AT 81000 MILES THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS SHOW UP AGAIN! INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON STEERING COLUMN STARTS WITH A CLICKING NOISE AND THROUGH USAGE AND TIME GETS WORSE. YOU START FEELING THE CLICK THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN AND WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED WHILE DRIVING! I FEEL AS AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC AND IN MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION GM NEEDS TO BE MADE TO HAVE A RECALL ON ALL IMPALA'S PRODUCED FROM 2000 THRU 2004. THIS CLICKING IS A FAILURE OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND OTHER STEERING COMPONENTS ASSOCIATED IT AND WILL LEAD TO SUBSEQUENT FAILURE AND ACCIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE. *NM

A 'CLUNK' WITH ASSOCIATE 'LOOSENESS' IN THE STEERING OF OUR 2000 IMPALA IS NOTED. OUR RESEARCH INDICATES THAT MANY OWNERS OF SIMILAR MODELS WHO EXPERIENCED THIS OCCURRENCE AND, BY SOME DEALERS, WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACEMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEMATIC STEERING ASSEMBLY AND DO NOT KNOW IF THIS CAN LEAD TO FAILURE OR NOT.*AK

THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THE MANIFOLD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE FUEL SYSTEM CHECKED AND WAS CHARGED 124.85. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

AT ANY SPEED MY POWER STEERING STARTED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, WITH ANY SPECIFIC WARNING. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 7 DAYS, LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT BUT THE LAST TIME I DID GO OFF THE ROAD AND IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO MY DEALERSHIP. THEY CONTEND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANY PROBLEM, AND THAT THE DIAGNOSTICS DO NOT SHOW ANY ISSUE.

THERE IS A CLUNKING AND CLICKING SOUND WHEN STEERING. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WHERE A LOT OF CONSUMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT AND CHEVROLET WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COST. CHEVROLET SAID THAT THEY CAN EITHER CHANGE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT OR USE THE LUBRICATION KIT TO FIX IT. THEY WILL NOT EVEN USE THE LUBRICATON KIT TO FIX IT AT LEAST. THIS IS NOT RIGHT THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD PAY FOR A MISTAKE THAT THE MANUFACTURER CREATED DUE TO A LACK OF LUBRICATION . *AK

ON JULY 4, 2003 MY 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA WAS LUBED AT THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF STEERING ISSUES. THE CAR WOULD VIBRATE, POP, AND JERK WHEN ACCELERATING, SLOWING DOWN OR MAKING TURNS AND STEERING BECOMES VERY TIGHT AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT TOOK 3 SEPARATE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE THEY DISCOVERED WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SEVERAL CHILDREN AND I AM GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MANY 2000 IMPALAS. I DID A LOT OF RESEACH AND FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE, AS WELL AS COMPLAINTS ON WWW.IMPALAHQ.COM. I'VE ALSO READ ISSUES WHERE SOME POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE USING THIS SAME MODEL AND THEY HAVE REPORTED ACCIDENTS DUE TO STEERING LOST, WHICH SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ISSUES. THE LAST STEERING SHAFT LUBE WAS 11 MONTHS AGO AND COST ME $140. LOOKS LIKE I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THIS SERVICE DONE EVERY 10-12 MONTHS TO KEEP THIS CAR FROM LOOSING STEERING. I CAN NOT PUT A PRICE ON THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN, BUT I CAN INFORM OTHER AND HOPE CHEVY WILL FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM QUICKLY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, CAUSING STEERING FLUID TO LEAK. CONSUMER HAD NO POWER ASSIST. *AK DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP. *LA

THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE STEERING SYSTEM WHEN TURNING. I CAN FEEL SOME VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK

THERE ARE 2 PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR I BOUGHT: 1. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE PAINT ON THE BUMPERS--IT PEELS OFF. 2. THE STEERING SHAFT ON THIS CAR WAS POPPING AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAD PLAY AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES AND THEY REPLACED THE SHAFT AND TOLD ME THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANOTHER PROBLEM. NOW THE CAR HAS ABOUT 90,000 MILES AND WHEN IT HAD 70,000 IT STARTED THE SAME STEERING PROBLEMS IT HAD BEFORE. DOES IT TAKE INJURIES OR FAILED STEERING TO GET SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THIS AS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL???? I GAVE UP ARGUING ABOUT #1 EVEN THOUGH THE PAINT ISN'T THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. NUMBER 2 IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT, WHEN THE DEALER HAD TO PAY BEFORE I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY NOW!!! *CB

2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAS A LEAKING OR SEEPING POWER STEERING RACK AT UNDER 48,000 MILES. FAILURE IS VERY PREMATURE AND COSTLY, AND HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED ON OTHER CHEVROLET IMPALAS. CHEVY REFUSES TO COVER ANY PORTION OF THE COSTLY (OVER $1,000) REPAIR. *AK

2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FAILURE. DEFECTIVE STEERING PART THAT CHEVROLET REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND FIX. REPLACED PART IN 2001, REPLACED PART IN 2002, FILLED PART WITH GREASE IN 2003. THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REDESIGNED AND PROVIDED TO ALL CUSTOMERS THAT PURCHASED THESE VEHICLES AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *LA

MY 2000 IMPALA HAS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS. DEALER PUT IN A NEW STEERING SHAFT BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED AFTER ANOTHER 12,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT CLUNKING AND SEEMS TO BE A PERMANENT UNREPAIRABLE DEFECT IN THE CAR. *LA

CHEVROLET IMPALA 2000. PROBLEM WITH STEERING IN 2001, STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED. NOW THE CAR IS BACK IN SHOP, VERY HARD TO STEER TO THE LEFT AND MAKING NOISE WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT; THEY ARE PUTTING IN NEW STEERING RACK FOR THE SECOND TIME. CRADLE WAS ALSO REPLACED IN 2001. AFTER READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER 2000 IMPALAS, I AM NOW VERY WORRIED ABOUT IT HAPPENING AGAIN AND THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, WHICH WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION OF THE STEERING BUSHING SHAFT. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT 31K MILES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DUE TO AN UNDERSIZED SHAFT. (THE CLUNKING NOISE HAD GONE AWAY) THE PROBLEM RETURNED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. THE PROBLEM RETURNED 28K MILES LATER. *SCC *JB*JB

CONSUMER STATES EACH TIME SHE DRIVES HER AUTO SHE HEARS A KNOCKING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK AUTO TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, TWICE SHE WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE, AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE AUTO. THE THIRD TIME THEY HEARD THE KNOCKING AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS HER STEERING SHAFT. SHE STATES THAT THIS NOISE STARTS WHILE SHE IS TURNING HER AUTO RIGHT OR LEFT, OR EVEN PARKING.*JB

CHEVY IMPALA LS - 2000 YEAR MODEL, 38K MILES. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A SURFACE STREET - APPROX 30 MPH. BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, BUT CAR DID NOT IDLE OR INTERRUPT POWER. I HAD MAYBE 1/4 INCH ROOM TO MOVE WHEEL AND WAS ABLE TO GET CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD. POWER CYCLED CAR (OFF/ON) AND THAT CLEARED THE STEERING LOCK UP. DEALERSHIP REPAIR (ALLEN GWYNN CHEVY IN GLENDALE, CA) HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM. I AM TERRIFIED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN -- COULD BE FATAL IF STEERING LOCKS AND I LOSE CONTROL ON A TURN OR ON A FREEWAY.

CLUNKS, THUNKS AND POPS FELT THROUGH STEERING COLUMN WHILE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING. MOST NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS. I'M IN GERMANY (ARMY) WITH THE CAR. WE USE AAFES. THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEM, THOUGH THEY DID CONFIRM ITS EXISTENCE IN MAR '03. GERMAN MECHANIC DIAGNOSED LOWER BALL JOINT ON RIGHT SIDE. AAFES REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES. THAT FIXED THE BALL JOINTS WHICH HAD GONE BAD AT 37,000 MILES (OUT OF WARRANTY). STILL FEEL CLUNKS, THUNKS, AND POPS THROUGH STEERING COLUMN. SUSPECT INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT LUBRICATION PROBLEM. WILL TAKE TO OPEL FOR INSPECTION. *LA