38 complaints reported

2002 Chevrolet Impala Steering

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
38
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,164.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2014
Jun 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, A POPPING NOISE EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED AND THAT THERE WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2002
Mar 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SHAFT WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2011
Apr 2010

AS I BRAKE MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES ON MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME FOR THIS VEHICLE. I HAD IT SERVICED AT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP IN PLAINVILLE CT. ON OR ABOUT JUNE 20 2009. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2010
Mar 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING JOINT SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37464 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37964.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2009
Feb 2010

THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT MANY TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. IT CONTINUES TO GO OUT ALL THE TIME. THE RACK & PINION GEAR, THE PUMP AND THE HOSES WERE REPLACED WITH ORIGINAL DELCO PARTS BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CHEVROLET DEALER MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS CAUSED BY LOW TIRES BUT MY TIRES WERE NOT LOW. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. IT IS HARD TO STEER ON THE STRAIGHT ROAD AND IT GOES OUT ON A TURN AND I CAN'T STEER IT. I HAVE TO HIT MY BRAKES. A LOCAL MECHANIC HAS TRIED TO REPAIR IT ABOUT 5 TIMES AND HE FINALLY GAVE ME MY MONEY BACK AND SAID TO TAKE IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHICH I DID AS NOTED ABOVE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2008
Oct 2009

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED AT 36,000 MILES THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. AT 43,165 MILES, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE DEALER ONCE AGAIN REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT.*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 1901
Apr 2009

NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BY G.M. ABOUT SAFETY DEFECT, I JUST HAPPEN TO TAKE MY CAR IN THE SHOP AND HAD TO PAY FOR A RECALL ; I HAVE A 2002 IMPALA THE STEERING SHAKES, I FEEL SOMETHING RATTLING AROUND IN THE STEERING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2007
Nov 2008

HAVE A CLUNKING SOUND WITH STEERING. HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT AT TIMES THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED A LOCK UP AND COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS PROBLEM AND GM KNOWS ABOUT IT. THERE IS A TSB #01023200 ON THE CAR. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO THE CAR HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS DONE THIS SINCE IT WAS NEW. JIMMI

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2002
Sep 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN STRAIGHT LINE, THE DRIVER MUST MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL FURTHER OUT. DEPENDING ON WHAT SIDE THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, THERE IS SOME SLACK IN THE WHEEL AND NOISES ARE MADE. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT AND THE DEALER INSTALLED A SHORT STEERING SHAFT. THIS REPAIR CORRECTED THE FAILURE FOR FOUR YEARS. WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT UNDER THE WARRANTY SINCE IT EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED FOR FREE BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. HE PAID FOR THE DEALER TO INSTALL A NEW SHORT STEERING SHAFT ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/20/08. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2004
Jun 2008

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH A STEERING PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AFTER 20,000 MILES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *KB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2008
Apr 2008

CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES. THE STEERING SHAFT WAS SERVICED UNDER WARRANTY. THE STEERING BEGAN TO SQUEAL WHEN TURNING AND NOW THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE. THERE IS NO SLACK IN THE STEERING. A TIE ROD END WAS REPLACED ALSO WHEN THE STEERING SHAFT WAS SERVICE. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THERE WAS A TECH BULLETIN ON THE SHAFT BUT NO RECALL. THIS PROBLEM DEFINITELY SHOULD BE RECALLED. STEERING FAILURE IS A POSSIBILITY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2008
Feb 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE STEERING MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON APRIL 2, 2008, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION PRIOR TO A ROAD TRIP. AT THAT TIME, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ROD WAS GOING TO NEED REPLACING AGAIN SOON. HE BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, IN WHICH THEY SHOULD REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,926. UPDATED 04/22/08. *LJ THE STEERING SHAFT WAS LUBRICATED. UPDATED

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2007
Nov 2007

OUR 2002 CHEVY IMPALA'S STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO SHOW ALOT OF PLAY. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE INTO OUR MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BECAME CRACKED. WE THEN HAD IT REPLACED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2007
May 2007

LOUD CLANKING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN. DEALERSHIP STATED THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN IN THE STEERING SHAFT. HOWEVER, GM HAS NOT RECALLED IT. SISTER-IN-LAW PURCHASED AN IMPALA SHORTLY AFTER I DID. SHE HAS SINCE HAD TO PAY $350.+ TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2003
Nov 2006

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA. WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, THERE ARE CLUNKING NOISES COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SHARPER THE TURN, THE WORSE THE PROBLEM IS. I ALSO HEAR AN INTERMITTENT WHIRRING NOISE WHEN I MAKE TURNS (THE SOUND IS LIKE WHEN YOU WEAR A NYLON COAT, AND YOUR SLEEVES RUB AGAINST THE BODY OF THE COAT). IT IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM, AND I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THAT I WILL LOOSING STEERING CONTROL. I MADE THE MISTAKE OF LOOKING AT THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE, AND I HAVE FOUND 17 OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT ISSUE WITH 2002 CHEVY IMPALA VEHICLES. NOW I AM REALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I AM PLANNING ON GETTING THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY CAN RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT, OF COURSE, SINCE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. BUT I FEEL THAT MY LIFE IS WORTH THE MONEY. HOWEVER, DON'T YOU THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE BY NOW? HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DO YOU NEED BEFORE YOU REALIZE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED? I HOPE THAT SOMEONE DOESN'T NEED TO BE INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE ANY ACTION IS TAKEN. I HOPE THAT MY ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT WILL HELP OTHER IMPALA OWNERS GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED THROUGH A RECALL NOTICE. I'M SURE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE NUMEROUS MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE (AND OTHERS) IF MORE PEOPLE REALIZED THAT THIS COMPLAINT PROCEDURE WAS AVAILABLE. MAYBE THE ROADS WOULD BE SAFER. PLEASE TRY TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED THROUGH A RECALL NOTICE. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2006
Nov 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, A CLANKING NOISE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED A LACK OF LUBRICATION, HOWEVER THE NOISE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE LOW STEERING SHAFT, BUSHES AND LINKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE NOISE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY CREATED BY THE NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2006
Oct 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HITTING A BUMP, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OIL IN THE GEAR BOX. THE PROBLEM RETURNED TWO YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2006
Sep 2006

WHILE ENGAGING IN A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN, A KNOCKING NOISE IS DETECTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL BOX. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2006
Sep 2006

STEERING COLUMN SHAFT RATTLES. PROBLEMS WITH THIS SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING. NOW AFTER 100,000+ MILES, THEY HAVE SAID THIS IS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND THAT OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THIS HAVE BEEN REPORTED. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2003
Mar 2006

NOTICEABLE LOOSENESS AND "CLUNK" IN STEERING WHEN TURNING AND/OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR AT LOW SPEED. CAR HAD NEARLY 50,000 MILES. HOW MUCH LONGER BEFORE A LOSS OF STEERING COULD OCCUR? *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2006
Mar 2006

CLUNCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2005
Jul 2005

ITERMEADIATE STERRING SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED, COST $400.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2005
Mar 2005

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL DURING A SLOW MANEUVER, YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL CLUNKING COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IT FEELS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS BECOMING LOOSE. I HAVEN'T GONE TO THE DEALER YET BECAUSE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND SEEING SOO MANY COMPLAINS ABOUT IT IT SHOULD BE RECALLED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2005
Mar 2005

STEERING CLUNKS WHEN TURNING OR TOUCHING THE BRAKES OR LETTING OF THE BRAKES AND EXCELLERATING. I AM AFRAID OF A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THIS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2005

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2002 Chevrolet Impala has 38 Steering complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.