2006 Chevrolet Impala Steering

I OWN A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS WITH 45,500 MILES ON IT. IN DECEMBER 2008, I EXPERIENCED WOBBLING IN MY FRONT LEFT TIRE. THE OUTER TIE ROD WAS BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE SEVERELY AND UNEVENLY WORN, REQUIRING A NEW SET OF TIRES DUE TO BAD ALIGNMENT, AND NOW I AM HEARING AND FEELING VIBRATIONS AND CLUNKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. A GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED DOZENS OF SIMILAR AND RECURRENT STEERING COLUMN AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS AND COMPLAINTS WITH BOTH THE 2006 AND 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. IT COMES BACK. I DID NOT PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT GM DOES NOT REGARD THIS AS BEING COVERED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OUTSIDE OF 36,000, ANYWAY. SEVERAL HAVE COMPLAINED OF STEERING FAILURES AND LOCK-UPS WHICH RESULTED IN BOTH INJURIES AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND OTHER VEHICLES. THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM THAT CAN HAVE FATAL RESULTS IF NOT CORRECTED. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD INCUR AN OUT-OF-POCKET COST EXCEEDING $1,000. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL, IF NOT FOR ME, THEN FOR THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEGUN TO OCCUR AND SPARE THEM INJURY AND/OR DEATH. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE PUBLICWAY, POWER STEERING CEASE TO OPERATE, STEERING BECAME ALMOST NIL. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAPPEN, THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING, STEERING JUST WENT OUT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE POWER STEERING HOSE REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BARELY MOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TWICE AND, ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THEY STATED THAT THE CLAMPS WERE NOT HOLDING THE POWER STEERING LINE. THE HOSE WAS CLAMPED ON BOTH VISITS. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER ON FEBRUARY 11, 2008 FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 50 MILES AN HOUR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE. I COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND STARTED TO VEER INTO THE NEXT LANE. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE RIGHT LANE NEXT TO ME. NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD APPROX. 26,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM WAS REPLACED WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS THE 6TH REPLACEMENT OF SUCH A DEVICE FOR THE IMPALA. *TR

DURING MARCH 2008 THE POWER STEERING PUMP KEPT BREAKING ON THE 2006 IMPALA, WE HAD TO TAKE IT IN 5 TIMES DURING MARCH THROUGH APRIL TO REPAIR IT, AND NOW DECEMBER 5TH 2008, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, IT COULD OF BEEN DANGEROUS IF THE POWER STEERING FAULTED DURING DRIVING, AND A CRASH COULD OF BEEN CAUSED BECAUSE OF THE POWER STEERING. *TR

EXPRESSWAY DRIVING. POWER STEERING FAILED. NO PREVIOUS INDICATION. RESULT WAS A MAJOR INCREASE IN EFFORT TO STEER. I FELT IT CREATED AN UNSAFE CONDITION. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *TR

2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING. HE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THEN IN -10 DEGREE WEATHER THE POWER STEERING WENT. DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *KB THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE.

1. NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS BETWEEN 0 TO 55 MPH. SOME RAPID ACCELERATIONS MAX RPM ABOUT 4500. 2. RAPID LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID WHICH RESULTED IN EXTREMELY HEAVY STEERING 3. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR QUOTED REPAIR IS $550. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN LEFT, BUT COULD NOT. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SALES DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE WITH A HOSE AND TWO CLAMPS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 15,000. UPDATED 04/22/08. *LJ THE POWER STEERING PIPE AND HOSE WERE REPLACED. UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING HOSE BEGAN LEAKING AND SPRAYED POWER STEERING FLUID OVER THE EXHAUST AND FIRE WALL. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION AND A NEW HOSE WAS INSTALLED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

1/24/2008 AND 2/27/2008 MY POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. ONCE ENTERING A HIGHWAY AND ONCE ENTERING A BRIDGE; BOTH TIMES I NARROWLY ESCAPED ACCIDENT AND INJURY. T HE FIRST TIME I WAS TOWED TO BAST CHEVROLET IN SEAFORD NY (MY DEALER). BAST SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE RETURN HOSE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN ON PROBLEMS WITH THIS PUMP. I WAS TOLD THE HOSE WAS REPLACED AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE SECOND TIME AFTER BEING TOWED TO 2 DEALERS(THE FIRST SAID HE HAD NO TIME TO LOOK AT IT.) I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE RETURN HOSE ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. WHEN I TOLD HIM IT HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED LAST MONTH, HE TOLD ME THE FIRST DEALER NEVER REPLACED IT; HE ONLY ADDED A CLAMP. THE FIRST DEALER WHEN CONTACTED REPEATED THAT THE HOSE WAS REPLACED BUT WHEN I TOLD HIM ABOUT THE SECOND DEALER HE CHANGED HIS STORY SAYING THE SECOND DEALER WAS RIGHT, AND THAT ONLY THE CLAMP WAS CHANGED. MY COPY OF THE REPAIR INVOICE SAYS THEY CHANGED THE HOSE. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO COMPLETE FAILURES OF A POWER STEERING HOSE WHILE DRIVING. PER GM TSB #1870206. NO PRODUCT UPDATE OR RECALL HAS BEEN ENACTED. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER WITH HOSE BLOWN, COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

LOST THE POWER STEERING. LOSE OF ALL POWER STEERING FLUID ON HOME DRIVEWAY. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER SAID A HOSE CAME OFF AND REPLACED THE HOSE AND CLAMP. TOW TRUCK DRIVER KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WHEN HE VIEWED THE FLUID ON THE DRIVEWAY. HE SAID HE HAS TOWED SEVEN IMPALAS IN THE LAST MONTH FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

I NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS WEARING EXTENSIVELY ON THE OUTSIDE. FIRST I CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE AND IT WAS AT THE PROPER AMOUNT. THEN I WENT TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED AND WAS TOLD TO HAVE THE ALIGNMENT CHECK BY THE TIRE SERVICEMAN. THEN I WENT TO HAVE THE TIRES ALIGNED AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE TIE ROD ENDS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN OUT AND LOOSE. I PERSONALLY OBSERVED THE FRONT WHEELS AND THEY BOTH WERE EXTREME LOOSE. THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED BY THE CHEVROLET LOCAL DEALER AND ONLY HAD 37,500 MILES ON IT. I HAD IT SERVICED AT APPROXIMATELY 35,500 MILES BY THE CHEVROLET DEALER. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER, WHO AGREED THAT BOTH THE TIE RODS ENDS NEEDED REPLACING AND THAT HE THOUGHT THEY COULD BE REPLACED WITH CHEVROLET PAYING FOR THEM. BOTH THE ALIGNMENT TECHNICIAN AND THE CHEVROLET DEALER SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THAT THE REASON THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE WORN OUT WAS THAT THEY CONTAINED NO GREASE FITTINGS AND FURTHER THAT THE ONES CHEVROLET FINALLY REPLACED THE WORN OUT ONES THEY DO NOT HAVE GREASE FITTINGS. THIS CAR IS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPLA. I STILL AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE WHAT WAS THE FRONT TIRE(S) BEFORE THIS DISCOVER DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. FURTHER,I AM EXPECTING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE CURRENT NEW ONES WHICH HAVE NO GREASE FITTINGS WITHIN 30,000 OR AGAIN RISK MY SAFETY AND EXCESSIVE AND UNNECESSARY TIRE WEAR. I AM TOLD BY SERVICE PEOPLE AND TECHNICIANS THAT I CAN PURCHASE AFTERMARKET (NON-GENERAL MOTORS TIE ROD ENDS) THAT WOULD HAVE GREASE FITTINGS. THIS LACK OF GREASE FITTINGS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY SERIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT, THAT ENDANGERS THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHEVROLET IMPALA OWNERS AND THEIR PASSENGERS AND OTHERS ON THE ROADS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS WHAT APPEARS TO ME TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN WHEN BACKING UP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OUTER TIE ROD END WAS DEFECTIVE ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE FLUTTERED AND SHOOK WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIE RODS AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,000. UPDATED 11/07/07. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WHEN SHE DROVE THE 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH(11718 FAILURE MILEAGE SHE HEARD A PINGING NOISE, BUT THE VEHICLE DROVE WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO NEEDED TO DUPLICATE THE PINGING, BUT COULD NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON ANOTHER OCCASION AND THEY REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION, AND SINCE THEN THE CONTACT HAD NOT HEARD THE PINGING NOISE SINCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12000.*AK

AT 9000 MI. A LOUD WHINNYING NOISE IN THE ENGINE OCCURRED. DEALER DISCOVERED THE STEERING FLUID WAS LOW DUE TO A LOWER HOSE LEAKING AT A CLAMP. THE CLAMP WAS REPLACED AND AFTER A SHORT WHILE (ABOUT 25 MI.) THE PUMP NOISE SUBSIDED. MAYBE THIS WILL REQUIRE A RECALL DUE TO A NHSTA REPORT OF A BLOWN HOSE. *JB

GRINDING WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS TURNED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID GMC WAS AWARE OF A STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN GREASED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILE INTERVALS. I CONTACTED GMC AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT YES THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN SOME OF THE IMPALAS BUT IT WAS COVERED IN THE 30,000 MILE WARRANTY. I ASKED WHAT ABOUT AFTER THAT THEY SAID SINCE IT WAS NOT ALL CARS IT WOULD THEN BE A MAINTENANCE ITEM. DEALERS ARE CHARGING ABOUT $100.00 TO GREASE THE STEERING COLUMN. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS CAR IS JUST NOW 1 YEAR OLD AND IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING I WOULD LIKE THEM PERMANENTLY FIXED. GMC SAID SINCE NO DEATHS HAVE BEEN CAUSED AND IT WAS ONLY SOME CARS, THAT IS WAS NOT REALLY WORTH THEIR TIME TO HAVE THEM PERMANENTLY FIXED. NO ON TOP OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE WE MUST PAY TO HAVE A DEFAULT IN THE STEERING COLUMN FIXED ON A REGULAR BASIS AS LONG AS WE OWN THE VEHICLE. WHAT ABOUT INDIVIDUALS THAT CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FIXED ON A REGULAR BASIS AND IT CAUSES ACCIDENTS? PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT. *NM

AT ABOUT 5000 MILES ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA THE POWER STEERING LINE BLEW OUT. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT, AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, SLOWLY I MIGHT ADD. THE CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 12,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM NOTICING SOME NOISES IN THE STEERING. WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND GAS IS APPLIED, IT MAKES A WEIRD CLICKING SOUND. THIS NOISE ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT. I AM TRYING TO DELAY BRINGING THE CAR TO THE SHOP, BECAUSE OF THE INCONVENIENCE OF NOT HAVING MY CAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT CARS DO HAVE DEFECTS AND JUST THOUGHT I WOULD REPORT THIS IN CASE IT IS SOMETHING SERIOUS. I WOULD HATE TO HAVE MINE OR SOMEONE ELSE'S STEERING GO OUT DURING DRIVING AND SOMEONE GET HURT. I REALLY HOPE THIS IS NO BIG DEAL, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH LOOKING INTO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND MAY EVERYONE HAVE A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS LIFE. *JB