Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | ||||||||||||||||
| 08E063000 | DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC. | E (Equipment) | 3855 | 10/16/2008 | MFR | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 10/17/2008 | 10/20/2008 | ||||||||
| Defect Summary | Dorman products is recalling 3,900 intermediate steering shafts dorman part nos. 425-151, 425-152, and 425-153, (sold under dorman's oe solutions brand name), balkamp #'s 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (sold under the napa brand name), and platinum parts #'s 2425151, 2425152, and 2425153 manufactured during the month of september 2007. these replacement steering shafts can be used on the vehicles listed above. the weld connecting the inner tube to the outer tube may be defective. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | If the weld fails, loss of steering could result, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dorman will notify owners and replace the steering shafts free of charge. the recall began on october 16, 2008. owners may contact dorman toll free at 1-800-523-2492. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | This recall only pertains to dorman's oe solutions brand name, balkamp's napa brand, and the platinum brand steering shafts and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles manufactured by general motors corporation.customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov. | |||||||||||||||
| 09E005000 | DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC. | E (Equipment) | 979 | 02/23/2009 | MFR | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 02/17/2009 | 02/17/2009 | ||||||||
| Defect Summary | Dorman is recalling 979 steering knuckles, dorman p/nos. 697-902 and 697-903, sold under dorman's oe solutionstm brand name, and napa p/nos. 7-8502 and 7-8503 which were sold for replacement use on the various vehicles listed above. a potential material or design defect could result in the steering knuckle breaking in the hub area. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | A broken steering knuckle could result in loss of steering control and a possible crash without warning. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dorman will notify owners and replace the defective steering knuckles free of charge and reimburse the repair facility or owner for labor. the recall began on february 23, 2009. owners may contact dorman's toll-free hotline at 1-800-523-2492. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | This recall only pertains to aftermarket dorman steering knuckles and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles manufactured by general motors corporation.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov . | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||||
| 060232009 | 08/01/2007 | 060232009A | 10022924 | Overview of steering system noises. *nj | 10/05/2007 |
| 010232001F | 02/01/2006 | 10019516 | Clunk felt/noise heard from steering column, steering gear and/or front of vehicle during turning maneuver and/or steering wheel rotation. *tt | 03/21/2006 | |
| 040235004D | 11/01/2005 | 040235004C | 10008657 | Clunk noise from front of vehicle during turning maneuver/steering wheel rotation. *tt *nm | 08/13/2004 |
| 010232001C | 09/01/2003 | 010232001B | 10004280 | Some customers may comment on a clunk type noise coming from the front of the vehicle during a turning maneuver. *tt | 12/01/2003 |
| 010232001B | 07/01/2002 | 010203001A | 634803 | Some customers may comment on a clunk type noise coming from the front of the vehicle during a turning maneuver. *tt | 10/09/2002 |
| 051101 | 11/05/2001 | 628094 | Some vehicles may exhibit a clunk type noise especially felt in the steering wheel while turning. *tt | 03/05/2002 | |
| 01-02-32-001 | 04/01/2008 | 010232001O | 618086 | Concerns with clunk noise from front of vehicle turning maneuver / steering wheel rotation.*jb (lubricate or replace intermediate shaft as appropriate). updated 10/05/07. *nj updated 4/1/08. *nj updated 7/1/2008 *pe | 04/03/2001 |
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 030232049 | 11/01/2003 | 10004765 | Release of new outer tie rod ends for service. *tt | 01/06/2004 | |
| 180202 | 02/18/2002 | 629813 | Information on outer tie rod noise condition. *tt | 04/09/2002 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 11/01/2012 | 1 | ||
| I w also as driving into a shopping plaza and my steering wheel locked and my car steered across the entrance after a couple of minutes it started back up.i am so nervous because the steering wheel locked,also every now and then it just wont start up and then all of a sudden it will. the gas gauge doesn't work either so you cant judge the gas never received any recall notices i have a 2000 chevy impala. *tr | |||
| 11/01/2012 | |||
| I w also as driving into a shopping plaza and my steering wheel locked and my car steered across the entrance after a couple of minutes it started back up.i am so nervous beacuse the steering wheel locked,also every now and then it just wont start up and then all of a sudden it will.the gas gage doesnt work either so you cant judge the gas never received any recall notices i have a 2000 chevy impala | |||
| 07/14/2010 | |||
| This has been an on going problem with the power steering unit in the 2000 impala, but this is the latest; on july 14 ,2010 i took the 2000 impala into the dealership because it was leaking fluid. ask the service dept. manager to fix it. he then diagnosed the car as oil sensor switch leakage. and he could not make repairs because they did not have the part, but the diagnose cost was $75.00 , so i paid and drove off with a leaking 2000 chevy impala . later,i notice that the service manager wrote the service order up as the customer said the vehicle was leaking oil. not true, i said fluid. the leak got worse. i replaced the oil sensor but the leakage did not stop. therefore, i park the car for several months. one day i raised the hood, took a small flashlight and traced the leak to two sever lines. the hard rubber flap that is mounted to the car body to keep debris out of engine rubs against two frame mounted lines until it cut through both lines. fluids leaks out and caused the power steering unit tofail. this is a design defect, should have been recalled for safety reason. dealearship wants $135.00 to look at the car again, i took pictures. here is my partial complaint, can email pictures as well. | |||
| 08/28/2009 | 1 | ||
| My 2000 impalas pass lock system stops the car from starting for up to 45 minutes at a time. i try to start the car and it wont turn over or do anything. it happens every time i try to start the car. it leaves my family stranded when we try to go places. what were to happen if there were an emergency? i'd be stranded. also the steering clunks alot when i turn. *tr | |||
| 11/16/2007 | 85000 | 1 | |
| I am continuously having steering problems with my 2000 chevy impala. i had the rack and pinion replaced 11/07 when i lost control of my car and could not turn. i almost went of the road from this. i then had to have the steering lubed for some knocking noise and vibration. here it is 2 years later and i am having the same problem again. knocking noise and vibration in steering when i turn left. i only have 106,000 miles on this car. when is it you will hold the company liable for an issue they have known about all along? how many deaths will it take? *tr | |||
| 04/10/2009 | 45000 | 1 | |
| 2000 impala . less than 50,000 miles. rack and pinion needs replacing. checking with other owners appears this is a common problem. no help from dealership. appears gmc continued to use a known defective unit for years. will not fix under warranty. *tr | |||
| 11/15/2000 | 6000 | 1 | |
| My fingers developed curvatures and twisted knuckles. i developed lower back pain. shoulder pain. neck pain. carpal tunnel. sciatic pain. required physical therapy because i could not lift my arm above shoulder height. the stiff high effort steering was resulting in my body generating forces to overcome the resistance of the steering system which were resulting in shock loads to my skeletal system joints and bones. other drivers of the stiff steering chevrolet impala, saturn's, pontiac grand am, pick up trucks all experience the same deformities with hand/finger functional losses. *tr updated 05/27/10.*jb | |||
| 03/03/2007 | 125000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that the front end of her vehicle vibrates severely. the tie rod ends, rack, transmission mounts, tires, intermediate shaft, and both axles have been replaced, but the vibration still persists. on march 6, 2009, the contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic and paid $600 to have the vehicle repaired. the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. the manufacturer informed her to take the vehicle to another dealer for diagnostic testing, which would cost $88. the failure mileage was 125,000. | |||
| 08/02/2008 | 110000 | 1 | |
| The steering intermittently locks or is difficult to turn beyond a certain angle. it occurs most often when making a left turn. working the wheel back and forth usually loosens. several times i took it to mechanics, but they were unable to reproduce the problem. *tr | |||
| 07/02/2006 | 68345 | 2 | 10/13/2003 |
| Intermediate shaft sticks and makes clunking sounds while driving. tsb suggested lubrication kit, that fix was not successful. replaced shaft, new shaft has developed same problem. the design appears flawed and possibly dangerous to have a steering component binding. to my knowledge there is no permanent fix for this and a new intermediate shaft with the same design is not a permanent solution. *nm | |||
| 12/18/2006 | 85000 | 4 | 10/01/1999 |
| I am the original owner of a 2000 chevy impala with 85,000 miles. intermediate steering shaft fails every 20-25,000 miles. it has been replaced three times already, and is failing again. dealer admits it is a design flaw that affects all 2000-2005 design impala's. you know it is failing when you feel clunking and looseness in the steering at low speeds when cornering. i have talked with many other impala owners, and they have identical problems. costs $250 every time this part must be replaced. this is a significant safety concern when a critical steering component repeatedly fails. *jb | |||
| 08/25/2006 | 103000 | 1 | 08/01/2000 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while pulling out of the driveway on normal road conditions at 5 mph, the steering column locked and could not be pulled to turn. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who were currently examining the vehicle. no repairs were made. | |||
| 08/03/2006 | 67000 | 1 | 07/04/2006 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while turning at various speeds, the steering column made a grinding noise and the steering wheel shook. the dealership determined the steering shaft needed to be replaced. the consumer declined to have the steering shaft replaced. updated 08/25/06. *jb | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| Ltr re defective steering systems in numerous automobiles especially the 2000 chevrolet impala causes carpal tunnel, hands and finger deformalties. *ts | |||
| 05/12/2005 | 55000 | 11/27/1999 | |
| 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 | |||
| 05/01/2004 | 1 | 03/01/2003 | |
| I started hearing a clunking in the front end. i can also feel jerking in steering. it is especially dominant when i am going slower and using brakes, i seem to be able to feel and hear it better when slightly turning to the right. i can also be stopped and just taking off to make a turn and can hear the clunking. i am scared that something is going to fall off someday and i will have no steering. had it look at and mechanic thought it was a broken tie rod end he found on right side, that was repaired 2/7/05.. but clunking and jerkiness is still there. *jb | |||
| 11/19/2004 | 11000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 12/05/2002 | 30000 | 2 | |
| Ltr re defective steering system in numerous automobiles especially the 2000 chevy impala which caused hand and finger deformalties to the consumer. *ts *jb the consumer purchased a 2000 vehicle and stated that he watched his fingers become bent and twisted as a result of steering. the consumer stated that side view mirror height obstructs the view of the on-coming traffic. *tc *sc | |||
| 04/01/2002 | 1 | ||
| Steering wheel and front wheel drive effort. the consumer has had and on going problem with the steering of the vehicle. meetings with the representatives of gm has already taken place, but the steering system has not been repaired. the consumer was discouraged and wants further investigations. *cb the consumer had severe pains in his and fingers and hands from trying to steer the vehicle. *jb | |||
| 05/27/2004 | 34560 | 2 | 11/07/2002 |
| 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 | |||
| 03/15/2003 | 24243 | ||
| A/c emits foul odors (mold/mildew). brakes pulsate, warning & abs lights come on. check engine lights come on, stalled once, uncontrolled acceleration from start up twice. steering: intermediate shaft replaced at 42,618 miles; rack & pinion leaking at 65,307 popping & muffled explosion sound in cold weather start ups, paint peeled off front & bumper of car. weather stripping adhesive liquifies on door posts in hot weather. airbag warning light comes on | |||
| 28000 | 1 | 11/01/2000 | |
| While driving at 15 to 20 mph vehicle intermittently stalled. *ak consumer took the vehicle to the dealer but they can't locate the source of the problem. in addition, knocking and jerking in steering wheel when turning, and it was found that intermediate shaft created noise. intermediate shaft was replaced under warranty. *la | |||
| 12/20/2003 | 30000 | 2 | 05/16/2000 |
| 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 | |||
| 09/10/2001 | 33768 | 3 | 04/15/2001 |
| 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 | |||
| 11/19/2003 | 2 | 06/01/2000 | |
| 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 | |||
| 10/03/2003 | |||
| In march 2001 the dealer replaced on rack and pinion. in december 2001 the dealer replaced the steering gear shaft. in july 2002 the dealer lubricated the steering shaft but the noise is still present. *nlm | |||
| 04/30/2003 | 72085 | 02/23/2003 | |
| Power steering rack, pump, gear and shaft replaced at 72,000 miles. there are no power steering and no leaks just too new of a car to have to replace all that. *la | |||
| 09/13/2003 | 38000 | 1 | 06/28/2000 |
| 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. | |||
| 09/22/2003 | 59773 | 2 | 10/05/1999 |
| 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 | |||
| 07/06/2003 | 30 | 09/14/1999 | |
| My 2000 impala has a severe clunking when i make both left and right hand turns. took it to dee's chevrolet in biloxi, ms and had no success in getting my problems corrected. they said they had to duplicate the problem so they didn't fix it. complaint number two, is the heater and air conditioning controls get very, very hot when taking short to long road trips. it has gotten so bad the ac will not work properly all the time. it will have to cool down, then it will work. and they still wouldn't fix it. again,they wanted to duplicate the problem to fix it. you just can't drive it around town to make it happen. *jb | |||
| 07/22/2003 | 60000 | 0 | 06/10/2000 |
| While driving at highway speeds, get a jerking vibration in streering wheel. ginn motors im covington ga. states that it is not the rack-n-pinion, but that it is the steering collum and that it would need to be broken down and grease added (cost 170.00. this is after they charged me 200.00 just to give estimate. when car had 26000 miles john miles chevy replaced the rack-n-pionion when it was doing the same thing and that cleared it up until now at 60000 miles. now the traction off and the brake worning lights are coming on with this vibration. blinkers will be working fine, then they will just quit. when this happens both dirrections will not work. 30 minutes latter they work fine. problem will not stay long enough to find source. air bag light comes on and off just like the turn sigals. since when do dealerships charge a minimum of 200 dollars for an estimate. they also did not repair recall of coolant leak. they said they do not have the part. gave no idea when they could get part. | |||
| 09/20/2001 | 34607 | 03/10/2000 | |
| Clunk noise from front of vehicle during turning maneuvers-can now feel a vibration in steering while driving-the dealer has not been able to correct this problem satisfactorily. *nlm | |||
| 05/12/2003 | 29935 | 1 | 01/28/2003 |
| Youmans chevrolet installed intermediate steering shaft at cost of $277 and now there are more noises in front end when car is stopped or started. dealer says he has done all he can do, but problem worse than before. *jb | |||
| 05/09/2003 | 1 | 11/09/2002 | |
| Clunking sound in steering and rack and pinion. took car to century chevrolet in watsonville ca and they said nothing was wrong with it. took to anderson chevrolet in cupertino in ca and they replaced rack and pinion. this did not correct the problem of clunking sounds over bumps and while turning at low speeds. at high speeds car wanders. i have two children and i am afraid that i am going to lose steering like others including police cars have. now century chevrolet says they want to lube the intermediate steering shaft, but nhtsa complaints indicate this has not worked for their same exact car with the same exact problem. i have an extended warranty and i want my car fixed before it runs out and i am tired of getting the run around in the mean time. i want the intermediate steering shaft replaced because i feel this is a real safety hazard. *jb | |||
| 04/01/2003 | 1 | ||
| The force required to turn the steering wheel was excessive. *mr *ts *nlm while driving, as result of high effort steering it caused the driver to exert more force in steering the vehicle, than the body was capable of withstanding. chevrolet has not fixed problem as of yet. further investigations are occurring. *cb *jb | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 9 | ||
| The lights on the dash board were too bright, which blinded the consumer when driving at night. also the engine light illuminated. the consumer stated the steering system on the vehicle required high effort to turn the steering wheel when cornering, vehicle course corrections, and holding the steering wheel in one position, which caused injuries. *dt *jb the rear side view mirrors, block the consumer's view of the oncoming lane and felt that the sensor should be at eye level, the a/c ports on the dash blow on the operator's fingers and or shoulders and caused serious distractions, the horn is hard to find (specifically for the elderly), there was a wind noise in the back doors, a rattle in the front strut, and a rumbling noise had come from the heater blower. scc *cb | |||
| 03/20/2003 | 45000 | 1 | 05/23/2001 |
| Inadequate lubrication of lower steering shaft of 2000 chevrolet impala, a steering joint can only be lubricated by a gm kit - parts and labor 125.00. this has to be an engineering flaw since the usual lube job at the usual lube shop would never know this joint would need lubrication, nor have a kit on hand. *jb | |||
| 11 | 05/01/2000 | ||
| The cradle bar and intake manifold cracked, the fuel regulator and water pump leaked, and the shaft continuously needed lubrication. scc *jb | |||
| Consumer stated that when turning the steering wheel the vehicle would still go forward and cause a distraction to the consumer. dealer notified. ts | |||
| 08/01/2001 | 1 | 03/09/2000 | |
| Consumer states there is high effort to turn the steering wheel and hold the vehicle on the road causing pain in the joints of the hands, wists, elbows and shoulders socket resulting crippling of fingers and arms. he further states in addition to the heavy steering effort is the lack of indentations on the backside of the steering wheels. gm not willing to do anything. *tt the consumer stated he has lost the ability to carry things in his hands. *jb | |||
| 01/01/2002 | 1 | 07/01/2000 | |
| When making turns in either direction, there was a loud popping sound. dealer modified steering gear shaft pinion by installing a larger pin. then, replaced gear steering shaft pinion, problem still exists. *ak *yh | |||
| 1 | 03/02/2000 | ||
| While driving, the power steering was hard to turn due to a design flaw. consumer stated that the steering system appears to have a major crippling effect on drivers hands. *yh | |||
| 12/01/1999 | 53 | 08/13/1999 | |
| Electrical failure, steering rack and pinion failure, lower ball joint/lower control arm/lower ball joints/long shaft sleeve failure | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||
| 11/28/2007 | 75000 | 5 | 05/29/2000 |
| Car went out of control after driver put the car into gear to move it from a parked, idling position, after noticing a burning like odor. it was noted by the driver at that time that the temperature gauge was in the red zone. when the driver attempted to move the car to a safer parking area only a few feet in distance, she heard a sharp snapping sound and also felt a vibration in the steering wheel/column area. the car suddenly lurched forward, the head lights and dash lighting went completely out as the car began accelerating out of control. in addition, there was no steering or brake control. no work has been done yet to correct these problems because an insurance company is involved. *tr | |||
| 03/03/2006 | 8500 | 1 | 02/24/2006 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while driving 60 mph while applying brake pressure the steering column made a grinding noise. the vehicle was taken to the dealership for inspection. they determined the steering column needed to be lubricated or replaced however no repairs were made. the manufacturer was not alerted. | |||
| 07/21/2003 | 1 | 10/05/2001 | |
| 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 | |||
| 09/16/2003 | 33121 | 02/22/2000 | |
| Clunk noise from front of vehicle during driving, also can feel it in steering wheel. dealer fixed it in sept 2003, said there was a service bulletin,but would just grease the steering wheel first to see if it will fix it. it did but now it is back, and of course not in warranty. *nm | |||
| 11/13/2004 | 11/11/2003 | ||
| Intermediate steering shaft knocking on applying the brakes, accelerating and making a turn. | |||
| 01/02/2004 | 1 | 05/04/2000 | |
| There is a clunking sound in the steering system when turning. i can feel some vibration in the steering wheel.*ak | |||
| 08/25/2002 | 30000 | 2 | 05/29/2000 |
| 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 | |||
| 08/22/2003 | 43524 | 1 | 08/22/2003 |
| I have a 2000 impala vin# 2g1wf52e7y9204139. i have been hearing a noise from the steering column and everytime i push the gas the steering wheel turns to the left. it is not my alignment because i had gotten it realigned and i can feel it when i brake as well. it is hard to turn the steering wheel because of this problem. also my low tire pressure light will not go off even when it is programmed to go off manually it still stays on. i was told i need a new ebcsm. i just bought this car and am still paying on it. i heard others with the same model and yr have the same troubles with the steering. *jb | |||
| 01/10/2003 | 3 | ||
| 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 | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN LOCKING - ANTI-THEFT DEVICE | |||
| 11/19/2004 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| STEERING - ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 12/02/2005 | 2 | 10/02/2002 | |
| Ever since i bought my car i have had problems with my whole power steering and suspension system. i have spent over $2000 dollars over the past two years fixing parts that relate to anything from the wheel bearing, rack & pinion, ball joints and now looks like my power steering is ready to go out. basically everything major on the front has failed. my warranty wouldn't cover because they said it's normal wear and tear. i feel it's a defect because it seems like the same things keep failing over and over. i really depend on my car to get to work and feel this is a matter that needs to be looked at a little more closer and taken seriously because from what i see, a lot of 2000 chevy impala owners have complained about the same thing. this leads me to believe that this is a problem that the dealers or the manufacturer should take care of and look a possible reimbursement for many customers that have had the same problems, thanks.*jb | |||
| STEERING - GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | |||
| 01/03/2005 | 1 | ||
| The steering wheel locks up when the vehicle is making turns which increases the risk of a crash. taken to dealer for check up, and results showed that a gear in the steering box needed to be replaced.*ak. the power steering stops working during turns. sometimes it didn't work at all, other times, it worked when starting a turn the stopped part way through the turn. a small person would have a problem turning the vehicle. took vehicle to used car dealer, and mechanic advised him that a gear in the steering box went bad, and put a new steering box in. *ak | |||
| STEERING - GEAR BOX - SHAFT PITMAN | |||
| 01/16/2000 | 4 | 11/01/1999 | |
| On jan.16 i was driving on interstate 95 when driver's seat cushion came out of adjustment. i was in the fast lane and lost control of the car several times before getting it to the shoulder of the road. 2nd incident on jan. 18. 3rd incident on jan 24. returned the car to bob bel for repairs. 4th incident on feb 2nd. car was towed to jp chevrolet in aberdeen. the way the car was repaired violates all safety standards! i have been hospitalized because of injuries suffered. i am now being treated for whiplash, severe vertigo, hearing and visual impairement and balance problems. the car is still not fixed according to national safety standards. bailing wire has been used by jp chevrolet to correct the problem. please help us if you can!! *ak | |||
| STEERING - GEAR BOX - SHAFT SECTOR | |||
| 03/01/2004 | 115000 | 3 | 06/19/2000 |
| Dt*: the contact stated when turning the steering wheel there was a clanking noise. the vehicle was taken to the dealership in march 2004, where the rear stabilizer link and front lower control arm bushings were replaced and lubricant was applied to the steering shaft. after the repairs the noise did not completely cease, and the vehicle is currently at the dealership. the dealership has determined the steering shaft needs to be replaced. *ak updated 2/13/2006 - *nm | |||
| 03/26/2005 | 74000 | 2 | 03/01/2000 |
| 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 | |||
| 02/07/2005 | 10000 | 1 | 04/01/2000 |
| 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 | |||
| 01/18/2005 | 32000 | 2 | 02/07/2000 |
| 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 | |||
| 12/15/2004 | 70000 | 1 | 10/15/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 07/09/2003 | 3 | 05/24/2000 | |
| After several months of operation a clunking or rattle sound began to be heard in the front end of the car. you could feel it as a vibration in the steering wheel. i took the car to munday chevrolet 17800 i-45 north houston, texas, 77090. they said there was a chevrolet/impala bulletin for this problem and it would be fixed. several months later on 04/14/03 i returned to the same location to complain that the problem had not been resolved. they packed it with 8.8 pounds of lubricant and said that would fix the problem for a couple years. three months later the problem is again happening. i can't conceive that an obvious defect in which the intermediate shaft rattles and is felt in the steering wheel is acceptible. there is an obvious unresollved problem that i feel could be dangerous in possibly lock up the steering. *ak | |||
| 01/11/2002 | 1 | 02/01/2001 | |
| Intermediate shaft is popping at all speeds. i don't want them to just grease it, i want them to replace it. i also want it to be under warranty. they won't cover it because it is just a lube job. it is not just a normal lube. it has to be remove then disassembled then greased and reassembled.*ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| The steering column was clunking at low speeds whenever a turn was initiated. at highway speeds the vehicle had a tendency to wander. bill heard chevrolet in buford georgia diagnosed the problem as an intermediate steering shaft. at the time they indicated that there they were seeing a significant number of failures of this component. on january 8 the vehicle was brought in to be repaired. upon picking up the vehicle the service advisor indicated that the part was not replaced, it was lubricated. i questioned that and was informed that this was in accordace with a chevy service bulletin. i feel that the part should be replaced and that failure to do so represents a safety hazard.*ak | |||
| 08/30/2000 | 1 | 02/01/2000 | |
| The intermediate steering shaft assembly appears to be defective on a number of 2000 model year impalas. no tsb or recall from gm as of yet. aluminum engine cradle still a big safety concern in these vehicles.*ak | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | |||
| 02/13/2010 | 67000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns 2000 chevy impala ls. while driving 35 mph her steering wheel locked. the contact had to pull the steering wheel really hard and in order to gain control of it. the vehicle was taken to an independent dealer. the dealer then inspected the vehicle and stated that the vehicle needed a power steering pump and that there was an internal leak in the power steering hose. the contact had to rent a vehicle for four days while the dealer fixed the problem. the contact stated that there wasn't any noise when the failure occurred. the contact did not report this to the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 67,000 and the current mileage was 67,082. updated 03/30/10. *lj | |||
| 12/08/2005 | 54850 | 1 | 09/03/1999 |
| Dt: the consumer stated while stopping at a red light a strange odor entered the vehicle followed by a loss of power steering. he managed to drive the vehicle to the dealer, where the dealer determined that vehicle was leaking power steering fluid. the dealer replaced the power steering fluid hose at the consumer expense. *ak the consumer was told the serpentine needed to be replaced. there was damage to the suspension. updated 01/11/06. *jb | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | |||
| 02/13/2010 | 67000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns 2000 chevy impala ls. while driving 35 mph her steering wheel locked. the contact had to pull the steering wheel really hard and in order to gain control of it. the vehicle was taken to an independent dealer. the dealer then inspected the vehicle and stated that the vehicle needed a power steering pump and that there was an internal leak in the power steering hose. the contact had to rent a vehicle for four days while the dealer fixed the problem. the contact stated that there wasn't any noise when the failure occurred. the contact did not report this to the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 67,000 and the current mileage was 67,082. updated 03/30/10. *lj | |||
| 02/15/2004 | 40500 | 2 | 03/20/2000 |
| Transmission failure and power steering pump failure.*ak | |||
| 02/14/2004 | 54807 | 1 | 09/01/1999 |
| While driving power steering pump failed, causing steering fluid to leak. consumer had no power assist. *ak dealer replaced power steering pump. *la | |||
| 04/14/2003 | 0 | 07/31/2000 | |
| Stress crack in the sub-frame from the power steering pump. *nlm | |||
| 09/04/1999 | |||
| The consumer was parking vehicle, smelled smoke and noticed engine was on fire. front harness wires overheated. consumer lost power steering, and when the consumer went to move the vehicle, there was some type of fluid on the ground under. fire department came out and put out the fire.*ak | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 11/11/2004 | 35000 | 4 | |
| 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. | |||
| 08/04/2004 | 3 | ||
| Dealership on 08/13/2001 replaced the cradle. vehicle was under warranty in november 2001, and dealer replaced shaft. cradle failed 2 years later, and needed to be replaced again, also, had a steering problem.*ak | |||
| 05/22/2003 | 47000 | 1 | 05/01/2000 |
| 2000 chev impala police int 9c1officer swerved in intersection to avoid vehicle. officer struck utility pole center of front bumper. 40-50 mph. vehicle totaled. air bag did not deploy.*ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| The power steering failed.*jb | |||
| 05/06/2000 | 1000 | 03/01/2000 | |
| The stiff/tight steering on my impala is causing my hands, wrist, elbow, shoulders and back to become very painful fingers. my fingers are bent and twisted to fit to the contour of the steering wheel. with this tight steering the texture on the wheel wears off and the operator has to grasp the wheel harder to turn the wheel. have to use two hands and grip wheel hard to turn it. go to web site http://photos.yahoo.com/miketomich for views of other people with bent fingers from same problem. police officers are experiencing the same bending and twisting. this bending and twisting results in arthritis. the police also complain about the wheel being too smooth to hold the wheel (saginaw county sheriff dept). also bay county sheriff deptartment deputies are complaining about back pain. reason they have the back pain is because the torque they have to expert on this stiff steering (which is much more then in the past) to turn the steering wheel goes directly to the small of their back in their hips, because the hips are secured to the seat by the seat belt. the seats are vinyl, and the excessive torque transmit to the secured part of the body (thus being the back/hip area). the steering wheel torque required to turn the wheel goes from a state of the muscles being relaxed to and immediate tauntness which results in a shock load to the joints in the bones. when making a turn, the torques requirement doesn't ease up, it becomes harder to hold the steering wheel in a turn thus more torque is required. to make a turn requires only 90% turn of the wheel. this limited use provides a break down of the fluids in the socket. any minor steering adjustments while driving straight down the road require the muscles to snap to attention to make the adjustment...thus the shock loading of the joints and muscles. while driving my impala, i made 68 steering adjustments in a one mile of level road, which meant i flexed all the required muscles to attention 68. dt | |||
| 01/18/2002 | 3 | ||
| There is a clicking sound coming from steering wheel when consumer is turning left or right. contacted dealer, and after three tries dealer could not find the cause. *ak dealer has replaced the steering shaft assembly and the steering gear. steering wheel shakes when brakes are applied. cruise control was inoperable. | |||
| 10/01/2000 | 2 | ||
| Police vehicle: in pursuit of another vehicle at 40mph. both driver& passenger was properly belted. crossed railroad tracks which were raised, dugged up & paved over. driver lost control & went into a ditch, front end first. vehicle proceeded to roll end to end first & then corner to corner three (3) times. passenger in the front was ejected through door which had came open. seat belt buckle mechanism had released the belt. driver remained belted in vehicle. passenger sustained a torn ankle/ left knee/sprained shoulder & superficial cuts & bruises. driver sustained superficial cuts & bruises. *ak | |||
| 03/22/2000 | |||
| Driver lost control of vehicle at 40 mph and ran into telephone post head-on. upon impact, dual airbags did not deploy, causing bruises. seatbelts were worn at the time. no prior warning of defect. *ak | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES | |||
| 01/13/2006 | 113381 | 1 | 10/20/1999 |
| 1. child climbed into front seat and pulled gear shift from park into neutral. 2. the gear shift lock malfunctioned or broke, and as a result the car rolled into the street and over the neighbor's mailbox. 3. contacting the dealership to get it fixed. *nm | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | |||
| 05/30/2003 | 2 | 07/27/2000 | |
| 2000 impala ls had alignment done @35,000 miles. noticed uneven wear on left front tire ~43,000 miles. took back to dealer, they said to replace tires and they would realign it. replaced tires ~ 47,000 miles, took back in and turned out the left front tie rod was bad they can't align it. tires has about 1/2 of play in it, recommended not to be driven until fixed.*ak | |||
| 1 | 03/01/2000 | ||
| Had right front tie rods (inner and end) replaced. *jg | |||
| 05/12/2000 | 1 | 03/18/2000 | |
| Possible defective tie rod failure caused rubbing sound in the steering column dealer fixed the steering unit and the steel frame still did not correct the problem. yh | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION | |||
| 11/05/2007 | 147900 | 5 | 08/12/2002 |
| On thursday 01 nov 07 and monday 05 nov 07 my wife was making a left turn off a busy highway where we live. when she tried to turn the steering wheel left it locked or wouldn't move placing her in a dangerous situation of possibly being hit by on-coming traffic. i confirmed the steering wheeling locking when turning left only when i got home by driving the car and having it lock on me one time in a parking lot. i have seen a web site called www.direct.ca/trinity/gm-steering-probem.htm which has recorded over 250 u. s. complaints. it mentions police chevrolet impala steering can lock-up while driving at any speed and accidents have occurred. my power steering fluid is at correct level and car has higher mileage at around 148,000. we are putting a re-manufactured steering rack an pinion in this week to try and solve this problem as recommended by web letter. *tr | |||
| 03/28/2005 | 77000 | 1 | 02/15/2005 |
| 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 | |||
| 09/09/2003 | 43372 | 08/29/2000 | |
| 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. | |||
| 01/01/2005 | 3 | 07/28/2003 | |
| The rack and pinion steering assembly failure. rack and pinion leaked and has been serviced and still has problems. *bf the low tire pressure light had come on and there was a rattling noise coming from the right front wheel while the vehicle was in motion. *sc *jb | |||
| 09/09/2003 | 36000 | 2 | 07/25/2001 |
| 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 | |||
| 07/04/2003 | 25000 | 0 | 11/07/2002 |
| Clunking & popping sound in steering (intermediate steering shaft) and rack and pinion. took car to chevrolet dealership and they said nothing was wrong. problem still exists so i'm taking this vehicle back. spoke to service dept. and stated another mechanic suggested it was the steering shaft. they are supposed to check the car again monday. my concern is that others may have the same problem because i see numerous entries on the website (www.impalahq.com). should this be an item of concern to gm since it causes you to loose steering control. at high speeds car wanders. at low speeds, feel every bump through steering wheel. i have two children and i am afraid that i am going to lose steering like others including police cars have. chevrolet says they want to lube the intermediate steering shaft first, but complaints indicate this has not worked for their same exact car with the same exact problem. i want the intermediate steering shaft replaced because i feel this is a real safety hazard. some state they are on the third shaft and still no help with the steering. impala 2000. *ph | |||
| 04/21/2003 | |||
| When the vehicle made a left or right turn the rack and pinion made a rattling noise. the dealer was notified and stated that nothing could be done. *nlm | |||
| 01/25/2003 | 44200 | 0 | 05/27/1999 |
| Power steering rack - the power steering failed while driving. dealer found out that the power steering rack need to be replaced. the car was just out of warranty. it is too immature for this component to fail at this age of the car. | |||
| 09/04/2002 | 05/01/2001 | ||
| The car was not welded correctly. a piece that connects the rack and pinion to the frame became disconnected and the car will not turn it will only drive straight. i almost got hit by a semi truck trying to get on the highway. gm corporation refuses to fix the car because it is out of warranty despite the fact that this is something that should have never happened for the life of the car. mr | |||
| 03/24/2001 | |||
| We contacted the dealer about these problems,just got ignored. no safety defect listed in summary.*ak | |||
| 01/01/2000 | |||
| Tom hesser chevrolet kept telling me there was nothing wrong with this car. i contacted chev customer assist center & told them i wanted this car checked out at another chev delaership in my area. they set me up with sylvester chevrolet in peckville pa. sylvester chevrolet found the problems on this vehicle and did work to correct them. no safety defect listed. *ak | |||
| 08/09/2001 | |||
| Vehicle experiencing noise in steering wheel. dealer replaced rack and pinion,/cam and toe, and front suspension. but problem still occurring. dealer notified. feel free to provide any further details on this matter.*ak | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION - PINION SHAFT | |||
| 01/10/2004 | 44000 | 1 | 12/22/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION - RACK | |||
| 07/05/2006 | 86000 | 1 | 08/15/2000 |
| Dt*: the contact stated that the vehicle veered extremely to the right during right lane change. when vehicle was immediately pulled over, the front driver's side tire was observed to be loose and wobbly. the vehicle was inspected by a certified independent mechanic who determined that the powersteering rack weld broke from the frame and needed to be replaced. the dealer was alerted but refused to repair the defect under warrenty. the incident occurred at 50 mph on the highway during dry road conditions.*ak 08/02/06 updated. *tt | |||
| 12/02/2003 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||
| 05/16/2005 | |||
| Clunking noise in steering wheel | |||
| There is a clunk in the steering column which the dealer can not guaranty that they can fix but is normal on this line of gm cars. my concern is that this may develop into a failure as on other gm cars.*ak | |||
| 03/12/2001 | 6 | 01/01/2000 | |
| Gm not interested in satifying customers. offered $3500 for my trouble(20 days in shop) & must keep defective car that can't be fixed. no safety defect listed. *ak | |||
| 03/26/2002 | |||
| Rolling backwards at a stop.shaking/shimmying of steering wheel--had to replace rotors/brakes at my own expense because warranty expires at 36,000.i also had to replace the module because it was malfunctioning,the pistons/rings and the abs system was also malfunctioning--still at my own expense.now,i'm having problems with my steering and front end making clunking noises.i bought the car with 17,500 or so on it,and now 24,000 miles or so later i'm spending a fortune on the upkeep of an apparent lemon.sure wish chevy would do somethin about it instead of giving us the run-around. nlm | |||
| While driving and without warning column shaft upper went out, resulting in loud noises in front end of car. *ak | |||
| 06/06/2001 | |||
| Front of vehicle was rattling when making turns at slow speed. dealer replaced engine cradle. in august of 2001 rattling returned. dealer replaced steering upper shaft.*ak | |||
| 08/24/2000 | 5 | 06/01/2000 | |
| I have got the third steering column, third set of tires and a new cradle. the problem started at 4437 miles and has continued yet @ 37204 miles. have been to many dealers, contacted gm and now have a better business bureau complaint filed. the dealers told me it was the tires and the tire dealers told me it was the car. in 4000 miles my tires went from 9/32 to 3/32 wear. the klunk in the front end is still there. the vehicle likes to wander down the road with vibrations felt in the steering wheel. the service manager took it on many test drives and contacted the regional manager=who said not another dime in this car. i was escorted to the sales department and introduced to a salesman for purposes of trading the vehicle in. the offer was less than nada trade value. i have contacted gm's assistance line many times and just got the run around with operators documenting conversation and no one would let me talk to a real supervisor. all i wanted to do was ask for a fair solution to the problems that the dealers and gm know that they have. my vehicle is now out of warranty with the same problems since i bought it. why = if gm states in their literature = they are committed to customer satisfaction = not responsive in a fair manner and i had to take this issue to all of these extremes????????????? also at issue = is the fact that gm penalizes dealers (with bad customer surveys) due to the manufacturers engineering problems. what happened to telling the truth and customer satisfaction in business????????? (tiresize: p225/60r16) | |||
| 08/23/2001 | 10 | 05/01/2000 | |
| At approximately 1815 23 august 2001, her grandson entered the left passenger seat, climbed into the front seat over the console slipped against the shifting lever (on the steering column) with his right elbow. the car started moving. he tried to stop the car by pushing on the middle pedal. he stated he couldn't stop the car and that it hit a tree on the right fender, bounced over and into the ditch, and kept going into another ditch. the second ditch (the adjacent yards of the three properties involved were downhill slopes.), the left wheels hit a slight embankment, turning the car to the left, slowing the vehicle some. a neighbor moving his lawn was persuing the car, and stated he instructed the boy to unlock the doors, while still in motion and when the boy complied, opened the door and applied the brakes. the car hit a cedar post and bird feeder before being stopped.there were no keys in the car. the nieghbor stated he tried to turn the steering wheel to lock the wheels but it didn't lock. the boy later complained of a headache and was taken to the emergency room and treated for a mild closed head injury. the police were notified, and were advised to notify/dealer/manufacturer. no police report was made out as it all was on private property. we tested the shifting column, and without depressing the brakes, or putting the key in the ignition, i could very easily move the shift level to all gears. after reporting the incident to svc manager mont.chev. eddie mills 1130 24 august 01, he advised me to call 1-800-222-1020. | |||
| 01/02/2000 | 0 | ||
| While driving at any mph could step on brakes and steering wheel will feel like coming out of consumer's hands. dealer had been contacted.*ak | |||
| 07/30/2001 | 1 | 03/01/2000 | |
| The steering wheel design puts off center pressure on the joints of the fingers, causing seriously twisted/distored joints and bones in fingers, which aren't apparent on extended fingers. please call, this is a sleeper. *ak | |||