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CarComplaints.com Notes: Top complaints for the 2006 Chevy Impala include how the transmission slips, clunks and fails. Or how the power steering knocks and squeals. In other words, this car is a noisy bucket of eventual failure points.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
86,064 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Chevrolet Impala drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2006 Chevrolet Impala Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #38

Feb 142014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 127,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving on the highway at 60 mph when all of a sudden the message reduced engine power appeared and my speed dropped down to 30 mph. It was rush hour traffic and I panicked. I tried pressing the gas pedal all the way down but my speed would not increase. The car behind me almost plowed into the rear end of my car but luckily there was space in the lane to the right for that car to quickly move over to avoid hitting me. They honked and I maneuvered to the shoulder of the highway and put my car in park. I restarted my car about 10 minutes later and got off the next exit so I could take side streets home since I was frightened my car would again suddenly lose power. I drove to auto zone and had the code ran and it was for the throttle position sensor and throttle body. After researching online I came across the edmunds forum where hundreds of GM owners had the exact same problem ! GM needs to recall and replace these inferior throttle body parts but I guess until there are fatalities it will go ignored "?"

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #37

Apr 012013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 91,000 miles
At about 91000 miles my transmission started acting up (not shifting right, not going into any gear etc.) it finally would not shift at all unless I turned the car off multiple times and would then drive for about 2-5 minutes then all the gears would go out again. I had it towed to a transmission shop thinking it was just a censor and was told that my transmission would have to be replaced/repaired. It cost me almost $3000 to get it fixed. I have read on here and online that the 2006 Chevy Impala has had many issues with this. This is a very costly repair and wish there was a way to get at least a little refund on the cost. Also I have tried about everything to get the passenger side body side molding to stay on and people I have talked to state that they have had issues with that one staying on. It catches my door if I don't remember to push it in before opening the door. It is going to cost me $50.79 plus shipping to get a new one of these as well. The third thing I have wrong is I have had to replace both wheel bearings in the front end because of my ABS traction control sensor being messed up!

- Mineral Wells, WV, USA

problem #36

Apr 182014

Impala 8-cyl

  • 72,000 miles
Traffic light turned green, attempted to accelerate, no forward movement. The rpms would go up, but the car would not move in any gear including reverse. Called onstar and they informed me that the transmission had failed. This is a '06 Chevrolet Impala ss with 72,000 miles driven. I had to pay for a 3K transmission to replaced the failed one. I was informed after the failure that this is an extremely common problem with the Chevy LS4 engine and this transmission. GM is well aware of these transmission failures, but refuses to recall them.

- North Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #35

Jul 162013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2006 Impala revs really high for a few seconds and jerks into motion when I take off from a stop. It happens a couple times a week and has since I got it with around 70K miles. It sounds like a common occurrence and would like to know if there is a recall in order.. the dealer says they'd have to replicate what it's doing but I'd be out of pocket for a rental until/if they were able to replicate the problem before the warranty company decides "if" they'll cover it.

- Parkville, MO, USA

problem #34

Jan 202014

Impala

  • 107,000 miles
After leaving work I started up my car, then put the gear into drive. I could not turn the steering wheel. I had to use alot of force just to turn it. Ever since then I've been having problems with my steering.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

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problem #33

Nov 292013

Impala

  • 100,000 miles
Engine light came on, "reduced traction control" light came on, power was drastically reduced and then "reduced engine power" light came on. Car has a problem that needs to be addressed, but cutting off power and acceleration while I'm making a turn with oncoming traffic or driving 70+ mph is not a safe way of addressing that problem. I can turn off the car and regain power. Nearly any other way of addressing the code would be infinitely better than killing power while driving. It is not safe.

- North Liberty, IA, USA

problem #32

Nov 162013

Impala

  • 58,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I just got off the highway and attempted to go through an intersection, when I tried the transmission only revved up, the car did not pick up speed (very close to becoming an accident). After that the person behind me almost got hit by me because I was on a hill and my car wouldn't move.

- Pennsauken, NJ, USA

problem #31

Oct 102013

Impala

  • miles
Was driving in to work. Stopped at mcdonald's and noticed car smoking. Drove across the street to my job to my dash board lighting up warning me to shut the engine off because the car was overheating. I did exactly that (shut the car off) and went inside to call for help. This is the 3rd problem that I have had with this car and I have had the car almost 4 years. Like many other complaints, my heat doesn't work properly, I'm going through oil like crazy, and I seem to be having transmission issues as it hard to get the car out of park and into drive and when it does finally go, I get whiplash from the jerk. GM needs to step up before someone is severely hurt.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #30

Dec 172009

Impala 6-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
My 2006 Chevy Impala will not turn on. I replaced the battery and starter with the same results. Starter relay is also good. I have researched this problem on the web and to my horror, this is a common problem with this vehicle, with very high dollar possible solutions that may not work. Every time I bring in this vehicle I am charged 100 dollars for them to say what is wrong and when they (supposedly) fix it ( or say it did not do it with them and its all in my head and your doing something wrong to it), it does it again. The charging system is ok but there is no power at all thruout the car but if you wait a couple of hours it will show lights but it will not even crank and then go completely dead. This same problem has happened from every other customer who has had this problem and cost them plenty of money without a solution. I have researched youtube, yahoo answers, fixit, etc... and this is what all these other numerous customers are saying even when they went to the Chevy certified mechanics throuout the country. I do not have the resources to keep paying for diagnosis and numerous possible fixes that does not remedy the problem. Bringing the vehicle to a Chevy dealer for them to charge me an arm and a leg to not fix the problem ( and no they will not give you a refund for not fixing the problem that they charge a 100 dollars upfront to diagnose). This is not the only problem, the transmission slams into gear especially when you come from a start or after you back up and drive forward. This is not normal but Chevy will say it us. I take pride in keeping my car running so I know it is not from neglect or abuse this is simply an ongoing problem that these Chevy vehicles have because I M seeing this exact same problem on their other models throughout multiple year spectrum. This is ridiculous!!! all these consumers across the country are not wrong.

- Harker Heights, TX, USA

problem #29

May 012013

Impala 8-cyl

  • miles
2006 Chevrolet Impala. Consumer writes in regards to transmission problems. The consumer stated the transmission was slipping. She explained to the dealer, there was a recurring problem with the transmission. Each time, the consumer went to the dealer, she was informed they could not recreate the problem, and therefore no problem existed. Besides the transmission problem, there was a horrible ratcheting machine-gun type noise coming from behind the dash, when she changed the vent position. The loud noise lasted for about a minute and was almost ear-piercing. Also, the engine mount broke, the water pump, steering and tie rods failed, the engine burned excessive amount of oil, and the engine low oil light illuminated. The windows made a screeching sound, the sunroof would drag, the plastic headlight covered were fogged and faded. The tire pressure monitoring light was constantly on. On April 24, 2013. The consumer took the vehicle to an independent transmission shop to have them assess the same transmission slipping problem, she had been experiencing for seven years. They dropped the transmission pan, and they found fine metal, pieces of aluminum and clutch material in the pan.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #28

Jan 012011

Impala 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Purchased the 2006 Chevy Impala 3.9L with about 30,000 miles. At around 60,000 miles I started to notice the transmission slip, maybe happened once every 20 trips. At around 70,000 miles it started happening more frequently, once or twice a week. Had the car looked at by a mechanic and was told no issue was found. Now at 75,000 miles and it happens multiple times almost every trip I take with my car. It occurs after shifting from park into drive then pulling off or when pulling off from a red light or stop sign. Engine revs, car hesitates for 2-4 seconds then slips real hard into gear. I have read in numerous forums that GM tech say this is normal behavior for this transmission, and numerous people having their transmissions replaced only to have this issue recur. This issue almost resulted in crash once when entering a 40mph zone from a stop sign, as after stopping and taking my foot off the brake and applying the gas, the vehicle began rolling onto the 40mph zone and encountered a 6-7 second delay before slipping into gear and accelerating, causing the approaching vehicle to have to apply its brake abruptly to prevent a collision. At this point the slipping is becoming a real issue as I now have a toddler in my vehicle and do not want to risk any neck or other injuries due to the jerking of the vehicle when it slips into gear.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #27

Apr 162013

Impala 8-cyl

  • 85,600 miles
I had just started driving to work around 8:00 am. Got about 3 miles down the road and had got stopped at a traffic light. When the light turned green and I went to accelerate I felt a hard jerk from the vehicle as the RPM's went up and the vehicle went nowhere. After reading reviews and issues with these vehicles it looks like the transmission is starting to go. There needs to be a recall considering the fact that GM knows of the issue tsb# 07-07-30-012C.

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #26

Mar 082013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 111,400 miles
When stepping on the gas hard from a stop it takes time for something to catch then it jerks and goes, when speeding up when driving, it jerks real hard when it shifts. Bad transmission. Leaks oil, headlights come on in the middle of the night, drains the battery. This car is a P.O.S.

- Lorain, OH, USA

problem #25

Dec 012012

Impala

  • 125,000 miles
Seems like a chemical smell like exhaust is coming into the car. Makes you cough. You cant see any smoke. Wondering if the exhaust system has too much back pressure causing extra exhaust to come in the fresh air intake. The same effect on a rental 2012 Impala which has the same design, that car had only 16,000 miles. Seems worse when the outside air is on, not so much when the recirculation is on.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #24

Jan 232011

Impala

  • 47,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that he was unable to remove the key from the ignition. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the cause of the failure was a wire that connected to the shift solenoid. The manufacturer was notified but stated there were no recalls for the VIN. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 47,000 and the current mileage was 109,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #23

Nov 152010

Impala 8-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
In the fall of 2010, I took my 2006 Chevy Impala ss to a Chevy dealer for an oil change. While waiting for my vehicle, I was advised by the mechanic I should have the transmission flushed. I questioned him because there was only 60K miles on the car, also, had not noticed anything while driving that would indicate that being needed. I had the flush done anyway, and, since then, the transmission began slipping from a complete stop. It wasn't bad at first, only happened once in a great while. I took the car to the same shop that flushed the transmission to check on it, only to have them tell me there was no problem and they were unable to replicate the problem. I now have 80K miles on the car and the problem is getting worse, the slip happens almost every time I accelerate from a dead stop and I also feel torque shudder while at higher speeds. I have done research and this seems to be a common issue. I am driving the car but am very nervous doing so. I feel this can be a serious safety issue not knowing when the transmission will engage or disengage.

- Plymouth, WI, USA

problem #22

Jul 012010

Impala

  • miles
I have a 2006 Chevy Impala and there seems to be a problem with the transmission. We have taken the car to the dealers several times. We have changed the spark plugs, changed and flushed the transmission fluid. We are still having the car jerk off at a stop light. We you are stopped on an incline it also hesitates to go into gear and the jerks away! the dealer can never find a anything wrong and we have done all the recommended fixes. This seems to be getting worse. The gas cap and solenoid have also had to be replaced which everyone has had problems with. GM should recall these cars before someone gets hurt!

- Camden, NY, USA

problem #21

Jul 072012

Impala

  • 77,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving at all speeds, the cruise control activated and the vehicle decelerated. Various warning lights also illuminated randomly. In addition, the gear shifted into park, but the vehicle continued to drive. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that the vehicle might have been experiencing internal electrical failures. The dealer also stated that the failure might be due to the transmission, but there were no warning lights indicating such. The vehicle was not repaired and the dealer offered no assistance. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 77,000 and the current mileage was 79,000.

- Winter Heaven, FL, USA

problem #20

Jul 022012

Impala

  • 63,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that after exiting from a stop light, the vehicle lunged forward as though the transmission was slipping. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who stated there was a valve in the transmission that failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the issue who stated there were no recalls for the vehicle and offered no other assistance. The failure mileage was 63,000.

- Mansfield , OH, USA

problem #19

Feb 012012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
When I start from a stop the transmission does not fully engage for a few seconds. If I step on the gas, it rolls slowly forward, but once it catches it jerks forward really hard. I've know 2 others with this same issue, and the transmission shop says it's pretty common with these. Cheap part to replace (clutch gasket or something), but $1700 in labor. I'm ready for a recall...

- Sioux Falls, SD, USA

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