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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
- Frederick, MD, USA
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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.
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. This is after they charged me $200 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.
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.
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.
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.
The force required to turn the steering wheel was excessive. 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.
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. 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
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. 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.
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. The consumer stated he has lost the ability to carry things in his hands.
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.
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.
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.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fox Island, WA, USA