2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER TO THE POINT THAT HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,000.

SHIFTER CANNOT BE MOVED FROM PARK POSITION (REPAIR/REROUTE BRAKE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK (BTSI) SOLENOID HARNESS) MODELS: 2007-2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA SUPERCEDE:THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO END THE NEED FOR INFORMATION FROM THE FIELD AND PROVIDE REPAIR INFORMATION. PLEASE DISCARD CORPORATE BULLETIN NUMBER 08-07-30-007A (SECTION 07 - TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLE). CONDITION SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: - THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. - THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR (SHIFTER) CANNOT BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. CAUSE THIS CONDITION MAY BE CAUSED BY AN INCORRECTLY ROUTED BRAKE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK (BTSI) SOLENOID HARNESS WHICH CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO INSTALL. IN SOME INSTANCES, THE WIRING LOOMS ARE TANGLED, CAUSING STRESS ON THE WIRES IN THE CONNECTOR AT THE BTSI. IF THE BTSI HARNESS IS ROUTED INCORRECTLY, IT MAY ALSO RESULT IN A WIRE PINCHING ISSUE. CORRECTION IMPORTANT DO NOT USE FORCE TO MOVE THE GEAR SELECTOR (SHIFTER). USING FORCE MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE BTSI. INSPECTION/ROUTING AND REPAIR OF THE BTSI WIRING HARNESS/CONNECTOR 1. CHECK FOR WIRE DAMAGE AT THE BTSI CONNECTOR TERMINAL ENDS. REFER TO SI FOR REPAIR PROCEDURES. 2. FOR VERY INTERMITTENT ISSUES, CHECK THE BTSI WIRE HARNESS INDIVIDUAL CIRCUITS FOR BROKEN OR CRIMPED WIRES. REFER TO SI FOR REPAIR PROCEDURES. 3. INSPECT THE ROUTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO THE BTSI CONNECTOR. THE ILLUSTRATIONS ABOVE SHOW THE BTSI HARNESS ROUTED INCORRECTLY. 4. REROUTE THE WIRING TO CREATE AVAILABLE SLACK AND AVOID FUTURE OCCURRENCES. *TR

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN CARTER ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE ISSUE OF GM'S LIABILITY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS ON CARS THEY MANUFACTURED *TGW AS A RESULT OF A DESIGN FLAW AND DEFECTIVE PARTS, THE TRI-COILED REAR SPRINGS, TRAILING ARMS AND SPINDLE RODS ARE CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF REAR TIRES. GM RECALLED VEHICLES USED IN POLICE WORK; BUT NOT THE GENERAL PUBLIC. GM SAYS THEY ARE NOT LIABLE, BECAUSE ITS 2009 BANKRUPTCY AND SUBSEQUENT REORGANIZATION SHIELDS THEM FROM LIABILITY OVER THE ALLEGED DESIGN FLAWS. *TR UPDATED 04/010/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER OUT OF LANE THAT THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING IN WITHOUT INTENT. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUR TIMES REGARDING THE DEFECT. THE REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED TWICE AND THE REAR BRAKES WERE ALSO REPLACED TWICE. THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER PERTAINING TO THE REAR SPIN ROD ON THE 2007-2008 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES AND THE 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA POLICE CRUISERS. THE CONTACT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS FAULTY ON MY 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA LTZ. IT CURRENTLY HAS 85176 MILES AS IT IS IN A SHOP. THIS IS THE 10TH TIME ME OR ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES: 2009 PONTIAC G6 SPORT 2 (MINE) 37,900 MILES, AND WAS BOUGHT NEW. 2008 PONTIAC G6 SPORT 2 (ROOM-MATES) CAR WAS PURCHASED USED AND HAS 50,076 MILES ON IT. 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT (ROOM-MATES MOMS) 60,000 MILES THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN, IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. THIS IS ONLY ONE OF MANY ISSUES WE HAVE HAD WITH THESE THREE CARS. THE OTHER MAJOR ONE IS THAT THE HEAD GASKETS ON THESE CARS DO NOT HOLD UP, AND GM IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. MINE IS IN THE SHOP NOW ALSO FOR A HEAD GASKET (07 IMPALA). WHY IS THERE NO HELP FOR GM CAR OWNERS? GM IS NOT HELPING! JUST SCREWING US OUT OF MONEY! *TR

DURING THE COURSE OF OWNING THIS IMPALA SINCE IT WAS NEW, IT HAS HAD 12 REPLACEMENT TIRES INSTALLED IN ORDER TO CORRECT A VIBRATION PROBLEM, WHICH IS FELT AT OR AROUND 55 MPH. IT HAS TAKEN APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES FOR EACH OF THE TIRES TO WEAR UNEVENLY. EACH TIME A TIRE WAS REPLACED, I WAS GIVEN AN EXPLANATION THAT THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS NO LONGER ROUND (EGG SHAPED) AND WOULD NOT PROPERLY BALANCE. A MAJORITY OF THE DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE FROM THE REAR OF THE IMPALA. THE LAST REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON 06-28-10 WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 26,264 MILES ON IT. DURING THE DOZENS OF VISITS TO MULTIPLE CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPTS, NO MECHANICAL SUSPENSION PARTS WERE REPLACED. I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE GENERAL MOTORS EXECUTIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICE (GMECSO) FOR YEARS AND HAVE DEALT WITH MULTIPLE REPRESENTATIVES. THE IMPALA AGAIN HAS A VIBRATION, AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE VEHICLE SERVICED. GMECSO INFORMED ME THAT THEY WANTED ME TO TAKE THE IMPALA TO A DIFFERENT CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT IF I NEEDED TO GET THE CAR LOOKED AT FOR ISSUES REGARDING THE TIRES. SINCE 02-05-12, I HAVE MADE 5 PHONE CALLS TO THE GMECSO AND HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A CALL BACK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER CRASH. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NECK, AS WELL AS OTHER INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN IMPOUND AND DECLARED AS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 93,000.

I HAVE A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA FOR MY WIFE TO DRIVE WITH MY TWO CHILDREN. THE POWER STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY IN THE RAIN. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE POWER ASSIST COMES AND GOES QUICKLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO JERK THE WHEEL WHEN THE PWER ASSIST RETURNS. I REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT TWO MONTHS AGO FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND IT WAS FINE FOR A WHILE. I HAVE OVER 30 YEARS OF AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIENCE AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS DANGEROUS. THERE IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT WITH THE POWER ASSIST BELT, TENSIONER OR A PULLEY. THIS IS NOT THE OTHER CONCERN WITH THE CLUNKING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. *TR

I NOTICED THINGS ABOUT MY CAR BUT IGNORED THEM BECAUSE I THOUGHT, THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING I WOULD NOTICE THAT MY CAR WOULD SLIDE A LOT WHEN THERE WAS SNOW/ICE/RAIN ON THE GROUND. AS IF IT WASN'T SITTING ON THE GROUND PROPERLY. I WOULD LOOK AT IT FROM THE REAR AT A DISTANCE AND IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO SLANT/DROOP AT AN ANGLE. ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF OF OWNERSHIP WHILE GETTING MY OIL CHANGED A SERVICE TECH FROM AN AUTHORIZED CHEVROLET DEALER INFORMED ME THAT I HAD EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND STATED THAT I NEEDED ALL NEW TIRES. NOTE HE NEVER STATED THAT I NEEDED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT OR THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE RECALL NOTICE THAT WE COULD FIX WHILE YOUR CAR IS STILL UNDER. HE JUST WANTED TO SELL ME TIRES. FROM DOING MY RESEARCH IT LOOKS LIKE I AM NOT ALONE WITH THE ISSUE OF EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. LOOKS LIKE GM IS ALSO AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THERE IS A GM BULLETIN 08032 BUT GM ONLY STATES THAT GOVERNMENT CARS ARE AFFECTED. I KNOW OF SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT WORK ON GM ASSEMBLY LINES AND THEY WILL STATE THAT THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE, SO WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR GM TO KNOWING KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS NOT CORRECT ON THESE CARS AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HOW MANY LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST OR HAVE TO BE LOST FOR GM TO CALL A RECALL AND FIX THE ISSUE ON THESE CARS. UPDATE 2/22/2012: I HAVE GOTTEN THE "NEEDED" "SPECIAL" WHEEL ALIGNMENT BUT AM STILL CONSTANTLY REPLACING TIRES THAT HAVE BEEN ON MY CAR NOT EVEN A YEAR. WILL NEVER BUY A CHEVY AGAIN. NOT REPUTABLE AND DOING THE RIGHT THING WHICH IS TO CORRECTLY FIX OVER 400,000 CARS. *TR

MASSIVE REAR TIRE PREMATURE WEAR CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND DEFECTIVE TRI-COILED REAR SPRINGS, TRAILING ARMS, AND SPINDLE RODS. *TR