2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA Complaints

THERE IS A REAR SUSPENSION ALIGNMENT ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE REAR WHEELS ARE KICKED-OUT CAUSING INNER WEAR ON THE TIRES AFTER MINIMAL MILEAGE. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES (BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN ROTATED) AFTER ONLY 25K MILES. *TR

DEAR NHTSA, PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE FOLLOWING SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT HAVE AFFECTED MY VEHICLE SAFETY IN ADDITION TO OTHER CHEVY IMPALA DRIVERS: VEHICLE: 2007 CHEVY IMPALA. 65,000 MILES, 1 OWNER, IMPALA LS 3.5 L V6 SAFETY CONCERN # 1- INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT - GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL CLICKS DURING DRIVING & TEMPORARILY JAMS CAUSING A FEELING OF DISCONNECTION FROM THE ROAD. IT HAS CAUSED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, AND I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS IS AN ONGOING DESIGN PROBLEM FOR MANY GM MODELS(AS PER MY GOOGLE SEARCH), GM REFUSES TO MAKE CORRECTIONS TO THE DESIGN NOR ISSUE A RECALL. --------------------------------- SAFETY CONCERN # 2- POWER STEERING PUMP- POWER STEERING PUMP LOOSING EFFECTIVENESS & TURNING PERFORMANCE, MEANING PUMP MAY BE FAILING AT ANY TIME. THIS TOO IS ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVY MODELS. PLEASE ENCOURAGE GM TO EXPAND POWER STEERING PUMP RECALL TO INCLUDE CHEVY IMPALA MODELS. ---------------------------- SAFETY CONCERN # 3- REAR BACK SEAT CENTER SEAT BELT LOOSES TENSION WHEN USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH INFANT CAR SEAT. WHEN VEHICLE GOES AROUND 30 MILE/HR TURNS OR MILD TURNS, SEAT BELT LOCKING MECHANISM(THE ONE THAT HOLDS THE SEAT BELT TENSE DURING BRAKING) DISENGAGES & PERMITS THE SEAT BELT TO LOOSEN CAUSING CHILD SEAT TO MOVE ACROSS THE SEAT & OR IN ONE SERIOUS CASE WITH MY SON FLIP SIDEWAYS(LUCKILY MY WIFE CAUGHT THE SEAT AS IT TIPPED SIDEWAYS). I HAVE FOLLOWED ALL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AS PER CAR SEAT MANUFACTURER (EVENFLOW AURA TRAVEL SYSTEM). THIS IS A CONCERN, SINCE THE TENSION ONLY STAYS FIRM IN ABRUPT STOPS, THIS LEADS ME TO QUESTION THE SAFETY IN A ROLL OVER SCENARIO. I HAVE SINCE USED THE SEAT LEVEL CAR SEAT HOOKS SINCE THE PAST FEW EVENTS( THIS GREATLY REDUCES THE EASE OF SHARING THE CAR SEAT BETWEEN VEHICLES). MY OTHER VEHICLE(NISSAN ALTIMA) HAS NO SUCH PROBLEM, THE TENSION MECHANISM ON THE ALTIMA REMAINS FIRM

LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN VEHICLE TRAVELS THROUGH PUDDLE. NOTE: THIS IS A POLICE SQUAD CAR AND THIS IS THE 2ND VEHICLE OF THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR THAT HAS PERFORMED THE SAME WAY. *TR

WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, I FELT A "CLUNK" AND MY CAR BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, BUT I COULD CONTACT THE DEALER AND HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST PASSED THE WARRANTY MILEAGE BY 400 MILES. I DID CONTACT THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER AND HE STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BROKEN AT THE WELD. HE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE.. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ON-BOARD COMPUTER ISSUES STARTED OCCURRING: TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) IN-OP. WARNINGS RANDOMLY APPEARING IN DASH: CHECK TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM. CHECK LEFT/RIGHT REAR TIRE PRESSURE. TPMS DID NOT WARN OF A FLAT TIRE EVEN THOUGH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF AIR WAS LOST. INCREASING NO. OF ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: KEYLESS ENTRY FAILS. CHECK AIRBAG WARNING APPEARS. CHECK A/C WARNING IN DASH. AMBIENT TEMPERATURE GAUGE ERRATIC. COMPASS SHOWING N (OR NE/NW BUT ALWAYS INCORRECT HEADING). CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT RESUME AT TIMES OR SET INCORRECT SPEED (A FEW M/H HIGHER OR LOWER). SPEED HAS INCREASED ON ITS OWN. ONCE, I NOTICED THE SPEED AT OVER 80M/H WHEN I HAD SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 70. DASH DISPLAYING WARNINGS QUICKLY AND YELLOW WARNING LIGHTS FLASH BRIEFLY, WHICH IS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING AND WARNINGS CANNOT BE READ. TPMS LIGHT COMES ON ROUTINELY AFTER DRIVING FOR 1-3 HOURS. WARNINGS MAY FLASH AT ANY TIME. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN SIX TIMES AT THE REQUEST OF GM. SOME PARTS WERE REPLACED BUT ELECTRICAL ISSUES KEEP INCREASING AND ORIGINAL ISSUES CANNOT BE FIXED. KEYLESS ENTRY WORKING FOR NOW, AFTER COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED TWICE. E-BRAKE DID NOT WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THOUGH PROMISED BY DELIVERY, CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN IN FIVE TIMES FOR E-BRAKE TO WORK MODESTLY. I AM NOT IN POSSESSION OF ANY OLD PARTS AS REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

I AM HAVING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF BOTH REAR TIRES. I HAVE REPLACED MY REAR TIRES TWICE IN LESS THAN 5 MONTHS. BOTH OF MY REAR TIRES BLEW OUT AT THE SAME TIME ON 2/24/10 WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE POLICE VEHICLES FOR THE SAME ISSUE WHICH TURNS OUT TO BE ALIGNMENT ISSUES. I AM FEARFUL FOR MY SAFETY IN THIS CAR ALONG WITH THE EXPENSES BEING INCURRED DUE TO A POOR QUALITY PRODUCT. *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH 2007 AND IS USED AS A COMMUTER CAR FROM NEW OXFORD, PA TO WASHINGTON, DC DAILY. I AVERAGE 750 MILES PER WEEK. LAST FALL WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD JUST OVER 90,000 MILES, I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS FIRST WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL DROPPING OFF SPEED AND NOT RESETTING. THIS QUICKLY ADVANCED TO A SHUTTERING FEEL WHEN ACCELERATING AND OCCASIONALLY PICKING UP SPEED AND WITHIN 50 MILES THE CAR REFUSED TO MOVE AFTER A STOP LIGHT. I TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND AFTER PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE, MANAGED TO GET IT TO A NEARBY FORMER CHEVY DEALER. THEY DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION WAS TOTALLY SLIPPING AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. CHEVY STOOD BY THE 100K POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY WITH A NO-COST REPLACEMENT AND INSTALLED A NEW TRANSMISSION, ISSUING A 12,000 MI WARRANTY. TODAY, AT 111,000 MILES, LESS THAN 20,000 INTO THE NEW TRANSMISSION, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS ON FLAT GROUND AND I WAS SIMPLY A STALLED NUISANCE IN TRAFFIC. THIS TIME, I WAS GOING UP A HILL AND HAD STOPPED FOR A LIGHT. THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL BACK DOWN THE HILL, I HAD DIFFICULTY BRAKING AND NEARLY GOT STRUCK BY A LARGE TRUCK. IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND THEN WITH A THUDS AND JERKS I WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT TO A SAFE PARKING SPOT. THIS TIME I DID NOT HAVE THE DIFFICULTY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT DID HAVE A BIT OF WHAT I NOW RECOGNIZE WAS TRANSMISSION SLIP BUT I ATTRIBUTED TO THE ANTI-SLIP BRAKES ON ICE. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES. FROM THE EARLY SHUDDERS, LESS THAN 400 MILES ELAPSED. I WAS FORTUNATE BOTH TIMES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE RIGHT FRONT KNUCKLE JOINT BROKE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE NUDGED AGAINST THE CURB CAUSING THE WHOLE FRONT WHEEL AND OTHER COMPONENTS TO DISENGAGE. THERE WERE THIRTY-THREE PARTS REPLACED DUE TO THE SEVERE DAMAGES. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. HOWEVER, THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE COLLISION CAUSED THE DAMAGE, NOT THE PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN WHICH THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,325. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,422. UPDATED 03/19/2010. *LJUPDATED 09/14/10

I DID NOT REALIZE SUCH A WEBSITE EXISTED. I HAVE PURCHASED MANY NEW VEHICLES AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HAPPY UNTIL I PURCHASED MY 2007 IMPALA BRAND NEW WITH 27 MILES. I STARTED LOOKING ON THE INTERNET DUE TO "STEERING" PROBLEM AND FOUND THIS WEBSITE. YOU CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND NOT MOVE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. IT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO HAVE A ACCIDENT YOU NEED THE WHEELS TO TURN, BUT THE WHEEL WANT MOVE. I THINK MY HUSBAND THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY UNTIL HE HAPPEN TO BE WITH ME THE OTHER DAY AND WITNESS THIS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALL 5 TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED IT HAS BEEN RAINING OUT. THE 1ST 2 TIMES WERE PROBABLY A YEAR AGO, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE TIRE ISSUE, DID NOT THINK ABOUT IT BEING THE CAR, BUT I HAVE HAD 3 SETS OF BRAND NEW TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE. SAME PROBLEM SOMEONE ELSE MENTIONED THE REAR TIRES WEAR COMPLETELY OUT ON THE INSIDE. I HAD WIRES HANGING OUT ON 1 YEAR OLD TIRES. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE AT ALL IN THIS VEHICLE AND CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE WANTING TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT THE STEERING LOCKS UP. I HAVE 2 PRECIOUS CHILDREN AND AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS. I STILL OWE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT ON THE VEHICLE SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY OPTIONS BUT TO REPORT TO SOMEONE THAT MIGHT COULD HELP. THANKS! THE STRUCTURE- THE DOOR MOLDING JUST FELL OFF ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ONE DAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENT, THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE PREVIOUSLY NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER IT WAS BROUGHT TO HIS ATTENTION AT THE DEALERSHIP. HE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,320. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,283.