2005 Chevrolet Impala

3.4LTR 6CYL BASE MODEL HAS HAD MULTIPLE DEFECTIVE SENSATIONS FOR SOME TIME NOW; AMONG THOSE ARE STEERING, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM A STANDING STOP, BRAKING AND ODD NOISES. THIS VEHICLE'S 5 Y/O WITH ONLY 20K MI, OWNED BY ELDERS & USED LOCALLY, I'VE BEEN DRIVING THEM, & NOW I HAVE THIS CAR. THE LEFT OUTTER TIE ROD END HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 20K MI. THE STEERING STILL HAS AN UNSTABLE FEEL WHEN TURNING AND MAKE A METAL TO METAL CLINKING NOISE FROM A DEFECTIVE (& AS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC & NHTSA REPORTS, REPEATEDLY REPORTED) INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THERE SHOULD BE A TOTAL RECALL BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE GM ENGINEERING PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO A CLINKING NOISE OCCASIONALLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STANDING STOP; CAN NOT TELL IF THIS DEFECT IS FROM THE STEERING OR SOMETHING ELSE LIKE THE ENGINE MOUNTS. HAVE NOT YET DISCOVERED THIS SOURCE. FROM A STANDING STOP, THE TRANSMISSION WILL OCCASIONALLY SHIFT ABRUPTLY, EITHER FROM A NEUTRAL DISPOSITION INTO 1ST GEAR OR FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR; THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD & THE OCCUPANTS HEADS ARE WHIPPED BACK. THIS IS SIMILAR TO OTHER REPORTS OF DEFECTIVE POWER TRAIN FUNCTIONALITY I'VE READ ABOUT WITH THIS MODEL. BRAKING, WHEN JUST STARTING A TRIP, HAS AN IMPROPER FEEL AND SOMETIMES SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GRINDING, AS IF THE BRAKE PADS OR ROTORS ARE CRACKED/WORN; THIS IS A SENSATION I'VE HAD WITH VEHICLES HAVING 100,000 MILES, NOT ON A CAR LIKE THIS WITH ONLY 20K MILES. THE CENTER ARM REST'S PAD SUPPORT IS FLIMSY/CHEAP PLASTIC & HAS BROKEN SIMPLY UPON ENTERING & SHIFTING IN THE SEAT. I NOW SEE WHY SO MANY POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE DISCONTINUED THE IMPALA'S IN FAVOR OF THE CHARGER'S, CROWN VIC'S, TAURUS'S AND ESCAPES. THE US GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE SEVERELY FINING GM FOR MARKETING THIS CAR. >>>THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR MANY REASONS<<<

FAX FROM SENATOR MENENDEZ ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE A RECENT CONVERSATION WITH GMC ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA; WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY GM CAN'T BE A VIABLE, HONEST, CONSUMER FRIENDLY MAN'F OF A SAFE CAR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN STOPPING OR MAKING TURNS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THE CONSUMER LEARNED THE PROBLEM WAS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING BECAME LOOSE AND THE CONTACT COULD HEAR A NOISE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY BUT PROGRESSED AND WAS NOT AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. UPDATED 02/03/11*LJ THE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. UPDATED 03/18/11*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL EXPLOSION HEARD THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING KNUCKLE WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,517.

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE IN A SHAKING MOTION. THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE DEALER ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS $419.00. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

DRIVING TO WORK APPROX 06:30 AM. POWER STEERING WENT OUT, MANAGED TO TURN THE CAR TOWARDS DITCH TO AVOID ONCOMING VEHICLES. APPROX 45 MPH, TWO LANE FRONTAGE ROAD. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN RATHER WEAVY ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG UNTIL THE RECALL FOR STEERING LINKAGE WAS POINTED OUT. EVEN AFTER THAT, THE CAR HANDLED POORLY AND WAS REPORTED TO DEALER. (STEERED POORLY) REPORTED TO DEALER, NOTHING DONE UNTIL AFTER ACCIDENT. POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED, BUT DEALER REFUSED ADMISSION OF FAULT. BILLED US FOR ACCIDENT DAMAGE AND REPLACEMENT OF POWERSTEERING PUMP. *TR