RoadVitals

1996 Chevrolet Impala Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Apr 28, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
14%
of 88 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Chevrolet Impala submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Steering
Filed Apr 28, 2004

INABILITY TO CONTROL THE STEERING ON ROUGH ROADS. STEERING IS VERY LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. ALSO, VEHICLE DARTS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS WHILE BRAKING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10071789
Mileage
40,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 2, 2004

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY LOCKS UP DURING TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED 3 YEARS AGO. CHEVROLET DEALERS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE BOTH DENY ANY EVIDENCE OF A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH IMPALAS ALTHOUGH THE NHTSA WEB SITE AND AN IMPALA OWNERS' WEB SITE BOTH LIST NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES OF THIS MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT RENDERS THE CAR TEMPORARILY OUT OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ID
10060216
Incident
Feb 26, 2004
Steering
Filed Jan 13, 2004

STEERING ASSIST STOPS WHEN TURNING. NOT ALL THE TIME BUT IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES.ITS VERY SCARY WHEN IN TRAFFIC.SO FAR NO ACCIDENTS, BUT ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME WHEN .

NHTSA ID
10053111
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
Mileage
40,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 8, 2002

ODOMETER DISPLAY GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY-DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS INDICATED THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE DASH. SOUNDS EXCESSIVE FOR A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 42,000 MILES. THE WATER PUMP LEAKING CREATES MORE OF A SAFETY HAZARD. IT LEAKS ONTO THE POWER STEERING BELT, CAUSING THE BELT TO SLIP, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN THIS HAPPENS. AGAIN, THIS PART FAILING WITH LESS THAN 42,000 MILES ON A CAR SEEMS OUT OF LINE. MR

NHTSA ID
768228
Incident
Oct 5, 2002
Steering
Filed Jan 12, 2002

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WANTED TO TURN LEFT INTO A SHOPPING CENTER. I SLOWED DOWN TO TURN LEFT AND THE STEERING WAS TO DIFFICULT TO TURN, I HAD TO RUN OVER A CURB AND OVER A PATCH OF GRASS TO AVOID HITTING A CAR. I STOPPED THE CAR, PUT IT IN PARK AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT TO NO AVAIL. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND STARTED IT BACK UP AGAIN, PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED, BUT NOT WITH EASE. THIS ALSO OCCURRED ON MY WAY HOME INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED ABOUT FIFTEEN TIMES. THIS IS A "SAFETY HAZARD" AND COULD BE LIFE THREATENING. *AK

NHTSA ID
756767
Incident
Jan 9, 2002
Steering
Filed Feb 28, 2001

IDLER ARM HAS WORN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DRIFT FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHEN DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
881758
Steering
Filed Mar 20, 2000

MY WIFE HAD COMPLAINED OF THE STEERING GOING OUT ON HER FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. I COULD NEVER GET THE STEERING FAILURE TO MANIFEST ITSELF FOR ME, SO I FIGURED IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN ANOMALIE. LAST MONTH, THE STEERING PROBLEM OCCURRED FOR ME AT VERY POOR TIMES. I WAS TURNING INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND LOST ALL CONTROL OF STEERING AND ALMOST RAN INTO MY SUBDIVISION'S SIGN. THE SECOND TIME WAS WHEN I WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT IN NASHVILLE, AND THE STEERING FROZE. I REV'D THE ENGINE UP TO SEE IF THE INCREASE IN PUMP PRESSURE WOULD HELP, BUT TO NO AVAIL. MY WIFE INSTRUCTED ME TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTART IT. THE STEERING RESPONEDED POORLY, AND I LIMPED THE CAR HOME AND IT IS PARKED THERE TODAY AWAITING A NEW PUMP FROM NAPA. I TRIED TO PULL THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE THIS WEEKEND, BUT THE STEERING COULDN'T EVEN FUNCTION ENOUGH FOR THAT TASK. THIS STEERING PROBLEM ALMOST KILLED ME, MY WIFE,AND POSSIBLY ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNFORTUNITE ENOUGH TO BE IN THE PATH OF THIS CAR. WITHOUT POWER STEERING, THIS CAR IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER, UNLESS YOU ARE VERY STRONG AND RECOGNIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING. THANK GOD FOR 4 WHEEL ABS BRAKES! *AK

NHTSA ID
720355
Incident
Feb 10, 2000
Steering
Filed Nov 9, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 45MPH WENT TO APPLY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 OR 5 TIMES IN THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS. CONTACTED DEALER, HE HAS CHECKED THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
852718
Incident
Mar 5, 1999
Steering
Filed Feb 16, 1999

WHEN DRIVING THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT THREE TIMES, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP TWICE DUE TO A LEAKAGE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST HIT A TREE. *AK

NHTSA ID
832784
Incident
Dec 28, 1998
ElectricalFuel systemSteering
Filed Dec 5, 1997

FUEL GAUGE FAILURE DUE TO INTERNAL SHORT IN FUEL SENDER.

NHTSA ID
525843
Incident
Dec 13, 1996
ElectricalFuel systemSteering
Filed Aug 19, 1997

FUEL METER ASSEMBLY (SENDER) FAILED.

NHTSA ID
521159
Incident
Dec 13, 1996
ElectricalSteeringTransmission
Filed May 21, 1996

OIL COOLER LINES ROUTED SO THEY RUB AGAINST METAL, CAUSING HOLES/LEAK.

NHTSA ID
504656
Incident
May 2, 1996

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Visibility13Electrical10Engine10Powertrain (other)9Fuel system9Tires & wheels8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .