Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Chevrolet Impala submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 76 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.
The 25 most recent of 76, in the owner's own words
While driving at 70 mph my car just shut off. The radio and lights stayed on. The oil and battery light came on before it just shut down. Steering locked up. When safely to side, and turned key off it starts right back up, but now traction system is off. Has gas and nothing is broken.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE START POSITION, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE VEHICLE LOSS BRAKES AND POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINING ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS PREVIOUSLY INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
TAKATA RECALL WHEN GOING TO FASTEN SEAT BELT IT WILL NOT FASTEN YOU HAVE TO MESS WITH IT A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE IT WILL LATCH AND SOMETIMES WILL UNLATCH WHILE DRIVING. TAKATA RECALL THE DRIVER FRONT BLINKER BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES BUT AFTER BUYING NUMEROUS BULBS IT STILL WILL NOT WORK. TAKATA RECALL WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO GO AROUND A CURVE IT TIGHTENS UP LIKE THE STEERING PUMP IS GOING OUT BUT IT ONLY DOES IT WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO TURN, ALSO WHILE DRIVING ITS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS ALL OVER THE ROAD SWAYING AROUND.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STEERED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND COOLANT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
THE OIL PAN LEAKS OIL WHEN NOT IN MOTION AND POSSIBLY WHILE IN MOTION. ADDITIONALLY WHEN MOTION THE STEERING MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING (THE SOUND APPEARS TO COME FROM THE STEERING BOX).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING ARMS AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E063000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ......UPDATED 04/01/16 *BF CONSUMER STATED STEERING ARMS LEAKED AND POWER STEERING LEAKED UPDATED 6/7/18*JB
MY CAR WAS RECENTLY SERVICED FOR THE RECALL ISSUE ON THE IGNITION, WHICH I HAD THE ISSUE OF THE CAR TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY FIXED IT, ANYWAYS WHILE DRIVING HOME YESTERDAY (05/21/2016) MY CAR AGAIN SHUT OFF THIS WAS AFTER I TOOK IT TO A CHEVOLET DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. LUCKLY NO ONE WAS INJURED AS I DID CAUSE A BIT OF PANIC ON THE ROAD AS I WAS TRYING TO GAIN ENOUGH CONTROL TO PULL MY CAR OFF THE ROAD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE SECURITY AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE SECURITY LIGHT AND THE ENGINE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED OR TIGHTENED. THE VIN HAD NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 08E063000 (STEERING) OR 09E005000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.
POWER STEERING HOSE FLUID LEAK ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM INTO THE CADILLAC CONVERTER. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN. I WAS GOING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME. THE ONLY WARNING LIGHT I GOT WAS TRACTION CONTROL, AND THE ABS MAINTENANCE LIGHTS. IT TURNED OUT THAT I HAD NO POWER STEERING FLUID IN MY CAR. I ENDED UP HAVING TO GET A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. THEN THE MECHANIC THAT WAS WORKING ON MY CAR CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT MY RACK PINION IS BAD. HE WARNED ME THAT IT COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME, AND IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I WOULD LIKE THIS INCIDENT DOCUMENTED, JUST IN CASE THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ENCOUNTER THE SAME WITH THEIR CARS. I DO FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE IT NOT FROM USUAL WEAR AND TEAR, THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. *TR
THE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT APPROX 30 MPH. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. LUCKILY I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT BUT, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR THAT AN ACCIDENT MAY HAPPEN. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND CAME ACROSS MANY COMPLAINTS THE SAME AS MINE. HOW CAN IT BE THAT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE ON AN ISSUE SO SERIOUS? *TR
THIS CAR HAS HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM AND WHEN THE CAR HEATS UP MY BRAKES DON'T WORK RITE IT IS VERY SCARY AT TIMES WHEN I DON'T KNOW IF MY BRAKES ARE GOING TO STOP ME FROM GOING INTO TRAFFIC OR NOT. I HAVE REPLACED MANY PARTS AND IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. MY CAR IS ON THE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT I'M NOT SURE IS THIS IS A SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE AROUND ANYMORE. AND MY QUESTION TO U GUYS IS Y DO THESE MANUFACTURING COMPANY KEEP ON GETTING TO MAKE UNSAFE CARS AND CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE MONEY OFF THE CONSUMER. TO ME THAT IS NOT FAIR. I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED WITH NO OUT COME ITS STILL A P.O.S. *TR
WE WERE DRIVING OFF H-820 N IN FORTWORTH TEXAS..THE CAR COULD NOT SLOW DOWN NOR COULD WE CONTROL IT. WE ENDED UP HITTING THE GUARD RAIL IN ONE CAR ACCIDENT AND IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. BEFORE THAT, SAME CAR WAS SERVICED BY IGNITION PROBLEM BY CHEVROLET DEALER OFF 1-20 IN ARLINGTON,TX..STILL I WAS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON DAY AND LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND HIT A GUIDE RAIL . I BOUNCED OFF THE GUIDE RAIL AND THE CAR STARTED SPINNING AND ANOTHER GUY HAD HIT ME AND I WENT HEAD ON INTO THE GUIDE RAIL . MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND I HAD MINOR INJURY (PAIN IN NECK AND BACK, MY GLASSES BROKE AND IHIT MY HEAD OFF THE STEERING WHEEL) I'M PRETTY SURE MY CARE IS TOTALED BECAUSE THE FRAME IS BENT AND BROKE. *TR
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING STRAIN OF NECK MUSCLES, UPPER BACK INJURY, BILATERAL STRAIN, CONTUSION OF MULTIPLE SITES OF MY LOWER LIMBS BILATERAL. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ON THE IMPALA BUT DUE TO NEGLIGENCE OF GMC I AM IN PAIN MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND I HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR. I WILL NEED ASSISTANCE IN PRICE, PAYMENTS, EXTENDED MAINTENANCE WARRANTY AT YOUR COST AND DELIVERY OF NEW VEHICLE TO ADDRESS I PROVIDE NO FEE ALSO INCLUDE TAG PAYMENTS. I CONTACTED YOUR COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT LAST NIGHT AND WAS TOLD THAT I WILL BE COMPENSATED IN THIS WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF AS CHEVROLET ALWAYS TAKES CARE OF THEIR BEST CUSTOMERS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGED INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE A COOLANT LEAK OR ANY SMOKE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC REPLACED A SENSOR. AFTER THE REPAIR THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGED STILL INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A STRANGE SOUND WHEN TURNED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING SHAFT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
STEERING TIE RODS FAILING AT AN ALARMING RATE. $1300 SPENT ON REPLACING TIE RODS AND OTHER STEERING PARTS THAT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE WHEEL OR LOSS OF STEERING OCCURS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE IN EITHER DIRECTION, HE HEARD A GRINDING AND CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 07/14/09 *BF UPDATED 07/16/09.*JB
WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO A STORE MY CAR WAS DRIVING JUST FINE BUT, AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT A CAR THAT WAS AT A STOP SIGN. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS UNTIL NOW.. IT JUST HAPPENED UNEXPECTEDLY. I CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT WAS FINE THE CAR THEN DROVE OFF JUST FINE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE WHEELS FAILED. THE BRAKES ARE CURRENTLY FAILING. THE CONTACT HEARS GRINDING METAL WHEN BRAKING, DRIVING OVER BUMPS, AND WHEN REVERSING. THE DEALER HAS YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE NOISE HAS INTENSIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS AND HEARD A NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES. SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE NOISE PERSISTED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FIVE MONTHS LATER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING AND WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,600.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED HE COULD FEEL BUMPING AND CLUNKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE ANY DEFECTS OR FAILURES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE CENTER FOR THE REPAIRS NEEDED. THEY INFORMED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE PROBLEM HE IS EXPERIENCING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AFTER THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT HE NEEDED THE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,425. UPDATE 09/18/08. *JB
2001 CHEVY IMPALA STEERING COLUMN HAS "KLUNK" SOUND. *TR
CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING - DEALER INDICATED CAUSE WAS FROM INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, BUT TOLD NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. *JB
TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,929 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
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.
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