RoadVitals

2001 Chevrolet Impala Suspension Problems

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

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
18
Latest Aug 4, 2011
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.
2%
of 742 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 suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 18 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 suspension

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

Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Aug 4, 2011

1. THERE WERE REALLY NO EVENTS THAT LED UP TO THE FAILURE. 2. THE ABS SYSTEM STARTED ENGAGING AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES (WHEN TRACTION CONTROL WAS NOT WARRANTED--COMPLETELY DRY). THIS STARTED OUT SPORADICALLY BUT HAS SINCE BECOME DAILY. AT FIRST, JUST THE ABS ENGAGED AND THE "TRACTION ACTIVE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. NOW, IT WILL CAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO DISARM ITSELF AND THE "SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM" LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE. 3. THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES WITH 4 DIFFERENT PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10417134
Incident
May 15, 2011
Mileage
163,200 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 14, 2010

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

NHTSA ID
10310319
Incident
Feb 13, 2010
Mileage
47,600 mi
EngineSuspension
Filed Jul 16, 2009

CONSUMER HAS A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA WITH ENGINE AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL OF THE ENGINE AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS FAILED DUE TO OIL DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10277769
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
SteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 21, 2008

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.

NHTSA ID
10249506
Incident
May 14, 2008
Mileage
19,600 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Nov 18, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE WHEEL SENSORS STOPPED WORKING, CAUSING ABS FAILURE. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHEEL SENSORS, RESET THE CODES, REPLACED THE RIGHT AND LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY, AND RESURFACED ALL FOUR ROTORS ON THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SEEMED TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A CLANKING NOISE. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 04-02-35-0048 DEALT WITH THE STEERING PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED *AK.

NHTSA ID
10143131
Incident
Nov 1, 2004
Mileage
90,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 11, 2005

I TOOK MY 2001 IMPALA TO THE GM DEALER AT 23K MILES FOR A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AT THAT TIME THEY SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE AN INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT PLUS OTHER ISSUES NON RELATED. AT 73K THEY REMOVED THE SHAFT AND LUBED IT AND REPLACED LEFT OUTER TIE ROD FOR $510+. AT 98K MY FRONT WHEEL HUBS WERE REPLACED AND THEY REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AGAIN AND CHARGED ME $125 FOR THE SHAFT AND ANOTHER $975+ FOR THE REST. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK TWO WEEKS LATER FOR YET ANOTHER STEERING PROBLEM THEY SAID IT WAS MY RACK AND PINION THIS TIME AND CHARGED ME $1083. THAT WAS TODAY, TONIGHT ON MY WAY HOME WITH MY WIFE, THE CAR DID THE SAME THING WHILE TURNING RIGHT ON AN EXIT RAMP. I CALLED 1-800-GM AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME EXCEPT OFFER ME A GM LOYALTY CERT GOOD FOR SOME $ OFF A PURCHASE OF A NEW GM PRODUCT. I HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL RETURNING TO THE GM DEALER EACH TIME WITH STEERING PROBLEMS (AND OTHER ISSUES NOT RELATED) EXPECTING A FIX AND OVER THE ALMOST 5 YEARS AND ALMOST 100K MILES AND MANY DOLLARS SPENT I HAVE LOST MY FAITH IN GM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10142492
Incident
Nov 11, 2005
Mileage
23,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 27, 2005

DT: A SEVER POPPING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THERE IS A LACK OF CONTROL IN THE STEERING. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON APRIL 21, 2005. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THERE IS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES . THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10137892
Incident
Apr 21, 2005
Mileage
67,430 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 23, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL. FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING FAILED. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING ALSO FAILED AT 38,600. *AK

NHTSA ID
10094290
Incident
Aug 16, 2004
Mileage
37,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 15, 2004

A POPPING CAN BE HEARD AND FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, APPLYING AND RELEASING BRAKES, AND WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING THE ENGINE. CONDITION STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES, VEHICLE NOW HAS 51,500 MILES AND CONDITION HAS CONTINUED TO WORSEN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10095850
Incident
Oct 15, 2004
Mileage
38,000 mi
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Aug 22, 2003

WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER. *AK. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS. ALSO THE DASH LIGHTS FLICKERED. THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION AREA, HOWEVER THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10026189
Incident
Jun 28, 2003
EngineSteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 12, 2003

CHRONIC COOLANT LEAK ON 2001 IMPALA LS. DEALER REPLACED MANIFOLD UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO IN FIRST 2 YEARS, WHEEL BEARING, INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, AS WELL AS ROOF MOLDING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10022990
Incident
May 5, 2003
Mileage
35,000 mi
AirbagsSuspension
Filed May 21, 2003

AIR BAG LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. KNOCKING SOUND WHEN TURNING EITHER WAY IN FRONT END AND ODD TAPPING SOUND IN REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN 1ST OPERATING CAR. RESULTING IN NO AIRBAGS OPERATIONAL & POSSIBILITY OF THEM DEPLOYING IN ERROR CAUSING POSSIBLE INJURY. NO CRUISE CONTROL, PCM PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10019042
Incident
Apr 8, 2003
Mileage
49,000 mi
EngineExterior lightingSuspension+1 more
Filed Jan 2, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP BLEW, THE ROOF MOLDING WAS LIFTING ON BOTH SIDES, THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW LEAKS AIR AND THE WINDOW HITS HARD IN THE TOP OF THE DOOR JAM, WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE TIE ROD ENDS YET THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. NLM

NHTSA ID
10001250
Incident
Jun 30, 2001
Suspension
Filed Dec 2, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE BACK END WOULD LEAN TO THE LEFT CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

NHTSA ID
8023556
Incident
Nov 21, 2002
Suspension
Filed Oct 31, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN BRAKING THEY CAN HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

NHTSA ID
8021976
Incident
Oct 22, 2002
Suspension
Filed Mar 25, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE WANDERS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THERE IS A NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
8006340
Incident
Nov 1, 2001
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Nov 7, 2001

DURING NORMAL OPERATION THERE IS A VIBRATION AT ANY SPEED, MORE SEVERE WHEN MAKING A TURN TO EITHER SIDE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND HAS REPLACED 'ENGINE CRADLE TWICE. VIBRATION IS STILL PRESENT, AND DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO EFFECTIVELY REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
898845
Incident
Aug 15, 2000
Suspension
Filed Oct 17, 2001

VEHICLE "PULLS" TO RIGHT DURING OPERATION AT ANY GIVEN SPEED, DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND CANNOT FIND A CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES AND WAS CHARGD FOR FRONT AND REAR ALIGNEMENT, THE LAST TIME VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO DEALER, CONSUMER WAS IFNORMED THAT IS JUST THE WAY THE VEHICLE IS MADE.*SLC

NHTSA ID
897891
Incident
Aug 28, 2000

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .