RoadVitals

2006 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 Dec 9, 2016
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.
3%
of 524 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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

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 2006 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

BrakesPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Dec 9, 2016

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING GEARS ON TAKE OFF, WHEELS SOUND LIKE BEARINGS ARE GOING OUT, LIKE A GRINDING NOISE. CHANGED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS TOGETHER DUE TO WHEEL WOBBLE AND BRAKE SENSORS ON DISPLAY. CONSTANTLY DISPLAYING "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" ON MESSAGE BOARD. DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS ANY FAILURES OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE NOW IS IMMOBILIZED, AND WILL NOT GO INTO A FORWARD MOVEMENT ONLY A REVERSE DRIVE. WHEELS ARE LOCKED UP AND VEHICLE IS STRANDED! STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS USED PURCHASE. PLEASE ADVISE!!!

NHTSA ID
10934016
Incident
Dec 8, 2016
Mileage
128,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 15, 2016

VERY NOISY FRONT END COMPONENTS, IT SEEMS TO BE MORE NOISE AT A SLOW SPEED. IT RATTLES, ROARS, JUST VERY NOISY. THIS IS AT SLOW SPEED GOING DOWN A NORMAL STREET.

NHTSA ID
10926244
Incident
Jan 1, 2008
Mileage
25,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 26, 2016

THE FRONT SWAY BAR DEVELOPED A CRACK AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO PASS VA SAFETY INSP PROG..

NHTSA ID
10909769
Incident
Sep 21, 2016
Mileage
81,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 17, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SWAY BAR SPLIT AT THE SEAM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SWAY BAR FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

NHTSA ID
10694761
Incident
Mar 12, 2015
Mileage
137,000 mi
Driver assistanceSuspension
Filed Jan 9, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 66 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AS THE SPEEDOMETER DECREASED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH, LANDING 80 FEET AWAY. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE AXLES WERE FRACTURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE UNKNOWN INJURIES SUSTAINED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF THE VEIHCLE WAS INCLUDED OR REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10671453
Incident
Jan 1, 2015
Mileage
56,000 mi
Body & structureSteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 13, 2014

POPPING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF CAR. NOISE OCCURS WITH ACCELERATION, BRAKING, SHIFTING TRANSMISSION OR PASSING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR ROUGH ROADS. GENERALLY OCCURS AT LOWER SPEEDS, LESS THAN 35MPH, BUT OCCURS WITH HIGHER SPEEDS AS WELL, ALTHOUGH NOT AS FREQUENTLY. (POSSIBLY COMING FROM SUB-FRAME OR SUB-FRAME BOLTS?) *TR

NHTSA ID
10664087
Incident
Dec 13, 2014
Mileage
160,000 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Apr 7, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

SWERVED TO MISS A DEER, RAN OFF THE ROAD HIT A LIGHT POLE ON PASSENGER SIDE,TORE OFF FRONT TIER AND SUSPENSION, CAR ROLLED A COUPLE OF TIMES, BLEW OUT MOST OF THE WINDOWS, TORE UP THE WHOLE INTERIOR, SLID INTO A GUARD RAIL AND LANDED UP RIGHT, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED! I BROKE MY SHOULDER, COLLAR BONE AND HAND, THE CAR HAD BRAND NEW TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10577911
Incident
Mar 13, 2014
Mileage
178,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Aug 3, 2012
Crash reported

WHILE BACKING CAR STARTED TO JERK DUE TO TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM CAUSED DISTRACTION AND I PAUSED THE CAR AND LOOKED AT DASH BOARD AND CONTINUED TO BACK UP HITTING CAR IN PARKING LOT ISLE WAY- HAD THE CAR REPAIRED SPENT $ 900 ON ABS TRACTION CONTROL AND FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND GM WILL NOT DIVULGE WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM- CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE- YOU CANNOT TRUST TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC CAR STOPS WHEN IT SHOULD NOT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10469068
Incident
Jul 18, 2012
Mileage
76,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Dec 31, 2011

BOUGHT 2006 IMPALA LT USED IN JUNE 2009 WITH 41,000 MILES REPLACED THE FACTORY TIRES DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY THEY RODE. STARTED HEARING A GRINDING NOISE THAT GOT LOUDER WITH ACCELERATION MECHANIC SAID ALL FOUR TIRES WERE BAD WEARING ON THE INSIDE. THE TIRES ONLY HAVE 21,000 MILES ON THEM AND MOST OF MY TIRES LAST ME 40,000 MINIMUM. DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT PREMATURE WEAR FOR TIRES ON CHEVY IMPALAS. LOOKING AT ANOTHER $500 + FOR BRAND NEW TIRES IF THE PLACE I BOUGHT THEM DOESN'T UPHOLD THE WARRANTY WHICH IS FOR 50,000 MILES/5 YEARS. I REALLY LIKE THIS CAR BUT THERE A NUMEROUS PROBLEMS MAJOR AND MINOR GM NEEDS TO FOCUS MORE ON QUALITY. *KB

NHTSA ID
10441928
Incident
Dec 30, 2011
Suspension
Filed Aug 12, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE BRAKES INSPECTED, SHE WAS NOTIFIED THAT BOTH FRONT BUSHING ON THE A-FRAME WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ID
10419172
Incident
Aug 9, 2011
Mileage
38,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 27, 2011

CURRENTLY I HAVE 29103 MILES ON IT.I HAD TOOK IT IN SHOP 2 TIMES COMPLAINING ABOUT PROBLEM W/STEERING ,AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL.I KNEW DIFFERENT.NOW THE WARRANTY RAN OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD END WAS COMPLETELY WORN OUT,AND THE DRIVERS SIDE IS BAD ALSO.I'VE CONTACTED CHEVEROLET AND THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO DEALER AND PAY OF COURSE FOR THEM TO TELL ME A THIRD TIME PROBABLY THAT THIS IS NORMAL.I AM SCARED OF THIS CAR,BUT HAVE NO CHOICE EXCEPT TO DRIVE IT .I BELEIVE THIS CAR SLIP THRU FACTURY INSPECTIONS . AS ALSO ROTORS WAS TURN AT ABOUT 4000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 26000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
10416037
Incident
Jun 4, 2007
Mileage
4,000 mi
BrakesEngineOther / unspecified+3 more
Filed Apr 6, 2011

MY 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAS NOTHING BUT ISSUES. WINDOW SCRATCH WHEN GOING UP AND DOWN, TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR NEEDS REPLACED, REMOTE START HAS NO DISTANCE, WATER PUMP LEAKAGE, TRANSMISSION LINE LEAKING, ROTORS, TIRES AND ALIGNMENT WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10394445
Incident
Apr 1, 2010
Mileage
26,000 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Feb 11, 2009

I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA WHICH REQUIRED THE FRONT BRAKES TO HAVE THE ROTORS MACHINED AND REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE FIRST 33,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE USE OF INFERIOR METAL FOR THE ROTORS WHICH COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE HEAT GENERATED BY BRAKING, ESPECIALLY WHEN EXITING FROM A HIGHWAY. ADDITIONALLY, THE FRONT OUTER TIE RODS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT IN THE FIRST 65,000 MILES OF DRIVING BECAUSE THEY HAD BECOME WORN OUT WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT TIRES TO BE LOOSE OR "WOBBLY." *TR

NHTSA ID
10258363
Incident
Feb 5, 2009
Mileage
69,615 mi
EngineSuspension
Filed Feb 5, 2009

I HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR 9 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE FROM THE BEGINNING, THE HEATER WILL NOT HEAT UP AND WHEN IT DOES IT GOES COLD UNLESS YOU ARE PRESSING THE GAS AND WILL NOT DEFROST AND IT KEEPS LOSING FLUID SO THEY REPLACE THE RADIATOR CAP.IT HAS A BAD SHIMMY AND A POPPING IN THE STEERING WHEEL IT HAS LESS THEN 45,000 I REALLY THINK THEY NEED TO CHECK IN ON ALL THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THE 2006 IMPALA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10257582
Incident
Jan 30, 2009
SteeringSuspensionVisibility
Filed Jan 16, 2009

FIRST THE WHEEL HAD A SHIMMY IN IT. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND NEW BRAKES. THAT WASN'T IT . IT WAS THE FRONT BALL JOINT. 2. CAR WOULDN'T HEAT UP. RADIATOR CAP REPLACED AT DEALER FOR 45 DOLLARS. REAR DEFOGGER QUIT WORKING. 4. POWER STEERING OUT NOW AND IT FEELS LIKE THE RACK AND PINION GOING TO FAIL. CAR NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY NOW WITH 64K. I AM TIRED OF THIS LEMON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10255355
Incident
Jan 14, 2009
Mileage
64,000 mi
EngineSteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 17, 2008

I HAVE A 2006 SS IMPALA I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT ON GOING PROBLEMS. 1ST WATERPUMP WENT OUT THEN 2ND DRIVER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED 3RD POWERSTEERING HOSE REPLACED 4TH BATTERY WENT DEAD 5TH POWER STEERING HOSE OUT AGAIN AND TIE ROD ON PASSENGER NEEDS REPLACED ALSO. I'M SO FED UP WITH THIS CAR AND ITS PROBLEMS!THESE HAVE BEEN ON GOING PROBLEMS SINCE 2006. *TR

NHTSA ID
10249061
Incident
Nov 17, 2008
Mileage
43,500 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 15, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, HE HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,681 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ID
10242225
Incident
Aug 14, 2007
Mileage
49,000 mi
SuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Oct 19, 2007

LT RE HER 2006 CHEVY IMPALA LT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A VIBRATION AND THE CAR JUMPING ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS LEADING TO REPLACEMENT OF TIRES; WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF NHTSA KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH TIRES. *KB THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER BRAND OF TIRES, BECAUSE ONE OF THE TIRES HAD EXCESSIVE ROAD FORCE. HOWEVER, THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10207144
Incident
Jan 8, 2007

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 .