Page 11 of 11 · complaints 501–524 of 524

2006 Chevrolet Impala complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2006 record →

Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft
Filed Apr 13, 200720,500 milesNY

LEASED 2006 IMPALA LT 3/06. 2/07-FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS POWER STEERING LINE BLEW WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. HAD TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS FIXED. THEY LEFT ALL THE FLUID ALL OVER ENGINE AND BRAKES. SHORTLY AFTER, EXPERIENCED CLANKING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER FIRST TIME, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, COULD BE LEFT OVER POWER STEERING FLUID FROM THE BLOWOUT, CAUSING NOISE ON MOVING PARTS. ALSO NOTICED TIRES WERE WEARING. GOT OIL CHANGE AND 3RD TIRE ROTATION FOR VEHICLE. TIRES STILL WEARING IN FRONT AND NOISE BECOMING MORE PROMINENT IN FRONT. TOOK BACK TO DEALER, SAID IT WAS A TRANS AXLE PROBLEM, AND WAS ALSO CAUSING AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. THEY CORRECTED THE TRANS AXLE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY, BUT SAID THE ALIGNMENT AND EXCESSIVE WEAR ON TIRES WAS MY PROBLEM. THIS DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT, A PROBLEM ON THE VEHICLE CAUSED ANOTHER PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. THEY SAID THEY ALIGNMENT WAS OK NOW. I ASKED IF THEY CHECKED AND THEY SAID NO, IT WOULD BE OKAY SINCE THE TRANS AXLE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. THEY SAID I COULD COMPLAIN, THEY JUST FOLLOW THE RULES FROM UP ABOVE. *AK

Tires
Filed Apr 6, 200712,000 milesFL

AUTOMOBILE HAS A BOUNCY RIDE. FRONT RIGHT AXLE HAS BEEN REPLACED AS WELL AS TIRES REPLACED. RIDE IS STILL BOUNCY, ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING THROUGH FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. *AK

Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Apr 5, 2007CA

STATE OF NEVEDA TRAFFIC ACCIDENT REPORT. DRIVER FAILED TO DECREASE SPEED AND THE FRONT OF V1 STRUCK THE REAR OF V2 WHICH CAUSED THE V2 TO VEER RIGHT INTO THE PATH OF V3. *MC *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Apr 1, 2007VA

2006 CHEVY IMPALA SS HAS HAD SEVERAL MECHANICAL ISSUES MOST RECENTLY FLAT TIRES. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS A FRONT RIGHT TIRE LOOSING AIR SLOWLY. TODAY THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WENT FLAT SUDDENLY AND ON THE INTERSTATE. THE DAMAGED SECTION OF TIRE WAS ON THE INSIDE AND APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN PUNCTURED BY ANOTHER PIECE OF THE SUSPENSION. THE DEALER SHIP INSISTS THAT I NEED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS EVERYTIME. THE CAR IS AN UNBELIEVABLE INCONVENIENCE. *JB

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Mar 27, 200716,600 milesIL

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT 2 TIMES, COULD NOT CONTROL CAR. THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT. *JB

Air Bags › Side/WindowCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 26, 20074,300 milesSC

SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. HAD A CAR IMPACT MY CAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AT THE DRIVER'S DOOR. GLASS IN DOOR SHATTERED. DRIVER ONLY SUFFERED A SMALL SCRAPE ON BACK OF SHOULDER.*AK

Air Bags
Filed Mar 17, 200733,124 milesLA

THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO TAKE THE KEY OUT. IT IS STILL IN THE ON POSITION. THE WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON.THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON.THE SERVICE TIREMONITOR SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON AND I JUST TOOK IT TO THE SHOP LAST WEEK FOR THE FOURTH TIME FOR THESE SAME PROBLEMS.WE'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR 5 MONTHS AND THIS COINTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM.

Steering › Rack and Pinion › Rack
Filed Mar 5, 200711,718 milesNY

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WHEN SHE DROVE THE 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH(11718 FAILURE MILEAGE SHE HEARD A PINGING NOISE, BUT THE VEHICLE DROVE WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO NEEDED TO DUPLICATE THE PINGING, BUT COULD NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON ANOTHER OCCASION AND THEY REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION, AND SINCE THEN THE CONTACT HAD NOT HEARD THE PINGING NOISE SINCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12000.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › RetractorCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 1, 200752,000 milesIA

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH, THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE SNOWY, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HIT A PATCH OF ICE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT, AND WENT DOWN INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONSER DID NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. *AK UPDATED 03/07/07. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jan 10, 200712,100 milesIN

MY COMPLAINT PROBABLY DOES NOT WARRANT A RECALL, BUT SHOULD BE HANDLED BY CONSUMER NOTIFICATION. MY 2006 CHEVY IMPALA HAS DEVELOPED A FUEL RELATED PROBLEM THAT CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ACTIVATE. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE USE OF E-85 FUEL. THE COMPUTER DETECTS HIGH ALCOHOL CONTENT IN THE FUEL. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH BOTH A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND BY FLUSHING OUT THE E-85 FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM AND RESETTING THE COMPUTER. THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS LACK OF PROPER INSTRUCTION, FROM THE DEALER, IN THE USE OF E-85. I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED THAT AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK WITH E-85, THE VEHICLE MUST BE DRIVEN A MINIMUM OF 11 MILES, BEFORE SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. THIS GIVES THE SENSOR IN THE FUEL SYSTEM SUFFICIENT TIME TO ADJUST TO THE FUEL. THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS SWITCHED FROM CONVENTIONAL E-10 GAS, TO E-85. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS PROCEDURE, UNTIL AFTER THE PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED. GM SHOULD NOTIFY ALL CONSUMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED 2006 AND 2007 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FLEX-FUEL ENGINES OF THIS REQUIREMENT. AFTER THE PROBLEM OCCURS, THE DEALER NEEDS TO PERFORM THE RESET PROCEDURE FOR THE FUEL COMPUTER. THIS PROCEDURE REQUIRES APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS. IT IS NOT A SERIOUS DEFECT, BUT IT IS UNNECESSARY. THE DEALERS SHOULD INFORM CUSTOMERS, WHEN THE VEHICLES ARE DELIVERED, OF THIS PROCEDURE. *JB

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Dec 26, 200621,000 milesMI

I PURCHASED A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA LTZ IN DECEMBER OF 2005 AND APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO I STARTED TO RECEIVE A MESSAGE FROM THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO OUR LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER ON AT LEAST FIVE OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS MORE THAN FULFILLED IT'S PART OF THE BARGAIN IN THAT THEY HAVE RE-PROGRAMMED THE SYSTEM ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS AND HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AT THE SUGGESTION OF THE FACTORY REP. INDIVIDUAL SENSOR ON THE PROBLEM WHEEL, (RIGHT REAR), HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED, ALL TO NO AVAIL. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CONTACTS BETWEEN THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER DURING THIS TIME. THE LAST THAT I HEARD AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE AT THE SHOP FOR TWO DAYS WAS THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR A CALL BACK FROM A SERVICE REP AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONSIDERING REPLACING THE ENTIRE RIGHT WHEEL AND HUB. THIS WAS ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AND I STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *JB

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Hose, Piping, and Connections
Filed Dec 26, 20069,000 milesNY

AT 9000 MI. A LOUD WHINNYING NOISE IN THE ENGINE OCCURRED. DEALER DISCOVERED THE STEERING FLUID WAS LOW DUE TO A LOWER HOSE LEAKING AT A CLAMP. THE CLAMP WAS REPLACED AND AFTER A SHORT WHILE (ABOUT 25 MI.) THE PUMP NOISE SUBSIDED. MAYBE THIS WILL REQUIRE A RECALL DUE TO A NHSTA REPORT OF A BLOWN HOSE. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Dec 20, 200611,000 milesWA

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE IS NOT READING THE TIRE PRESSURE CORRECTLY. THE KEYLESS ENTRY DOESN'T FUNCTION CORRECTLY EITHER. IN ORDER FOR THE KEYLESS ENTRY TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY, CONTACT HAS TO BE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 5 TIMES AND HE CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH HIS VEHICLE. CONTACT CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNTIL FURTHER THE MANUFACTURE PROVIDES INFORMATION ON HOW TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAS COPIES OF THE INVOICES IF NEEDED.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Dec 4, 200689,696 milesNC

SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. *JB

Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Sector
Filed Nov 30, 200626,646 milesFL

GRINDING WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS TURNED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID GMC WAS AWARE OF A STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN GREASED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILE INTERVALS. I CONTACTED GMC AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT YES THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN SOME OF THE IMPALAS BUT IT WAS COVERED IN THE 30,000 MILE WARRANTY. I ASKED WHAT ABOUT AFTER THAT THEY SAID SINCE IT WAS NOT ALL CARS IT WOULD THEN BE A MAINTENANCE ITEM. DEALERS ARE CHARGING ABOUT $100.00 TO GREASE THE STEERING COLUMN. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS CAR IS JUST NOW 1 YEAR OLD AND IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING I WOULD LIKE THEM PERMANENTLY FIXED. GMC SAID SINCE NO DEATHS HAVE BEEN CAUSED AND IT WAS ONLY SOME CARS, THAT IS WAS NOT REALLY WORTH THEIR TIME TO HAVE THEM PERMANENTLY FIXED. NO ON TOP OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE WE MUST PAY TO HAVE A DEFAULT IN THE STEERING COLUMN FIXED ON A REGULAR BASIS AS LONG AS WE OWN THE VEHICLE. WHAT ABOUT INDIVIDUALS THAT CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FIXED ON A REGULAR BASIS AND IT CAUSES ACCIDENTS? PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT. *NM

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 26, 200610,111 milesNH

INTERMITTENT PLASTIC BURNING SMELL. DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE??? DRIVERS WINDOW ALSO SCREECHES LIKE MAD WHEN PUT DOWN. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Sep 28, 2006CA

CAR SPEEDS UP WITH NO CRUISE CONTROL WHEN I THE HIT BRAKE IT GOES BACK TO NORMAL SPEED. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. CAR WANTS TO STOP AT STOP SIGNS MUST STEP ON GAS TO KEEP RUNNING. DRIVING ALONG CAR SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE ITS NOT GETTING GAS AND SHAKES AND MISSES. AIR CONDITION WORKS SOMETIMES BLOWS COLD THEN GOES TO HOT AIR. I THINK THIS IS UNSAFE. DEALER CAN'T FIND PROBLEMS CHEVY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS A 2006 CHEV IMPALA WITH 3.9 V6 ENGINE 8400 MILES ON IT . WE BOUGHT CAR IN MAY 2006 AND PROBLEMS STARTED RIGHT AWAY. *JB

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 11, 20062,200 milesMI

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH IN THE RAIN ON THE HIGHWAY, TRAFFIC STOPPED ABRUPTLY, CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. ONE INJURY WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH FOR TRANSPORT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR POSSIBLE BACK INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Aug 27, 2006CA

I PURCHASED A 2006 CHEVY IMPALA ON MARCH 1, 2006. IT WAS PURCHASED UNDER THE NAME OF VIRGINIA BRADY. I GOT MARRIED IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. I HAD MY CAR IN 3 TIMES TO FIX THE DRIVERS WINDOW. IT SCREECHES LIKE SOMEONE'S FINGER NAILS ON A BLACK BOARD. TO ME THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AS WHEN THE WINDOW SCREECHES WHEN YOU PUT DOWN THE WINDOW. A PERSON CRINGES AND SOMETIMES WILL CLOSE THEIR EYES. I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL THAT I DO NOT DO THIS AS IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE SCREECHING HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR SITS IN THE SUN FOR A WHILE. IN COOL WEATHER IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN WAS MAY 22, 2006. THE REPORT THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SEEMED LIKE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN. THE SECOND TIME WAS JUNE 8, 2006 AND THE LAST TIME WAS JULY 14, 2006. ON JULY 14, I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A PROBLEM WITH A NUMBER OF 2006 CHEVY IMPALAS. I HAVE THE PAPER WORK THAT CHEVY ISSUED ON MAY 18, 2006 ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NOW I AM SUPPOSE TO BRING BACK MY CAR AND LEAVE IT AGAIN. WHY AM I PAYING FOR A NEW CAR THAT SEEMS TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE CHEVY DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THE NEXT PROBLEM THAT I CONSIDER A SAFETY PROBLEM IS THE DRIVER'S SIDE READ VIEW MIRROR. I AM A TALL PERSON SO I DIDN'T NOTICE THIS BEFORE, ALL I NOTICED WAS A CRACK UNDERNEATH THE MIRROR WHEN I BACKED INTO THE DRIVE WAY AT HOME. NOW I FOUND OUT THAT THE MIRROR DOESN'T GO TO THE RIGHT FAR ENOUGH FOR SAFETY. IF SOMEO

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Aug 25, 20066,000 milesPA

BRAKE RECALL IS NOT LISTED ON SITE FOR IMPALA 2006 SS.. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES WHICH THE RECALL CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE UPGRADE IS NOT COMPLETED CAR IS HARDER TO STOP. GM AND TED EVENS (CS DEPARTMENT) FROM THE CHEVY DID NOT THINK OF IT HAS A BIG PROBLEM. HOWEVER I CAN TELL YOU MY CAR WILL STOP MUCH BETTER NOW. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Aug 3, 20069,000 milesLA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AN OBJECT WAS DRAGGING UNDER THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THREE OF THE FOUR PLASTIC CLIPS THAT HELD ON THE HEAT SHIELD WERE MISSING. THE REPAIR SHOP MADE A TEMPORARY FIX WITH PLASTIC TIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE HEAT SHIELD AND FUEL TANK. *AK

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Hose, Piping, and Connections
Filed Aug 1, 2006IL

AT ABOUT 5000 MILES ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA THE POWER STEERING LINE BLEW OUT. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT, AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, SLOWLY I MIGHT ADD. THE CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 12,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM NOTICING SOME NOISES IN THE STEERING. WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND GAS IS APPLIED, IT MAKES A WEIRD CLICKING SOUND. THIS NOISE ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT. I AM TRYING TO DELAY BRINGING THE CAR TO THE SHOP, BECAUSE OF THE INCONVENIENCE OF NOT HAVING MY CAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT CARS DO HAVE DEFECTS AND JUST THOUGHT I WOULD REPORT THIS IN CASE IT IS SOMETHING SERIOUS. I WOULD HATE TO HAVE MINE OR SOMEONE ELSE'S STEERING GO OUT DURING DRIVING AND SOMEONE GET HURT. I REALLY HOPE THIS IS NO BIG DEAL, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH LOOKING INTO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND MAY EVERYONE HAVE A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS LIFE. *JB

Tires
Filed Jul 25, 2006CA

2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA REAR TIRES HAD A SLOW LEAK CAUSING TIRES TO GO FLAT. *KB THE VEHICLE WAS A RENTAL. THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS RENTED THE CONSUMER NOTICED INSTABILITY IN THE REAR END BUT ASSUMED IT WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THE INSTABILITY WAS NOTICED. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT NAILS IN THE TIRE CAUSED THE SLOW LEAK. THE RENTAL AGENCY LODGED A CLAIM AGAINST THE CONSUMER FOR THE DAMAGED TIRE. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Jul 21, 200626,500 milesNY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TWO REAR BRAKE SYSTEM ROTORS FRACTURED PREMATURELY WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED 26000 MPH. *AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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