2007 Chevrolet Impala

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE REPAIRS WHEN SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. DUE TO THE DEFECT FOUR TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW TIRES AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, NUMBER 01-02- 32-00101 (STEERING); ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 618086. THE CONTACT HAD SIGNIFICANT CONCERN OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,717.

I PURCHISED THIS CAR IN APRIL OF '08 AND IT HAS BEEN FAILING SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THERE IS A VIBRATION WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR THAT MAKES YOUR BODY BOUNCE. THE DEALER STATES THEY DON'T FEEL IT, BUT I HAVE CRONIC BACK PAIN FROM IT. I HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND NO FIX. I TOOK IT TO AN ALINEMENT SHOP THEY TOLD ME THAT THE STUTS WERE SET OUT FROM THE FACTORY SO THE TIRES DON'T HIT THE GROND FLAT LIKE THEY SHOULD. THE PROBLEM CAUSES MY TIRES TO SLIP OUT OF BALANCE CONSTANTLY MAKING THE VIBRATION WORSE. MY WINDSHIELD AND DASH BOTH MAKE CRAKING NOISES NOW FROM ALL THE VIBRATION IN THE CAR. IT MAKES FOR A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE RIDE. I AM ON MY 3RD SET OF TIRES AT 28.300. THE BRAKES DON'T WORK PROPERLY, THE DEALER HAS TURNED THE ROTORS TWICE FOR WARPING. NOW THEY ARE GROOVED AND THEY TELL ME THAT "IT'S NORMAL" AND I DON'T HAVE THE NORMAL STOPING POWER I SHOULD. THE POWER STERING SQUIELS, BUT THEY CAN'T HEAR IT. THE FRONT END HAS A BANGING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS,"THEY DON'T HEAR",BUT I CAN FEEL IT IN THE FLOOR BOARD WHEN IT HAPPENS. THE CAR IS SLUGGISH WHEN EXCELERATING,"NO PROBLEM FOUND". THE FUEL ECONEMY HAS DECREASED AS WELL. WHILE ON AN INCLINE THE CAR ROLES BACKWARD LIKE A STANDARD,"IT'S NORMAL" I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR DO THAT WITHOUT THE TRANY BEING BAD. WHEN STOPED AT A LIGHT THE TRANY TAKES A COUPLE OF SECONDS TO REENGAGE FOR TAKE OFF. TPS REPEATED PROBLEMS NOT WORKING POPERLY. THE CARS HANDLING IS VERY POOR IN THE RAIN,SNOW,OR ICE. THE MUFFLER SYSTEM HAS A LEAK AS WELL.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AND DETECTED THAT BOTH REAR TIRES WERE COMPLETELY DEFLATED. A WHEEL ALIGNMENT FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH A WHEEL ALIGNMENT SERVICE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE COST OF THE SERVICE REPAIR WAS $500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

DEAR NHTSA, PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE FOLLOWING SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT HAVE AFFECTED MY VEHICLE SAFETY IN ADDITION TO OTHER CHEVY IMPALA DRIVERS: VEHICLE: 2007 CHEVY IMPALA. 65,000 MILES, 1 OWNER, IMPALA LS 3.5 L V6 SAFETY CONCERN # 1- INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT - GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL CLICKS DURING DRIVING & TEMPORARILY JAMS CAUSING A FEELING OF DISCONNECTION FROM THE ROAD. IT HAS CAUSED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, AND I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS IS AN ONGOING DESIGN PROBLEM FOR MANY GM MODELS(AS PER MY GOOGLE SEARCH), GM REFUSES TO MAKE CORRECTIONS TO THE DESIGN NOR ISSUE A RECALL. --------------------------------- SAFETY CONCERN # 2- POWER STEERING PUMP- POWER STEERING PUMP LOOSING EFFECTIVENESS & TURNING PERFORMANCE, MEANING PUMP MAY BE FAILING AT ANY TIME. THIS TOO IS ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVY MODELS. PLEASE ENCOURAGE GM TO EXPAND POWER STEERING PUMP RECALL TO INCLUDE CHEVY IMPALA MODELS. ---------------------------- SAFETY CONCERN # 3- REAR BACK SEAT CENTER SEAT BELT LOOSES TENSION WHEN USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH INFANT CAR SEAT. WHEN VEHICLE GOES AROUND 30 MILE/HR TURNS OR MILD TURNS, SEAT BELT LOCKING MECHANISM(THE ONE THAT HOLDS THE SEAT BELT TENSE DURING BRAKING) DISENGAGES & PERMITS THE SEAT BELT TO LOOSEN CAUSING CHILD SEAT TO MOVE ACROSS THE SEAT & OR IN ONE SERIOUS CASE WITH MY SON FLIP SIDEWAYS(LUCKILY MY WIFE CAUGHT THE SEAT AS IT TIPPED SIDEWAYS). I HAVE FOLLOWED ALL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AS PER CAR SEAT MANUFACTURER (EVENFLOW AURA TRAVEL SYSTEM). THIS IS A CONCERN, SINCE THE TENSION ONLY STAYS FIRM IN ABRUPT STOPS, THIS LEADS ME TO QUESTION THE SAFETY IN A ROLL OVER SCENARIO. I HAVE SINCE USED THE SEAT LEVEL CAR SEAT HOOKS SINCE THE PAST FEW EVENTS( THIS GREATLY REDUCES THE EASE OF SHARING THE CAR SEAT BETWEEN VEHICLES). MY OTHER VEHICLE(NISSAN ALTIMA) HAS NO SUCH PROBLEM, THE TENSION MECHANISM ON THE ALTIMA REMAINS FIRM

WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, I FELT A "CLUNK" AND MY CAR BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, BUT I COULD CONTACT THE DEALER AND HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST PASSED THE WARRANTY MILEAGE BY 400 MILES. I DID CONTACT THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER AND HE STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BROKEN AT THE WELD. HE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE.. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE RIGHT FRONT KNUCKLE JOINT BROKE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE NUDGED AGAINST THE CURB CAUSING THE WHOLE FRONT WHEEL AND OTHER COMPONENTS TO DISENGAGE. THERE WERE THIRTY-THREE PARTS REPLACED DUE TO THE SEVERE DAMAGES. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. HOWEVER, THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE COLLISION CAUSED THE DAMAGE, NOT THE PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN WHICH THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,325. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,422. UPDATED 03/19/2010. *LJUPDATED 09/14/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENT, THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE PREVIOUSLY NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER IT WAS BROUGHT TO HIS ATTENTION AT THE DEALERSHIP. HE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,320. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,283.