2007 Chevrolet Impala

I HAVE A 07 CHEVY IMPALA SS. I REPLACED THE TIRES SEPT 28, 2009, HAD THEM ROTATED AT A GM DEALER IN JAN 10 WHEN I GOT AN OIL CHANGE. MY HUSBAND WAS DOING SOME BRAKE WORK 2 WEEKS AGO AND NOTICED MY TIRES WERE COMPLETELY BALD ON THE INSIDE EDGES. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, MY CAR HAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT (TSB # 08032) AND GM ENGINEERS CREATED A CAMBER FIX KIT FOR THE ISSUE BUT GM WILL ONLY PAY FOR REPAIRS IF THE CAR IS CODED AS A "POLICE VEHICLE". I WAS ON HOLD FOR OVER AN HOUR IN AN HOUR AN A HALF CONVERSATION WITH CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE THIS WEEK. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD DOCUMENT IT BUT BASICALLY SORRY FOR YOUR LUCK. I ASKED FOR A MANAGER AND AFTER A 3 MINUTE CONVERSATION SHE HUNG UP ON ME SAYING SHE WOULD NOTE MY CASE AS "DISSATISFIED" BUT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY WOULD DO. SHE SAID ALL I COULD DO WAS CONTACT NHTSA AND PLACE A COMPLAINT. I DON'T BELIEVE GM IS STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AS THEIR NEW TV AD ELUDES WHEN THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM, FIX IT FOR THEIR FLEET CUSTOMERS, BUT REFUSE TO HELP THE AVERAGE CITIZEN. FROM REVIEWING THE COMPLAINT SITE MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR IMPALA. GM WON'T HELP THE AVERAGE CITIZEN FIX THIS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT UNLESS A RECALL IS ISSUED; THESE WERE THE WORDS OF THE CUSTOMER CARE REP I SPOKE WITH. PLEASE REVIEW ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, REQUEST GM PROVIDE THEIR COMPANY STATS ON THE FLEET VEHICLES THEY'VE FIXED, AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED AS MY CAR IS UNDER FULL WARRANTY AT THIS TIME BUT THEY LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AS AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE NOT A REAR SUSPENSION ISSUE (WHICH IS WHAT IT IS) TO GET THEMSELVES OUT OF PAYING FOR THEIR MISTAKES. *TR

2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAS STRONG ODOR (SKUNK-LIKE SMELL) THAT RADIATES FROM THE VEHICLE'S INTERIOR WHEN THE OUTSIDE CLIMATE BEGINS TO WARM UP. GM ISSUED A TSB (#08-08-110-019) FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT REPAIR VEHICLES THAT ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM PERTAINS TO INCORRECT PARTS (A RUBBER BRAKE BOOSTER BOOT AND INSTRUMENT PANEL INSULATOR PAD) INSTALLED IN VEHICLES BETWEEN JANUARY 1 2007 AND MARCH 1 2007 THAT EMIT THIS ODOR. THE SMELL IS SO SEVERE AT TIMES THAT IT CAUSES SEVERE HEADACHES AND NAUSEA TO THE VEHICLES OCCUPANTS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CAR HAD TO BE STOPPED AND ALL OCCUPANTS EXIT WHILE THE CAR "AIRED-OUT". SURELY, STRONG CHEMICALS ARE BEING DISBURSED IN A SMALL SPACE THAT IS MAKING PEOPLE SICK AND GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

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.

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT ACCIDENT YESTERDAY GOING APPROX.. 35MPH AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO MY LEFT SIDE OF MY NECK, SHOULDER, ARM AND BACK AS I TOOK THE FULL IMPACT OF THE CRASH WITH MY BODY. I HAD MY SEATBELT ON, THANK GOD. I HAVE A 2007 CHEVY IMPALA THAT I BOUGHT FROM ENTERPRISE IN 2007. I JUST SAW AN ARTICLE FROM 8/2009 WHERE SUITS ARE BEING RAISED AGAINST ENTERPRISE REGARDING 2006-2008 CHEVY IMPALAS AND AIRBAGS WHOSE SEVENTH VIN NUMBER IS A 5. CAN YOU TELL ME IF I HAVE CAUSE FOR CONCERN? [XXX] *TR

WHEN I AM COMING FROM A STOP AND BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE AT MODERATE RATE BETWEEN 5-25 MILES MY CAR JERKS VERY HARD. THE FEELING IS SOMETIMES TO THE POINT IT FEELS AS IF I HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER CAR. THE FEELING IS VERY FORCEFUL AND IT FEELS AS IF IT BEGINS IN UNDER THE REAR SEATS AND THE REAR TIRES. IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE A DAY AND OTHER TIMES EVERYTIME I PRESS THE GAS UPON COMING OUT OF A COMPLETE STOP AND SOMETIMES IT DOES THIS FORCEFUL JERK/THUMP/SHRUG CONSECUTIVELY AS I COME OUT OF THE COMPLETE STOP AND THEN AS I ACCELERATE A LITTLE MORE. HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO CERTIFIED GM SERVICE CENTERS ON 3 OCCASIONS AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. AND AFTER THE LAST VISIT THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I AM CONCERNED AS WHAT TO DO. AND THE PROBLEM IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. IT HAPPENS DAILY AND ON MOST OCCASIONS EVERYTIME I STOP. *TR

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