Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2006)
544 consumer complaints on file.
- #10273126June 8, 2009STEERING
WE HAVE A 2006 CHEVY IMPALA AND THE STEERING LOCKS UP. IT LOCKS UP AT VARYING SPEEDS AND VARYING LENGTHS OF TIME. YESTERDAY WE WERE FORCED OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. THE MECHANICS SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE ALONG SIDE US WHEN WE CROSSED THE OTHER LANES OF TRAFFIC. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10269434May 19, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2006 IMPALA WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE HEATER OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT PRODUCE HEAT UNLESS YOU ARE REVVING ENGINE. PROBLEM IS THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM IS DESIGNED DEFECTIVELY SUCH THAT IT IS PRONE TO AIR POCKETS. IF AIR POCKET DEVELOPS, CHEVY HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN DETAILING A COMPLICATED PROCEDURE WHEREBY THE SYSTEM HAS TO BE DRAINED AND ANTIFREEZE THEN PUT BACK IN SYSTEM. IF A MECHANIC IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS SERVICE BULLETIN, HE MAY TELL YOU ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET, INCORRECT ANTIFREEZE MIXTURE, ETC. THIS PROBLEM MAY REOCCUR EVERYTIME THE CLOSED SYSTEM IS OPENED IF NOT THEN CLOSED AS PER THE SERVICE BULLETIN INSTRUCTIONS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10269033May 18, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS TO ROUTINELY REPLACE THE BATTERY. ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN THE BATTERY DROPPED BELOW 8 VOLTS, IT LOCKED THE TRANSMISSION AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,700. UPDATED 05/21/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD A GARMIN GPS PLUGGED IN MOST OF THE TIME WHICH DRAINED THE BATTERY, BUT IT SHOULDN'T RESULT IN DEAD CELLS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE BATTERY. UPDATED 05/27/09.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10267615May 3, 2009STEERING
2006 IMPALA SS POWER STEERING LEAK. DRIVING AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. I HAD TO HAVE TOWED IN AND COST ME OVER $300 TO REPAIR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10267544May 2, 2009TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I OWN A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 TIRES AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT (M-S P225/55R17 95T, DOT M643 BHDR 3905). I WAS ADVISED THAT ALL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECT WHICH CAUSED THE TREAD TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE IN THE SAME SPOT. THE TIRES STILL HAD FROM 7/32 TO 9/32 TREAD REMAINING. HAVING TAKEN OFF ONE TIRE TO INSPECT IT PROPERLY, THE DEFECT WAS FOUND TO BE SO BAD THAT THE DEALER WOULD NOT REMOUNT THE TIRE ON TO THE VEHICLE UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW. AT THE DIRECTION OF GOODYEAR, THE DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE THEN TAKEN TO BE INSPECTED BY A GOODYEAR DEALER AND THE DEFECT WAS AGAIN CONFIRMED. THE IDENTIFIED DEFECT COULD CAUSE FAILURE OF A TIRE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT ADVANCE WARNING. AS A RESULT ALL TIRES OF THIS MANUFACTURING LOT SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10267375April 30, 2009FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE GAS PEDAL SENSOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER TO THE ENGINE. THE PART IS GM25830023. I HAVE HAD THIS TO A CHEVROLET DEALER TO HAVE FIXED, BUT THE PART IS UNAVAILABLE FROM GM. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE 2 OTHER IMPALAS WAITING FOR THE PART AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO USE MY CAR SINCE APRIL 14TH. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10266118April 20, 2009VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
IN JANUARY 2007 I PURCHASED A 2006 CHEVY IMPALA AND APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER I HAD MY FIRST PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. FIRST PROBLEM: "SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM" (7/07) I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SENSORS WERE REPLACED FOR FREE IN TWO OF THE TIRES. I HAVE SINCE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I DID NOT HAVE THIS FIXED AT ALL IN 2008 BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSORS. I JUST LET THE MONITOR CONTINUE TO BLINK ON AND OFF. I HAD IT REPLACED IN 4/09 DUE TO OTHER STANDARD REPLACEMENTS. SECOND PROBLEM: HEATING (FOUND PROBLEM 10/07) TO GET HEAT IN THE CAR YOUR FOOT MUST BE ON THE PEDDLE AND THE CAR MUST BE MOVING. THE MOMENT YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE PEDDLE TO PRESS THE BRAKE, THE HEATER GOES OUT AND THE AIR TURNS COLD. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED IN 4/09, WHEN THE OTHER REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE FIXED. THIRD PROBLEM: ON AND OFF JERKING (9/07) IF YOU ARE AT A STOP LIGHT AND IT TURNS GREEN. YOU PRESS ON THE GAS TANK BUT THE CAR DOES NOT GO ANYWHERE FOR A MOMENT. THEN IT JERKS AND TAKES OFF. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A DELAY IN THE THINKING PROCESS LIKE THE CAR IS NOT AWARE IT SHOULD GO WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS. IN 4/09 I ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM WITH THE DEALERSHIP BUT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG WITH THE CAR AND OF COURSE IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN THEY TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10265204April 14, 2009SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN I HAD TOO STOP QUICKLY AT A STOP LIGHT APPLYING THE BRAKES SIGNIFICANTLY ALL I DID IS SKID THE ABS NEVER WORKED AND NO INDICATION LIGHT CAME ON I THEN HAD TOO STOP SLOW IN THE SNOW SAME SCENARIO. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10263879April 1, 2009SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH DOWNHILL, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE BRAKE ROTORS. THE TECHNICIAN RESURFACED THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,500. UPDATED 12/08/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES PULSATED WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. UPDATED 12/10/09
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10262779March 23, 2009STEERING
I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND WENT TO TURN ONTO MY STREET AND POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND CAME CLOSE TO HITTING A UTILITY POLE. UPON INSPECTION I NOTICED HYDRAULIC PIPING FOR THE POWER STEERING HAD SPRUNG A LEAK. IN SEARCHING FOR A BULLETIN I DISCOVERED #060232014. NHTSA CAMPAIGN#10020769. I HAVE SET AN APPOINTMENT AT A DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR. HOWEVER,THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE HAD FATAL OUTCOME. I BELIEVE THAT THIS GOES BEYOND A SERVICE BULLETIN AND SHOULD BE FURTHER INVESIGATED. LOSS OF LIFE SHOULD NOT BE THE DETERMINING FACTOR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10262864March 23, 2009STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF MAJOR MICHIGAN HIGHWAY (I-75). AS I HEADED INTO A RIGHT CURVE ON THE HIGHWAY, MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A VERY LOUD SQUEALING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD AND MY STEERING WHEEL PULLED OUT OF MY HANDS, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL BACK STRAIGHT. IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER MY VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT, SO I PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY, I SHUT MY VEHICLE OFF. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE CLOSEST CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE POWER STEERING LINE HAD BURST, CAUSING A RAPID LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID AND LACK OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THEY REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE LINE AT A TOTAL COST OF $438. I RELUCTANTLY PAID FOR THE REPAIRS AFTER FINDING OUT THIS DEFECT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE "GM CERTIFIED 100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY". WHAT I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND IS WHY WOULD A PRODUCT THAT SERVES SUCH A VITAL SAFETY FEATURE IN A VEHICLE, NOT BE HELD TO HIGHER QUALITY STANDARDS AND BE COVERED FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. BASED ON THE RECENT NUMBER OF INCIDENTS REPORTED BY CONSUMERS FOR THIS SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL, I FEEL THIS TYPE OF DEFECT NEEDS TO RECALLED BY GM BEFORE SERIOUS INJURIES OR LIVES ARE LOST. I DON'T THINK I HAVE BEEN MORE PANICKED BEHIND THE WHEEL THAN I WAS AT THAT TIME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10261982March 16, 2009VISIBILITY
WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING BUT IN A STOPPED POSITION, IE., AT A STOP LIGHT, THE HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR - ON ANY OF THE DIAL OPTIONS, I.E, FEET, FACE, COMBINATION, ETC. WHEN DRIVING, IT THEN HEATS, BLOWS WARM AIR. WHEN I HAD MY CAR INTO THE DEALER LAST YEAR (MAHOWALDS MOTORS IN NEW PRAGUE WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR) FOR THE NORMAL SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE, THEY WERE TOLD ABOUT THIS. THE SERVICE MANAGER PULLED UP A BULLETIN FROM MARCH OF 2008 AND IT STATED THAT THIS MAKE/MODEL CAR WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IT TOLD THE DEALERSHIP HOW TO FIX IT (NO PARTS INVOLVED - JUST TAKING OFF SOME HOSES AS THERE WAS AIR BUBBLES OR BLOCKAGE THAT WAS CAUSING THIS - AND THEY WANTED SOME WHERE AROUND $186.00 TO DO THIS.). I ASKED WHY THIS WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE WHEN THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS, THAT THIS MAKE OF CAR WAS GOING TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND I WAS TOLD THAT AS LONG AS WE DIDN'T BRING IT UP, THEY WERE NOT FIXING IT AS IT WAS NOT A "RECALL", JUST A BULLETIN LETTING THEM KNOW IT WILL HAPPEN. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS PROCESS WHEN A DEALERSHIP OR A HUGE COMPANY LIKE CHEVROLET KNOWS THERE IS A FLAW BUT SITS BACK AND KEEPS THEIR MOUTH SHUT ABOUT IT AND THEN WHEN CONFRONTED THE CUSTOMER IS TOLD IT WILL TAKE $186.00 TO FIX. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT BECAUSE THERE WERE NO 'PARTS' INVOLVED IN THIS REPAIR, THAT THIS WAS THE REASON IT COST THIS MUCH.....IT ALMOST MAKES IT SOUND LIKE, IF THERE DO NOT HAVE ANY PARTS COST TO FALL BACK ON, THEN THEY BOOST UP THE LABOR CHARGES. BOTTOM LINE IS, THE BULLETIN CAME OUT IN MARCH OF 2008, AND MY CAR WAS IN EVERY 3000 MILES FOR THE OIL CHANGE, THIS 'ERROR' REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND NOT 'HIDDEN' IN THE BACKROOM. THIS IS MY COMPLAINT. I HAVE TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THIS DEALERSHIP (WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW), A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND HE SAID HE CAN'T AND WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT....I ASKED HIM TO CALL THE KEY COMPANY ON THIS AND HE SAID THAT ISN'T PART OF HIS JOB. WHERE DOES CUSTOMER SERVICE END THAT IT ISN'T 'PART OF HIS JOB. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10262022March 16, 2009AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
SIDE BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260645March 4, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP THE OTHER DAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED BECAUSE IT STOPPED GETTING HOT AND I WAS PUTTING ANTIFREEZE IN IT ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. IT WOULD ONLY GET HOT IF I WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS OR WAS DRIVING. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS LEAKING FROM MY HEAD GASKET AND THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS OFTEN. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT. IM GOING TO GO TO THE CHEVY DEALER AND SEE IF THEY WILL FIX IT OR NOT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10259773February 24, 2009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.. JERKING WHEN TRYING TO BACK IN A PARKING SPACE. SEALS HAD TO BE REPLACE DUE TO A TRANSMISSION LEAK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10258801February 16, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION; 1 QT EVERY 1500 MILES. IMPALA 2006 SS. 5.3L. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10258768February 16, 2009STEERING
ON FRIDAY, JAN. 23, 2009 I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING ON MY 2006 IMPALA LTZ MILEAGE 45,500. WHILE DRIVING ON A DUAL LANE HWY. WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ALLOWED I TRIED TO TURN LEFT, STEERING VERY STIFF I PULLED OVER, RAISED HOOD SAW SMOKE, CALLED DEALER WAS TOLD COULD NOT GET REPAIRS UNTIL MONDAY. I CALLED TOW TRUCK AS IT WAS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. I ASKED ABOUT A LOANER CAR, NONE AVAILABLE, EXTENDED WARRANTY PAID ALL BUT DEDUCTIBLE. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON MONDAY SEEMED OKAY, AFTER LEAVING WORK PLACE TUESDAY AFTERNOON, LOST MY STEERING AGAIN WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BACK TO DEALER ABOUT FIVE MILES, WAS TOLD THE HOSE HADN'T SEATED PROPERLY TOOK AN HOUR FOR REPAIRS THIS TIME. TODAY STIFFNESS RETURNING. WILL LOOK FOR ANOTHER CAR SOON, LOST CONFIDENCE IN GMC PRODUCTS. PLEASE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10258309February 11, 2009POWER TRAIN, TIRES, STEERING, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR FAILURES WITH THE HEATER BLOWING COOL AIR, THE GEAR SHIFT CHANGING INCORRECTLY, AND THE TIRE MONITOR INDICATOR CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATING. ON JANUARY 30, 2008, THE CONTACT DROVE APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES. SHE THEN PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, FOLLOWED BY FLAMES. SHE QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED AND CAUSED THE FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10258363February 11, 2009SUSPENSION:FRONT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10258138February 9, 2009STEERING
I PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE CAR'S POWER STEERING WAS LIMITED. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY COLD MORNING, AND IT STARTED WORKING PROPERLY. I CHECKED THE FLUID WHEN I STOPPED AND IT SEEMED FINE. A WEEK LATER, I PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE SAME THING! MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT WAS LOW. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, NOT ONLY WAS THERE A BUNCH OF FLUID ON THE DRIVEWAY, BUT YOU COULD SEE HOW I PULLED OUT AND THE STREAM OF FLUID OF WHERE I WENT. THANK GOODNESS, I LEARNED TO DRIVE ON A JEEP THAT HAD NO POWER STEERING!!! IF IT HAD BEEN ONE OF MY TEENAGERS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT STORY. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND CHEVROLET NEEDS TO STEP UP AND PLACE A RECALL ON THESE HOSES!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0