2006 Chevrolet Impala Steering
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD CONSTANTLY SEIZE WITHOUT WARNING WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE FORCE WHEN EXITING A PARKING AREA AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE PARALLEL PARKED DUE TO THE STEERING FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09E005000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND EMITTED A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09E005000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY STEERING COLUMN IN MY IMPALA I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME IMPALA'S BUT WHEN I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER I WAS TOLD MINE WASN'T IN RECALL . YET THERE'S A POPPING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN AND JUST RECENTLY I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY HIGH BEAM LIGHTS THEY WILL SWITCH TO HIGH BEAM WHENEVER I USE MY BLINKER AND I HAVE TO PUSH IN N HOLD IN THE BLINKER SWITCH FOR A FEW MINS BEFORE THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WILL GO OFF ! I'VE BRIGHT LIGHTED SO MANY PPL OVER THIS PROBLEM AND I FEEL VERY GUILTY IF I CAUSED SOMEONE TO CRASH OVER BRIGHT LIGHTING THEM EVEN THOUGH IT'S OUT OF MY CONTROL REALLY . PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT IF MY CAR SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR THIS STEERING KNUCKLE RECALL BC A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS WHAT MAY BE THE ISSUE , THANK YOU . *TR
SOMETIME IN JANUARY OF 2012, I RECEIVED A NOTICED FROM GENERAL MOTORS ABOUT REPAIRING AND REPLACING THE POWER STEERING HOSES OF MY 2006 CHEVY IMPALA. I TOOK MY IMPALA FOR REPAIRS AT A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER IN APRIL 2012. *TR PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE NOTICED ABOUT THE REPAIRS FROM GENERAL MOTORS, I KEPT HEARING A BUZZING SOUND. THE BUZZING SOUND STOPPED WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR STEERING HOSE REPAIRS AS SUGGESTED BY GENERAL MOTORS. ABOUT TWO DAYS AGO, I STARTED TO HEAR THE SAME BUZZING SOUND. I CALLED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER WHICH MADE THE REPAIRS LIED TO ME ABOUT MAKING THE REPAIRS IN NOVEMBER 2009. CHEVY STATED THEY WOULD NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, AN UNUSUAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS 09E005000 (STEERING). MOST RECENTLY, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,580 . UPDATED 12-05-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED IN 2009, THE HIGH PRESSURE STEERING HOSE WAS REPLACED.
I WAS GETTING OFF THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN I JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN FEEL A SHAKING COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL I NOTICED THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WAS ON SO I PULLED OVER THAT'S WHEN IT SHUT DOWN ON ME. I THEN GOT THE WHEEL HUBS AND BALL JOINTS CHANGED BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT IT WAS NOT SO MY MECHANIC RESET THE VEHICLE WENT OFF FOR A DAY THEN CAME BACK ON. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT MADE A CLANKING SOUND. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN PARK AND WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT PARK GEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHO STATED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
MY HUSBAND AND ME WERE ON OUR WAY HOME FROM A FUNERAL, WHEN WERE ABOUT TO TURN INTO OUR SUBDIVISION THE STEERING WHEEL BARELY TURNED AND IS NOW MAKING A HIDEOUS NOISE. WHEN I CALLED ONE OF OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND ADVISED THEM WHAT HAPPENED, MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME $100.00 DOLLARS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. WHEN I GAVE HER MY VIN NUMBER SHE STATED THAT IT WAS NOT LISTED AS ONE OF THE VEHICLES THAT HAD A RECALL. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DETERMINE WHICH CARS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CONSIDERED A RECALL, BUT I DO KNOW IT HAS THE SAME ISSUE AS THOSE RECALLED. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR FAILED PRODUCT. *TR
OBSERVED A FLUID LEAK NEAR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE LEAK IS POWER STEERING FLUID. FOUND THE LEAK TO BE CAUSED BY A HOLE IN THE ALUMINUM POWER STEERING RETURN/COOLING LINE. THE LINE WAS LEAKING CAUSED BY THE PLASTIC WHEEL WELL LINER RUBBING A HOLE IN THE ALUMINUM TUBE. *TR
I DID NOT HAVE A ACCIDENT HAD THE RECALL FIXED BY GWANTNEY CHEV., IN JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS IN JUNE 2011 AND DECEMBER 2012 THE VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM POWER STEERING COOLING LINE. MESSED UP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MPH WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE STEERING RACK AND INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
MY 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH 37000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER HAS HAD A CRACKING NOISE IN THE STEERING LIKE YOU WOULD GET IF THERE WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION IN THE STEERING MECHANISM. IT IS NOTICED MORE AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS THEN AT FAST SPEED. IT IS ALSO QUITE NOTICEABLE IF YOU ARE JUST CREEPING ALONG AND TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS. I HAVE NOT HAD A DEALER LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN A ACCIDENT DURING THIS TIME NOR HAS THERE BEEN AN INJURY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. AFTER READING OTHER REPORTS CONCERNING THE 2006 IMPALA STEERING. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER. *TR
CONSEQUENCE: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
I HAVE BEEN HEARING A CLUNKING NOISE WITH MY 2006 IMPALA AROUND 21,000 MILES. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WAS FOUR YEARS OLD AND NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I DONE SOME FURTHER RESEARCH AND SPOKE TO A FEW OTHER IMPALA OWNERS AND THEY HAD THE SAME ISSUE, AND HAD THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED. I BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER CHEVY DEALER AND SELF DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND THEY AGREED WITH ME. I HAD IT CHANGED WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT. I CONTACTED CHEVY AND ASKED HOW THIS PART CAN FAIL WITH SO FEW MILES. THEY BLAME IT ON WEAR AND TEAR AND DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE ME ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MANY IMPALA AND LUMINA LINES FOR YEARS, AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *TR
POWER STEERING COOLING LINE HAS RUPTURED 4 TIMES. REPAIRED BY RECALL AND FAILED AGAIN 1 YEAR LATER. GM REFUSES TO REPAIR OR ADMIT PROBLEM WITH SYSTEM. 4" RUBBER HOSE CONTINUES TO RUPTURE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A VEHICLE REPAIR CENTER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FOR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED WHO CONFIRMED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,990.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL EITHER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT SHE HEARD AN UNUSUAL POPPING AND CLICKING NOISE, THEN IT WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT CONTACT THAT IT COULD BE THE STEERING SHAFT AND SHE WAS AWAITING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER OR INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE WEARING EXCESSIVELY DUE TO DEFECTIVE TIE RODS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE TIE RODS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE POWER STEERING FUEL LINE BROKE. POWER STEERING IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE. CURRENTLY RESEARCHING A SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA LTZ COMMENTS: SAFETY CONCERNS; I AM HAVING MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA LTZ. 55,000 MILES AND IT IS FALLING APART, MANY MAJOR REPAIRS NEED TO BE DONE. GM DISTRICT SPECIALIST IS WORKING WITH ME TO TRY TO GET THIS CAR UP TO PAR, BUT SO FAR HE IS NOT ABLE TO GET THE CAR BACK ON THE ROAD FOR ME.. NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT AND ALWAYS MAINTAINED, CAR IS IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION OUTSIDE BUT I THINK I GOT A LEMON. STILL OWE $5000 OF THE 25,000 PRICE. RECURRING STEERING PROBLEMS AND MOTOR MOUNTS AND AXEL AND STEERING COLUMN, AND HEAD GASKET. CAN YOU HELP ME GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS, I HAVE NOW BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR 2 MONTHS WHILE 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS HAVE DIAGNOSED A VARIETY OF MAJOR PROBLEMS. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN, JUST RETIRED, NEED MY CAR FOR DOCTOR APP'TS AS WELL AS IN GENERAL, I AM VERY UPSET, WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 3 YEARS, MY ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WENT UNDER WHEN CHEVROLET HAD PROBLEMS. I'VE BEEN TREATED VERY POORLY BY GM'S DEALERSHIPS WHO DON'T WANT TO HANDLE AN OUT OF BUSINESS DEALERSHIPS PROBLEMS. I HAVE COMPLETE NOTES ON DATES, NAMES (HOWEVER IT'S GM'S POLICY NOT TO GIVE LAST NAMES), I BELIEVE THESE ARE ALL MANUFACTURER DEFECTS AND DON'T TRUST THE CAR ANYMORE. I'VE PUT MAJOR MONEY INTO REPAIRS TO DATE AND NOW GM WANTS TO ONLY COVER 50% OF THIS LATEST HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE OTHER PROBLEMS. I THINK THEY SHOULD ADMIT MANUFACTURER DEFECTS AND BUY BACK MY CAR, PAY OFF THE REMAINDER OF THE LOAN AND THEN I CAN BUY A CAR THAT WILL KEEP ME AND MY FAMILY SAFE. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. (THE CONTACT WANTED TO USE THE EMAILED COMPLAINT).
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING SHAFT BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN ALONG WITH THE GRINDING NOISES WHILE TURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED FOR THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,304.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RESISTANCE WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITHIN A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED OR WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH A FAULTY INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WAS JUMPY. *JB
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) IM HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA!! IT HAS JUST 30,000 MILES ON IT AND IT STARTED AT 28,000 MILES. AT START UP IT WINES BAD AND YOU CAN FEEL IT TUG AND STICK IN THE STEERING AS YOU DRIVE AT SLOW SPEEDS. IT DOES GET HARDER AT TIMES AT COLD TEMPS BUT AS IT WARMS IT FREES UP. AT TIMES IT DOES NOT WANT TO TURN IM A BIG GUY BUT MY WIFE DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT. WE HAVE A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR SHE DRIVES MUST OF THE TIME. I HOPE IT DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PUMP... REF:(GENERAL MOTORS CO. IS RECALLING 1.3 MILLION CARS TO FIX POWER STEERING MOTORS THAT CAN FAIL. THE RECALL AFFECTS 2005 TO 2010 CHEVROLET COBALTS, 2007 TO 2010 PONTIAC G5S, 2005 AND 2006 PONTIAC PURSUITS SOLD IN CANADA AND 2005 AND 2006 PONTIAC G4S SOLD IN MEXICO. THE AUTOMAKER SAID MONDAY THE VEHICLES ARE STILL SAFE TO DRIVE AND NEVER LOSE THEIR STEERING, BUT IT MAY BE HARDER TO STEER THEM WHEN TRAVELING UNDER 15 MPH.) ITS SOUND AND FEELS LIKE ITS MORE CARS THEN WHAT IS BEING RECALLED AT THIS TIME. [XXX] GM SPOKESMAN ALAN ADLER NEED TO CHECK INTO ALL LATE MODEL CARS WITH THIS PUMP... *TR
WHILE DRIVING ENTERING STATE HIGHWAY WITH 65 MPH SPEED LIMIT THE POWER STEERING LINE RUPTURED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. *JB
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Quick Summary
The 2006 Chevrolet Impala has 95 Steering complaints on file. 8 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.