The following list was compiled from the NHTSA database for the following article: Police Chevrolet Impala Steering can lockup while driving at any speed  

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Defects Investigation
Consumer Complaints Database 1999

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/index.cfm  

Date of Failure: 11/28/2000
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND ENDED UP CRASHING, THE AIRBAG EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT. *SLC

Date of Failure: 07/06/2001
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Date of Failure: 04/14/2000
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST:PUMP
Summary: WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A GAS STATION POWER STEERING FAILED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Date of Failure: 07/06/1999
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: CLUNKING FEEL IN STEERING AS IF LOOSE COMPONENT OR EXCESS FREEPLAY SOMEWHERE. ORIGINAL "RACK" WAS REPLACED, AND NOW 3000 MILES LATER, THE REPLACEMENT RACK IS GETTING LOOSE AND CAUSING THE CLUNKING. THERE'S A SERVICE ALERT WITHIN GENERAL MOTORS # 98-12, BUT CLEARLY THEY HAVEN'T SOLVED IT, SINCE REPLACEMENT UNITS SOON REDEVELOP THE PROBLEM. ISSUE ASIDE FROM THE ANNOYANCE OF CLUNKING IN THE STEERING GEAR, IS "WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING TO FALL OFF AND CAUSE LACK OF STEERING"? INCIDENTALLY, MY WIFE RECENTLY PURCHASED A '98 OLDS INTRIGUE, AND THEY JUST REPLACED HER STEERING RACK. WONDER HOW LONG IT WILL LAST? FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR MORE DETAILS. *AK

Date of Failure: 02/16/2000
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Date of Failure: 12/10/2001
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: TOTAL POWER STEERING FAILURE - STEERING WHEEL UNRESPONSIVE. VEHICLE WAS TESTED BY AUTHORIZED GM DEALER IN LUXEMBOURG WHEN FAILURE WAS REPEATED. GM WAS NOTIFIED AND IS STONEWALLING. WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION IN HAND FROM BOTH GM DEALER IN LUXEMBOURG, PASSENGERS AND DRIVER. REQUEST RESPONSE ASAP. THIS COULD COST 1000'S OF FATIALITIES

Date of Failure:
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE TEMPORARILY. HAD NO STEERING CONTROL. *AK

Date of Failure: 04/01/2000
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK
Summary: POWER STEERING RACK NEEDS REPLACING WITH LESS THAN 14 MONTHS OWNERSHIP. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN TENNESSEE. THE DIAGNOSTIC AND ESTIMATE OF THE REPAIR WAS PROVIDED BY NALLEY CHEVROLET. I AM UNSURE OF THE RISK OF DRIVING THE CAR SAFELY UNTIL I CAN AFFORD THE >$1100 REPAIR. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OR TYPE OAF ACCIDENT. PLEASE ADVISE. *AK

Date of Failure: 11/01/1999
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: THE STEERING LOCKS UP. NLM

Date of Failure: 10/01/1999
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: THE POWER STEERING LOCKS HARD. YH

Date of Failure: 08/25/1999
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: FIRST, THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT DEALERS, THE SENSOR FAN NOW DOES NOT WORK, THE BATTERY AND RADIATOR ARE NOT FUNCTIONING, THE STEERING IS MALFUNCTIONING, AND THE BRAKES ARE SLIPPING, AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO SLIPPING AGAIN, I REPORTED ALL THIS TO CHEVY AS I WAS NOT GETTING SATIFACTION FROM THE DEALERS IN FLORIDA AND NOW THE MY VEHICLE IS BROKE DOWN AND WILL NOT RUN IN BRADENTON FLORIDA AT COX CHEVELOT ON CORTEZ ROAD IN FLORIDA, I CALLED AND TALKED TO SEVERAL WOMEN IN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CHEVY AND THEIR NAMES ARE BRANDY MAYS AND LILLANIA LOPEZ, I STILL HAVE NO VEHICLE AND NOW I AM NOT RECEIVING ANY COURTEOUS SERVICE AS I WAS TOLD CHEVY WOULD BUY BACK THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS A LEASE. I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW CHEVY TRUCK AND DUE TO THE RED TAPE AND CHEVY NOW REFUSING TO HELP ASSIST ME WITH THE BUY BACK I AM UNABLE TO KEEP MY NEW TRUCK DUE TO THIS RED TAPE AND ALL THE FORMS AND INFORMATION THAT THE SERVICE DEPT. NOW SAYS I NEED TO HAVE HAD DONE, BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED WHEN I FIRST MADE THE COMPLAINT ON SEPT 7. I CALLED BACK ON SEPT, 28, WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT CHEVY WENT BACK ON THEIR WORD. I AM NOT A CAR DEALER, I DO NOT WORK AT CHEVY AS A SERVICE REPRESENTITIVE, AND I SURE DO NOT KNOW WHAT PAPERS OR FORMS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE MANUFACTURE IN DETROIT MICHIGAN NEEDS TO FILL OUT PAPERWORK. I AM AN UNSATIFIED CONSUMER, AND I FEEL THE RUN AROUND I AM RECEIVING IS A GREAT INJUSTICE. I LOVED MY CAR AND IT IS IMMACULATE INSIDE AND OUT. I ONLY WANT TO KEEP MY NEW CHEVY TRUCK WHICH IS NOT LOOKING AS A POSSIBLE OPTION AS CHEVY IS NOT COOPERATING, THE DEALER MOVED ITS LOT, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS IN FLORIDA WILL NOT SERVICE THE VEHICLE, AND IT IS AN ENGINE CENSOR CHIP, THE TRANSMISSION, THE RADIATOR SENSOR FAN AND NOW THE STEERING, I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO REPAIR A SENSOR CHIP OR ANY OF THESE THINGS AND SINCE THE CAR IS IN FLORIDA I CANNOT GET IT TO KENTUCKY. NOW GMAC, MY FINANCER ON MY NEW TRUCK WILL NOT FINANCE ME. *AK

Date of Failure: 05/03/2000
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH OVER A WET SURFACE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, STRICKING TREES IN FRONTAL COLLISION, BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Date of Failure: 01/02/2000
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: POWER STEERING KEPT GOING OUT. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND EACH TIME THE SAME DEFECT OCCURRED. THIS AFFECTED CONSUMER'S ABILITY TO TAKE FULL CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *AK *ML

Date of Failure: 06/09/1999
Component: STEERING:WHEEL AND COLUMN
Summary: WAS AT STOP POSITION & STARTED TO ACCELERATE. THE STEERING WHEEL PPED OUT OF DRIVER'S HAND. VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO JERK RIGHT OR LEFT INTO OTHER LANE. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.IT IS INTERMITTENT. *AK

Date of Failure: 06/12/2000
Component: STEERING:MANUAL:SHAFT LOWER WORM
Summary: #1. AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT INTERMITTENTLY FLASH APPROX ONCE A SECOND, FOR 10 TO 15 SECONDS WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED OR MOVING. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. THEY DID A SCAN WITH TECH 2 AND FOUND NO CODES SET. THEY SAID THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING IN AN ACCIDENT GIVEN OTHER REPORTS OF NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT LISTED ON YOUR WEB SITE. #2 IF TURN SIGNAL LEVER IS NOT MOVED TO THE PHYSICAL STOP FOR A FLASH TO PASS, ONLY THE REAR TURN SIGNALS WILL FLASH. THEY FLASH FAST JUST LIKE WHEN ONE BULB IS BURNED OUT. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL. #3 THIS IS THE 2.4L ENGINE. UPON DECCELARATING FROM AT LEAST 2ND GEAR ALMOST TO A STOP AND THEN ACCELERATING, THE TRANS HESITATES SLIGHTLY AND THUMPS INTO GEAR. THEN THE UPSHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR IS NOT A SMOOTH SHIFT BUT VERY HARD. EVEN THOUGH MECHANIC ACKNOWLEDGED EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM DURING A TEST DRIVE WE BOTH MADE TOGETHER, HE STATES HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE COMPLAINT ON THE PAPERWORK. SCAN TEST OK, NO CODES, OK AT THIS TIME. IT SEEMS TO ME, IF THERE IS NO CODES SET IN THE CONTROL MODULE THEN THERE CAN NOT BE A PROBLEM. WHAT DID MECHANICS DO BEFORE CARS HAD COMPUTER CONTROL MODULES? DID THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO SOME WORK TO IDENTIFY WHAT WAS WRONG? BY THE WAY, I AM A COMPUTER ENGINEER AND HAVE BEEN ONE FOR 35 YEARS. I PLAN TO CONTINUE PERSUING THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO OWN A 1998 CAVALIER WITH THE 2.2L ENGINE AND A 1999 BUICK CENTURY WITH THE 3.1L ENGINE. THE 1998 CAVAILER HAS THE SAME TURN SIGNAL PROBLEM BUT NOT THE OTHER 2 PROBLEMS. THE CENTURY HAS NONE OF THESE PROBLEMS.

Date of Failure: 03/01/2000
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO STEER, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH POWER STEERING, BUT BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A FLUID LEAK THAT WOULD LEAK INSIDE THE ENGINE.*JB

Date of Failure: 12/05/1998
Component: STEERING:WHEEL AND COLUMN
Summary: THIS IS AN INTERMITTANT PROBLEM. UPON LIGHT ACCELERATION FROM A STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLS THIS "NORMAL". *AK

Date of Failure:
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST:PUMP
Summary: FRONT END SHAKES DUE TO DEFECTIVE FRONT ROTORS. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP DUE TO DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PUMP.

Date of Failure: 04/22/2000
Component: STEERING:WHEEL AND COLUMN
Summary: CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 40-45 MPH AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER COULDN'T STRAIGHTEN OUT WHEEL & VEHICLE SPUN AROUND & HIT CONCRETE WALL. ALSO, AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY UNTIL ABOUT A MINUTE AFTER VEHICLE HAD HIT CONCRETE WALL. *AK

Date of Failure:
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING, STEERING IS VERY LOOSE. CONSUMER HAS ALREADY REPLACED TIE RODS AND TIRES.*AK

Date of Failure:
Component: STEERING:WHEEL AND COLUMN
Summary: IGNITION SWITCH AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM KEPT FAILING WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP,WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Date of Failure: 12/01/1998
Component: STEERING
Summary: STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING.VEHICLE MADE NOISE. MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED COIL SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

Date of Failure: 11/11/1999
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
Summary: WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 30MPH STEERING WENT OUT AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DUE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID LINE LEAKING AND SPRAYING FLUID ONTO THE ENGINE.*AK

Date of Failure: 08/23/2000
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC VEHICLE MOMENTARILY LOST STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKES FOR 5 OR MORE SECOND BEFORE CONTROL WAS RESTORED, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

Date of Failure: 02/25/2001
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: POWER STEERING FAILED ON VEHICLE WITH JUST OVER 41,000 MILES. *AK

Date of Failure: 05/28/2000
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: I HVE HAD THIS CAR FOR A YEAR NOW AND THEY HAVE DID OVER 7,000 DOLLARS REPAIRS ON IT SO FAR THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS ALERO. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

Date of Failure: 03/20/2001
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: POWER STEERING HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.*JB

Date of Failure: 03/27/2000
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: RACKN PINION FAILED. *JB

Date of Failure: 04/28/1999
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: WHILE PARKING POWER STEERING ASSIT WENT OUT. SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHP. GM WA SUNCOOPERATIVE, REFUSING TO OFFER ANY EXPLANATION FOR THIS DISASTER. THEY DID, HOWEVER, PROVIDE CONSUMER WITH A LOANER FOR THREE WEEKS. *AK

Date of Failure:
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: POWER STEERING LOOSES POWER AT LOW SPEEDS. *AK

Date of Failure: 04/20/1999
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. DRIVER EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM ABOUT A MONTH AGO WITH 4800 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Date of Failure: 07/12/2000
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: TWO UNRESOLVED REPAIR ATTEMPTS FOR STEERING PROBLEM--INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACED ON FIRST OCCASION, STEERING GEAR REPLACED ON SECOND ATTEMPT

Date of Failure: 11/17/2001
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: WHILE DRIVING 60MPH SWERVED TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. TOWED TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER RACK AND PINION MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Date of Failure:
Component: STEERING
Summary: CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNCKING NOISE WHILE TRAVELING AND A LOUD WINDING NOISE WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS. DEALER CLAIMED STEERING MECHANISM NEEDED OT BE REPLACED.*AK

Date of Failure:
Component: STEERING
Summary: STEERING IS LOCKING UP WHILE MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. OLDSMOBILE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX DEFECT 3-4 TIMES BY REPLACING STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND OTHER RELATED PARTS, BUT THERE IS STILL A CRUNCHING NOISE WHEN TURNING. CONSUMER AGAIN TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO CLAIMED A PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE A SPECIAL TOOL WAS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR . TOOL WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND HAS NOT PROVIDED A DATE AS TO WHEN TOOL WILL BE AVAILBLE.*AK

Date of Failure: 06/05/2001
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: CONSUMER TOOK CAR IN FOR A ROUTINE CHECK UP AND MECHANIC NOTICED A LEAK. MECHANIC SAID THAT SEALS WERE LEAKING. *AK DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. *SLC

Date of Failure: 03/01/2000
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: MECH. SAYS THAT THESE ITEMS SHOULDN'T GO BAD. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

Date of Failure: 02/07/1999
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT DUE TO A PART THAT FAILED.

Date of Failure: 09/16/1999
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: NO SUMMARY

Date of Failure: 02/01/1999
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 33000-34000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY DEALERSHIP. IT FAILED AGAIN WITHIN LESS THAN A YEAR AND THE DEALERSHIP WONT REPLACE IT BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE REPLACED BECAUSE NO CAR SHOULD HAVE 2 STEERING ASSEMBLIES REPLACED AT THAT MILEAGE. *AK

Date of Failure:
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR ON CITY STREETS, I SUFFERED A SUDDEN LOSS OF MY POWER STEERING WHICH MADE CONTROL OF MY CAR DIFFICULT. I WAS ADVISED BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEALER THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW IN THIS VEHICLE WHERE ONE OF THE PRESSURE FITTINGS CAN FAIL. AS A HEALTHY MALE, DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AT RELATIVELY SLOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS NO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR BUT STEERING, ESPECIALLY TURNING, BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. IT APPEARS THAT THIS "KNOWN DEFECT" IS NOT BEING AGGRESSIVELY ADDRESSED BY PONTIAC BUT WHETHER THEY ARE WAITING FOR SUCH FAILURES BEFORE REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I WOULD HATE TO THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES, EVEN TO MYSELF, MUCH LESS A SMALLER PERSON, SHOULD SUCH A CATASTROPHE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OCCUR AT HIGH SPEEDS OR IN ISOLATED, RURAL AREAS.*AK

Date of Failure: 12/20/2000
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: WHILE TURNING INTO PARKING SPACE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING. *AK

Date of Failure: 10/17/2000
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: THE DEALER REPLACE THE FRONT RACK, THE "A" ARMS LOWER BALL JOINTS AND CV BOOTS...DID THIS 3 TIMES...NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN...AND THEY WONT REPLACE IT

Date of Failure: 10/17/2000
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: ON SERVERAL OCCASIONS I AM HAVING MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEMS, FROM THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT POPING, TO THE WHOLE FRONT END POPING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK THE CV BOOTS 3 TIMES, THEY KEPT BUSTING, LOWER BALL JOINTS, "A" ARMS, THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR A BIT, THEN THE CV BOOT FRACTURED AGAIN THEY WOULDNT REPLACE, NOW THE FRONT IN POPS HORRIABLY WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN TO THE RIGHT AND ADD A LITTLE TORQUE, TOOK TO DEALER, NO DIAGONSIS, TOOK TO AN INDEPENDENT AGENT, EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE, ONLY THING HE CAN THINK OF IS A BREAK IN A SPOT WELD ON THE FRONT END, IE THE TUBING THAT SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND FRONT SUSPENSION, I HAVE EVENT CONTACTED PONTIAC CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AND THEY SAY THE PROBLEM IS NO LONGER THERES, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LET YOU TEST THE CAR AND HEAR THE NOISE, AND SEE IF IT WOULDNT MAKE YOU A TAD BIT UNEASY ABOUT DRIVING IT

Date of Failure:
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: I THINK THAT MY CAR IS A MAJOR LEMON! THE CAR HAS BEEN TOOK IN SO MANY TIMES FOR THE BRAKES IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REALIZE. I'VE TOOK THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND NEITHER ONE CAN FIX IT RIGHT. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN JULY 2000 AND THEN IN NOVEMBER 2000 AND THEN STARTED MAKING THE SAME NOISE A FEW MONTHS AGO BUT I WAS TOLD THIS TIME THAT IT WAS NORMAL. THE THROTTLE STICKS ONCE IN AWHILE BUT AGAIN I'M TOLD NOTHING FOUND AND WD-40 WAS SPRAYED ON THE THROTTLE BODY. THE CAR LIKES TO KEEP GOING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN ALL FOUR WINDOWS 1-2 TIMES EACH AND NEED IT AGAIN. THE PAINT JOB AND CLEAR COAT WERE PEELING AND BUBBLING AND THEY SPOT SANDED AND PAINTED MY CAR. I'VE CONTACTED PONTIAC AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES ABOUT MY CAR AND I'VE ALSO FILLED OUT LEMON LAW PAPERS THROUGH CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY OF NORTH CAROLINA. GM SAID THEY ARE INVESTIGATING IT AND ELLER PONTIAC (THE OTHER DEALERSHIP THAT I'VE TOOK IT TO) SAID THAT THEY DON'T THINK THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE I DIDN'T BUY THE CAR FROM THEM. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? PERSONELLY I THINK THE MANUFACTURER IS BUT OF CORSE IT'S BEEN ABOUT A MONTH AND STILL NO WORD AS TO WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. I WANT THE PIECE OF JUNK BOUGHT BACK. THE CAR HAS SPENT A TOTAL OF 36 DAYS IN THE SHOP NOT COUNTING ALL THE TIMES I TOOK IT IN AND WAITED ON IT. IT WAS IN THE SHOP 20+ DAYS BEFORE 24,000 MILES. THE PEOPLE AT ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL KNOW ME ALREADY. WHEN I WALK IN THERE, THEY ASK ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR NOW! IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE DO. MY CONSUMER PROTECTION FILE NO. IS 0103355. THANK YOU FOR POSSIBLY TRYING TO HELP. SINCERELY, JACKIE BROWNING. *AK

Date of Failure: 10/01/1999
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST:PUMP
Summary: CONSUMER HAS HAD THE STEERING PUMP REPLACED 4 TIMES. RACK WAS LEAKING, AND ANOTHER LEAK WAS FOUND. DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, AND THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION LEAK ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO. DEALER WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE REPAIRED THE PROBLEMS, BUT THE PROBLEMS KEEP REOCCURRING. *AK THE HORN MALFUNCTIONS AFTER BEING REPAIRED TWICE. THE FOG LIGHTS ARE HOLDING MOISTURE. SPEAKER ON PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. RADIO SISPLAY IS SCRAMBLED DUE TO INTERNAL SHORT. RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO SWITCH FAILURE. TRUNK RELEASE INOPERATIVE DUE TO CHAFFED WIRE. TRANSMISSION OIL WAS LEAKING DUE TO AXLE SEAL FAILURE. *YH

Date of Failure: 12/13/2000
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: POWER STEERING WENT OUT TWICE IN VEHICLE, REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. CONSUMER FELT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. *AK

Date of Failure: 08/18/1999
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH, NOISE WAS HEARD, MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP IN JULY 2000 BECAUSE NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT WHEN DEALERSHIP ORIGINALLY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH STEERING. A PRIVATE MECHANIC STATED THAT "THUMP" COULD BE EMITTED FROM RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

Date of Failure: 11/01/2000
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60MPH, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE CONTINUED FOR ONE MILE BEFORE IT DRIFTED INTO THE PROPER LANE. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED A CRACKED BRACKET WHICH HELD RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY.*AK *JB

Date of Failure: 01/10/2000
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: THE STEERING HAS HUNG UP (LACK OF POWER ASSIST) TURNING LEFT AT SLOW SPEEDS (3) TIMES. WORKED O.K. AFTER IT POPPED. IT HAS POPPED (3) OTHER TIMES WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED WITH LITTLE OR NO MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

Date of Failure:
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Date of Failure: 09/30/2001
Component: STEERING:GEAR:RACK AND PINION
Summary: TROUBLE TURNING TO THE RIGHT, RESULTING IN CONTROL LOST OVER THE RIGHT HAND TURNS, MECHANIC SAID THE RACK AND PINION STEERING IS NOT WORKING

Date of Failure:
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: WHILE MAKING A SLOW TURN VEHICLE SHOWED NO POWER STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Date of Failure:
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: AFTER VEHICLE IS DRIVEN OVER 40 MINUTES STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP COMPLETELY. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. *AK GEAR ASSEMBLY AND POWER STEERING HAVE BEEN REPLACED, DEALER HAS ALSO PERFORMED FRONT END ALIGNMENT, CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR LABOR, HOWEVER FEELS THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR ANYTHING. *SLC

Date of Failure: 04/25/2000
Component: STEERING:POWER ASSIST
Summary: THIS FAILURE CAUSES CARS TO SURGE TO LEFT OR RIGHT FOR NO REASON. MY STEP-DAUGHTER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER 1998 CHEVY CAVALIER. IT APEARS TO BE A PUMP OR RACK FAILURE.

Date of Failure: 08/31/2001
Component: STEERING
Summary: WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT, AND CUSTOMER LOST CONTROL. BUT, WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF ROAD. CONTACT DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK

The above list was compiled for the following article: Police Chevrolet Impala Steering can lockup while driving at any speed