What 258 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Impala

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SON WAS DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS UNCONTROLLABLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE CURB. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DRIVER'S RESIDENCE. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED KOONS WHITE MARSH CHEVROLET (10207 PHILADELPHIA RD, WHITE MARSH, MD 21162; (410) 931-8600) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS LIKE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V398000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ODI 11390971

THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS! IVE REPORTED SOME OTHER MECHANICAL FAILURES THAT PUT ME IN DANGER BUT NOT ALL AND THEY STILL HAVE YET TO STOP HAPPENING. IVE SPENT OVER 10K REPAIRING AND REPLACING STEERING, SUSPENSION DRIVE TRAIN/ DRIVE AXLE AND CHASSIS COMPONENTS. BUT NOTHING HAS HELPED. AS OF LATE I KEEP GETTING ALIGNMENTS AND REPLACED 2 TIE RODS STRUTS CONTROL ARMS AND WHEEL HUB AND BEARINGS ONLY TO HAVE MY TIRES WEAR DOWN UNEVENLY AND QUICKLY IN 2 WEEKS. I PURCHASED THE TIRES BRAND NEW 6 MONTHS AGO. WITH A NEW WHEELS AND FRONT OUTTER TIE RODS AS WELL (WHICH I AGAIN REPLACED 2 WEEKS AGO). ALSO REPLACED IN 2019; FRONT AND BACK BRAKE ASSEMBLY (SHOES, PADS, ROTORS) FRONT AND BACK (BOTH SIDES) CONTROL ARMS, LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT STRUT AND SPRING ASSEMBLY. NEW CV AXLE AND FRONT HUB BEARINGS FULL ASSEMBLY LEFT AND RIGHT (2 WEEKS AGO)ADDITIONAL LEFT FRONT STRUT AND SPRING ASSEMBLY (2 WEEKS AGO). THIS LIST IS JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE REPAIRS; TOO MANY. YET, THE CAR KEEPS LOOSING STEERING AND FALLING APART QUICKER EVERY DAY. PLUS, THE INSPECTION EXPIRES NEXT MONTH AND IT DID NOT PASS DUE TO EMMISSIONS SYSTEM ISSUES. IT IS A 2012 & SHOULD NOT BE PROBLEMATIC YET. I ONLY KEEP REPAIRING IT BECAUSE I AM STILL FINANCING SINCE BEING RIPPED OFF BY DEALERSHIP AT 23% APR ON TOP OF OVERCHARGED 2XS BLUE BOOK. WHICH HAS ME FAR TOO UPSIDE DOWN TO TRADE IN OR EVEN SELL PRIVATELY. I WOULDN'T SELL IT TO MY WORSE ENEMY ANYWAY. CHEVROLET SHOULD HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THEIR FAILURE. HARD WORKING PEOPLE PUT TRUST IN MANUFACTURERS AND DEPEND ON THEIR CARS. I MAY LOSE EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF MINE BUT NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT AND LEGAL COUNSEL. MY NEXT STEP IS TO CONTACT A CLASS ACTION LAW FIRM TO PROCURE COUNSEL FOR THESE MATTERS. GMC, THE NHTSA, AND AUTO REPAIR BUSINESSES (IE. FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE) WILL BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE ISSUE AS WELL. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11255661

WHILE DRIVING AT NO MORE THAN 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY THE CONTROL ARM GAVE OUT AND IT CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. THEN IT HIT THE BARRIER WALL AND THE 2 TIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE BLEW ON CONTACT. TOWED TO MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THAT THE TIE RODS ALSO WENT OUT. THE BRAKES AND SHOCKS AND STRUTS WERE NEW AND IT IS REGULARLY IN THE SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIRS. THIS IS INEXCUSABLE AND THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY RECALLED AND TAKEN OUT OF CIRCULATION.

NHTSA ODI 11166797

WHEN DRIVING AFTER EVERY ATTEMPT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN,MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST, & ABS LIGHT ALL POP ON. SINCE THEN IT HAS WENT ON AND OFF FOR MANY DAYS UNTIL IT JUST FINALLY STAYED ON PERMANENTLY. ALSO MESSAGE: "STABILITRAK SERVICE AND TRACTION CONTROL , BRAKE ASSIST " FINALLY TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN CULVER CITY,CA IN MAY 2013 & WAS TOLD THEY TESTED THE FRONT ABS CONNECTOR AND TRACTION AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND NO CODE ERRORS. RESET THE SENSORS ANYWAYS AND ADJUSTED THE TIMING. AS SOON AS I DROVE OUT THE DEALER,SAME ERROR MESSAGES AND LIGHTS RETURNED. TOOK CAR AGAIN TO SAME DEALER &WASTOLD "I MUST HAVE DROVE THROUGH WATER OR OILY SURFACE AND LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF AFTER I DROVE 20 OR SO MILES".LIGHTS & ERRORS DID NOT GO AWAY.RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALER AGAIN,THIS TIME AGAIN FOUND NO ERRORS BUT THEY PROCEED TO REPLACE THE TIRE SENSORS AND RESET THE SENSOR ID. LIGHTS&CODES WENT OFF FOR ABOUT A WEEK THEN RETURNED WITH A GRINDING NOISE WHEN LEFT TURN, LOOSE ENGINE POWER &STEERING POWER, LIGHT &CODES CONTINUE TO STAY ON,& STALLS FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN LEFT TURN. I HAVE BEEN AT A LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A TURN WHEN THE CAR WILL STALL & NOT LET ME TAKE OFF.BRAKES APPEAR TO LOCK UP.JUST MISSED A FEW CAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO STALL. HAS LEFT ME IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT HEAD ON & WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BECAUSE I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND GOT STUCK ON THE TURN. CANNOT ACCELERATE IN A TIMELY FASHION IS A HUGE PROBLEM. BECAUSE THE DEALER OBVIOUSLY COULD NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE HAD TIRE AND BRAKE EXPERT SHOPS LOOK AT THE PROBLEM A FEW TIMES. ALSO NOT FINDING THE PROBLEM. FINALLY DECIDED TO JUST TRY &IGNORE IT BUT AFTER SO MANY CLOSE CALLS OF ACCIDENTS& ENDAGERING MY FAMILIES LIFE IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR ME TO JUST DEAL WITH IT ANYMORE OR TO CONTINUE TO SPEND MONEY TO TRY & FIND PROBLEM.FORUMS PROVE OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10749861

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY WAS THE ONLY KEY IN THE IGNITION AREA AND NO ADDITIONAL KEYS OR WEIGHT WERE ADDED. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND BECAME DISABLED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO THE GUARD RAIL. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING AND EXTENSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI 10637560

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ODI 10626467

MY VEHICLE'S STEERING WENT OUT OF NO WHERE AS I WAS PULLING INTO A STORE. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS, AND VERY THICK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO STOP TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. I OPENED THE HOOD AND WAS OVERCOME BY SMOKE. I ENDED UP RESORTING TO CALLING A TOW TRUCK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THIS WAS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT 3 MONTHS PRIOR. THE CURRENT ISSUE THE DEALER SAID I HAD, WAS THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS EMITTING HEAT AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE HAD BURNED AND LEAKED FLUID ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. I TOW THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP THAT ORIGINALLY REPAIRED IT. THEY CONTACTED MY INSURANCE AND WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE IN THE 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. ON 8/11 A RECALL WAS ISSUED. THIS WAS DUE TO THE POWER STEERING HOSE BEING ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE HEAT WAS BURNING THE HOSES. THIS WAS CAUSING ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 2 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN APRIL 2013 WITH 29K MILES. IT NOW HAS 33K MILES AND THE DIAGNOSIS GIVEN BY THE DEALER IS IDENTICAL TO THE DIAGNOSIS FOR THE RECALL. BUT I AM TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WILL NOT BE FIXED AS IT DID NOT FALL UNDER RECALL AND ARE BLAMING THE REPAIR DONE BY THE COLLISION CENTER. I BELIEVE THEY CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND ARE PUTTING PEOPLE AT A CONTINUED RISK OF HAVING A FIRE START IN THEIR VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10545475

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER CAUSING THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN THUMB AND A HEAD CONCUSSION. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 33,500.

NHTSA ODI 10484464