This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Reference# [xxx]. as I approached the intersection, another vehicle was turning onto the street I was on. I moved over to make room, as I moved over I had to cross over a clump of snow and ice that had re froze making a rough and bumpy transition. I was about 20 feet from the stop sign. I placed my foot on the brake which was hard and unresponsive. The steering was hard and unresponsive as well. I was driving about 3-5 mph at the time. When I placed my foot on the brake it was unresponsive and it took me into the intersection where I was hit by another vehicle on the drivers side front. My airbag did not deploy. The total damage for my vehicle was $ $5,615.93. We were confused and did not understand why the brakes and the steering did not function and why with this violent of a crash that the airbag did not deploy. After reading the recall notice explaining the ignition recall it made sense that why the failure occurred. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Horrible shimmy/shake when coming to a stop, even after replacing brakes and rotors. Uneven wear pattern on tires (especially the front). Inner tread and outer tread bald, even after front end alignment. Also feels like there's some steering issues to work out as well. We've done everything possible to make it not shake/wear tires, but nothing has helped. General Motors has been of absolutely no help either!
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. While driving approximately 25 mph and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes failed to respond. As a result, the vehicle skidded into the intersection. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 20,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into the vehicle in front of him. A passenger in the other vehicle had to seek medical attention, the injuries was unknown. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent auto body mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.
I take a left hand turn I hear cracking; backing up I hear cracking; like the front axle is falling apart. There is a control arm recall but not on my car just police cars. The issue with my car sounds like the police issue car. I am kinda of scared pulling out into traffic scary, twice I have had the traction control come on and say it needs service; but when you shut the car off light doesn't come back on. It drives funny as well do not feel safe anymore.
- Glenburn, ME, USA
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It's apparently the standard Impala issue of the car's dash reading engine power reduced. The car has less than 100,000 miles and my I was driving home from work in rush hour when the dash read engine power reduced. I immediately phoned my husband. He insisted that I get in the right lane and be prepared for the car to die. My husband then mistakenly told me to drive to a specific exit out of the inner city before exiting the highway. Next the check stability message came on. He was like ok that's weird but lets get you home. Then the car decided to lose power brakes and steering. My hands are literally blistered getting it off the road. I guided it of the highway as he looked up the issue. Finding hundreds of these same accounts he told me to hold on a bit and restart the car. It worked and I drove it home. Had my husband not insisted I move over and be prepared this could have been a very different issue.
Stopped at the top of a snow covered hill. Put the transmission in 2nd gear and proceeded down the hill. The vehicle got up to about 15 mph then lost all power; engine quit, no brakes, and the steering wheel locked in place. Because the brakes were not working the vehicle gained significant speed going downhill. Not being able to steer the vehicle because the steering wheel was locked it went off the road and hit a tree. Upon impact the air bags did not deploy. As a result the driver and passenger were seriously injured. The consumer stated after owning the vehicle for a few months, the vehicle began to loose power and several messages appeared on the dashboard. All the power shut off and the consumer had to aaa to have the vehicle towed to where she purchased it. An inspection revealed the throttle body needed to be replaced. Updated 07/10/14
2009 Chevy Impala 3.5L FFV - my "passenger airbag" light has been coming on intermittently since early spring 2013. In August 2013, my "brake" light suddenly came on while driving. There didn't appear to be any handling issues. Both the regular brakes & parking brake worked normally the brake fluid level was full. For a few months the "brake" light would come on sporadically & alarm while driving, all without any changes in driving or braking ability. Around September 2013, the "traction control" & "check engine" lights came on. Again, there did not seem to be any issue with handling. These lights also came on & off randomly & they were seldom all on simultaneously. Occasionally, the warning panel also says, "engine power reduced" & acceleration & power are diminished. There's also been a "low pressure left rear tire." The left front tire was found to be low, but the rear tire was ok. Tonight, the "check engine" & "traction control" lights came on & the display said "engine power reduced." Suddenly, it said, "starting disabled service throttle" & my car essentially lost all power. The steering also locked up. It was very difficult to pull off of the road. I restarted the car after about 1 minute, & the "traction control" light was no longer on, but the "check engine" light was. I was able to drive again, without difficulty.
Three times now this has happened. The first time I was driving down a main street at about 35 miles per hour and all of a sudden my service traction control light came on and the wording was displayed, as well as my check engine light came on and the wording "engine power reduced" was displayed. About a month later, I was leaving a parking lot when the same thing happened and then again four days later I was merging onto a highway and the same thing happened. When I try to accelerate, it sounds like something is going to fall out of the bottom of my car. After reading the other complaints, I don't understand why this isn't being taken care of by the company and left up to the car owner to deal with. It is very unsafe and I can't afford to get a different car nor pay for expensive repairs that are beyond my control or fault.
I was driving through a hilly/ curvy area of road when my reduced engine power, traction control, and throttle body disabled message popped up. Just then I have no power, no brakes and no steering, at all! I almost crashed with my two kids in the car! upon looking up this issue I find that it is a very common issue in Impala. Some people have had this issue while passing cars, or the freeways and more. To me this is quite a safety concern since you have no power to do anything...nothing at all. I don't see how there is still no recall on this issue when there are so many reported problems and a huge safety risk!!
While merging onto a two lane highway my Impala suddenly lost power and I received a "low engine power" warning and then " service traction control" the check engine light comes on and the car runs roughly at reduced power - you need to pull over and shut the car off until you can start it again. This is a very dangerous issue that GM refuses to acknowledge. In this instance I had my daughter in the car - I also lost the power brakes. I have been to two Chevrolet dealers and a Buick dealer because this has happened several times over the past year and a half. They replaced my throttle body, oil sensor, battery and something else and charged me over $2000 for the three visits and I am still experiencing the issue. I have also been to a local repair shop and had the wiring harness changed and had several diagnostics done. After all this the problem still exists. I normally don't write letters but, this is a very dangerous situation and many others are experiencing the same thing based on the message boards I have read. My concern is that GM refused to help or issue a recall. My fear is that someone gets seriously hurt or killed before GM answers for this. This is not good for GM. My hope is that someone finally addresses this issue before someone is killed. In my last communication with GM - I was told to take my car to a dealer for a diagnostic at my own expense. So, basically I am on my own and they offered to do nothing. Just not right!
The first time my engine control lights turned on was when I was backing up out of a parking space. As time went by the lights started to come on continuosly. The lights kept telling me to service traction control. Then the check engine light came on. I then took my car into friendly Chevy in Minnesota. They did 3000 dollars worth the work and never fixed the problem I went in for.the lights are still coming on and it scares the life out of me.. I paid 9,000 for it. Also put in $3000 into it for repairs. What a piece of junk. I tried to take it back but they said there was nothing I could do about it except trade it in for $3000 less then what I paid for it.absolutely unacceptable!!! I will never buy another Chevrolet again. Terrible service.
About 2 weeks ago my service traction control light appeared on the dash. Being the person that I am I was very concerned with this issue and took it to have it checked by the dealership. They told me that this will occasionally come on with the amount of rain we had in our area.they said when it has the opportunity to dry out it will go off. Well to date it has not gone off but stays on the majority of the time. Now it is having fun with the reduce power light which basically slows down the car. Not only are the flip flopping but when I push the brakes it sometimes acts as if it will catch but then let go and catch again. How scary is this when you feel your brakes will not stop the car" this is not a good feeling. Called the dealership to get an appointment and it will cost me $85 to $100 to have this put on a machine to see what the problem is. And get this just like everyone else this is not a covered problem. My question is why" I have tried very hard to stick with Chevrolet products but this is really making me rethink my decision. Everyone seems to be having the same issues with these alerts and sensors. I am not one to sink a whole lot of money into a car with repairs, I will get rid of it immediately. I maintain my car on a regular basis.
My traction control light came on along with the ABS light and the information center said service traction control. The dealer will not do anything with out me paying for it. It appears from my research this is a common problem with the Impala. Mine did not shut down but I am sure that is not far off.
I was driving on the hwy when the message appear on the boar "engine power reduce " I was scared because I have never had that problem. I when online and saw that people were having the same problem. It was weird because they all seen to be in the same month like if it was program to happen. So I want an explanation on what's going on with my car" what's the message about? do I have to change the motor " I just don't know what to do anymore this car has a lot of problem I just want some answers. Thanks for reading.
Was driving 35 mph, in a 40 mph zone, steering locked up and hit a curve..could not steer, then after I hit curve. Steering went back to normal..I'm not going to drive a car thats unsafe...
After braking to make a turn, the following warnings came on: Reduced engine power, service stabilatrak, and traction control off. Plus the engine warning light came on. Fortunately no accident occurred from this and I did experience reduction in engine power. These warnings remained on from the onset until this morning, 06/25/12, when I checked it again. Now the warnings are not there. I started the car and moved it to see if they would come back on and so far, nothing. I have read that there have been numerous complaints of this problem with GM vehicles particularly this model. I want to add our vehicle to the complaint list due to the uncertainty of dependability of the car and the potential for serious problem and potential for accident.. I hope that with enough complaints, a recall will be issued by GM.
When slowing down at any speeds above 30 mph at times too often I'm getting a violent shaking of the steering wheel left to right about 1" in both directions. It's not causing me to lose control of the vehicle but it is noticeable when riding and doesn't feel nor look normal at all! it feels like the anti-lock brakes system isn't working correctly - releasing/compressing fast enough.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Strafford, MO, USA