2000 Chevrolet Impala Complaint Log

2000 IMPALA DOES NOT ALWAYS START. SECURITY ISSUES NOT ALLOWING START UNTIL AT LEAST 15 MINS OF TRYING. *TR

FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILURE 3.4L V6 ENGINE. *NM

THERE ARE 2 PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR I BOUGHT: 1. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE PAINT ON THE BUMPERS--IT PEELS OFF. 2. THE STEERING SHAFT ON THIS CAR WAS POPPING AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAD PLAY AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES AND THEY REPLACED THE SHAFT AND TOLD ME THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANOTHER PROBLEM. NOW THE CAR HAS ABOUT 90,000 MILES AND WHEN IT HAD 70,000 IT STARTED THE SAME STEERING PROBLEMS IT HAD BEFORE. DOES IT TAKE INJURIES OR FAILED STEERING TO GET SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THIS AS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL???? I GAVE UP ARGUING ABOUT #1 EVEN THOUGH THE PAINT ISN'T THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. NUMBER 2 IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT, WHEN THE DEALER HAD TO PAY BEFORE I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY NOW!!! *CB

WHEN YOU PUT THE KEY IN THE IGINTION THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. TRIED SPARE KEY AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND THE KEY STILL WILL NOT TURN.*AK IN THE PAST WE HAVE HAD THE "FIDDLE" WITH THE KEY IN THE IGINTION TO GET IT TO TURN. NOW IT DOES NOT TURN AT ALL EVEN WHEN YOU "FIDDLE" WITH THE KEY.

2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE LEAK APPEARS IN THE GASKET THAT IS DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE STOVE PIPE FROM THE EXHAST MANIFOLD. IT APPEARS THE HIGH TEMPERATURE FROM THE THE STOVE PIPE IS DETERIORATING THE GASKET IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS HAS EVERY INDICATION OF AN ENGINEERING DEFECT DUE TO THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME PROBLEM. OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS WERE DISCOVERED IN IMPALA WITH VIN TYPE K MINE IS TYPE E SEE TSB 03034.*AK

FUEL REGULATOR LEAKING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE, WILL CAUSE A FIRE. *AK

ON SUNDAY MORNING DECEMBER 7,2003 MY 11 YR OLD AND I WERE HEADING OUT, I STARTED MY 2000 IMPALA LS AND "BOOM!! THE CAR BLEW,SHOOK, AND STARTED SMOKING, WE BOTH JUMPED OUT. MY NEIGHBORS CAME RUNNING TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPEN. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND THEY HAD A TOW TRUCK COME GET THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC. TURNS OUT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR MALFUNTION AND BLEW AND CAUSED THE EXPLOSION. MY MECHANIC AND I BOTH CALLED CHEVERLET ON THIS, THERE RESPONSE WAS"NOT ENOUGH REPORTS FOR A RECALL"BUT TO SAVE MY RECIEPTS AND WHEN THERE IS I WILL BE REIMBURSED.I GOT A REPORT NUMBER AND THAT WAS IT.AFTER ALMOST 2 WEEKS I GOT MY CAR BACK AND PAID OVER $1500.00 IN REPAIRS FOR THE DAMAGES CAUSED FROM IT. I FINALLY GOT A RECALL LETTER , CALLED CHEVERLET AND THEY GAVE ME ANOTHER FILE NUMBER TO PUT ON MY CLAIM FORM.I JUST GOT A CALL FROM THEM THIS PAST FRIDAY INFORMING ME THEY WILL ONLY REIMBURSE ME 800 AND SOME CHANGE. WHEN I ASKED WHY, ALL MARIO JOHNSON COULD SAY WAS THATS ALL WERE WILLING TO PAY YOU. SO I ASKED HIM IF EVERYONE WHOS CAR BLEW UP FROM THIS IS GOING TO HALF TO EAT ALMOST 50% OF THE COST FROM THERE FAULTY PART? HE REFUSED TO ANSWER ME. I BELIVE I AM ENTITLED TO MY TOTAL COST OF REPAIR OF THE $1500 + , NOT THE 800 AND SOME CHANGE THEY ARE OFFERING ME FOR THERE ERRORAND DEFAULT ON THIS CAR. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME AND OTHERS WHO ARE AND WILL BE IN THE SAME PERDICTAMENT AS MYSELF GET ALL OF OUR HARD EARNED MONEY BACK. THANK YOU. *AK

2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAS A LEAKING OR SEEPING POWER STEERING RACK AT UNDER 48,000 MILES. FAILURE IS VERY PREMATURE AND COSTLY, AND HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED ON OTHER CHEVROLET IMPALAS. CHEVY REFUSES TO COVER ANY PORTION OF THE COSTLY (OVER $1,000) REPAIR. *AK

MUSTY SMELL COMING FROM AIR CONDITIONING. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A WEIRD NOISE WHEN TURNING. THE TURN SIGNALS WILL GO BALLISTIC AT TIMES, FLICKERING FASTER AND FASTER. THE INSIDE LIGHTS ALSO FLICKER AT DIFFERENT INTENSITIES. *AK

LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON A 2000 CHEVY IMPALA WITH THE 3.4 LTR ENGINE COSTING SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. *LA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND OTHER INSTRUMENT LIGHTS DO NOT TURN ON OR WILL TURN ON ONLY AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING. VERY INCONSISTENT. POSE DANGER ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE PROBLEM APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, BUT THE PROBLEM STARTED TO SURFACE AGAIN RECENTLY (FALL 2003). *LA

MY 2000 IMPALA HAS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS. DEALER PUT IN A NEW STEERING SHAFT BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED AFTER ANOTHER 12,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT CLUNKING AND SEEMS TO BE A PERMANENT UNREPAIRABLE DEFECT IN THE CAR. *LA

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK

LIGHTS IN DASHBOARD CLUSTER DON'T ILLUMINATE.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING FROM DEX COOL. ALSO, INTAKE BOLTS WERE BACKING OUT.*AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SEAL UNDER A SAFETY CAMPAIGN BUT THE MANIFOLD STILL LEAKS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH

CONSUMER STATED TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS OIL AROUND THE RADIATOR CAP. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING OIL, AND THAT THIS WAS AN INTERNAL OIL LEAK. ALSO, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE SEALS HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT GMC ISSUED RECALL REGARDING INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK, BUT THAT THIS VEHICLE'S WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK.

ENGINE DIES SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. AT SPEEDS OF 40 - 60. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SECOND 2000 IMPALA I HAVE HAD WITH THIS PROBLEM. PROBLEM STARTED WITH FIRST IMPALA AT 4000 MILES, NOW 50000 ON THIS ONE. LOTS OF OTHER 2000 IMPALAS WITH SAME PROBLEM BUT GM HAS NO FIX. *LA

TURN SIGNALS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO OPERATE WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. *LA

HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF DURING NORMAL NIGHTTIME OPERATIONS. *LA

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH ENGINE STALLED, FORCING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. WAITED 10 TO 15 MINUTES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. DEALER DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK

IN MARCH 2001 THE DEALER REPLACED ON RACK AND PINION. IN DECEMBER 2001 THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR SHAFT. IN JULY 2002 THE DEALER LUBRICATED THE STEERING SHAFT BUT THE NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. *NLM

CAR COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WHILE THE SECRUITY WARNING SHOWED IN THE MESSAGE CENTER WHEN DRIVING AT 65MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO FORCE THE CAR OFF THE ROAD WITH NO BRAKES AND NO POWER STEERING. *LA

ENGINE STALLS AND CUTS OUT WHEN TURNING OR GOING STRAIT AFTERTHE ENGINE IS ABOVE 2000RPM AND FOOT IS RELEASED FROM THE GAS PEDA, SOMETIMES CAN SAVE IT IF I STEP ON GAS PEDAL BEFOR TACH REACHES 500RPMSL. HAVE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND RESTART TO AVOID ANY ACCIDENTS. AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL GO OFF AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR AWHILE. TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT WORK EVERYNOW AND THEN, HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO GET THEM TO WORK. ENGINE WILL NOT START RIGHT AWAY, 2ND CRANK WILL START POSSIBLE FAULTY FUEL PUMP. 58000 MILES. PROBLEMS STARTED JAN 2003. 2000 IMPALA LS

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, WHICH WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION OF THE STEERING BUSHING SHAFT. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT 31K MILES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DUE TO AN UNDERSIZED SHAFT. (THE CLUNKING NOISE HAD GONE AWAY) THE PROBLEM RETURNED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. THE PROBLEM RETURNED 28K MILES LATER. *SCC *JB*JB

VECHICLE STALLS AT FULL SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY, OR AT COMING TO STOPS. FEEL SLIGHT HESTIATION AND ROUGH IDYLING. HAD CAR COMPUTER UPGRADED/CALIBRATED TWICE, BUT STILL EXPERIENCING STALLS.

WHILE GRADUALLY ACCELERATING FROM 42 TO 43 MPH THE ENGINE SURGES AND THEN SETTLES BACK DOWN. DEALER STATES THEY FOUND CODES THAT INDICATE A SOLENOID PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION. I ONLY HAVE 52,000 MILES ON THE CAR. DEALER ALSO STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD CHANGE TO ANY GEAR AT ANY TIME OR SPEED. *JB

INTAKE GASKET LEAKING @ 60K ON A 2000 CHEVY IMPALA, 3.4 V6, GM DEALER INFORMED ME ON A $500 REPAIR BILL AND NOTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL. GM NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS EXPENSIVE GASKET FAILURE. *JB

CLUNK NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE DURING DRIVING, ALSO CAN FEEL IT IN STEERING WHEEL. DEALER FIXED IT IN SEPT 2003, SAID THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN,BUT WOULD JUST GREASE THE STEERING WHEEL FIRST TO SEE IF IT WILL FIX IT. IT DID BUT NOW IT IS BACK, AND OF COURSE NOT IN WARRANTY. *NM

CHEVY IMPALA LS - 2000 YEAR MODEL, 38K MILES. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A SURFACE STREET - APPROX 30 MPH. BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, BUT CAR DID NOT IDLE OR INTERRUPT POWER. I HAD MAYBE 1/4 INCH ROOM TO MOVE WHEEL AND WAS ABLE TO GET CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD. POWER CYCLED CAR (OFF/ON) AND THAT CLEARED THE STEERING LOCK UP. DEALERSHIP REPAIR (ALLEN GWYNN CHEVY IN GLENDALE, CA) HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM. I AM TERRIFIED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN -- COULD BE FATAL IF STEERING LOCKS AND I LOSE CONTROL ON A TURN OR ON A FREEWAY.

CHEVROLET IMPALA 2000. PROBLEM WITH STEERING IN 2001, STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED. NOW THE CAR IS BACK IN SHOP, VERY HARD TO STEER TO THE LEFT AND MAKING NOISE WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT; THEY ARE PUTTING IN NEW STEERING RACK FOR THE SECOND TIME. CRADLE WAS ALSO REPLACED IN 2001. AFTER READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER 2000 IMPALAS, I AM NOW VERY WORRIED ABOUT IT HAPPENING AGAIN AND THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT.*AK

01-10-02, COMPLAINED OF PULSATION FELT IN STEERING. MECHANIC RESURFACED ROTORS. 01-11-02, SAME COMPLAINT, REPLACED INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN. 11-07-02, REPORTED A SQUEAL IN STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE, GREASED STEERING COLUMN. 09-09-03 COMPLAINED AGAIN OF SQUEAL IN STEERING, REPLACED RACK AND PINION.

WHILE DRIVING AT 25-35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM STILL RECURRING.

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CONTINIOUSLY COMES ON AND OFF. HAS HAD THE SENSOR RESET WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND APPROX. 2 WEEKS AFTER THE SENSOR LIGHT FOR AIR BAG WAS RESET IT STARTED COMING ON AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED $300.00 TO RESET THE LIGHT. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY SUCH AN EXCESSIVE FEE CONTINUOUSLY.*AK

I HAVE A 2000 IMPALA VIN# [XXX]. I HAVE BEEN HEARING A NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND EVERYTIME I PUSH THE GAS THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS TO THE LEFT. IT IS NOT MY ALIGNMENT BECAUSE I HAD GOTTEN IT REALIGNED AND I CAN FEEL IT WHEN I BRAKE AS WELL. IT IS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. ALSO MY LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN WHEN IT IS PROGRAMMED TO GO OFF MANUALLY IT STILL STAYS ON. I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW EBCSM. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AND AM STILL PAYING ON IT. I HEARD OTHERS WITH THE SAME MODEL AND YR HAVE THE SAME TROUBLES WITH THE STEERING. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION AND ADVISED DEALERSHIP THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF DURING DRIVING AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THIS WHILE CAR WAS IN THEIR SHOP. WE WERE ADVISED BY THE DEALERSHIP THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR IMPACT BAG OF INOPERABLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS CAR WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2002, HOWEVER, THIS REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE TOTAL CHARGE WE HAD TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET FOR THIS REPAIR WAS $352.60. AFTER REVIEWING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE NHSTA WEBSITE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT AND I FEEL WE SHOULD RECEIVING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE AMOUNT WE HAVE PAID TO HAVE THIS FIXED. *JB

THE TURN SIGNALS WORK SOMETIMES AND DON'T WORK SOMETIMES. THEY SEEM TO BE WORKING LESS AND LESS RECENTLY. *AK

AFTER CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND THE ENGINE IS HOT AND YOU ATTEMPT TO RESTART IT, IT JUST SHUTS BACK OFF. THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT SOUND WHEN IT DOES THIS, IT JUST SHUTS DOWN AS IF THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. IT NOW TAKES ABOUT 3-6 ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE CAR WILL START. IT HAS EVEN PROGRESSED TO SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, AGAIN NO SIGNS OF THE CAR BEING OFF UNTIL I NOTICED THE WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER TO GET THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED. THE FACT THAT IT NOW SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING POSES A SERIOUS DANGER TO ME AND OTHER DRIVERS.

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. *JB

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUALLY HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS, DEALER STATED MODULE SENSOR NEEDS TO TO BE CHANGED, AND IT WILL COST $1,000.*AK

THERE IS A "POPPING" NOISE FROM THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER "LUBED" THE PART, HOWEVER IT DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT SEAT HEATER IS TOO HOT, CAUSING THE HEATER TO BURN A HOLE INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, RESULTING IN A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *TS *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING FRONT BALL JOINT SNAPPED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, GET A JERKING VIBRATION IN STREERING WHEEL. GINN MOTORS IM COVINGTON GA. STATES THAT IT IS NOT THE RACK-N-PINION, BUT THAT IT IS THE STEERING COLLUM AND THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE BROKEN DOWN AND GREASE ADDED (COST 170.00. THIS IS AFTER THEY CHARGED ME 200.00 JUST TO GIVE ESTIMATE. WHEN CAR HAD 26000 MILES JOHN MILES CHEVY REPLACED THE RACK-N-PIONION WHEN IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING AND THAT CLEARED IT UP UNTIL NOW AT 60000 MILES. NOW THE TRACTION OFF AND THE BRAKE WORNING LIGHTS ARE COMING ON WITH THIS VIBRATION. BLINKERS WILL BE WORKING FINE, THEN THEY WILL JUST QUIT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS BOTH DIRRECTIONS WILL NOT WORK. 30 MINUTES LATTER THEY WORK FINE. PROBLEM WILL NOT STAY LONG ENOUGH TO FIND SOURCE. AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF JUST LIKE THE TURN SIGALS. SINCE WHEN DO DEALERSHIPS CHARGE A MINIMUM OF 200 DOLLARS FOR AN ESTIMATE. THEY ALSO DID NOT REPAIR RECALL OF COOLANT LEAK. THEY SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART. GAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY COULD GET PART.

DT: THE CONTACT HEARD A CRACKING SOUND COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER TO BE CHECKED. THE SOUND WOULD BE MORE EVIDENT IF THE WHEEL WAS TURNING. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE NOISE HAS BEEN HEARD FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED EMPTY; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE FLOATER IN THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

I AM ORIGINAL OWNER, NEVER HAD ANY CRASH OR COLLISION. THE REAR TAILIGHTS LEAK, CAUSING WATER TO ACCUMULATE INSIDE THE LENS. ONLY THE HARTCH LID COVER, INVOLVING THE REVERSE LIGHTS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BULB 2X DUE TO SHORTING OUT. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT, NO OTHER EXPLANATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK ON A HILL THE VEHICLE WOULD POP OUT OF PARK AND START TO ROLL BACK IN REVERSE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF OPERATION A CLUNKING OR RATTLE SOUND BEGAN TO BE HEARD IN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. YOU COULD FEEL IT AS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK THE CAR TO MUNDAY CHEVROLET 17800 I-45 NORTH HOUSTON, TEXAS, 77090. THEY SAID THERE WAS A CHEVROLET/IMPALA BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT WOULD BE FIXED. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER ON 04/14/03 I RETURNED TO THE SAME LOCATION TO COMPLAIN THAT THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THEY PACKED IT WITH 8.8 POUNDS OF LUBRICANT AND SAID THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE YEARS. THREE MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM IS AGAIN HAPPENING. I CAN'T CONCEIVE THAT AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN WHICH THE "INTERMEDIATE SHAFT" RATTLES AND IS FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL IS ACCEPTIBLE. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS UNRESOLLVED PROBLEM THAT I FEEL COULD BE DANGEROUS IN POSSIBLY LOCK UP THE STEERING. *AK