2000 Chevrolet Impala Suspension Problems

MY 2000 CHEVY IMPALA HAS REAR END NOISES WHEN DRIVING OVER SLIGHT ROAD BUMPS. MY MECHANIC INSPECTED CAR REAR END AND FOUND BOTH REAR STRUT TOWERS BADLY RUSTED, ESPECIALLY IN TRUNK, WITH NOT MUCH SUPPORT FOR STRUT MOUNTS. I WAS TOLD THE REAR END WILL EVENTUALLY COLLAPSE AND CAR WILL NOT BE DRIVABLE. CURRENTLY, THERE IS VERY LITTLE ROOM BEFORE STRUT MOUNTS WILL TOUCH BOTH REAR TIRES DUE TO RUSTED STRUT TOWERS, A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. WHAT I READ ELSEWHERE IS THAT ON THE FIRST 2000 NEW YEAR W-BODY DESIGN, THERE IS OVERLAPPING SHEET METAL AT THE TOP OF THE TOWERS, THAT GM DID NOT SEAL. SO IT'S A HUGE MOISTURE TRAP, CAUSING RUST TO OCCUR. LATER YEARS GM PUT IN PLASTIC SHIELDS IN THE WHEEL WELLS. AND WHETHER THEY PUT A SEALER IN WHERE THE METAL PANELS OVERLAP WASN'T MENTIONED. THIS 15 YEAR OLD CAR HAS VERY LITTLE OVERALL BODY RUST, BELOW AVERAGE MILES, MECHANICALLY RUNS GREAT AND HAS MANY MORE MILES TO GO. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THIS GM OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW NOW HAS TO COST ME TO REPAIR IF I WANT TO CONTINUE DRIVING MY CAR. VERBAL ESTIMATES QUOTED ARE ACTUALLY MORE THAN KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CHEVY OWNER STARTING WITH MY FIRST 1963 CHEVY BISCAYNE. THIS IS MY FIRST MAJOR COMPLAINT ABOUT GM BECAUSE THIS IS NOT DUE TO MY ABUSE OR NEGLIGENCE. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE LACK OF FORESIGHT TO THIS DESIGN FLAW, GM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

I HAVE A 2000 IMPALA THAT HAS THE REAR STRUT TOWERS BEGINNING TO RUST OUT BADLY. THERE HAS BEEN NO INCIDENT YET AS I CAUGHT THIS ON ONE OF MY VEHICLES INSPECTIONS. IF THIS WERE TO RUST COMPLETELY OUT THE REAR TIRES COULD COME OFF OF THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT GENERAL MOTORS, BUT GOT NO RESPONSE. THIS DEFECT RENDERS TO CAR PRETTY MUCH USELESS. THANKS FOR YOU TIME. *TR

VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR LEFT AXLE SEAL LEAK. NEXT DAY VIBRATION NOTICED WHILE SLIGHT RIGHT TURN PRESSURE ON WHEEL. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER. COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM ON LOT. AFTER TESTING ON ROAD FOR 2 MINS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION HAD TOTAL FAILURE. *TR

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY WHOLE POWER STEERING AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 DOLLARS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS FIXING PARTS THAT RELATE TO ANYTHING FROM THE WHEEL BEARING, RACK & PINION, BALL JOINTS AND NOW LOOKS LIKE MY POWER STEERING IS READY TO GO OUT. BASICALLY EVERYTHING MAJOR ON THE FRONT HAS FAILED. MY WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER BECAUSE THEY SAID IT'S NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I FEEL IT'S A DEFECT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE SAME THINGS KEEP FAILING OVER AND OVER. I REALLY DEPEND ON MY CAR TO GET TO WORK AND FEEL THIS IS A MATTER THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT A LITTLE MORE CLOSER AND TAKEN SERIOUSLY BECAUSE FROM WHAT I SEE, A LOT OF 2000 CHEVY IMPALA OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME THING. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THE DEALERS OR THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE CARE OF AND LOOK A POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT FOR MANY CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, THANKS.*JB

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

FAILURE OF RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HUB AND BEARING ON MY IMPALA 2000 AFTER ONLY 37000 MILES.*AK

CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT END, FEELS LOOSE. DEALER CHECKED AND VERIFIED THAT SNAPPING FEELING IN THE STEERING WHEEL, REMOVE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM INSPECTION FOR PROPER LUBE, WILL REQUIRE SHAFT LUBE, NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, THERE IS A SOFT AUDIBLE CLUNK IN FRONT END NOT FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL DURING PARKING LOT TEST DRIVE, INSPECT FRONT SUSPENSION CRADDLE , OLD STYLE WELDS, ORDERED FRONT CRADDLE, ORDERED GREASE KIT, WAITING FOR INFORMATION REGARDING CRADLE REPLACEMENT.

ON MAY 15, 01 TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER IN REFERENCE TO THE HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM MY WHEELS. THEY FOUND RIGHT FRONT STRUT WAS BOTTOMING OUT AND COLLAPSING WITH HITTING BUMP AND LEFT FRONT HUB BEARING WAS ROARING. BOTH OF THESE WHERE REPLACED AT NO COST AS VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARANTY. I ASKED ABOUT THE REAR WHEELS AND WAS TOLD THEY WHERE FINE. ON THIS DATE NOVEMBER 05,01 ONLY 6 MONTHS LATER I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE SAME DEALER IN MY AREA FOR THE SAME THING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS TIME THEY FOUND RIGHT REAR BEARING AND HUB WAS BAD. THIS WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF 544.60. DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE I ONLY HAD TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE PAID ANYTHING HAD THIS BEEN FIXED IN THE FIRST PLACE. I ALSO HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE AS THIS PROBLEM CAUSED MY TIRE TO BE CUPPED IN THE INSIDE AND THEREFORE I STILL HAVE THE HUMMING NOISE EVEN THOUGH PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. I HAVE TWO MORE WHEELS TO GO, ANY SUGGESTIONS?

TOOK THE CAR IN AT 7K MILES REGARDING THE THUMP NOISE IN THE FRONT END. SHIMS WERE ADDED WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. AT 28K MILES I TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE SEVERAL IMPALA'S ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AT 30K MILES. THE MNAUFACTURER IS NOT IN BUSINESS AND I WAS TOLD THEIR "TECHNICHANS AT GM ARE WORKING ON THE PROBLEM". I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM AND WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT HAVE A DATE WHEN THE NEW PARTS WOULD BE IN TO FIX MY CAR. WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE DRIVING, THERE IS NO DANGER IN DRIVING WITH A BROKEN RACK AND PINION. AFTER FILING THE COMPLAINT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THE PART WILL BE IN IN APPROX 3 WEEKS. NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER WITH GM AS I FEEL DRIVING THE CAR BROKEN IS ENDANGERING MY LIFE AS WELL AS MY CHILDS. THEY ARE CORRECTING THE PROBLEM IN THE 2001 MODEL BUT SEEM TO NOT BE CONCERNED ON GETTING REPEAT CUSTOMERS.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE SPEED OF 35 MPH, THERE WAS A SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH HEARD A NOISE, SOON AFTERWARDS VEHICLE WAS SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL. DEALER STATED THAT REAR TORQUE ARM AXLE HAS BROKEN. *AK THE LEFT REAR TORQUE ARM BROKE AT A THREAD JOINT, THE TORQUE ARM WAS HOLLOW AND HAD A SLIGHT BEND. *SLC

SINCE SHORTLY AFTER CAR WAS PURCHASED THERE IS A NOTICEABLE CLUNKING/POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR. THIS IS ESPECIALLY HEARD WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. ORIGINAL THOUGHT WAS THAT IT WAS EITHER AN ARM OR A JOINT. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND SUBSEQUENT COMPLAINTS HAVE RESULTED IN MY BEING TOLD IT WAS EITHER "IN MY STEERING COLUMN" (WHICH I FIND ODD SINCE THAT IS ON THE LEFT), OR A "NOISE THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING", OR "SOMETHING TYPICAL TO ALUMINUM ROCKERS", OR EVEN THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THEY HEARD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT BUT IT WASN'T HURTING ANYTHING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW IN NOVEMBER 2000 SO APPARENTLY THE NOISE IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD, OR AT LEAST NOT TO ME, AND NOT YET. I REMAIN CONCERNED AND COMPLAIN ABOUT IT ALMOST EACH TIME I TAKE IT IN TO THE MECHANIC FOR ANY OTHER WORK. TODAY THE LOCAL CHEVROLET REP OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF THE REPAIR COST TO DO SOMETHING TO THE STEERING WHICH THEY THINK IS THE CAUSE, BUT WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR SOMETHING THEIR CAR DOES THAT IT SHOULD NOT? BESIDES, I DON'T THINK A RIGHT FRONT TIRE AREA NOISE IS MUCH RELATED TO THE STEERING. INCIDENT DATE IS SINCE SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. *JB

CLICKING/SNAPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED AT A STOP. DEALER INSTALLED A SHIM KIT IN THE ENGINE CRADDLE, PROBLEM STILL EXIST. NOW STATES THE CRADDLE WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. *AK

COMPLETE STALL ON HIGHWAY AT 50MPH. ALMOST REAR ENDED BY TRUCK. CAR ROLLS BACK WHEN AT STOP. STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION WHILE STOPPED. GAS SLOSHES WHILE IN TANK. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED SLIGHT VIBRATION IS COMMON HIGHWAY ROADS SURFACES, THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP, JERK AND WANDER FROM SIDE TO SIDE, FAVORING THE RIGHT SIDE. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING WILL BRAKE AWAY AND TRY AND BEGIN TO SPIN FIRST LEFT AND THEN RIGHT.. WHEN ROAD CONDITIONS ARE WET FROM MIST OR RAIN, THE VEHICLE WILL CONSTANTLY TRY TO BEGIN A RIGHT REAR SLIDING ACTION AS IF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IS TRY TO COME TO COME AROUND AND GET IN FRONT OF YOU WHILE IN A FORWARD MOTION. SPEEDS AT WHICH THIS ACCURS IS 45 TO 70 MILES AN HOUR. LOSS OF FORWARD, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WILL ACCURE, VEHICLE WANDERS BACK AND FORTH. VEHICLE WILL FISHTAIL ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS. VERY SEVER CORNER TO CORNER TIRE WEAR. REAR TIRES CONPLETELY BALD. CONSTANT TIRE ROTATION PROVES WORTHLESS. VEHICLE WILL PULL TO RIGHT FRONT WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. FRONT TO REAR ALIGHNMENT PROBLEMS. NO SPECS AVAILABLE FROM DEALERSHIP FOR ALIGHNMENT. SET REAR CAMBER, BOTH SIDES BY EYE. AN UNCONTROLED HIGHWAY SPIN RESULTED IN SEVER VEHICLE DAMAGE. ENGINE STALLS AT UPON ACCELERATION, SLOW SPEEDS, STREET LIGHTS, STOP SIGHNS., ETC. VEHICLE WILL ROLL FORWARD WHILE IN A REVERSE ACTION SUCH AS; BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, DRIVE WAY.,ECT. PURCHASE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO SCKNOWLEDGE COMPLAINTS OF VEHICLE FAILURES, FACTS, CONDITIONS. WAS TOLD BY GENERAL SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES SURROUNDING THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S ACCIDENT, " ITS A LEGAL ISSUE OF LIBALITY, THAT WE NO LONGER CAN NOT AND WILL NOT HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER TO DO WITH YOU OR THIS VEHICLE." WAS TOLD BY SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT IN REGARDS TO THE FACTS OR CONDDTIONS SURROUNDING THIS VEHICLES PROBLEMS CAUSING THE SEVER TIRE WEAR CONDITIONS THAT, " I WAS SCREWED"...*AK( DOT NUMBER: 1089MS TIRE SIZE: P255/60R16 )

AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER MOTOR EMITTED A HIGH-PITCHED NOISE AT 8,029 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURED AT 33,130 MILES. THE BLOWER WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE BRAKES BEGAN TO VIBRATE AT 17,000 MILES AT 55 MPH. THE DEALER REPAIRED OR REPLACED THE ROTORS ON THE FRONT END. THIS SAME VIBRATION REAPPEARED AT APPROXIMATELY 31,000 MILES. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE BRAKE ROTORS A SECOND TIME. ALSO AT APPROXIMATELY 31,000 MILES, THE FRONT END EMITTED A THUDDING SOUND AT LOW SPEEDS (20 MPH) . THE DEALER WOULD NOT CONSIDER THIS PROBLEM, THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS STILL WITHIN WARRANTY MILEAGE AND TIME. THE FINAL DIAGNOSIS ON THE THUDDING NOISE UNDER THE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY "SHOT" STRUTS.

THE LEFT AND RIGHT CONTROL ARM FAILED. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

PAINT IS PEELING OFF OF FRONT BUMPER AND GRILL HAS BEEN PAINTED 4 TIMES AND IS STILL PEELING OFF/ REPLACED 4 INJECTORS AND MODULE/ HAD TO HAVE FRONT AND REAR END ALIGNED/ HAD TO BUY 4 NEW TIRES/ CAR WON'T HOLD ON INCLINE/ CAN HEAR GAS SLOUCH IN GAS TANK/HAS A POPPING IN THE FRONT END/