2000 Chevrolet Impala: jerking or lurching

Filed Jul 9, 2014 · Engine, Fuel system · 161,000 miles · GA

I have a 2000 impala with approximately 161,000 miles on it. The car is used and I am the 2nd owner. I went to have my normal oil change as I had noticed the low engine oil pressure light had come on. The car had been running out of oil frequently, but I didn't see any oil leaks. The print out after the oil change stated multiple oil leaks. But there was never any oil on the ground. The car had been running very rough and was staring to run warmer than usual. Not hot, but past the middle line on the temp gauge. And I had noticed a burning smell after driving, but never saw any smoke. This all started in april 2014 and has been ongoing. I've taken the car to a repair shop and nobody seems to know what's going on. Now july 5,2014 I went to turn left and the steering wheel was extremely hard to turn. I had to put a lot of muscle into turning the wheel. I checked the power steering fluid and saw it was low so I topped it off. Problem should have been fixed right? Wrong. It got worse. I took it to a different repair shop and was told it was the tensioner pulley. O'er $100 later, the problem has gotten worse. When I turn left the wheel stays stuck and I have to jerk it back straight. Thus is a safety hazard as I transport my family in this vehicle. Since these problems stared the car eats a lot of gas. Going 5 miles should not use almost a quarter tank of gas and the check engine light comes on and stays on at random times, during theses times the car eats a lot if gas. When the light is not on gas mileage is ok. This is very dangerous.

Filed Dec 16, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · MN

My car started to over heat in the middle of winter in minnesota. There was plenty of coolant in the reservoirs. While the vehicle was idling there was a noise and once I started to move again the car began to jerk then the check engine light came on while attempting to accelerate. Then a few weeks later the gas gauge began showing the incorrect about of gas levels in my vehicle.

Filed Dec 9, 2007 · Brakes, Electrical · 75,000 miles · MD · crash · 1 injury

Car went out of control after driver put the car into gear to move it from a parked, idling position, after noticing a burning like odor. It was noted by the driver at that time that the temperature gauge was in the red zone. When the driver attempted to move the car to a safer parking area only a few feet in distance, she heard a sharp snapping sound and also felt a vibration in the steering wheel/column area. The car suddenly lurched forward, the head lights and dash lighting went completely out as the car began accelerating out of control. In addition, there was no steering or brake control. No work has been done yet to correct these problems because an insurance company is involved.

Filed Feb 9, 2005 · Steering · NY

I started hearing a "clunking" in the front end. I can also feel "jerking" in steering. It is especially dominant when I am going slower and using brakes, I seem to be able to feel and hear it better when slightly turning to the right. I can also be stopped and just taking off to make a turn and can hear the clunking. I am scared that something is going to fall off someday and I will have no steering. Had it look at and mechanic thought it was a broken tie rod end he found on right side, that was repaired 2/7/05.. But clunking and jerkiness is still there.

Filed Jun 4, 2004 · Steering · 34,560 miles · SC

On july 4, 2003 my 2000 chevrolet impala was lubed at the chevrolet dealership because of steering issues. The car would vibrate, pop, and jerk when accelerating, slowing down or making turns and steering becomes very tight and difficult to turn. It took 3 separate visits to the dealership before they discovered what they thought was the source of the problem. I have several children and I am greatly concerned about our safety. I do not know what else to do because this seems to be a recurring problem with many 2000 impalas. I did a lot of reseach and found other complaints on your site due to the same issue, as well as complaints on www.impalahq.com. I've also read issues where some police departments are using this same model and they have reported accidents due to steering lost, which seems to be related to the intermediate steering shaft issues. The last steering shaft lube was 11 months ago and cost me $140. Looks like I will have to have this service done every 10-12 months to keep this car from loosing steering. I can not put a price on the safety of my children, but I can inform other and hope chevy will find a solution to this problem quickly.

Filed May 26, 2004 · Electrical, Lights · PA

Periodic transmission slip from initial date of purchase - dealer could not duplicate when taken in for service, until out of warranty. Reflash e-prom/update done at 75k miles to correct problem. Now at 110k dealer says new transmission is needed as car is exhibiting same problems. Car headlights go out when using high beams. Car has lost all power twice when driving and completely shut off, thus causing a significant steering problem until the car could be stopped. Grounding wires added to see if correction could be made. Lights & car have not quit yet, but transmission continues to exhibit shifting problems with check engine light coming on. When car is shut off the engine light will go out and not come back on and the car will reset it self and run okay for awhile. The car also exhibits a loud whining noise when the slippage / jerking is about to occur. Gm will not allow conversation with anyone but a customer service person. All file numbers given to me by gm personnel when car was under warranty are not loaded into their data base, thus nothing can be done, mileage is too high and these things are expected to happen.

Filed Mar 1, 2004 · Engine, Steering · 28,000 miles · FL

While driving at 15 to 20 MPH vehicle intermittently stalled. *ak consumer took the vehicle to the dealer but they can't locate the source of the problem. In addition, knocking and jerking in steering wheel when turning, and it was found that intermediate shaft created noise. Intermediate shaft was replaced under warranty.

Filed Aug 8, 2003 · Transmission · AL

While driving, the vehicle started to jerk.

Filed Jul 30, 2003 · Steering · 60,000 miles · GA

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.

Filed Jul 1, 2000 · Brakes, Engine · TX · crash

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 )