2007 Chevrolet Impala: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Oct 10, 2017 · Suspension · 37,000 miles · AL · crash

While driving on a road my tie rod broke causing me to lose control of the car. It completely turned around and landed in some trees.

Filed Oct 31, 2016 · Steering · 82,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 chevrolet impala. While driving various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal knocking noise in the steering column. The contact stated that the control arms, inner and outer tie rods, sway bar links, ball joints, front shocks, and axle were replaced on the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 09e005000 (steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.

Filed Jun 19, 2013 · Steering · 79,450 miles · TX

I had been driving for about five hours at speeds of 70 MPH. Stopped at a fast food place and pulled in to the pay window and heard a clunk. When pulling away from the window making a slight left turn, the right front wheel locked 70 degrees right and I stopped. Towed to a chevy dealer and he informed me the tie rod to the wheel stripped out of the connector rod bolt. The stripped portion was about 1 and a quarter inches. This had to take a while to strip out with no indications of a problem before hand and the alignment had appeared to still be fine. I have the two components and can send pictures or the components themselves.

Filed Aug 14, 2012 · Brakes, Suspension · 12,675 miles · CA

I will not drive this car down any steep grade. Going down cuesta grade and applying brakes, the steering wheel shakes uncontrollably. We had the car checked out at a dealer and they said it was probably the rotors. We then had them turned front and back and got a front end alignment. That did not change anything. We then had a four wheel alignment done and replaced the brakes. No difference. That is when we were told we needed to replace our tires. The rear were wearing out at very fast. They lasted under 20k miles. We are now on our third set. It's too bad gm will not recall 2007/2008 impalas. Only the police version.this is not right. Our rear spindles and front upper/lower control arms should be replaced at no cost to us. If not who would bother buying this car when we sell it?

Filed Nov 14, 2008 · Brakes · 23,000 miles · AL

Front rotors are warped at 22,000 miles on the car. It appears that the rotors are either undersize, made of poor steel, and or imported from china. There is no reason for the rotors to have failed and be resurfaced. As a mechanic this condition caused a significant safety issue under highway speed braking to a stop. My wife thought it was the road but instead it was a rotor shimmy. I thought the car was going to shimmy apart and brake steering tie rod links at the time it happened. There was no way I was going to let up on the brake or I would have hit the car in front of me. Instead I rode out the violent shimmy and grinding sounds coming from the front end. The concern I have is that other people would not identify the shimmy for what it is like my wife did and think it was the road. I feel that if the road was wet I would have lost control of the car.

Filed May 20, 2008 · Steering · 14,375 miles · MT

Tl*the contact owns a 2007 chevrolet impala. While driving 65 MPH, the rear of the vehicle veered to the left. The contact noticed the rear passenger tire was at a 45 degree angle with the vehicle. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,375 and current mileage was 14,400. Updated 07/29/08. *lj the consumer stated the right tie rod broke. Updated 08/05/08

Filed Oct 31, 2007 · Steering · 24,498 miles · FL

Tl*the contact owns a 2007 chevrolet impala. While turning the vehicle at various speeds, the contact heard a loud clicking sound coming from the steering column. She took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced the steering column. Four days later, the noise returned and the dealer replaced the tie rods. One month later, the noise occurred for the third time and the steering gear mechanism was replaced. The contact is currently experiencing the same failure for the fourth time. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of failure and repair the vehicle. She filed a complaint with the manufacturer. The purchase date was unknown. The failure mileage was 24,498 and current mileage was 26,691. The consumer stated after three repairs the problem still persists. Updated 11/14/07