2008 Chevrolet Impala: loss of power steering

Filed Oct 19, 2015 · Electrical · 85,733 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet impala. The contact stated that the key fob was not able to be removed from the ignition and the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it could not be diagnosed. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was remedied under the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v355000 (electrical system); however, the failure recurred twelve times after the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 85,733.

Filed Oct 3, 2015 · Steering · 65,937 miles · NC

Vehicle has 65,937 miles and failed nc inspection due to excessive play in both front hub and bearing assemblies. No steering problems noted prior to this inspection. Dealer stated they have replaced some assemblies but had not been made aware by chevrolet this was a problem nor has any recall been initiated. With so few miles and a defect so potentially dangerous some form of notification to vehicle owners of models using this type of assembly should be notified.

Filed Jul 21, 2015 · Driver assistance, Engine · 81,352 miles · IL

Traction control needs service message displayed, then throttle disabled message displayed shutting the engine off going down the road. So therefor no power steering, brakes etc . Once pulled onto shoulder car would not crank. Had to wait five minutes until the gauges flickered and then car was able to be restarted. This is highly dangerous if not where to pull off or being followed closely. Not to mention not power steering assist or brake assist. This could very easily cause a crash and there for should be a recall issued before people are injured or killed by this!

Filed Jul 13, 2015 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 123,000 miles · NY

I was driving on interstate 81 in cny when my dash lit up and said "service traction control, reduce engine power" at that point my car would not down shift to accelerate. About 15 miles down the road my car said "service throttle control sensor", and the engine shut off!!! I was just coming out of a huge work zone and I lost power steering and power brakes in the left lane of a 3 lane highway. I made my way to the shoulder as safely as I could and was unable to restart my car for at least 5 minutes!!!!!! 3 days later it did it all over again on a country road thankfully!!. I remember the reduce engine power service traction control had acted up once before in 2012 right after I bought the car. This needs to be recalled immediately before someones engine shuts off when they are going faster than 45!!!!!!

Filed Nov 17, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 165,000 miles · MA

After going through a small puddle, serp belt slips, lose power steering, cant hardly control car. If it happened with my wife driving in traffic could be very bad. Went to beard chevrolet a month ago (this has been happening several mos) and was told it's normal, and in new cars they went to electric ps because of it. That doesn't console me with an otherwise perfectly running car. I had replaced the tensioner and serp belt already before going to the dealer.

Filed Jun 30, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 54,000 miles · MT

While driving to work on 29 may 2014 I hit a small pothole. The pothole is 10" across, 3-4" deep, and I hit it head on. This caused my car to shut off, which I didn't realize until I tried to accelerate. I then realized I had no power steering or breaks and had to pull off to the side of the road to restart the car. Luckily there were no cars behind me, so other than having to pull off the road on a curve I was lucky. I called both my local gm dealer (ressler of bozeman, mt) and gm customer support to tell them about the issue. The local dealer told me there was no issue with the car, no recalls, and nothing to worry about. The technician told me to "avoid hitting potholes". Given the state of the roads that may be hard to do. The gm support told me there was no recall at the moment but there might be one down the road and to watch the news.

Filed May 24, 2014 · Steering · 85,000 miles · MO

It was raining and lost power steering at speed. This has continued each time it has rained or going through a car wash. Very dangerous because the car will not turn. This type of incident has occurred more than 50 times and the dealership only laughed at me when I called. Is chevy waiting till my family is killed before noticing this issue like with the other recent recalls.

Filed Jun 17, 2013 · Electrical · 70,000 miles · TN

Car was just started, in parking lot, getting ready to drive and electrical system shutdown completely. Couldn't take key out, or restart, no lights, no electrical activity at all, but it had just been running. After several minutes, it all came back on and restart, and drove ok. There had been battery problems in the past, corrosion on terminal, which was repaired. The battery cable where the wire enters the positive terminal was not completely tight. The internet has reports from several people reporting this same event on impalas, of several different model years. Most of these though, it happened while they were driving down the road, and some reported accidents that resulted. Prior to all the modern electronics, if the engine was running and the alternator was working, the engine would never just shut down even if the battery connection was bad. This is a very dangerous situation, where the car can just shut off and the operator loses all power systems. No power steering, extremely difficult braking, and the possibility of the steering wheel locking (though the latter did not happen to us). When operating the car in hilly or mountainous roads, where there are steep drop offs on shoulder side, and semi-trucks coming in opposite direction, surely this has potential as deadly situation. Would like to see redundancy, if alternator is producing, don't shut down electrical system. Rather, just give warning. Also, be sure that no car would ever lock the steering wheel when electrical systems malfunction. I am afraid to have my wife drive the car until a new battery cable is installed.

Filed Jun 1, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 83,300 miles · MN

I was traveling on a highway near to my home, and for about a month now the vehicle has come up with an error stating "reduced engine power". Suddenly, the vehicle simply stalled itself, coming up with a message that stated "starting disabled/service throttle". I was traveling uphill at 40mph, now with no power brakes, no power steering, and the engine completely shut off and unable to restart. Luckily I was able to pull over and disconnect the battery and reconnect it to restart it. What if this had happened on a highway on or off ramp? Or on a corner? Or with a vehicle traveling behind me? I believe any vehicle that will just randomly turn itself off due to a part that has had hundreds of complaints that I've just read online is unsafe to be driven on america's highways. I read online that this was a prevalent problem with these vehicles, and I hope I get injured because of it so I can sue gm.

Filed Jan 26, 2012 · Electrical, Locks · 40,000 miles · SD

I am getting my fourth set of tires on my 2008 impala, with 70,000 miles I have been told everything from not rotating my tire which I do every 6,000 miles to alignment which has been done three times, , I also have no power steering randomly at low speeds, also rear door locks don't work any more, also when I step on the gas the traction control light comes on and I can't go forward and then it all of a sudden will move, that's on dry pavement.

Filed Sep 14, 2011 · Steering · 55,000 miles · IL

The first incident occurred during heavy rainfall. My son was turning right onto a highway, after stopping at a stop sign. Once he began his turn onto the highway, the steering wheel locked up for a few seconds. He then turned down a residential street and drove around a few blocks, losing steering again for a few seconds while turning a corner. He proceeded to drive back onto the highway and drove 70 miles to his destination, rain continuing, without further incident. On this same day, I drove home 70 miles from this destination, the rain continued and I had driven about 30 miles when the steering locked for a few seconds after I crossed a railroad track and turned onto a residential street. Since then, we have had at least one if not more incidents of the steering locking up each time it rains. The steering either locks while making a turn, or after the turn is completed, or as we are turning into a parking spot. Today, 9/14/2011, it was raining and my steering locked up while turning from a stop sign, then again while turning into a parking space, and again as I was pulling into my driveway. On this date, however, I noticed that the low battery indicator came on when the steering locked. When the steering first started locking up, we reported it to the dealership, but they said they found nothing wrong with our vehicle. We have notified the chevrolet dealership where our impala was purchased, and gm. It is our understanding that there is no recall for steering problems on the 2008 impala. Therefore, we have not been successful in getting this potentially dangerous problem resolved. *tr