17th Sep 2010, 15:04

I bought my 2006 Chevy Impala SS in 2007! I have had nothing but problems with the transmission!! The transmission dropped on me 3 different times, all within a year and a half!!! There is this ticking noise that I guess the dealership cannot hear. I have been in and out of the dealership since I purchased it.. I always bought Chevy product, but now I am over it...

16th Nov 2010, 11:01

I own a 2006 Chevy LT Impala with a 3.L engine and 72,000 miles. After reading these comments I find I have only a few of the problems reported, however, they are repeat ones and serious.

The head gasket is being replaced for the second time in less than a year and half. For those of you who reported the heater blowing cold air while parked, it's a bad head gasket. I also have had to have the power steering pump replaced twice and hoses replaced numerous times. Further, a "switch" went bad and the car would not shift out of park. The remote start just doesn't work anymore.

This vehicle has been well taken care of, serviced every 3,000 miles like clock work and any recommended service work has been performed. I like the car but cannot afford to replace head gaskets every year.

I will be buying a Ford product.

10th Dec 2010, 12:02

I wrote in this column 1 year ago. 12-16-09. Our luck continues with our 06 Impala 3.9L. We now have 80,000 miles on it.

We solved our clunking steering column by spraying the steering shaft with PB Blaster. Just pull the plastic boot down under the dash board and spray the shaft, problem solved!

I did replace the water pump (small drip), but more importantly, dumped the DEXCOOL, and went green.

We continue to be impressed with the gas mileage - commuting to work 23 to 26 MPG. We are still on our second set of tires, and the tread remaining looks very good (I rotate every 10,000 miles).

Oil consumption is negligible; maybe a quart in 3,000 miles. We still have original brakes and rotors!

I read this column, because my wife drives many miles for her job, and I want to stay on top of problems. I put 308,000 miles on my 86 Buick-original engine and transmission. I have faith in this car, and would like to see at least 200,000 miles on it.

11th Dec 2010, 17:05

My brother has owned Impalas for decades. They have all been pretty much flawless. He switched to an Equinox two years ago, and it too has been very good. Although I am a bit partial to Ford, we have owned several GM vehicles. My wife currently drives a GM SUV that is approaching 100,000 miles. Thus far it has had nothing but one set of tires and one battery. It even still has the original brake pads. We have always had excellent reliability with all our domestics.

18th Dec 2010, 17:39

I bought my 2006 Impala LS used in 2007 with low miles. I had very good luck with it the first 2 years, then last winter the problems started.

- Radio wouldn't turn on sometimes when the car was started (not fixed).

- Front passenger speaker got blown out (replaced with a new speaker system).

- Transmission shifts hard sometimes into second or third (hope that doesn't go out on me).

- Transmission oil cooler lines started leaking (replaced lines myself).

- Steering wheel makes a humming noise when turning (lubed up steering column with WD-40).

- Passenger window started screeching when opened) (oiled up inside the rubber seal on the window, made a mess of the window but took care of the problem).

- Now the head gasket is leaking anti-freeze (after I thought the radiator was leaking and replaced the radiator).

- This morning I went to start up my car, and the battery was completely drained and no lights were left on.

I want to know if it is just the 2006 Impalas that have so many problems, or if the 2007-2011 Impalas have the same problems. My family and I are very loyal GM owners, though I can assure anyone I will never buy or recommend a 2006-2011 Impala, unless you looking for a good car to enter in your local demo-derby.

6th Feb 2011, 10:39

I have a 2006 Chevy Impala LT that shakes when the brakes are applied. I also have replaced the water pump at 58000 miles. It is now setting on my driveway locked up in park and will not shift out of park. I tried everything that it tells you to do in the service manual, but it won't shift. Tow truck will pick it up Monday and deliver it to my mechanic. My problem is I also own a 2008 Impala, and wonder if it will give me the same problems as the miles match up. Thinking of trading both off and going back to Fords again.

7th Feb 2011, 12:19

"He switched to an Equinox two years ago, and it too has been very good. We have always had excellent reliability with all our domestics."

Your brothers Equinox is made in Canada and is imported into the U.S.A.

7th Feb 2011, 20:51

Never thought a close to new Chevy Impala would have transmission problems..

28th Feb 2011, 16:15

I've been reading some of your comments Chevy Impala owners, because I presently own a 2000 Impala LS that I bought 4 years ago and I'm thinking of buying a newer one, 2007-2010.

Let me tell you folks I've never had any major problem with this car and I have now 220,000 kms, and she still runs great.

I believe that it depends on luck.

19th Mar 2011, 22:55

I have had Chevys all my life, so thought it only natural my first NEW car be one too.

Bought my Impala LT in July '06 with an extended warranty on the powertrain, but have never sought service for problems, because I never wanted to be surprised with a huge bill for stuff not covered (un-trusting after a bad experience in the 90s where an 02 sensor problem on my Celebrity cost me $1,400).

I have many of the same problems I'm seeing here, and I only reached 40k miles today. I am looking for ANY solution for my car rattling my teeth loose at speeds of 52-62 mph. It is so bad I am honestly worried I am literally going to snap my wheels off somehow. Other problems I've had:

At 500 miles, the car started pounding back and forth between high and low gears. Staggered like that about 4 miles to a friend's house, put it in park, and it never happened again.

Had to replace factory tires at 17k miles, and they're ready for replacement again (wearing on outsides at recommended psi, despite rotation every 5k).

Replaced washer fluid reservoir under warranty - tech said probably cracked by road debris.

At only a year old, started having that horrendous driver's window screech in 80+ temps, making me hate my daily 2-toll commute. Issue has not been resolved.

Occasional hesitation or hard shift, but too infrequent and inconsistent to pinpoint circumstances.

Took in for remote control reprogramming under warranty. Have noticed some slow response to remote start at distance, but I park close enough to my front door that I don't really have problems when it matters most.

Of course have that groany clunk in the steering column too. Within the last six months, also noticed a short, sporadic higher-pitched creak, which seems to stop once the car warms up.

Heater doesn't blow hot unless accelerating. Going downhill in frigid weather, I put car in neutral to keep my foot on the gas. Research online suggested an air bubble in the heater hose, which I fixed myself successfully, but temporarily; it's back, and now I need to figure out what's causing the air bubble to develop in the first place.

The little shimmy that started at three years old, became the tooth-rattling shake that I HAVE GOT to get fixed ASAP - my only REALLY big complaint.

The control for the heater/vent/AC is wacky. I ask for heat at my feet, I get heat in my face. I also hate when I do have heat at my feet, that my left foot freezes while meat falls off the right one, but I think that's just a design flaw, not a defect (like the visors, which I agree are too narrow).

Battery died at 31k miles, needed to be replaced.

Windshield washer fluid pump stopped working, research online suggested a blown fuse, which I replaced myself.

Brought in for power steering hose recall at no cost.

There have been a few recent occasions where doors do not seem to recognize me standing 6 inches away, trying to either lock or unlock them with my remote.

I love Chevys. I still enjoy my dad's old '65, and would never have replaced my '96 Lumina if a glitchy service light didn't affect my ability to pass inspection. For that reason, I won't say this will be my last Chevy - I really love the fit, the feel, the look, and the ride of it (under 52 mph) - but if I can't figure out some way to get this shake fixed, the next one is really going to have to knock my socks off.