Steering complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 | 20% | 54,000 miles |
| 2019 | 3 | 11% | 37,000 miles |
| 2018 | 7 | 12% | 74,000 miles |
| 2017 | 11 | 9% | 40,000 miles |
| 2016 | 16 | 14% | 75,000 miles |
| 2015 | 44 | 15% | 61,000 miles |
| 2014 | 140 | 22% | 69,000 miles |
| 2013 | 34 | 13% | 55,000 miles |
| 2012 | 49 | 19% | 58,000 miles |
| 2011 | 35 | 7% | 60,000 miles |
| 2010 | 42 | 10% | 68,000 miles |
| 2009 | 57 | 7% | 56,000 miles |
| 2008 | 94 | 12% | 63,000 miles |
| 2007 | 101 | 16% | 56,000 miles |
| 2006 | 135 | 26% | 58,000 miles |
| 2005 | 60 | 10% | 85,000 miles |
| 2004 | 63 | 6% | 59,000 miles |
| 2003 | 30 | 4% | 52,000 miles |
| 2002 | 57 | 7% | 45,000 miles |
| 2001 | 76 | 10% | 40,000 miles |
| 2000 | 124 | 15% | 60,000 miles |
| 1996 | 12 | 14% | 40,000 miles |
| 1995 | 2 | 5% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that upon parking the vehicle, the "Power Steering - Drive with Care" message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact then attempted to reverse out of the driveway and excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle. The contact restarted that vehicle two hours later and the vehicle resumed normal operation. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.
2020 Chevrolet Impala Premier purchased July, 2015, mileage: + or - 12 miles I started having hard steering and made several trips to the dealer while under warranty and the dealer could not gen an OBD reading and no on dash reading. Right after the warranty was up and at 5,322 miles they were able to get an OBD reading. Information from the dealer invoice: A multi-point inspection DI1 Multi-Point inspection 716106 CPC B C/S veh is hard to steer at times- acts like it has no electric steering ADV cause: DTC O800 power steering control module low voltage, found while battery sitting over TP test dead cell and low cca 185/535cca EGO1 drivability test 716106 CPC $69.95 1 88866309 $190.00 New Battery Final charge: $317.44 No hard steering for a while, and now at 7,500 + or - miles hard steering is back and becoming harder to steer at times, especially if breaking. …
Last summer I was experiencing intermittent issues where the vehicle seemed to have a mind of its own while I was cruising. The steering wheel would randomly lock up as if it was forcing me to go straight on a curved road for example. It would happen a couple of more times until one day I was trying to go home from work and I saw a message indicating something along the lines of "Service: Power steering" followed by the same symptoms. I was able to temporarily remedy this by power cycling the vehicle for a couple of days until it went out completely, uttering me unable to effectively control the steering. I brought it to 2 difference dealerships and they charged me several diagnostic fees to assess that I needed a replacement power steering rack as the one in my vehicle had inexplicably short circuited. …
While driving @ 65 MPH on a state highway driver information center displayed : " power steering failure, drive vehicle with caution ". Changed lanes as an initial test and confirmed power steering was unavailable. Unknown cause for power steering loss. Despite greater difficulty making turns safely drove vehicle to its pre-trouble expected destination, parked & shutdown engine. 30 minutes later re-started vehicle. Drove vehicle around parking lot and around a block at low speeds (< 25 MPH). Power steering was available as soon as vehicle was re-started & remained available during low speed test drive.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while attempting to straighten the wheels while in the driveway, the contact discovered that the steering wheel was inoperable. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the power steering electrical motor and steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 26,473.
As I was driving home from my place of employment which is exactly 30 miles from where I live my Steering Assist went out and it was very hard to steer and to even stay in the lane which I was driving I managed to get the car home and did an under carriage inspection and there was no damage still kind of shaken from the power steering going out I checked for the power steering pump and the power steering fluid reserve but found out through my owner's manual that I have electronic power steering I took the car by my local Chevrolet dealer and was told it was nothing they could do because they knew nothing about how to repair such a problem the only warning lamp that I received was a message that said power steering service drive with care
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, she noticed that the A/C feature was not functioning properly. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed a leakage coming from the A/C evaporator and the compressor. The contact stated that the instrument panel needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the steering wheel while turning. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was contacted and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that the instrument panel displayed the Power Steering Failure message. The contact stated that an independent mechanic looked under the hood but found no failure. The vehicle was able to restart with no issues. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
Related recalls (3)
Steering › Electric power assist system
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to December 20, 2013. Due to a poor electrical ground connection to the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM), the affected vehicles may have a loss of power steering assist during start up or while driving.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will clean paint from behind the ground stud nut and update the PSCM software, free of charge. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Steering
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro and Chevrolet Impala vehicles. Improperly torqued fasteners may cause the steering intermediate shaft and the steering gear and/or the lower control arm and the lower ball joint to separate.
Remedy: GM began to notify owners on June 27, 2014, and dealers will inspect the fasteners for correct torque, correcting them as necessary, free of charge.
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
GM is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet impala vehicles manufactured from April 19, 2011, through July 29, 2011. The upper power steering hose May have been misrouted so that it can come in close proximity to and/or contact the catalytic converter.
Remedy: GM dealers will inspect to ensure that the upper power steering hose is routed correctly and make the necessary repairs free of charge. The safety recall began on September 5, 2011.
NHTSA investigations
Power steering fluid leaks - fires
General motors (GM) initiated a customer satisfaction campaign in October of 2006 to address a failure of the power steering hose and/or clamps that could occur when the engine is started in vehicles primarily operated in the following states that experience extremely cold temperatures:alaska, maine, minnesota, montana, new hampshire, north dakota, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin and wyoming.at the time this…
BiCal Chevrolet/Loss of Power Steering
NHTSA opened AQ17-002 to determine whether BiCal Chevrolet of Valley Stream, New York (BiCal) has complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Impala years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2014 (140), 2006 (135), 2000 (124), 2007 (101) and 2008 (94) model years. Steering complaints make up 22% of all complaints for the 2014.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Impala steering problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 14V-450 (electric power assist system, Jul 23, 2014); 14V-409 (steering, Jul 2, 2014); 11V-398 (hose, piping, and connections, Aug 5, 2011). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Impala steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles; 42% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the column (43 mentions), followed by the hydraulic power assist system (29).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.