2006 Chevrolet Impala Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2006 Impala most often describe steering trouble: fluid leaks, whining pumps, stiff or suddenly unresponsive steering, and clunking from the column area. Transmission complaints are also common, typically shuddering, delayed or hard shifts and occasional slipping, and many owners also report electrical quirks such as gauges misreading, lights behaving oddly, and stalling. Reported mileages range widely, from a few thousand miles to well past 150,000, with steering problems appearing earliest and engine-related reports generally later.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering loss, leaks and pump noise

   • 124 complaints (24%)
   • median 57,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (104 state mileage)
   • 19 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $735 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2024

   Complaints describe the steering becoming heavy or suddenly unresponsive, sometimes while driving or reversing, along with whining and clicking noises and fluid loss. Several owners report hose, pump and rack-and-pinion replacements, in some cases repeatedly within a short period. Some say a dealer performed a power steering hose/clamp campaign and the symptom later returned. Reported from roughly 15,000 to over 190,000 miles, with many under 90,000; several owners mention cold weather or cold starts.

   What to check: Check the power steering fluid level and color, look for weeping at hoses, cooler lines and the rack, and listen for whine or clicking while turning at idle. Ask for service records showing which steering parts, if any, were replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My power steering was acting crazy and making clicking and other weird sounds. After being notified of a recall, I took it in to the dealer. The dealer told me they had to perform the recall, which they have it listed as a power steering flush on my GM owner center file. It has now returned back to clicking and weird sounds when I drive and turn. I'm scared that maybe GM is overlooking my Impala.”

   NHTSA complaint #10588713, filed 2014-05, 38,756 miles

   “Last march, 2008 power steering went out of car, so took to mechanic. After paying over $400 to repair hose and power steering pump on car that had only 30,000 miles. Now in february of 2009, less than one year later, I have the same problem with the power steering going out again. I see that there are alot of complaints about this same thing. I think GM should do something about it and launch a recall to fix the problem before someone gets hurt seriously or worse killed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10257510, filed 2009-02, 30,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, delayed and hard shifts

   • 89 complaints (17%)
   • median 76,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (76 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,442 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2025

   Owners describe the car hesitating or revving before jerking into gear from a stop, hard or banging shifts, slipping, and occasional stalling or failure to move away from a light. Some report a transmission rebuild or replacement after a dealer found nothing wrong on an earlier visit. Mostly reported between about 38,000 and 130,000 miles; a few describe it starting around 70,000 miles and recurring.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive from a cold start and include several stop-and-go starts; feel for hesitation, flare or a firm engagement. Check transmission fluid level and condition, and ask whether the fluid or transmission has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In my 006 Impala ss the transmission is starting to slip. The car is around 83,000 miles when I first noticed this issue, and the vehicle wasn't doing any hard acceleration (around 20-25 miles an hour shifting from first to second gear). I am worried that I will have to pay to get it replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #11355686, filed 2020-09, 83,000 miles

   “2006 Impala revs really high for a few seconds and jerks into motion when I take off from a stop. It happens a couple times a week and has since I got it with around 70k miles. It sounds like a common occurrence and would like to know if there is a recall in order.. The dealer says they'd have to replicate what it's doing but I'd be out of pocket for a rental until/if they were able to replicate the problem before the warranty company decides if they'll cover it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10579283, filed 2014-04, 75,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Stalling, no-start and odd electrical behavior

   • 148 complaints (28%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 8.2 yrs old (110 state mileage)
   • 25 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,850 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2025

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out at stops and restarting, radios changing stations by themselves, warning chimes and low-oil or gauge messages that do not match actual levels, horns that stop working, and headlights coming on by themselves and draining the battery. Some owners tie a no-start condition to the ignition recall. Spread from about 26,000 to 250,000 miles, with many reports in the 60,000-120,000 mile range.

   Recall 14V3550002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm whether recall 14V355000 (ignition) was performed, and ask whether the key ring has been kept to the key alone. Check that all gauges, warning lights and the horn work, and watch for a battery drain overnight.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car was parked in front of our home. I saw flames on driver's side, which quickly consumed the entire interior. 911 was called and our local fire department put it out. The fireman believes it was caused by the electrical system.”

   NHTSA complaint #10341426, filed 2010-07, 29,495 miles

   “First of all, I use my car to travel back and forth from school. I have noticed since I came home, stopping at stop lights, my car would cut off and then cut back on. Also, my radio has changed stations by itself. Then, my check engine light has been on. When I turn on my air or heat a knocking noise comes from my air vents and it last for about 5 minutes, I actually thought my car was about to blow up because I was not sure what was causing that. I hope this problem is resolved quickly.”

   NHTSA complaint #10637363, filed 2014-09, 60,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake pedal judder and premature rotor wear

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report shaking or jerking through the pedal when braking, front or rear rotors overheating, and rotors needing replacement at low mileage, sometimes more than once. Some describe the parking brake failing to hold shortly after being serviced. Mostly reported under about 30,000 miles, including several below 10,000 miles.

   What to check: Test braking from highway speed and feel for pulsation or vibration; inspect rotor surfaces and thickness. Check that the parking brake holds on a slope, and ask for brake service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Brake recall is not listed on site for Impala 2006 ss.. I had a problem with my brakes which the recall corrected the problem. The upgrade is not completed car is harder to stop. Gm and ted evens (cs department) from the chevy did not think of it has a big problem. However I can tell you my car will stop much better now.”

   NHTSA complaint #10166527, filed 2006-08, 6,000 miles

   “My 2006 Chevrolet Impala has nothing but issues. Window scratch when going up and down, tire pressure monitor needs replaced, remote start has no distance, water pump leakage, transmission line leaking, rotors, tires and alignment wear out prematurely.”

   NHTSA complaint #10394445, filed 2011-04, 26,000 miles

Buying note. Steering and transmission complaints are the most frequent in this sample, so budget for a pre-purchase inspection that includes a cold-start test drive, a steering leak check and a look at service records. Confirming that open recalls, particularly the ignition recall, have been completed is worth doing before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.