This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Chevrolet Impala steering problems
severe 57 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
57
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
14crashes
1fire
15injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 57 steering complaints filed for the 2009 Chevrolet Impala, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 57 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides technicians with updated information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel which may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides technicians with updated information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a procedure inspecting for excess grease or Sealant on the Exterior of the steering gear due to seeing grease or sealant on certain locations on the gear.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a steering system prone to sudden, dangerous loss of function. Most commonly, the steering wheel locks or becomes extremely hard to turn while driving—sometimes at highway speeds, sometimes at low speeds in parking lots. Many incidents correlate with warning messages like "Service Traction Control," "Engine Power Reduced," or "Service Throttle" appearing on the dashboard immediately before the steering failure. In several cases, owners report losing power steering and power brakes simultaneously, which may reflect a broader electrical shutdown.
Steering seizure has caused multiple crashes into guardrails, trees, and other vehicles. When the wheel locks mid-turn, owners cannot steer out of traffic or to safety. Several owners describe physically forcing the wheel with both hands after power assist drops. The power steering pump itself appears problematic—some owners had it replaced only for the same symptoms to return. Rack-and-pinion leaks, seized racks, and control arm issues are also cited. A smaller subset reports steering vibration on downhill grades and premature tire wear from alignment issues. Owners find that the problems often clear after restarting the engine or waiting a few minutes, but the intermittent nature makes diagnosis difficult. Dealerships frequently cannot replicate the fault or provide a lasting fix.
Same Chevrolet Impala steering reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden loss of power steering (electric failure mode)
Steering wheel becomes rock hard or completely locks during driving, often coinciding with engine power loss, traction control warnings, or electrical shutdown messages. Power steering assist fails without warning and does not return until vehicle is restarted and sits briefly.
When: Occurs at various speeds (5 mph to 75 mph); some clusters while on interstate or in traffic; incident #1 at 75 mph after 7 hours highway driving in rain; incident #6 on interstate on-ramp; incident #13 downhill at 15 mph; incident #17 at 70 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes hard to turn or completely locked; Simultaneous loss of power brakes; Loss of power steering assist; Warning messages: 'Service Traction Control', 'Engine Power Reduced', 'Starting Disabled. Service Throttle'; Engine stalls or shuts off; Instruments go dark or gauges malfunction; Traction control and ABS lights illuminate
Codes mentioned: Service Traction Control, Engine Power Reduced, Service Throttle, Starting Disabled. Service Throttle, Check Engine Light
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report the problem often clears after restarting and waiting 5-10 minutes. Dealerships often cannot replicate the fault. Some owners mention electrical harness work with grease application (incident #12); one case involved throttle body replacement (incident #13). Owners note the issue recurs despite diagnostic attempts.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Incident #4 owner was told by tow operator the issue stems from a recall on the electrical system. Incident #8 mentions ignition switch recall recently completed before the failure. Incidents #16, #17, #26 reference NHTSA Campaign 14V355000 (Electrical System). Incident #17 also mentions Campaign 16V507000 (Air Bags). GM in incident #1 charged $100 diagnostic fee and could not find the problem. Many dealerships state they cannot replicate the issue or find anything wrong.
Steering wheel seizure (mechanical/hydraulic)
Steering wheel locks up or becomes extremely stiff and difficult to turn while driving, typically at low speeds (5-30 mph) or during parking maneuvers. Some cases involve cracking or grinding sounds; others occur silently. Rack-and-pinion or power steering pump failure is frequently suspected.
When: Low speed (5 mph to 30 mph); some while parking; incident #3 while driving unspecified speed; incident #21 while turning into parking lot at low speed; incident #22 at low speed; incident #34 at 5 mph; failures across mileage range 17,000 to 131,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes very hard to turn or completely locked; Difficulty maneuvering vehicle; Cracking or grinding sounds from steering; Whining or abnormal noise from under the hood; Steering becomes stiff when car is cold-started (incident #40); Steering loosens slightly after applying pressure on gas pedal
Codes mentioned: ESC Power Steering Warning Indicator
Repairs/costs cited: Incident #21: power steering pump replaced but failure recurred. Incident #28: steering gear kit and steering rack replaced; failure recurred; then power steering hoses replaced. Incident #37: rack-and-pinion seals leaking; rack-and-pinion replacement recommended but not completed. Incident #42: power steering pump replacement recommended. Incident #43: rack-and-pinion replacement recommended after seizure at 20 mph. Incident #48: customer had two rack-pinion steering units replaced since purchase in 2011; appears a third may be needed. Incident #50: steering rack leaking; replacement and tire realignment cost $1070.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Incident #21 mentions NHTSA Campaign 14V153000 (Steering). Incident #36 states failure is same as described in Campaign 14V153000 (Steering). Dealership in incident #21 stated there were no open recalls. Manufacturer in incident #37 was not notified. No systematic recall response is evident.
Power steering hose/seal leaks
Power steering system leaks hydraulic fluid, detected by whining noise or visible leakage. Leaking seals in rack-and-pinion assembly cause gradual loss of steering assist or sudden failure.
When: Various mileages; incident #37 at 54,400 miles; incident #50 at unknown mileage; incidents #28, #41
Symptoms owners cite: Loud whining noise from under hood that changes pitch with engine speed; Very loud sound from under the hood while steering; Difficulty steering; Steering rack seals leaking; Grinding or clunking sounds when turning wheel
Repairs/costs cited: Incident #28: power steering hoses replaced after initial rack-and-pinion and steering gear kit replacement. Incident #37: rack-and-pinion seals leaking; replacement recommended. Incident #50: steering rack leaking; rack-and-pinion replacement and tire realignment cost $1070.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in these narratives.
Steering component wear and control arm issues
Premature wear or failure of front suspension and steering linkage components, including control arms and tie rod ends. Results in steering vibration, pulling to one side, and alignment difficulties.
When: Various mileages; incident #25 at 21,981 miles; incident #45 routine oil change; incident #49 at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shakes violently when driving downhill; Vehicle pulls to the right; Abnormal tire wear (uneven tread); Shimmy as if tie rod failing; Cracking sound when turning or backing up; Steering vibration on downhill grades; Loud clunking sound when turning steering wheel; Excessive play in outer tie rod end
Codes mentioned: Traction Control Light (when braking)
Repairs/costs cited: Incident #25: front end alignment done twice; vehicle continued to pull right; wheels realigned again; tow and steering wheel centered. Incident #27: new rotors installed under warranty; failure recurred within two months; then brake pads and heat shields replaced; failure recurred within a month. Incident #29: belts separated inside tires; both front tires replaced; customer switched to Hankook brand. Incident #45: power steering rack-and-pinion and right outer tie rod end replaced; 2-wheel alignment performed; labor cost $300.11. Incident #49: right-hand lower control arm bushing found defective.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Incident #49 notes control arm recall exists on police vehicles only; owner cannot obtain answer why their vehicle was not included.
Intermittent instrument cluster and electrical malfunctions
Dashboard gauges flicker or stop working; warning lights illuminate and extinguish intermittently; speedometer becomes unreliable. Often accompanies steering and power loss events.
When: Various instances; incident #12 during driving; incident #4 daily for over a year
Symptoms owners cite: Gauges turn on and off or flicker; Speedometer does not work; Locks lock and unlock on their own; Dashboard beeping; StabiliTrak light comes on intermittently; Check Engine light illuminates; Service Airbag light stays on; Service Traction Control light stays on
Codes mentioned: Check Engine Light, StabiliTrak Light, Service Airbag Light, Service Traction Control Light, ABS Light
Repairs/costs cited: Incident #12: electrical harness removed and electrical grease applied to prevent moisture; problem persisted. Owner reports occasional loss of power steering during gauge malfunctions. Incident #4: continuing issues with traction control and airbag lights; dealership could not find root cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No systematic manufacturer response documented.
Steering column stiction (ignition switch jamming)
Ignition switch or steering column becomes sticky or locks up, requiring multiple turns to start vehicle or move key from 'Run' position. Related to recalled ignition switch but may involve steering column binding.
When: Incident #18 after recall modification in August 2014; incident #30 after engine shut-off and parking
Symptoms owners cite: Key jams in ignition; locks up if on any kind of incline; Takes 3-4 tries to turn off ignition; Steering wheel sticks once engine cut off and vehicle parked; Must rock steering wheel back and forth while turning key to start vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Incident #18: recall #14299 modified top plastic portion of key with new eyelet and owner instructed to keep key and transmitter separate. However, ignition switch itself continues to jam up and lock. GM and dealer claim recall was for key only, not switch; customer told they will be responsible for repair cost. Incident #30: steering wheel sticks after engine cut off; must rock wheel while turning key.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Incident #18: recall #14299 performed August 2014; modification was to key, not ignition switch. GM claims recall responsibility is for key only; customer responsible for ignition switch replacement.
Synthesized from 57 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Takata recall - I have had my vehicle shut off while I was driving down the road. This has occurred at least 3 times. Gm is aware and has ignored my requests for two years. A few months ago, gm attorney told me to take my vehicle to a gm dealership as soon as possible and the recall repairs would be done at no cost to me. I made him aware that my vehicle had already been sitting at a gm…
Had steering trouble with your 2009 Chevrolet Impala?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a meaningful issue. 57 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 48 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 40,000 and 85,000 miles, with the median around 56,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 85,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Chevrolet/Impala.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.