This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Chevrolet Impala steering problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Chevrolet Impala have filed 44 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 62,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
44
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Impala | 35 |
| 2012 Impala | 49 |
| 2013 Impala | 34 |
| 2014 Impala | 137 |
| 2015 Impala (this page) | 44 |
| 2016 Impala | 16 |
| 2017 Impala | 10 |
| 2018 Impala | 7 |
| 2019 Impala | 3 |
1crash
1fire
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 44 steering complaints filed for the 2015 Chevrolet Impala, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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 44 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 6 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 informational bulletin instructs the tech when fuel/fluid is needed to be tested and where it can be sent for analysis.
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 ↗This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 Impala's electric power steering system fails without warning, leaving drivers unable to steer. Owners report suddenly losing all power assist at 35 mph, 50 mph, 70 mph, and highway speeds. The steering wheel locks or becomes so heavy that turning it requires extreme physical effort—some describe needing full body weight or having to muscle a 2.5-ton car off the road by hand. A dashboard warning ("Service Power Steering – Drive With Care") typically illuminates at or after the failure begins.
Failures happen intermittently but unpredictably. Some owners experience the problem once; others report it recurring multiple times. A handful of cases show the system restoring itself after the vehicle sits for minutes or is power-cycled (turned off and back on), while other owners find the steering remains locked. One owner reports three separate failures over several months; another had the same failure recur 2,000 miles after a dealer replaced the entire steering rack.
Owners with mechanical knowledge have traced some failures to corroded or fractured wheel speed sensors on the rear bearings—when the sensor malfunctions, the vehicle's logic cuts power steering entirely as a protective measure. Other failures stem from wiring faults, defective control modules, or internal rack failure. Dealers quote $3,100 to $5,200 for steering rack replacement; parts have been on national back order, and GM has not provided estimated delivery times. Despite recalls for 2014 model year Impalas and 2015 trucks/SUVs for similar steering issues, the 2015 Impala sedan remains unrecalled.
Same Chevrolet Impala steering reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Complete loss of power steering assist—system goes offline
Power steering becomes unavailable entirely during driving, with no assist. Steering wheel becomes extremely heavy and difficult or impossible to turn without significant physical force. Often accompanied by 'Service Power Steering – Drive With Care' or 'Power Steering Failure' dashboard warning. Loss occurs randomly and unexpectedly while in motion at any speed (city streets through highway speeds). System may restore itself after vehicle is restarted or sits idle for several minutes.
When: Occurs at any mileage from 8,000 to 160,000+ miles; happens intermittently or repeatedly once it starts; some owners report first incident within days of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes extremely stiff and requires manual force to turn; Complete loss of power assist; Dashboard warning: 'Service Power Steering – Drive With Care' or similar; Steering wheel may lock in current position and not return to center without enormous force; System sometimes resets after power cycle (turning car off/on) or after sitting idle; Additional warnings may appear: Stabilitrak, ABS, traction control, electronic stability control lights
Codes mentioned: B127E, C00800-12, C056D-3B
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replacement of entire electric power steering rack ($3,000–$5,200 for new GM part or $3,800 for reconditioned part); some dealers have replaced electronic brake and traction control module with brake pressure modulator valve (part 2410350); dealers have also reprogrammed modules. Parts reported on national back order in multiple cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM has issued recalls for 2012 and 2014 model year Impalas and for 2015 trucks and SUVs (globally ~1.2 million vehicles), but the 2015 Impala sedan does not appear to be included in these recall campaigns per dealers. No recall issued for 2015 Impala steering despite widespread reports. Dealers have told owners this is a 'known issue' but GM has not issued a formal service bulletin or recall.
Power steering failure triggered by wheel speed sensor malfunction
Power steering disengages as a safety default when wheel bearing speed sensors fail or malfunction. Owners with experience in vehicle repair have isolated this cause: speed sensors consist of a magnetic ring attached to wheel bearings. When the magnet corrodes or fractures, the sensor misreads wheel speed, triggering the vehicle's logic to cut power steering as a protective measure. This design flaw means a bearing sensor failure causes complete loss of steering assist rather than isolated sensor failure.
When: Owners report bearing/sensor failures around 130,000–160,000 miles; one case at 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering loss coincides with worn or damaged rear wheel bearings; Stabilitrak light illuminates alongside power steering warning; Power steering unavailable until vehicle is restarted; Grinding noise or worn bearing symptoms precede or accompany steering loss; Magnetic ring on bearing corroded or fractured upon inspection during bearing replacement
Codes mentioned: Wheel speed sensor codes (not specified in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners replaced wheel bearings with OEM replacement parts; one owner replaced both left rear and right rear wheel bearings in separate incidents. At-home mechanic cost minimal; dealer cost not specified.
Intermittent electrical/communication faults affecting steering system
Steering system experiences intermittent faults due to wiring, connector, or module communication errors. Dealers have attributed failures to loose or corroded ground wires, faulty wiring harnesses, defective brake pressure modulator valve (BPMV), and failed electronic control modules. Some failures are described as communication errors that reset temporarily. Back-bumper sensors corroding due to moisture ingress have been linked to electrical faults that cascade to steering system.
When: Failures reported from low mileage (under 20,000 miles) through higher mileage; some recur shortly after dealer repair
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering warning and loss of assist; Intermittent nature—works for a while, then fails again unpredictably; Multiple warning lights simultaneously (Stabilitrak, ABS, traction control, electronic stability control); Back-bumper sensors corroded; moisture intrusion noted in some vehicles; Vehicle diagnostics show 20+ error codes in one case
Codes mentioned: B127E (reported in one case with infotainment failure)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replaced ground wires, wiring harnesses, brake pressure modulator valve (BPMV) modules, and reprogrammed or replaced electronic modules. One dealer quoted $800 for infotainment repair; parts have been on national back order, and GM has not provided delivery estimates.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM has not responded to dealer requests for parts availability or service guidance. Owners report dealers cannot guarantee the problem will not recur.
Steering rack and pinion internal failure
Electric power steering rack assembly fails internally, rendering steering inoperable. Internal gears become bound or fail catastrophically. One case involved a broken suspension line jamming an internal gear. These are not sensor or electrical faults but mechanical failure of the steering rack itself.
When: Reported from 70,000+ miles; can occur after previous repair attempts
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power steering; Steering wheel becomes immovable or extremely difficult to turn; Service Power Steering warning on dashboard; Failure may occur shortly after previous power steering repair attempts
Repairs/costs cited: Requires complete replacement of electric power steering rack and pinion assembly. Costs cited: $3,100–$4,100. One owner reported a broken suspension component jamming the internal steering gear.
Synthesized from 44 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Leaving home going to the fuel station to get gas for my car. I pulled out of the gas station and starting driving down the road about 1 min in to drive my service light came on stating to service my power steering, I could not handle the car, the steering was stiff to turn, I had to pull over shut down the car waited a few minutes started the car back up and the power steering returned to…
On august 19, 2015 I started my car put it into reverse and the steering wheel would not turn and it displayed service power steering I turned off the ignition waited a few minutes and tried again but it still would not turn,I called gm roadside assistance and they sent out a tow truck to have them take it to the local Chevy dealer for service when the driver got here he started the car and the…
I was driving my 2015 Chevy Impala on the highway and my steering gave out into a curve. I got deeply afraid when the steering froze up on me, specially at 50 into a 40 mile rated speed. I say this because I wasn't aware that GM vehicles stop putting power steering pumps in their cars nice the late 2000's. I called onstar and inform them to the problem I was having with the car. I was able to get…
On 11/20/17 my wife was driving our car, taking one of our daughters to school when the car sounded an alarm and message of "power steering failure - drive with caution" appeared on the dash. She was on a city street and moving, but needed all her strength and body weight to turn the wheel. She had the car towed tot he dealer, who advised that their was a total failure of the electronic…
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet impala. While driving 55 MPH, the power steering indicator illuminated and the steering seized. The vehicle was taken to boyd Chevrolet Cadillac Buick (1875 spartansburg hwy, hendersonville, nc 28792, 828-693-3461), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000. *tt*jb
I was driving down the road back in february a week after I bought the car with 90,000 miles on it one owner the steering wheel locked in position and on the dash it said 'service power steering drive with care' I really didnt know what happened and and told my son I should get it checked out before I give it to him but he wanted it now and it never happened again until 11/22/19 when he came out…
Had steering trouble with your 2015 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 2015 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a meaningful issue. 44 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 32 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 29,000 and 82,000 miles, with the median around 62,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 29,000; a quarter make it past 82,000. 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/2015/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.