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 ↗2017 Chevrolet Impala steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Chevrolet Impala have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Impala | 34 |
| 2014 Impala | 137 |
| 2015 Impala | 44 |
| 2016 Impala | 16 |
| 2017 Impala (this page) | 10 |
| 2018 Impala | 7 |
| 2019 Impala | 3 |
| 2020 Impala | 3 |
What stands out
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
Ten 2017 Impala owners describe three distinct steering problems. The most serious are sudden power steering electrical failures occurring mid-drive, with drivers losing all assist while turning, especially in curves—creating immediate loss of vehicle control. These failures trigger dashboard warning lights (Power Steering Failure messages) and sometimes coincide with HMI module failures affecting the infotainment display and rear-view camera. Failures strike between 29,000 and 84,000 miles; several occurred shortly after the 3-year warranty expired, leaving owners liable for repairs costing $1,000 or more. One dealership told an owner steering parts were unavailable nationwide and refused to install customer-sourced components.
A second group reports steering column mechanical noise—grinding, rubbing, or loud "rod hitting" sounds during turns, particularly when turning right or moving the wheel back and forth at low speed.
A third complaint involves rack-and-pinion wear causing the vehicle to drift right without steering input, appearing very early in ownership (around 2.5 months).
Owners believe these problems are design defects in GM's electrical or mechanical steering architecture, not isolated failures.
Same Chevrolet Impala steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering System Electrical Failure (HMI/ECU-related)
Power steering assist fails suddenly during operation, often accompanied by warning lights (Power Steering Failure message) and sometimes in conjunction with HMI module failure affecting display and camera systems. Owners report loss of all steering assistance mid-drive, creating immediate control hazards. Independent diagnostics may show no mechanical failure; restarting the vehicle sometimes restores function temporarily.
When: Between 29,000 and 400,000 km; failures occurring as early as 4 months after purchase despite 3-year warranty expiration; some occurring before warranty ends
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power steering assist while driving; Power Steering Failure warning light on dashboard; All dashboard warning lights illuminating simultaneously; Steering wheel becomes extremely difficult or impossible to turn; Vehicle becomes uncontrollable, especially in curves; HMI module failure (rear view camera and display loss) preceding or concurrent with power steering loss
Codes mentioned: C056D - Electronic Control Unit Internal Malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: One owner charged $1,000+ for power steering system repair; another told replacement parts unavailable nationwide; repairs often involve HMI module and instrument panel work; costs cited as thousands of dollars
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners mention comparison to prior Camaro, Corvette, and Cadillac recalls for identical power steering failure; no specific TSBs or recalls cited in these narratives; dealer services deny warranty coverage after expiration; manufacturer deferred one complaint to NHTSA hotline
Rack-and-Pinion Steering Wear
Rack-and-pinion steering components deteriorate, causing vehicle to drift or pull unexpectedly. One owner reported symptoms appearing within 2.5 months of purchase on what may have been a used vehicle. Dealership confirmed failure but claimed part unavailable and would not perform repair if owner sourced the component.
When: 2.5 months after purchase; not specified at particular mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls or drifts to the right without steering input; Loose or compromised steering feel
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership stated replacement parts were not available anywhere in the country and refused to install customer-sourced part
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership denied warranty coverage; no recall or TSB mentioned
Steering Column Mechanical Noise and Damage
Steering column exhibits rubbing or grinding noise during turning, particularly when turning right. One owner reported a loud breaking sound followed by persistent mechanical noise during wheel movement. Another reports rubbing/weird sound when moving the wheel left or right at low speed.
When: Mileage not specified for most; one at 84,000 miles noted abnormal steering sound
Symptoms owners cite: Rubbing or grinding noise when turning steering wheel; Loud noise or 'rod hitting' sound during turning, especially right turns; Noise occurs during back-and-forth wheel movement at low speed; Steering column grinding during turns
Repairs/costs cited: One owner required towing to dealership; repairs not described in narratives
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
As I was driving in a curved lane all of a sudden a warning light and popped on the dash about a power steering issue and I lost all power steering and was heading out of control. I could not control the car at all in the curve. Then I finally was able to slow the vehicle down and pull off the road. Who should I talk to about this major issue?
Power steering assist drive with care warning popped up on dash. Took the vehicle to the dealership and they said the power steering gear failed.
Had steering trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 48,178 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2017/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.