NHTSA Complaint #10086197 — 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE WITH THIS CAR. AT 60,000 MILES, I HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, USUALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN 4TH GEAR, OR OVERDRIVE. I HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED AT A TRANSMISSIOIN SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS GOING TO NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY, IF I HAD NOT BEEN VIGILANT IN MY INVESTIGATION OF THE PROBLEM. AS A RESULT, I HAD A HUGE REPAIR BILL, WAS WITHOUT THE CAR FOR 1 WEEK, AND HAD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL TO DRIVE TO WORK. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REBUILT, AND REPALCED. SPECIFIC PARTS THAT I KNOW OF WERE, THE "TORRINGTON BEARING", WHICH CAUSED FAILURE OF A SET OF PLANETARY GEARS, AND THE 4TH GEAR SPLINE. THE REPAIRMAN SAID THAT THE BEARING AND THE 4TH GEAR SPLINE ARE OF SUBSTANDARD QUALITY, AND THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE PURPOSELY BEEN MADE STRONGER, AND HEAT TREATED, BECAUSE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THESE TRANSMISSOINS.60'000 MILES IS MUCH TOO EARLY FOR A FAILURE OF THIS TYPE TO OCCUR. TOTAL REPAIR BILL WAS OVER $2,500.00.*AK