NHTSA Complaint #10098066 — 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA

ODOMETER 1120 MILES - CHEVROLET IMPALA LS - PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE, 2004. SITUATION: AS I WAS EXITING THE LIE VIA THE WOODHAVEN BLVD OFF RAMP GOING WESTBOUND, I WAS GOING THE RECOMMENDED SPEED LIMIT (20 MILES PER HOUR). AS I WAS FOLLOWING THE CURVE OF THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY JERKED TO THE LEFT, DIRECTING THE CAR TOWARDS THE ROADSIDE CURB. IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO CORRECT, THERE WAS A LOT OF RESISTANCE AND IT WAS HARD TO TURN. THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL HIT THE CURB. THE CAR MOVED OFF THE CURB IN THE DIRECTION TO THE RIGHT. THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GRINDING METAL AND SLOWED DOWN CONSIDERABLY. DAMAGE: MY INSPECTION OF THE CAR REVEALED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WAS PUSHED BACK IN ITS FRAME TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE RIM OF THE WHEEL WAS SCRATCHED AND SMALL CHUNKS OF THE TIRE WERE RIPPED OFF. THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE TIRE APPEARED TO BE SCRAPED AS WELL. I AM UNSURE OF BODY OR FRAME DAMAGE. REPAIR: BUMPER COVER, LT FENDER, LT APRON PANEL, ENGINE CRADLE - PULL & ALIGN STEERING GEAR & LINKAGE, LT ROCKER MOLDING. REPLACED: LT FRONT LINER, LT FRONT & REAR ALLOY WHEELS, LT FRONT TIRE, LT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING, LT AXLE ASSEMBLY 3.8 LITER, LT STRUT SOFT RIDE, LT OUTER TIE ROD, LT INNER TIE ROD PILLARS - ROCKER & FLOOR, CORROSION PROTECTION. OLD PART AVAILABILITY - NO. JB