NHTSA Complaint #10394596 — 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA

3.4LTR 6CYL BASE MODEL HAS HAD MULTIPLE DEFECTIVE SENSATIONS FOR SOME TIME NOW; AMONG THOSE ARE STEERING, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM A STANDING STOP, BRAKING AND ODD NOISES. THIS VEHICLE'S 5 Y/O WITH ONLY 20K MI, OWNED BY ELDERS & USED LOCALLY, I'VE BEEN DRIVING THEM, & NOW I HAVE THIS CAR. THE LEFT OUTTER TIE ROD END HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 20K MI. THE STEERING STILL HAS AN UNSTABLE FEEL WHEN TURNING AND MAKE A METAL TO METAL CLINKING NOISE FROM A DEFECTIVE (& AS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC & NHTSA REPORTS, REPEATEDLY REPORTED) INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THERE SHOULD BE A TOTAL RECALL BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE GM ENGINEERING PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO A CLINKING NOISE OCCASIONALLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STANDING STOP; CAN NOT TELL IF THIS DEFECT IS FROM THE STEERING OR SOMETHING ELSE LIKE THE ENGINE MOUNTS. HAVE NOT YET DISCOVERED THIS SOURCE. FROM A STANDING STOP, THE TRANSMISSION WILL OCCASIONALLY SHIFT ABRUPTLY, EITHER FROM A NEUTRAL DISPOSITION INTO 1ST GEAR OR FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR; THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD & THE OCCUPANTS HEADS ARE WHIPPED BACK. THIS IS SIMILAR TO OTHER REPORTS OF DEFECTIVE POWER TRAIN FUNCTIONALITY I'VE READ ABOUT WITH THIS MODEL. BRAKING, WHEN JUST STARTING A TRIP, HAS AN IMPROPER FEEL AND SOMETIMES SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GRINDING, AS IF THE BRAKE PADS OR ROTORS ARE CRACKED/WORN; THIS IS A SENSATION I'VE HAD WITH VEHICLES HAVING 100,000 MILES, NOT ON A CAR LIKE THIS WITH ONLY 20K MILES. THE CENTER ARM REST'S PAD SUPPORT IS FLIMSY/CHEAP PLASTIC & HAS BROKEN SIMPLY UPON ENTERING & SHIFTING IN THE SEAT. I NOW SEE WHY SO MANY POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE DISCONTINUED THE IMPALA'S IN FAVOR OF THE CHARGER'S, CROWN VIC'S, TAURUS'S AND ESCAPES. THE US GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE SEVERELY FINING GM FOR MARKETING THIS CAR. >>>THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR MANY REASONS<<<