According to The Detroit News, a group of disgruntled Chevrolet Impala owners have filed a class action lawsuit against General Motors for allegedly failing to address rear-end alignment issues for 2007-2008 model year Impalas.
Though it’s a class action suit, only one Impala owner is listed. Donna Trusky of Blakely, Pa. is an owner of a 2008 Impala and experienced her Impala’s tires wearing out after only 6,000 miles. And even though Donna’s local dealership replaced her tires and performed an alignment, the dealer didn’t tell her about the spindle rod issue for which GM issued a service bulletin for the Impala police vehicles back in 2008. However, GM claims that the law enforcement model is different than the civilian version, which is why only the police vehicles were flagged.
If GM loses the lawsuit, it could be looking at repairing around 423,000 2007-2008 Impalas at its expense.
Source: The Detroit News
Comments
but then GM only offered the service bulletin for it not the recall though
Police agencies could still seek reimbursement for up to a year following the bulletin.
GM should own up to this serious mistake. This shirking of responsibility is a major factor in the continued distrust of GM product.
This “ducking” the issue is a long standing practice of GM’s for more than 30 years.
It was happening when I was a District Service Mgr.
Two years ago, when our Impala was only a year old, we were driving back from Florida to our home in Milwaukee. At 4am the alert came up that one of our tires was low. I stopped to check and by then it was completely flat. I took everything out of the trunk and changed to the spare. We were in Tennessee at the time. I decided we needed to get it fixed since we had nearly 800 miles to drive and the small spare would not do. We found a Wal-mart open on a Sunday, thankfully. After a few minutes we were summoned back to the service desk and were told that the other three tires were in need of immediate replacement. I looked at them and agreed. $600 later we were on our way. Late last year I was told again that our tires were failing and needed replacement. That is not normal tire wear. My car only has about 60,000 miles and we are about to put on our third set of tires.
I know exactly how you feel. My fiancé and I just finished a road trip from South Florida to Colorado — a 2,200+ mile trip that took us 3 days. Halfway through, our Volvo’s lights began to act up; it seemed that one was brighter than the other and this resulted in an uneven (and terrible) lighting of the road — not something you want to face in the middle of a long-distance trip. Luckily, the fog helped significantly.
More to the point, though, GM should own up to this if there are, in fact, issues. And it sounds as if there really are issues. With the recently-created GM customer service department at the executive level at GM (yupp, you read that right), there are a few people who can take care of the customer properly on an individual basis. But when it comes to something this wide-spread, there should be a recall.
Good morning Bob,
I am the owner of a 2007 Chevy Impala, LT, and I too live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I bought my car in 2008. Since then, I am currently on my 3rd set of tires. This is ridiculously in sane!!! I can not afford to keep replacing my tires every year, and something is definitely wrong with this situation. Do you know of any class action lawsuits in the state of Wisconsin? There has to be other people experiencing this problem as well. Please let me know if you are still experiencing tire problems. This is something that is most definitely worth consulting an attourney for.
Thanks in advance
Anisha
I have a 08 impala that was ruining tires and had it aligned at a reputable shop that I have used for Years and just ruined another set of front tires after 23000 miles. Took it back to the shop thinking it was their fault and they pretty much said there was no more they could do cause it was in line by their specs. So I lost another 250.00. Something should be done!@
Mine does the same thing they need to recall the car and fix it
My 2008 impala did the same thing, I had to replace multiple sets of tires that wire out at a fraction of the milage rating. Finally found a mechanic that knew how to fix the issue. I guessing I wasted over $2,000 in extra tires and the repair. How do I join the lawsuit?
Ditto
I just bought a 2007 Impala SS. Absolutley love this machine. What I’m not thrilled with is the fact that Ive now got 4 destroyed tires on it that are less then three months old. I like many other Impala owners assumed that I was having an alignment issue when I noticed some irregular wear on my new tires. I paid for a front end alignment where I seemed to be having my trouble with wear first. $100.00 later I was good to go. Still I later find out I have a problem this time on the rear end. So I pumped $130.00 into a rear alignment. Now that I have paid for a 4 Wheel Alignment I still have $1300.00 in wrecked tires….and no alignment issue…of course I never did have one. Glad I’ve paid $230.00 for something I didnt need and wasnt the problem to begin with. I can’t afford to be putting this kind of money into a new set of rubber every 3 months. Fortunately I bought a warranty for my tires and Canadian Tire doesnt know of this rear end issue….yet. I don’t want to be left playing with myself and stuck with a 1300.00 price tag for a new set once they catch on and my warranty is no good. GM will be getting a visit today right after Candian Tire today….
I feel that the average consumer’s life is just as important as the police’s lives how dare you say that the equipment has to be different? We travel those same highways that the police do. I bought a 2007 Chevy Impala and when I began having problems with my tires I was very destraught. And to find that my very life is in danger? Man the only human thing to do GM is to fix the car man, it could save you thousands of customers and thousands of lives mine included. I love me!
How can I sign up for the class action lawsuit regarding the Impalas?
Marg,
You don’t know me but I did see your post on the article pertaining to the Impala tire wear lawsuit; I have the same problem with mine. I don’t know if you are interested but I did find the Lawyer who is handling the GM Lawsuit and they would like anyone who has this problem to contact them. I have done so myself. Here is the information if you are interested. Thank you and have a great day.
Contact
100 West Long Lake Road
Suite 111
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Phone: 248.971.2500
Fax: 248.971.2600
E-Mail: [email protected]
I had the spindle rods replaced when the first set of tires failed with less than 20000 miles on them. Well, they must have had the same issue with the replacement parts because it happened again with less than 38000 miles on the tires. When the third set had tread showing through, I gave up and got rid of the car – which I loved and was almost paid for. They tell you never to buy a car the first year it’s made, but I figured they were making the Impala since the 50s, so it was a great car. GM could care less about their customers!!
MY CAR ONLY HAS 27,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES 3 TIMES BECAUSE WE LIVE IN VIRGINIA AND IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. I THINK GM SHOULD RECALL OR DO A BUY BACK BECAUSE IT IS NOT THE CONSUMERS FAULT THAT THEY MADE A FAULTLY CAR. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE NUMBER ABOVE TO SEE IF THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY CAR. IT IS A PIECE OF JUNK AND I GOT THE IMPALA SS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE THAT THERE WAS I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE FACT THAT THEY WONT FIX IT.
i have had problems with my 2008 impala i agree there is alot of lies and iresponsible people within the old gm and the new gm.they are afraid of the truth about these affected impalas.why cant the lawers for the consumer get anywhere with this so called class action law suit! i ha ve had tire problems also, now i have a heating problem with my impala not throwing heat when it is idling and i live in northern mn. where the winters get darn cold. If the consumer lawyers can get any positive results with this impala problems it would set a lot of peoples minds at ease. were there poblems with the old gm knowing they were going under that resulted in poor workers quality of the impalas in question? WHA T KIND OF QUALITY CONTROL DID THEY HAVE if any? I believe those people higher in the corperations in both the old gm and new should take a good look at what is really happening, come clean, and make thing right!
I have the tire issue, but the key stuck in the ignition problem AND the heat not working when idling!!! I thought I was the only one w/ that problem!! I am not sure if it’s related, but it started after this clicking sound started in the behind the dashboard, near the glove box. it’s the most annoying thing and every mechanic keeps telling me it’s too burdensome/expensive to dig in there and fix it (some sort of vent that came out of it’s pivot point or something??)
It sould be all Impalas. Mine 2001 bought new before warranty out turn signals would work then stp then work. Took in multiple times can.t fix if not doing it at the time. Finally after calls toGM fixed hazard switch dash never seated right pops like gun going off. all light come on and flash even head lights, radio, battery, replaced tranny. car garaged kept oil changed every three but it is just junk. bought new o5 chevy z71 4×4 brake issues before 20,000 miles. done with chevy what happened to quality? had 82 pickup chevy great truck 73 nova great I guess quality is no longer a priority
thank God for this blog. I will be calling the mentioned law practice tomorrow.
On February 13, 2013, GM went to court with a Motion to dismiss based on the fact that the old GM is no longer in ‘existence’ and the ‘new GM” is , therefore, not liable! I have not heard about the result of that action as yet.
My 2007 Impala with 50,000 miles on it, purchased new, is now on its third set of tires. I have had regular rotations, drive 3 miles a day to work and take excellent care of my car. I have complained about this problem since two days after I got the car and the dealership says nothing is wrong. Today they said they didn’t know anything about problems with the spindle rods or a lawsuit. I’m contacting the lawyer today. Thanks for the help. Good luck to all of us!
did you ever talk to the law office???
I’m so glad I found this blog, I have a 2008 Chevy Impala and I’m getting ready to purchase new tires for my car. I have the receipt from the first set purchased and it read 24000 miles and I now have 48000 miles and my rear tires are needing to be replaced again. I had goodyear tires with a 60000 mile rating and they didn’t even last 25000 miles. Chevy needs to fix this problem, new chevy old chevy they are still chevy. I have contacted the law office and am waiting for a return call. I hope they can help.
Did you ever hear back from the law office???
2008 Impala is a terrible car. A LEMON! My back tires wore out and they were new.
Every problem I have had with this car many other owners have the exact same.
The gear shift was stuck in park. There is a wire that is obviously a manufacturing defect. Its to short and it eventually breaks and your car will not come out of park.
The car uses an extreme amount of oil even when it was newer
I could not feel good about myself if I sold this piece of crap to another individual. GM is a piece of crap company.
Many more issues…
Wow!! I didn’t realize how many people have the same issues as I do. Does anybody know about the class action lawsuit? I bought my 2007 impala ss 5 months ago with brand new tires and they are in need of replacements already. Also my tire monitor system is faulty. GM needs to fix this problem before they go out of business for good this time!! Bs
Where can I sign up for this lawsuit? We just brought a 2008 Chevy Impala in Feb and this weekend 6 months after buying it, one of the rear tires went flat, it was shredded and the other rear tire was very close. I am very fortunate that it did not blow and I was able to get to a safe place. I had two of my three children in the car with me.
Having the same tire problems with my 2007 Impala. Please share info on lawsuit.
How ironic, an add at the top of this website asks, “Are your tires getting old?” Well, NO, I drive an 08 Impala, the tires NEVER get old. They wear out far to fast for that to happen!!! Just hit 60,000 miles and now needing to put set number 4 on the car. Note to GM: I would think it makes more business sense (and cost less in the long run) to keep loyal customers SAFE and happy than having to replace them with new found customers. So GM, unlike Arnold, I will not be back.
I have an ’08 Impala and had to replace my rear tires at least 3 times within a little over a year (I had a longer commute to work then) but they are still wearing badly on the inside and I am sick of buying new tires!!!! I e-mailed the law office associated w/ the lawsuit and would love to hear anything that comes up in the meantime!
Also, at the moment, my key is stuck in the ignition and I can’t get it out of park unless I hit the override button after popping out the panel in the middle console over the shifter. The owner’s manual says this will happen w/ a low voltage battery so just today, we put a brand new battery in and are able to start the car, BUT STILL CAN’T GET THE KEY OUT! (also still have to hit the override button to move it out of park) so now my brand new battery is going to die.
My 2008 does the same thing. If you keep the rear air pressure at 35 or whatever the tire is rated for the tires will last longer. I’ve been driving GM’s for over 35 years. All of the last 3 Chevrolet’s that I purchased have had issues that GM would not take car of. I guess it’s time to start buying Japanese.
There is a hidden bulletin that could help you. I presented these documents to my dealer with my 08 impala ltz that the tires were wearing after only a month! Its a bulletin that states both police and non police cars from 2007 to 11 have this issue and should be corrected, its the spindle rod, it needs to be replaced or drilled out and realigned. its the only way to fix this annoying problem. i will try to post the documents on here, if that doesnt work please ask for them and ill email them to you! thanks!
Hi Matt.
Im having same issues can you please email me the bulletin..thank you so much.
[email protected]
Hi Matt, could you send me a copy of the bullitin that you have to [email protected].
Thanks
Stacy Boyer
I just bought a2014 preown at south pointe Tulsa Oklahoma…it had 7000 miles I onlybhad car 4 months ..omg were do I begin 1 st my bumper fell off then my mirror then my signal lights stop working now my engine light is on Ihave been to the dealship nnumerous. Of time in they claim it’s nothing wrong I have one of there workers recorded..say in they sale lemons..I basically fianace 34,000 in stuck with lemon please if anyone can tell me what I need to do I call news in wrote a report nothing …my engine light is on
I have the same problem with this car im on my second set for the year >\ and thats not counting all the other problems i have with it …. i guess they think money just grows on trees
2008 Impala LT same problem ! I had alignment done all 4 tires none of them were even close to proper specifications GM say’s they are supposed to be . when it snows car feels like it is all over the place, front wheel drive should not feel the rearend is going to pass the front ! I have been a Chevy owner for years this company has flushed itself down the toilet, Guess it is time to change. Bad locks ,ignition, alignment lug wrench broke trying to remove tire it all spells junk and lack of respect for the buyers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Matt, I have a 2008 Impala also. Can you please e-mail that bulletin to me also.
Thanks
Darlene
Hi Matt,
Having the same problem. Can you please e-mail me the bulletin also.
[email protected]
Thanks
Darlene
I know this blog is old but I would like to introduce everyone to my Impala issue. I have a used 2015 impala purchased with 12k miles and my power steering has gone out 3 times. The first time it locked on the 3rd day of ownership, 2nd time while I was reversing, 3rd time while driving. GM says they will not purchase my impala back because it is fixed. I do not trust the car nor do I feel safe driving it. The dealership service dept can not grantee that the problem is solved. Now I have a car that I hate to drive because I am afraid I will get hurt or hurt someone else if the steering wheel locks. I have owned 3 GM cars and this is buy far the worst experience I have ever had and I regret purchasing this car
Hi matt i also have an 2007 impala with that same problem and many more
Can you please email me the bulletin
[email protected]
Did anyone experience code p2138 on Chevy impala and we’re you able to fix.
sounds like the word ( junk ) should be containing the letters [GM] !!!!!! another American company that refuses to owenup to it’s screw ups and that’s why this country is going down the toilet!!!
I financed A 2011 Chevy Impala in 2015 and the salesman was suppose to give me 2 KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTES AND 2 Key’s and I noticed 2 KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTES AND 2 Key’s and I asked him if they were for the car and he blurted out and told me No they are not And found out that the car has remote auto start so I purchased one and that’s when the car started to have massive problems SHUTTING OFF STEERING it’s self Right into the mailbox where I still live Right now I SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURY TO MY NECK I had to have surgery and not knowing the extent of my injurie I have 8 screws inserted in my neck and Spicer’s the salesman knew that there was something wrong with the car didn’t tell me there was I nearly was killed and I refuse to let them get away with this I would like to pursue a lawsuit Against GM can someone Help me please
I had the same issue with my Impala eating rear tires. The dealer at that time said only the Police vehicles were covered for the repair. Fortunately after several sets of tires, my local independent mechanic was able to get the new spindles and fix my vehicle. I would love to get compensated for all the prematurely worn tires and the repair.