2004 Chevrolet Impala from North America - Comments

When you acclerate hard in a front wheel drive car, the half shafts going to the CV joints are not equal in length, so one wheel gets more torque than the other and it pulls it one way or another. My jetta does it too.

I've always been mystified by "torque steer" in front-drive cars. My early Ford Escort (very underpowered car) torqued steered terribly. I test drove a very powerful Dodge Omni GLH Turbo in the late 80's and it torque steered terribly. On the other hand, I can take off smoking the tires in my front drive Pontiac without a hint of torque steer. Is this due to a different design of the later model GM half-shafts?

I feel bad for you that you have had such problems with your car...however, its very hard to believe. I have a 2004 Impala Base model... and it is so great! The steering is a tad heavy... but that's about the extent of it's cons. The power is great, and the brakes are very responsive. I love this car with a passion, and would buy another one in a second. I took this car on a 5 hour trip, and it was so comfortable and roomy, that at the end of the trip I wasn't at all irritable... which I useally am after sitting in a car for 5 hours. The Headlights aren't as bright as my 2005 Chevrolet Epica, however it doesn't have fog lamps like my Epica, and it isn't as bad as you said.

You sure must have gotten one of the few bad Impala's made. Because I have heard nothing, but good about them!

Good luck! Hope it does better!

It had been 30 YEARS since I owned a GM car, then I got my 2001 Pontiac and was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by the incredible improvements in GM quality. This car now has almost 60,000 miles on it and has never had a SINGLE PROBLEM OF ANY KIND. It looks and drives exactly like it did brand new, and has not a single rattle or squeak. The doors close smoothly and quietly, the fit and finish is as good as a Lexus (well, BETTER than some I've seen) and it rides very smoothly and quietly. My brother bought a 2003 Impala and it is also a top-notch, incredibly well built car. In addition, it gets an amazing 33 miles per gallon on the highway. That's great for a big, luxurious car.

Torque steer:

Torque steer occurs when drive shafts of different length are used. Almost all front wheel drive vehicles have a transverse mounted engine and transmission unit. This makes drive shafts of different lengths necessary.

There are some exemptions though: Chrysler LH models (Intrepid, Concord) have longitudinally installed engine-tranny units, allowing even half shafts and much reduced torque steer.

Please define: "Bottoming out"

A definition might be helpful for those who don't know what the term means.