Power Steering Fluid problems of the 2000 Chevrolet Impala

I have a 2000 Impala with approximately 161,000 miles on it. The car is used and I am the 2nd owner. I went to have my normal oil change as I had noticed the low engine oil pressure light had come on. The car had been running out of oil frequently, but I didn't see any oil leaks. The print out after the oil change stated multiple oil leaks. But there was never any oil on the ground. The car had been running very rough and was staring to run warmer than usual. Not hot, but past the middle line on the temp gauge. And I had noticed a burning smell after driving, but never saw any smoke. This all started in April 2014 and has been ongoing. I've taken the car to a repair shop and nobody seems to know what's going on. Now July 5,2014 I went to turn left and the steering wheel was extremely hard to turn. I had to put a lot of muscle into turning the wheel. I checked the power steering fluid and saw it was low so I topped it off. Problem should have been fixed right? wrong. It got worse. I took it to a different repair shop and was told it was the tensioner pulley. O'er $100 later, the problem has gotten worse. When I turn left the wheel stays stuck and I have to jerk it back straight. Thus is a safety hazard as I transport my family in this vehicle. Since these problems stared the car eats a lot of gas. Going 5 miles should not use almost a quarter tank of gas and the check engine light comes on and stays on at random times, during theses times the car eats a lot if gas. When the light is not on gas mileage is ok. This is very dangerous.

I am having problems with the steering of my Impala with low milage. Several years ago I was notified of a recall involved in the Impala's steering and a part was replaced and during that time dealer also changed out the rack and pinon. I bearly got my vehicle home on Thursday and could have been in a very bad accident if I had not driven causiously for the few yards I had to go. I could barely turn my steering wheel and the vehicle sounded so awlful. I was very close to my home, so I slowly went a few yards. My steering was gone but some how I got my car parked safely at my apartment and the tow company had to tow it later. My mechanic just told me that the rack and pinon have failed and they were just replaced a few years ago and should not have done so with the little milage my vehicle has. The rack had caused all the fluid to leak out. How can that be if it was good manufacture parts that were put in the steering. I am very angry that the company will not stand by their Impalas and that they continue to be allowed to have vehicles that are unsafe. Luckily I was almost home and did not get in an accident.

This has been an on going problem with the power steering unit in the 2000 Impala, but this is the latest; on July 14 ,2010 I took the 2000 Impala into the dealership because it was leaking fluid. Ask the service dept. Manager to fix it. He then diagnosed the car as oil sensor switch leakage. And he could not make repairs because they did not have the part, but the diagnose cost was $75. 00 , so I paid and drove off with a leaking 2000 chevy Impala . Later,I notice that the service manager wrote the service order up as the customer said the vehicle was leaking oil. Not true, I said fluid. The leak got worse. I replaced the oil sensor but the leakage did not stop. Therefore, I park the car for several months. One day I raised the hood, took a small flashlight and traced the leak to two sever lines. The hard rubber flap that is mounted to the car body to keep debris out of engine rubs against two frame mounted lines until it cut through both lines. Fluids leaks out and caused the power steering unit tofail. This is a design defect, should have been recalled for safety reason. Dealership wants $135. 00 to look at the car again, I took pictures. Here is my partial complaint, can email pictures as well.