Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2001)

742 consumer complaints on file.

#10187716April 12, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IN THE PAST 6-8 MONTHS, MY 2001 CHEVY IMPALA STARTED TO SHOW THE OBVIOUS SIGNS OF INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS (SLUDGE ON OIL CAP, BROWN RESIDUE IN COOLANT OVERFLOW RESERVOIR, SMALL COOLANT PUDDLES ON ENGINE). AT 71,000 MILES I RECEIVED A QUOTE AT A GM DEALER FOR THE FIX...$900.00. THE DEALER SAID HE DOES ONE A DAY ON THESE GM 3.4 ENGINES. AS A SIDE, MY WIFE'S VENTURE, SISTER'S VENTURE AND FATHER IMPALA ALL HAVE THE FAULTY INTAKE MAIFOLD COOLANT/OIL LEAK. AFTER SPEAKING WITH GM, THEY AGREED ONLY TO PAY FOR THE TWO BOLTS, A GASKET AND A SMALL TUBE OF SEALANT. THIS PAST WEEK, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND I STOPPED THE CAR AT THE NEXT PARKING LOT. IT STALLED THERE AND NEVER STARTED. AFTER A TOW, THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO FILL IT WITH OIL AND RUN IT. WITHIN SECONDS IT FLOWS OUT THE OIL FILTER AND THE FILTER AND/OR FILTER GASKET RUPTURES. AFTER CHECKING THE OIL PUMP AND OIL PUMP SENSOR, HIS DIAGNOSIS IS FOR AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. HE CLAIMS THAT THE SLUDGE FROM THE ANTIFREEZE HAS BUILT UP, AND A CAM BEARING HAS BEEN DAMAGED, RENDERING THE ENGINE IRREPLACEABLE. I CURRENTLY HAVE ,MULTIPLE OPTIONS, THE CHEAPEST OF WHICH IS $3,500.00. WE ARE A GM FAMILY, MY FATHER RETIRED FROM GM. WHY CAN'T GM FACE THE FAULTY DESIGN FLAW OF THE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND COOLANT PROBLEMS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185599March 20, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT
THE TRACTION SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATING FOR NO REASON. SERVICE ABS LIGHT CAME ON IN VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED LEFT WHEEL HUB, INCLUDING SENSOR. PROBLEM RECURRED THE DAY AFTER AND THE WRONG ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED, THE CORRECT ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED. ONE MONTH LATER PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION ON WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY. SEVEN MONTHS LATER PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER NOW SAYS THE RIGHT HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING, AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID. REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN DONE FOR THE LATTER BECAUSE WE WANT DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185204March 15, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING, I HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, AND THE CAR WILL RESTART. THERE IS NOT ALWAYS A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, THIS CAR SHUT DOWN ON ME IN A SNOW STORM IN THE SIERRAS, IN THE DARK I WAS LUCKY TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OFF AND RESTART. THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AT THIS TIME. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND JUST WANTS TO START REPLACING PARTS, VERY EXPENSIVE. THE COMMENT FROM THE DEALER WAS IF THE PART WE REPLACE DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM THE WE KNOW THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NO PROBLEM PAYING TO REPAIR THIS CAR IF THEY CAN TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, I DON'T WANT TO START REPLACING PARTS GOOD PARTS @ $500.00 A POP BECAUSE GM CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM,RIGHT NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE SOME CAN BE HURT OR KILLED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183912March 1, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD A REFERENCE NUMBER FROM FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION 71-489286337. THE TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT ANY REASON. JUST AS THE CONTACT WAS CHANGING LANES THE TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING. A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONTACT THAT HE SHOULD TURN THE HAZARD SIGNAL ON AND OFF AND THAT THE TURN SIGNAL SHOULD WORK, AND IT DID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED INTERMITTENTLY.THIS WOULD INDICATE THAT THE HAZARD SWITCH FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 70000.*AK UPDATED 04/05/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182348February 12, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE BATTERY ON MY 2001 CHEVY IMPALA WAS DEAD, SO I PUT A BATTERY CHARGER ON THE BATTERY AND WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENED. I WAITED 2-4 MINUTES FOR THE BATTERY TO CHARGE AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. AS SOON AS I TURNED THE KEY, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED INTO ABOUT 10 PIECES THROUGHOUT MY GARAGE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP TODAY AND AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182297February 12, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY SECURITY LIGHT STAYS ON ON THE MESSAGE CENTER. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM (CODE). I CAN START THE CAR SO FAR WITH NO PROBLEM. THE LIGHT PROBLEM STARTED AFTER NEW BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN JUNE 2006. I HAVE FOUND GM TSB 04-08-47-003, NO THANKS TO GM' S CUSTOMER RELATIONS. IT STATES THAT BCM'S MAY BE NEEDLESSLY REPLACED, WHEN PROBLEM COULD BE LOOSE WIRE TERMINALS OR CODES THAT HAVE TO BE RESET AFTER CHANGING THE BATTERY. I HAVE READ MANY INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRING AND THINK IT REQUIRES A RECALL. CUSTOMERS MAY BE PAYING FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE BCM, WHEN IT IS NOT REQUIRED. I HAVE CALLED THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAY THAT THEY CAN'T HELP ME! IF YOU CAN GET A COPY OF THE BULLETIN, READ IT! IT COULD SAVE YOU SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181109January 30, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE TURN SIGNALS ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY ON A DAILY BASIS. WE NEVER KNOW IF THEY WILL COME ON OR NOT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE JULY, 2006. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178315January 10, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA STARTED THIS PROBLEM ABOUT A MONTH AGO. OBVIOUSLY, IT IS ANNOYING, BUT IT CONCERNS ME MOSTLY DUE TO THE SAFETY ASPECT. I BELIEVE I HAVE DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM BY MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS FINDING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM ON THE INTERNET FROM OTHER OWNERS. MY TRIPS TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS AND REPAIR SHOPS HAVE PROVED WORTHLESS. THE CAR WILL FAIL TO START AT TIMES. THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES IT WILL START AND RUN GREAT. IT APPEARS TO BE A PASSLOCK SECURITY PROBLEM THAT WILL BE VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL SO THE CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. THE CAR CRANKS OVER FINE AND THE BATTERY IS NEW, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE NO FUEL GETTING TO WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO GO. PLEASE RESEARCH AND I AM SURE YOU WILL FIND THAT OTHER IMPALA OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I DID NOT SEE A RECALL OUT ON THIS PROBLEM YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176193December 14, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TURN SIGNALS FAIL SPORADICALLY SINCE DEALER REPLACED BODY CONTROL MODULE. DEALER DOESN'T THINK NEW BCM IS PROBLEM BUT CAN'T FIX TROUBLE FOR SURE UNTIL THERE IS A COMPLETE FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174280November 26, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION RUNNING ROUGH, NEARLY STALLING, AND A 0742 CODE BEING ACTIVATED. THE CAR HAS 123,000 MILES ON IT, SO IT IS WELL OUT OF WARRANTY. A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AND QUOTED A PRICE OF $1400 TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. I KNOW THAT THE CAR HAS A GREAT DEAL OF MILEAGE ON IT, BUT I EXPECT A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR THE MONEY I PAID FOR THE CAR. AFTER LOOKING ON THIS WEB SITE AT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THIS CAR/TRANSMISSION, AND SEEING THAT THE 4T65E TRANSMISSION IS USED IN OVER 20 GM CARS, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT GM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS BEFORE IT COSTS THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS? ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO PUSH GM TO MAKE THIS PROBLEM RIGHT WOULD BE APPRECIATED. IF YOU CANNOT THE ONLY THING I WILL DO IS BUY JAPANESE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174234November 25, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF OIL IN THE COOLANT IN MY 2001 CHEVY IMPALA. KNOWING JUST A LITTLE ABOUT INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES PROBABLY AN INTAKE GASKET LEAKING. FOR A CAR WHICH HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED WITH UNDER 80,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER THIS WAS ALARMING. HIGH ENGINE TEMP AND A SLUDGE IN MY MOTOR ARE THE OBVIOUS CONSEQUENCES. WHO KNOWS WHAT THE LONG TERM AFFECTS WILL BE. THE CAR IS NOW AT THE MECHANICS AND ALREADY I AM LOOKING AT 700 TO 1,000 DOLLARS WHICH I DO NOT HAVE TO REPAIR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174236November 25, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED AS OF YET. THE CAR STOPS WHEN I AM AT STOP SIGNS AND RED LIGHTS. IT HAS EVEN STOPPED WHEN ON THE INTERSTATE AND I HAVE GONE FROM 70 MPH TO 0 MPH IN LESS THAN 60 SECONDS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174096November 22, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REPEATED BROKEN WINDOW MECHANISM IN TWO SEPARATE CHEVROLET CARS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171432October 20, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA REGARDING THE PASSLOCK SENSOR, WHICH IS PART OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THERE'S A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE PART. I'VE CONTACTED GM AND THEY OUT RIGHT TOLD ME THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY PROBLEM BECAUSE MY CAR HAS TOO MANY MILES ON IT. I HAD THE PART REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE CAR BRAND NEW. I HAD IT REPLACED AGAIN ON 11-10-05, WHICH TOOK A YEAR AND A HALF TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. NOW I AM HAVING THE PROBLEM AGAIN. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET TODAY AND THEY REFUSED TO EVEN HELP...WOULDN'T EVEN OPEN A COMPLAINT FOR ME. THEY'RE SAYING THAT NO ONE ELSE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM, BUT I'VE RESEARCHED FORUMS AND IT APPEARS THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS REPAIR DONE AGAIN SINCE IT WAS DONE 11 MONTHS AGO. I'M IRRITATED AND I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE FROM SOMEONE AS TO WHAT WILL BE DONE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168723September 20, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA AND IT HAS BEEN LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT FOR SOMETIME NOW. WE PUT THE REQUIRED DEXCOOL COOLANT TO REPLACE THE LOST, BUT IT JUST KEPT ON LEAKING. WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO REPAIR IT AND HE INFORMED US THAT IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE INTAKE GASKET DOWN ONTO THE SPARK PLUGS AND IT WAS DAMAGING THE SPARK PLUGS. HE SAID DON'T PUT DEXCOOL COOLANT INTO THE CAR AGAIN BECAUSE IT JUST DAMAGES THE GASKETS. HE SAID I CANT TELL U HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR THIS SAME THING ON CHEVROLET VEHICLES. TOTAL REPAIRS $749.43 . THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS. NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE DEXCOOL COOLANT BUT BECAUSE OF THE GASKETS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167539September 7, 2006
STEERING:COLUMN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED THERE WAS A BANGING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN ACCOMPANIED BY A VIBRATION. THE BANGING AND THE VIBRATION BECAME GRADUALLY WORSE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO EITHER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPACKED. THE SHAFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. UPDATED 9/22/2006 - THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE FUEL INJECTOR UNIT WAS REPLACED INTAKE GASKET LEAKED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165712August 17, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165501August 15, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
POWER TRAIN FAILURE: FIRST SIGN OF PROBLEM WAS HARSH SHIFTING, HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER CHANGED, STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM. BEFORE I FOUND THE SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM THE PLANETARY GEARS GOT CHEWED UP BY A BROKEN PIECE OF METAL, HAD TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION $1800. FILED COMPLAINT WITH GM, SINCE I DID NOT HAVE IT REPAIRED AT A DEALER (FOR TWICE THE PRICE) THEY WOULD NOT HELP. NOW I HAVE A 2001 MONTE CARLO SHOWING THE SAME HARSH SHIFTING. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BE FLUSHED BY THE DEALER AND THEY PUT AN ADDITIVE INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO HELP THE STICKY VALUE PROBLEM, DID NOT WORK. THERE IS A PATTERN HERE AND GM WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163935July 31, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
(1) I WAS DRIVING ON 2 LANE UNDIVIDED STATE HIGHWAY ON A CLEAR DAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING. MY WIFE AND I WERE THE ONLY OCCUPANTS. I WOKE ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MPH. I STARTED BRAKING (ABS BRAKES) I THINK WE SLOWED TO ABOUT 50 MPH BEFORE HITTING THE BLUNT END OF A GUARD RAIL. THE CAR IMPACTED ABOUT 6 INCHES RIGHT(DRIVERS SIDE) OF CENTER ON THE FRONT. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. THE CAR HAD SPUN 170 DEGREES CLOCKWISE AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN I LOOKED AT MY WIFE FOR AN INSTANT WHEN HER AIRBAG WENT OFF CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY MY AIR BAG. (2) THE FAILURE OF THE AIRBAGS RESULTED IN SEAT BELT RELATED STRAINS AND SOFT TISSUE INJURIES FOR MY WIFE. I RECEIVED A BRUISE ON THE CHEST. (3) SO FAR NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SOLD THE CAR TO A USED AUTO PARTS YARD. I WAS ABLE TO TRACK IT DOWN AND I BOUGHT THE COMPUTER MODULE THAT WAS UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. I WITNESSED THE REMOVAL. I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT CONTACTING CHEVROLET. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10163864July 29, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEEDS. THIS OCCURRED ON DRY PAVEMENT AND SEEMED TO EXTEND THE LENGTH OF TIME NEEDED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HUB AND SENSOR. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE HUB AND SENSOR WERE ADJUSTED. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. OLD PARTS WERE NEVER OFFERED IN RETURN. THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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