Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2002)

795 consumer complaints on file.

#10160637June 23, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
(1) AT FIRST, THE TURN SIGNAL DID NOT WORK SOMETIMES. AND IT WOULD BE OKAY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED. BUT AFTER THAT, THE PROBLEM WAS MORE SERIOUS. 2)TURN SIGNAL FAILURE WHEN DRIVING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT I CAN NOT WARN OTHER DRIVERS THAT I WILL BE TURNING WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. (3) NOT YET DONE. THE REPLACEMENT OF HAZARD SWITCH SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159903June 15, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT:CALLER STATES THAT HIS SPOUSE WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH WHILE CROSSING INTERSECTION A CAR CAME AN HIT THE VEHICLE THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR.VEHICLES AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CAR HEAD ON. NEITHER THE SIDE AIRBAGS AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.INSURANCE DETERMINED THAT THE CAR WAS TOTALED NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.NO LOSE OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE WARNING LIGHT DID NOT SIGNAL DURING OR AFTER ACCIDENT. NO INJURIES.DID NOT CONTACT MANUFACTURER.NO PRE-IMPACT BRAKING OCCURRED. DRIVER WAS WEARING THEIR SEATBELT.NO PICTURES WERE TAKEN MY OCCUPANT POSSIBLE PICTURES TAKEN BY INSURANCE COMPANY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159297June 8, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2002 IMPALA HAS JUST 70K MILES. THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND OVER HEATED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT IS A INTAKE GASKET THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNUSUAL WITH THE DEXTRON COOLANT THAT GM USES. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM FROM MANY MECHANICS AND IT SEEMS THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO FIX THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. MY FAILURE HAPPENED WHEN MY FAMILY WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF NO COOLANT IN THE ENGINE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158877June 2, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
IS THERE A WAY TO LOOK INTO THE CHEVROLET IMPALA 2002, 2001, AND 2000 MODELS FOR FAILURE OF THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THE LIGHT COMES ON AT TIMES AND WHEN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE YOU ARE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM CAN'T BE FOUND. AFTER THE LIGHT COMES ON, YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN OR IF THE CAR WILL START AND YOU HAVE IT TOWED AND NO PROBLEMS ARE FOUND. I THINK THIS CAN LEAD TO SOME TYPE OF SAFETY PROBLEM IF YOU NEED TO MOVE YOUR CAR IN A HURRY AND IT DON'T START. I'VE TALKED WITH MANY OWNERS OF THE TYPE OF CARS AND THEY ALL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158650May 31, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1-28-06, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA WENT OUT. WE FLASHED THE DIMMER/BRIGHT SWITCH AND THEY CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES OVER THE NEXT 3 MONTHS. WE THOUGHT WE HAD A WIRING PROBLEM. THEN IN LATE APRIL, MY CAR JUST QUITE RUNNING, WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IT STARTED BACK UP, BUT IT THEN WAS OUR CUE TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY TO WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK A SECOND TIME BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WASN'T FIXED, THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. AT THIS POINT, MAY, 2006, SINCE IT IS DAYLIGHT FOR MORE HOURS OF THE DAY, WE DON'T DRIVE A LOT AT NIGHT SO I HAVEN'T NOTICED IT HAPPENING AGAIN. ON 5-30-06 I HEARD ON A NEWS REPORT THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED 15 COMPLAINTS OF HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT ON CHEVY IMPALAS, I WANTED TO ADD ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO THAT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158664May 31, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 6/16/2006 - WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE USED THE DASH LIGHTS WENT DARK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158548May 30, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE COOLANT LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, OR AT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD TO LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A LOW ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL OR COOLANT POOLING ON MANIFOLD. SAME PROBLEM AS NOTED IN TSB#03034(NHTSA ID#10003430, JULY 01, 2003) THIS PROBLEM IS PRESENT IN MY IMPALA THAT HAS BEEN WELL SERVICED EVERY 5K MILES AND SUDDENLY PRESENTED AT 96K MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158505May 29, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAD LIGHT POPPED OUT OF PLACE AS I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD ONE EVENING. ONE WORKED BUT ONE DID NOT. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION IN MY HOMETOWN. THE OWNER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID HE COULD SEE WHY IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE THE SEAL LOOKED AS IF IT HAD BEEN BROKEN FROM AROUND THE LIGHT. HE SAID THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE CAUSED FROM THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT A PROPER SEAL AND SEEMED TO SHRINK BECAUSE OF EXPOSURE TO THE SUN. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT HAD NOT BEEN RECALLED. I CHOSE TO GET IT FIXED TO KEEP FROM GETTING A TICKET FOR A DAMAGED HEADLIGHT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158077May 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ONLY 78000 MILES ON MY 2002 IMPALA WHEN THE COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON. NEARLY $1000.00 LATER THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW WATER PUMP, INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, BELT, RADIATOR CAP, THERMOSTAT AND OF COURSE AN OIL CHANGE. ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THE COOLANT GM REQUIRES IS CORROSIVE AND CAUSES THE ABOVE ITEMS TO DETERIORATE. HOW LONG WILL THE REPLACEMENTS LAST? NOT SURE I WANT TO FIND OUT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156527May 1, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
I OWN A CHEVROLET, IMPALA - 2002. IN THE BEGINNING OF APRIL I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT INTO A BUSY FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY AS I HIT THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE THE CAR FELT SLUGGISH AS THOUGH IT WERE NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS OR NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THAT EVENING I STOOPED TO FILL UP THE GAS TANK AND UPON LEAVING I WAS CLIMBING A HILL AND THE CAR ACTED UP AGAIN AND MADE A DIFFERENT SOUND AND AGAIN ACTED AS THOUGH IT WERE NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR OR NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL AND THE SECURITY LIGHT (NOT SERVICE ENGINE) CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I IMMEDIATELY PHONED MY HUSBAND AND HE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (JOHN SERRETTI). WE HAVE MAINTAINED THIS VEHICLE FAITHFULLY SINCE WE PURCHASED IT OIL CHANGES, TIRES ROTATED ETC. ALL PERFORMED AT JOHN SERETTI'S EVERY 3/4 MONTHS. AFTER REVIEWING ALL PAPERWORK RECEIVED AT HOME FOR THE IMPALA MY HUSBAND CAME ACROSS A LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS MAILED IN OCTOBER 2005 STATING THAT SOME VEHICLES WERE EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IF WE DID INDEED HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS TO TAKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT, BUT IF NOT, NOTHING NEEDED TO BE DONE AND THIS LETTER WAS NOT A RECALL. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ($90) AND FOUND THAT INDEED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTED WAS CLOGGED AND SUPPOSEDLY CAUSED THE SPARK PLUGS WIRE TO ARC AND MELT WHICH ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE (ALMOST $600). MY HUSBAND HAS TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS IN REFERENCE TO THIS AND THEY ALL AGREE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION POSSIBLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. GM DID COVER PART OF THE REPAIRS BUT IN MY OPINION THEY SHOULD HAVE COVERED THEM ALL BECAUSE THE CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND IF CARBON HAD BUILT UP TO THAT EXTENT TO CAUSE ALL OF THIS DAMAGE AND LEADING ME AND OTHER MECHANICS TO BELIEVE IT COULD VERY WELL HAVE STARTED A FIRE, WHY WASN'T IT DISCOVERED AT THE PREVIOUS INSPECTION-OIL CHANGE? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154943April 10, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE PULSATES UNTIL STOPPED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PADS AND ROTORS TWICE BUT THIS HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154450April 3, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, CHILD SEAT:MATERIAL/PADDING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MATERIAL PADDING HOOKS WERE BROKEN OFF OF THE SIDE OF THE SEAT AND PLACED IN THE MOUTH BY THE TODDLER. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RISK OF CHOKING, THE CHILD DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE SEAT WAS INSPECTED BY A CHILD SAFETY SEAT TECHNICIAN WHO SUGGESTED DISCARDING THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154287March 31, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL GAUGE READS FULL UNTIL THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GASOLINE. THE CONTACT VERBALLY SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHICH STATED, THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153582March 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
LOW ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT WENT ON. HAD IT CHECKED OUT. LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THAT OIL WAS GETTING INTO THE RADIATOR, POSSIBLE INTAKE MANIFOLD OR HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. WENT TO CHEVY DEALER EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND HE STATED IT WAS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 IMPALA. HE DIAGNOSTIC THE PROBLEM AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, COST TO REPAIR $1000. I PHONE ANOTHER CHEVY DEALER COST $800, LOCAL MECHANIC $600. COST OF THE PARTS AT AUTOZONE LESS THAN $75 AMOUNT OF LABOR TIME SHOULD BE 3-5 HOURS. CHEVY DEALERS 8 + HOURS. ALL THIS BECAUSE GM USES BAD ANTIFREEZE. GM CAUSED THE PROBLEM THEY NEED TO STEP UP AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO IMPALA OWNERS. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS WILL BE MY LAST GM PRODUCT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153470March 22, 2006
STEERING
NOTICEABLE LOOSENESS AND "CLUNK" IN STEERING WHEN TURNING AND/OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR AT LOW SPEED. CAR HAD NEARLY 50,000 MILES. HOW MUCH LONGER BEFORE A LOSS OF STEERING COULD OCCUR? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153398March 22, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
WATER LEAKING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH ROOF THROUGH TRIP COMPUTER. LEFT REAR DRAIN HOSE PINCHED CLOSED DURING ASSEMBLY. YEARS OF DIRT ACCUMULATION CLOGGED THE RESTRICTED HOSE CAUSING WATER OVERFLOW TO ENTER VEHICLE CABIN DURING HEAVY RAIN STORMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153302March 21, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
HEATED SEAT BURNED A SMALL HOLE IN SEAT AND BURNED THE BACK OF MY LEG A LITTLE. I HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTURE AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TRIED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURE AND HAS LEFT VOICE MAIL AND HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURE. THE SEAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152918March 16, 2006
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
CLUNCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153037March 9, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 IMPALA BREAKING SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION ARE DEFECTIVE. THE BRAKING CALIPERS ON THE BACK DISC ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HOLDS LESS THAN ONE INCH OF THE DISC. *TS THE OTHER THREE CALIPERS GO ALL THE WAY NORMALLY. THIS HAS RESULTED IN LESS BRAKING CAPACITY ON ONE SIDE. THE TRANSMISSION ROLLS WHEN ON A HILL. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152997March 2, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, POWER TRAIN
2002 IMPALA BRAKING CALIPERS ON THE BACK DISC ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HOLDS LESS THAN ONE INCH OF THE DISC. TRANSMISSION ROLLS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SLOPE OF THE ROAD. *TS THE CALIPERS ON THE REAR DISC ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HOLDS LESS THAN ONE INCH OF THE DISC. THE OTHER THREE CALIPERS GO ALL THE WAY NORMALLY. THIS HAS RESULTED IN LESS BRAKING CAPACITY ONE ONE SIDE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Impala