Chevrolet Impala Complaints
10,446 consumer complaints on file.
- #10398404May 1, 2011EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE A 2008 IMPALA LT WITH A GAS GAUGE THAT FAILS ESPECIALLY IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. IT READS 1/4 FULL WHEN YOU FILL IT AND GOES ABOUT 100 MILES AND READS EMPTY WITH THE LIGHT COMING ON TO GET GAS IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER,SAWYERS CHEVROLET TWICE BUT THEY WILL DO NOTHING SINCE I HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT. I THINK IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10398434May 1, 2011STEERING
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE POWER STEERING FUEL LINE BROKE. POWER STEERING IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE. CURRENTLY RESEARCHING A SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10398321April 29, 2011CHILD SEAT:LATCH CONNECTOR/CLIP, CHILD SEAT
WHEN INSTALLED IN A 2004 IMPALA, MY RADIAN XTSL WILL NOT REMAIN TIGHTLY INSTALLED WITH THE SUPERLATCH STRAP. THE RELEASE MECHANISM SITS AT SUCH AN ANGLE THAT MY OLDER TODDLER CAN EASILY BUMP IT WITH HIS FOOT AND RELEASE IT, CREATING A COMPLETELY UNSAFE INSTALLATION. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2004, MAKE=CHEVROLET, MODEL=IMPALA). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10398066April 27, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2004 IMPALA. IT ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE KEPT IT WELL MAINTAINED AND IS GREAT SHAPE WITH LOW MILES. THE GAUGE CLUSTER ON THE CONTROL PANEL BEGAN ACTING CRAZY AS MANY OTHER POSTINGS I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET. THE SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS SCREWED UP. IT READS 100 WHEN I'M GUESSING 40 OR 50 MPH OR 10 WHEN I'M AROUND 35 OR THE TOTAL OPPOSITE. I CAN RESET IT TEMPORARILY BY TURNING THE KEY ON AND OFF UNTIL THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE REACHES ZERO. IT IS SOMETIME OK FOR A SHORT WHILE. BUT IT DEFINITELY WILL GO WACKY AFTER I GO OVER 50 MPH OR IF I GO OVER 60 MPH HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE. THEN I HAVE NO SPEEDOMETER UNTIL I TRY TO RESET IT AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES ME DAYS TO GET IT BACK TO ONLY TEMPORARILY WORKING. I NOTICED THIS HAPPENING IN 2009 WHEN I GOT THE CAR FROM MY BROTHER AFTER HE PASSED AWAY. THE CAR AT THAT TIME ONLY HAD AROUND 28,500 MILES ON IT. BUT AS TIMES GOES ON, THE ISSUES ARE GETTING MORE PROMINENT AND WORSE. THERE ARE SOMETIMES I HAVE TO WAIT A DAY OR TWO TO EVEN GET IT BACK TO RESET. I HAVE CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER LARIA CHEVY IN RITTMAN, OHIO WHERE MY BROTHER HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM ORIGINALLY. I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD OF THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS I HAD READ ON THIS PROBLEM. HE INFORMED ME THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THE COST TO REPAIR IT WOULD BE AROUND $550 TO $650. I BELIEVE THIS IS A TOTAL RIP OFF BY CHEVY!! THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM, CONSIDERING THE MOUNTING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE ALREADY READ ON THE INTERNET. THERE IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY FACTOR INVOLVED AND I CAN NOT BELIEVE THERE WAS NO RECALL BY CHEVY OR BY THE NHTSA BOARD. I AM SO DISPLEASED WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT THIS WILL BE MY LAST CHEVY I WILL EVER BUY AND I HAVE VOICED MY DISPLEASURE WITH SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS. I WILL GO BACK TO A DEPENDABLE HONDA CAR WHICH I DROVE FOR 12 YEARS AND NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH IT AS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CHEVY!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10397337April 25, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA SECURITY SYSTEM CAUSING STARTING FAILURE. CAR HAS NEW BATTERY, STARTER, AND ALTERNATOR, AND HAS NO OTHER DEFECTS, OTHER THAN INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE SECURITY SYSTEM, CAUSING FAILURE TO START. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10397063April 21, 2011AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWICE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULE WAS REPLACED IN 2008. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH TIMES THE AIR BAG MODULE FAILED WAS WHEN THE WEATHER WAS BELOW 20 DEGREES. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO THAT DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V051000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL: DRIVER SIDE INFLATOR MODULE) BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,461 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,600.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10396799April 19, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE HEAT HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY UNLESS YOU ARE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE CAN BE WARMED UP AND HEATING, BUT IF ITS PUT INTO IDLE OR AT A STOP IT BEGINS TO BLOW COOL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS AN AIR POCKET THAT HAS TO BE BLED OUT BECAUSE THERE IS A BAD DESIGN WHERE THE HOSES ARE ABOVE THE BLOCK AND THEY GET CLOGGED UP. I HAVE HAD IT BLED AND IT WORKED BUT NOW HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM COME BACK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10396694April 18, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS PROVIDING AN INACCURATE READING OF 90 MPH. WITHIN SECONDS, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 0 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10396695April 18, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER FREQUENTLY INDICATES THE WRONG SPEED. THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE GOT STUCK AT ZERO MPH WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATE WAS ABOUT 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. EVER SINCE THAT TIME (FOR 3 MONTHS NOW) THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WILL FREQUENTLY STICK OR JITTER AS VEHICLE SPEED CHANGES. WHEN SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE IS STUCK IT FAILS TO RESET ALL THE WAY TO ZERO WHEN CAR IS STARTED. IT ONLY MOVES COUNTER-CLOCKWISE A LITTLE BIT WHEN STARTING THE CAR; IT DOES NOT MOVE BACK TO ITS RESET POSITION. THE RESET PROBLEM COULD BE COMPOUNDED BY A PROGRAMMING PROBLEM WITH THE SIGNALS SENT TO THE STEPPER MOTOR. THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE CAN BE HEARD AND SEEN DURING STARTING OF THE CAR TO SWING THE FULL RANGE OF THE FUEL DIAL TO RESET ITSELF. THE SPEEDOMETER ONLY MOVES A LITTLE BIT COUNTER-CLOCKWISE DURING STARTUP; NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO RESET TO ZERO WHEN IT GETS STUCK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10397548April 17, 2011VISIBILITY, SEATS
I CANNOT SEE WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR DUE TO THE REDUCED VISIBILITY CAUSED BY THE HEAD RESTS ON THE REAR SEATS. THE VIEW WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS OBSTRUCTED SIGNIFICANTLY WITH ONLY 4 INCHES OF VISIBILITY BETWEEN THE CEILING OF THE THE CAR AND THE TOP OF THE HEAD RESTS. ALSO, THE SIDE MIRRORS ARE SMALL INCREASING THE POOR VISIBILITY IN THIS VEHICLE. THE HEAD REST PROBLEM WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTICED IF THE CAR SALESMAN HAD NOT SAT IN BACKSEAT IN THE MIDDLE. THE CAR DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT THE CAR BE TAKEN TO A LOCAL SEAT COVER COMPANY TO HAVE THE HEADRESTS REBUILT. THIS IS A NEW CAR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10396569April 17, 2011SUSPENSION:REAR
I AM EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE INSIDE TIRE WEAR ON MY REAR TIRES AND APPARENTLY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2008 IMPALAS. I SPOKE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE OBVIOUSLY NOT IN THIS COUNTRY, AND WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO INSPECT MY CAR. I THEN SPOKE TO A SERVICE MANAGER WHO DENIED ANY KNOWN PROBLEMS. HE THEN LET IT SLIP THAT A MODIFICATION OF THE STRUTS WAS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE REAR AND THAT GM WOULD NOT COVER IT. THEY WILL HOWEVER REPAIR POLICE IMPALAS AT NO CHARGE. I DECLINED TO PAY ONLY TO BE TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR ANYWAY, KIND OF LIKE ADDING INSULT TO INJURY. WHEN WILL ACTION BE TAKEN TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS DUE TO BLOW OUTS; WHICH APPARENTLY HAVE OCCURRED? NOT EVERYONE LOOKS UNDER THEIR CAR TO INSPECT THE TIRES AND THIS WEAR IS NOT VISIBLE OTHERWISE. CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NOT FAZED IN THE LEAST THAT I MIGHT BUY ELSEWARE, HER COMMENT THAT IS YOUR CHOICE ,SO MUCH FOR SERVICE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10395809April 13, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL FAILS OFF AND ON FOR AWHILE AND THEN COMPLETELY QUITS, CAUSING YOU NOT TO KNOW YOUR SPEED OR THE HEALTH OF YOUR VEHICLE. I HAVE SEEN ONLINE WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM FOR THERE NOT TO BE A RECALL. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL NEEDS REPLACED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10395678April 12, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PROBLEM IS SPEEDOMETER. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, AS SUN WAS SETTING, SPEEDOMETER SLOWLY WENT 60 TO ZERO OR A LOW NUMBER (OVER 5-10 MINUTES) WITH NO ACTUAL CHANGE IN SPEED. THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL CONSECUTIVE DAYS. CURRENTLY, FOR MANY MONTHS, SPEEDOMETER IS NOT ACCURATE. E.G. GOING ABOUT 40 MPH, READS 20 MPH. E.G. GOING ABOUT 35 MPH, READS 120 MPH, REPEAT 120 MPH. E.G. CAR AT STANDSTILL, SPEEDOMETER READS 120 MPH. E.G. GOING 40 MPH, READS ZERO. OFTEN SHOWS CORRECT SPEED THEN SLOWLY GOES DOWN WITH NO CHANGE IN ACTUAL SPEED. VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY AT NIGHT NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. SEARCHED INTERNET, MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. PROBLEM - POSSIBLY STEPPER MOTORS. NEED RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10395480April 11, 2011AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR A TELEPHONE POLE. I AWOKE AT LAST SECOND AND MANAGED TO SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING POLE HEAD ON, IN WHICH CASE I WOULD PROBABLY BE DEAD. DOCTORS SAID I WAS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE EVEN THOUGH I WORE MY SEATBELT B/C THE CAR HIT THE POLE AND THEN FLIPPED OVER 2 OR 3 TIMES BEFORE LANDING ON ITS HOOD WITH ME TRAPPED INSIDE. THE JAWS OF LIFE WERE USED TO HELP PULL MY PASSENGER DOOR OFF ENOUGH TO GET ME OUT OF CAR ONTO A FLATBOARD, ONCE THEY HAD ME IN A NECKBRACE, THAT IS. THE REASON I AM MAKING A COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE I LEASED THIS CAR AT A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE RATE AND WAS MORE THAN 75% DONE PAYING IT OFF AND NOW I HAVE NOTHING. THE '02 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAD FRONT AIRBAGS, (AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID WHEN THEY SOLD ME THE CAR), HOWEVER, NEITHER DEPLOYED IN THE ACCIDENT AND I SUSTAINED A SERIOUS INJURY TO MY WHOLE LEFT SIDE. MY HEAD AND SHOULDER WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, HITTING THE PAVEMENT, AND I HAVE NERVE DAMAGE NOW B/C OF THIS. MY LEFT ARM IS NOW TINGLING AND GOING NUMB, WHICH COMES DOWN FROM A PINCHED NERVE IN MY NECK. I WILL NEED TO GO TO PHYSICAL THERAPY ONCE I AM ABLE. I AM ON HIGH DOSE PAIN MEDS. RIGHT NOW AND CAN BARELY WALK. I NOW WONDER IF THE AIRBAGS HAD BEEN DEPLOYED ALREADY SOMETIME B/F I BOUGHT THE CAR, PUT BACK IN USED, AND THAT IS WHY NEITHER CAME OUT WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE. I AM THINKING ABOUT CONTACTING A LAWYER REGARDING THIS SITUATION. DO YOUR HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON THIS? THANK YOU AND PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE IN THIS SITUATION. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10395506April 11, 2011SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS WERE TOO HIGH AND WAS BLOCKING HER VISION IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10. UPDATED 06/17/11*LJ UPDATED 06/21/11
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10395419April 10, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY 2011. CAR HAS OPERATED FINE AND OPERATED FINE EARLIER TODAY. THIS EVENING, AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A QUICK RUN TO THE STORE, I STARTED MY CAR, PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PROCEEDED TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO REVERSE. I COULD NOT GET THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER TO MOVE OUT OF PARK. IT WAS STUCK. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION TO THIS ISSUE. NOW I'M STRANDED AT HOME WITH NO VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10395326April 9, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SECURITY LIGHT FLASHING, WONT START OR IF IT STARTS THE RADIO AND ALL CLUSTER GAUGES WONT WORK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10394406April 6, 2011SEATS, VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT HE COULD NOT SEE WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY CAUSE BY THE HEAD RESTS ON THE REAR SEATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIEW WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS OBSTRUCTED BY APPROXIMATELY SEVENTY PERCENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE HEAD LIGHTS FROM VEHICLES IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY DISAPPEAR DUE TO THE REDUCED VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10394414April 6, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO UTILIZE THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS IN ORDER TO ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE BRIGHT AND DIM SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUAL SWITCH DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO USE THE HIGHBEAM LIGHTS. UPDATED 096/03/11
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10394449April 6, 2011AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING IDLE AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE WINDOW GLASS TO SHATTER AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE MOUTH AND LEFT ARM. HIS NECK AND SHOULDERS WERE ALSO INJURED AND THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION FACILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0