Chevrolet Impala Complaints

10,446 consumer complaints on file.

#10274206June 18, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS DIM. THE CONTACT HAS TO PLAY WITH THE DIMMER SWITCH IN ORDER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE AGAIN. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR TWO YEARS AND PROVIDES POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CHEVROLET AND A CHRYSLER DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE APPROXIMATELY $600 FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD MAKE THE REPAIR AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE BELIEVES THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 07/08/09 *BF THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHEN THE DIMMER WAS USED. THE DEALER STATED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS FAILING INTERNALLY. UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274224June 18, 2009
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE A SHARP RIGHT TURN WHEN I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COME FROM MY CAR IT WAS THEN I NOTICED THE TRACTION ACTIVITY LIGHT COME ON . I GOT READY TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE TURNING LEFT AND NOISE HAPPENED AGAIN BUT IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A DELAY IN MY STOPPING AND ALSO TURNING. AFTER WORK I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT WITH NO PROBLEMS SO I JUST PAY IT NO ATTENTION. UNTIL I TURNED IN TO MY MOM'S TO PICK UP MY KIDS AND IT DID IT AGAIN BUT THIS TIME AN 18 WHEELER WAS BEHIND ME AND ACTUALLY HAD TO BRAKE AND GO AROUND ME BECAUSE OF THE DELAY IN MY TURNING. I ACTUALLY HAD TO FIGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO PROCEED WITH MY TURN. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY TIME I MAKE A SHARP TURN LEFT OR RIGHT , WHETHER I'M TURNING SLOWLY OR NOT , AND I BELIEVE SOME ONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT BY THIS PROBLEM IF ITS NOT CORRECTED. IT WASN'T UNTIL 2MONTHS AGO I FOUND OUT THAT IF YOU TURN THE TRACTION OFF THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENS BUT NOT AS BAD AND THAT IT HAD SOME THING TO DO WITH PART#10340313 AND PART#10340314 WHICH IS THE ABS HARNESS WHICH CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED THROUGH THE DEALER OR ON GMPARTSDIRECT.COM. WHICH I THINK WE AS OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR BUT WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR TO INSURE OUR FAMILY AND OUR OWN SAFETY. ANOTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS THAT THE TURN SINGLE ALSO STOPS WORKING I HAVE TO PUSH DOWN ON THE HAZARD BUTTON TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN AND SOME TIMES HIT THE DASH TO GET IT TO WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274285June 18, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS PROBLEM STARTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. AT RANDOM ENGINE WILL NOT START. THIS SEEMS TO AFFECT MANY DIFFERENT MODELS OF CARS. I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA. I USED TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE BATTERY BC IT WOULD HAPPEN EVERY YR. NOW I HAVE TO TURN KEY TO ON AND WAIT TEN MINUTES TO CRANK IT. I AM A SINGLE FEMALE AND THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY INCONVENIENT BUT UNSAFE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT IT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MY DEALER AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM BUT SAY NOTHING WORKS FOR IT AND NOT TO SPEND THE MONEY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HERE AND ON THE INTERNET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273969June 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2001 IMPALA WON'T START AT DIFFERENT TIMES HAVE TO WAIT 20-30 MINUTES, DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK ANYMORE, INSIDE LIGHTS DON'T WON'T WHEN THIS HAPPENS THEY COME ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES, WHEN SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES THE AC DOESN'T WORK. I HAD THE IGNITION LOCK CHANGED BUT STILL SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AT NIGHT SINCE I AM A SINGLE PARENT WITH GRANDCHILDREN AND ALSO IN THE HEAT OF SUMMER HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE CAR TO START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273971June 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY INSTRUMENT PANEL ALSO WENT OUT IN WINTER OF 2007. CALLED GM DIRECTLY WHO REFUSED TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. MY FATHER IN LAW OWNS AN AVALANCHE AND RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR HIS TRUCK AND OTHER LARGE SUV'S THAT ARE MADE BY CHEVROLET. THE YEARS COVERED INCLUDED 2004. IF GM KNOWS THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANELS WERE BAD FOR OTHER MODELS, WHY HAVEN'T THEY BEEN RECALLED FOR THE IMPALAS. MY CAR DID THE SAME THING; DRIVING APPROX 40 MPH AND CAR READ 75 MPH. THE SPEEDOMETER READ 120 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THAT DAY WHEN CARS WERE FLYING BY ME. THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY, GM SEEMS TO BE WAITING FOR SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH BEFORE RECALLING THE BAD PARTS. THIS GOES ALONG WITH THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFTS BEING BAD ALSO. WHAT A JOKE!! I TOO WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER AMERICAN MADE CAR AS LONG AS I AM ABLE TO DRIVE. I HAD TO TAKE GM TO COURT OVER MY CAR DUE TO THE CAR BEING IN THE SHOP APPROX. 25 TIMES FOR REPAIRS BEFORE IT WAS 4 YEARS OLD. MY WHOLE CAR HAS BASICALLY BEEN REPLACED (INCLUDING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND STEERING COLUMN SHAFT) EXCEPT FOR THE SLIPPING TRANSMISSION NOW. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AS I HAVE THE INDY MOTOR SPEEDWAY SS. PAID A LOT OF $$ FOR NOTHING. IT'S NO WONDER GM IS GOING UNDER. THEIR CARS ARE JUNK AND THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. WHAT A SHAME. HOPEFULLY NO ONE HAS SERIOUS INJURY DUE TO ALL THE SAFETY FAILURES WITH THESE CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273975June 16, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
SAFETY RECALL # 09047: OIL DRIP FROM 2002 IMPALA 3.8L ENGINE MAY CAUSE FIRE WHEN DEPOSITED ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND MAY SPREAD TO SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND. DATE OF DEFECT RECALL IS CONSPICUOUSLY MISSING BUT I RECEIVED THIS NOTICE THE WEEK OF JUNE 8, 2009, I CALLED DEALER ON JUNE 10, 2009. DEALER IS STATING THAT THEY ARE BACKED UP IN DOING THE REPAIR DUE TO LACK OF PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE ARE DRIVING CARS THAT ARE JUST WAITING TO GO ON FIRE AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME THIS TYPE OF POTENTIAL FIRE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED ON THESE SPECIFIC ENGINES.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273805June 15, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PERSISTENT BURNING ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE POURING OIL INTO THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH WATER. A FEW UNKNOWN COMPONENTS WERE DAMAGED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. SHE LATER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, WHICH STATED THAT THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO DROPS OF ENGINE OIL DEPOSITED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 124,864. UPDATED 07/14/09 *BF AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE HAD AN INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. PRIOR TO THE RECALL, THE CONSUMER STATED SHE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING. UPDATED 07/15/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274489June 15, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SAFETY RECALL 09047 FOR 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REASON FOR THE OIL SEEPAGE ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS DUE TO THE VALVE COVERS BEING MADE OF PLASTIC AND IT REQUIRED FREQUENT GASKET CHANGES, BECAUSE THE COVERS DID NOT PROPERLY COMPRESS THE GASKET. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY EFFECTIVE REMEDY WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE VALVE COVERS WITH METAL ONES, WHICH WOULD COMPRESS THE GASKET MORE EVENLY AND PREVENT OIL LEAKAGE ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273906June 15, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273724June 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TURN SIGNAL TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY. WORK FINE MOST OF THE TIME. I WENT AS FAR AS REPLACING ALL BULBS AS WELL AS THE FUSE. STARTS WORKING A COUPLE OF MONTHS THEN STARTS FAILING AGAIN. SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I'VE LEARNED ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273736June 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS WENT OUT ON MY 04 IMPALA LS. FIRST THE SPEED ODOMETER QUIT WORKING,THEN THE RPMS QUIT AND NOW THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WORKS ABOUT HALF THE TIME.WHAT'S NEXT THE GAS GAUGE? THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN NOT HAVING A PROPERLY WORKING SPEED ODOMETER. I HAVE TWO SMALL KIDS. THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT ENTERED. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM!! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!! NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT THIS MATTER. I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THIS FIXED. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED. SINCE THIS IS A FACTORY MALFUNCTION!!!! DO SOMETHING PLEASE!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273758June 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA'S SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING. LIGHTS FLICKERED AND A STRANGE CLICKING NOISE OCCURRED. SOMETIMES VEHICLE WON'T START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273705June 13, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER FALSE READING,WORKS FINE UNDER 50 MILES AN HOUR OVER DROPS TO ZERO AND WILL NOT REGISTER OR WORKS ERRATIC, MIGHT READ 100 OR EVEN HIGHER OR LOWER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273668June 12, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STEERING
I WAS SOLD A VEHICLE FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP THAT SUPPOSEDLY HAD A 100+ POINT INSPECTION INCLUDING SAFETY EQUIPMENT. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC, I FOUND THAT THE REAR BRAKES HAD ONLY 10% BRAKE PAD LEFT AND THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPROMISED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273529June 11, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE REMEDY STATED THAT THE DEALER WILL REMOVE THE SPARK PLUG WIRE RETENTION CHANNEL AT THE FRONT OF ENGINE AND INSTALL TWO NEW SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS FOR FREE. OIL HAS ALREADY BEGUN LEAKING FROM THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE; THEREFORE, THE REMEDY WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT IN CORRECTING THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 07/17/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON JUNE 25TH. THE CONSUMER INSISTED THAT THE TECHNICIAN TELL HIM WHERE THE OIL LEAK WAS COMING FROM. THE OIL LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET, WHICH WAS BELOW THE SPARK PLUG WIRES AND SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS. THE SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS THAT THEY REPLACED HAD NO EVIDENCE OF OIL, THEREFORE THE LEAK WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL AND DID NOT POSE A SAFETY THREAT. UPDATED 07/21/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273563June 11, 2009
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM/ABS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I NOTICED THE TRACTION FEATURE ENGAGING WITHOUT CAUSE. IT BEGAN TO GET WORSE AND ENGAGES MOSTLY WHEN YOU TURN (EITHER DIRECTION), BUT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN. TOOK TO DEALER WAS TOLD IT NEEDED NEW WHEEL BEARINGS, HAD BOTH REPLACED (WHICH WAS VERY PRICEY) AND IT WAS OKAY FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND HAS SINCE STARTED AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, WHEN THE TRACTION IS ENGAGED IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP WHEN BRAKING, IT CAUSES A DELAY IN STOPPING. I'VE ASKED OTHER MECHANICS, NOBODY IS SURE WHAT TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT ALL HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM IN HOPES OF FINDING A SOLUTION, TO NO AVAIL, BUT THERE ARE 1000'S OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THE 2001 IMPALA. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL.....THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273457June 10, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE JERKS. THE JERKING STOPS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY FOUND NO FAILURES. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOW FUEL SURGE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC WOULD COST $90 AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 062909 *BF UPDATED 07/01/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273480June 10, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65-70 MPH WITH THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONING ACTIVATED, THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR PANEL AREA IGNITED INTO FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE PASSENGER EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE DASHBOARD AND CARPET SUSTAINED MINOR FIRE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273486June 10, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A PASS LOCK FAILURE, WHICH IS A SECURITY ISSUE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE THINKS IT IS BEING STOLEN AND WILL NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE BY THE DEALER. THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 06/24/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEAST CHEVROLET COULD IS FIX THE PROBLEM IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ISSUE A RECALL. UPDATED 06/26/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273206June 9, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A TIRE FLATTENED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. SHE OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HERSELF. SHE ARRIVED HOME AND CALLED HER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO COME TO HER RESIDENCE AND INVESTIGATE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GENERAL MOTORS, WHICH STATED "THAT SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING. IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE." THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000. UPDATED 06/27/09 *BF UPDATED 06/23/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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