Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2000)

818 consumer complaints on file.

#10093078September 23, 2004
AIR BAGS
TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION AND ADVISED DEALERSHIP THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF DURING DRIVING AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THIS WHILE CAR WAS IN THEIR SHOP. WE WERE ADVISED BY THE DEALERSHIP THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR IMPACT BAG OF INOPERABLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS CAR WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2002, HOWEVER, THIS REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE TOTAL CHARGE WE HAD TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET FOR THIS REPAIR WAS $352.60. AFTER REVIEWING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE NHSTA WEBSITE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT AND I FEEL WE SHOULD RECEIVING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE AMOUNT WE HAVE PAID TO HAVE THIS FIXED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083970September 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH STALLING WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT NO WARNING OR INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF DURING HIGHWAY/CITY DRIVING. THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART AFTER YOU PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND START WITH THE KEY. *TC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083820September 8, 2004
AIR BAGS
PERIODICALLY THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. THE LIGHT HAS STAYED ON FOR 3 DAYS STRAIGHT. THE OWNER MANUAL STATES THAT THIS INDICATES A FAILURE IN THE AIR BAG, WHICH MAY DEPLOY PREMATURELY OR NOT DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND.*AK*TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088837August 30, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CAR HAS PROBLEMS WITH ROUGH START AND/OR ENGINE STALLING WITHIN THE FIRST MINUTE AFTER STARTING IT. SOMETIMES IT COUGHS/CHUGS/RPMS REV IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU START IT. OTHER TIMES WHEN YOU PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WILL CHUG AND COMPLETELY STOP MOVING AS IF IT'S RUN OUT OF GAS. IT'S ONLY BEEN A MIRACLE THAT I HAVE NOT BE BROADSIDED YET. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE MARCH OF 2001 AND THIS HAS HAPPENED AROUND 4-5 TIMES A WEEK SINCE THEN. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE PROBABLY 6 TIMES TO TRY AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS IT IS A DANGEROUS ONE, AND EACH TIME HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. NOBODY CAN RECREATE THE PROBLEM IN ORDER TO FIX IT. I HAVE HAD MY COMPUTER SYSTEM UPDATED, AND MOST RECENTLY THEY PRESSURE WASHED MY FUEL INJECTORS IN HOPES THAT THAT WOULD CURE THE PROBLEM. IT ONLY REMAINS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE'S A BAD ACCIDENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089667August 24, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM BEHIND AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE INTO A TRUCK IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD A NECK INJURIES. WENT TO THE HOSPITAL ON HIS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE. THE DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10087926August 16, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THE DOOR LATCH FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086197August 4, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE WITH THIS CAR. AT 60,000 MILES, I HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, USUALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN 4TH GEAR, OR OVERDRIVE. I HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED AT A TRANSMISSIOIN SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS GOING TO NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY, IF I HAD NOT BEEN VIGILANT IN MY INVESTIGATION OF THE PROBLEM. AS A RESULT, I HAD A HUGE REPAIR BILL, WAS WITHOUT THE CAR FOR 1 WEEK, AND HAD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL TO DRIVE TO WORK. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REBUILT, AND REPALCED. SPECIFIC PARTS THAT I KNOW OF WERE, THE "TORRINGTON BEARING", WHICH CAUSED FAILURE OF A SET OF PLANETARY GEARS, AND THE 4TH GEAR SPLINE. THE REPAIRMAN SAID THAT THE BEARING AND THE 4TH GEAR SPLINE ARE OF SUBSTANDARD QUALITY, AND THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE PURPOSELY BEEN MADE STRONGER, AND HEAT TREATED, BECAUSE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THESE TRANSMISSOINS.60'000 MILES IS MUCH TOO EARLY FOR A FAILURE OF THIS TYPE TO OCCUR. TOTAL REPAIR BILL WAS OVER $2,500.00.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087198August 4, 2004
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
DEALERSHIP ON 08/13/2001 REPLACED THE CRADLE. VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY IN NOVEMBER 2001, AND DEALER REPLACED SHAFT. CRADLE FAILED 2 YEARS LATER, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, ALSO, HAD A STEERING PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082688July 26, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
"PLASTIC" BY PASS TUBE FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD TO WATER PUMP CRACKED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK OUT AT A RAPID AMOUNT. CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE TUBE IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC SINCE IT IS IN CONTACT WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH IS VERY HOT. FORTUNATELY MY WIFE AND SON WERE JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM OUR HOUSE AND NOT ON THE TRIP TO OHIO WHICH WAS PLANNED. ONLY GOING ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN NOTICED A GURGLING SOUND. GOT OUT OF CAR AND SAW FLUID LEAKING. CAME BACK TO HOUSE AND I CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC TUBE ABOVE THE WATER PUMP LEADING INTO THE MANIFOLD WAS INDEED THE PROBLEM. TOOK CAR TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE BY PASS TUBE AT A HEFTY COST OF $262.38.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083346July 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHIEL DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083325July 20, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080069July 19, 2004
INTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2003 THE BRAKES DID NOT WORKED PROPERLY. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY CONSTANTLY GRABBED AND LET GO. SHE DID NOT KNOW WHETHER SHE COULD TALK TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER TOMORROW. *AK THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE BRAKES PULSATED WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED THE TRUNK LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079663June 22, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED THEN STAYED ON. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE AND REPLACED DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075698June 4, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENLY.*MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074808June 4, 2004
STEERING
ON JULY 4, 2003 MY 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA WAS LUBED AT THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF STEERING ISSUES. THE CAR WOULD VIBRATE, POP, AND JERK WHEN ACCELERATING, SLOWING DOWN OR MAKING TURNS AND STEERING BECOMES VERY TIGHT AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT TOOK 3 SEPARATE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE THEY DISCOVERED WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SEVERAL CHILDREN AND I AM GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MANY 2000 IMPALAS. I DID A LOT OF RESEACH AND FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE, AS WELL AS COMPLAINTS ON WWW.IMPALAHQ.COM. I'VE ALSO READ ISSUES WHERE SOME POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE USING THIS SAME MODEL AND THEY HAVE REPORTED ACCIDENTS DUE TO STEERING LOST, WHICH SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ISSUES. THE LAST STEERING SHAFT LUBE WAS 11 MONTHS AGO AND COST ME $140. LOOKS LIKE I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THIS SERVICE DONE EVERY 10-12 MONTHS TO KEEP THIS CAR FROM LOOSING STEERING. I CAN NOT PUT A PRICE ON THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN, BUT I CAN INFORM OTHER AND HOPE CHEVY WILL FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM QUICKLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073196May 26, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
PERIODIC TRANSMISSION SLIP FROM INITIAL DATE OF PURCHASE - DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE WHEN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE, UNTIL OUT OF WARRANTY. REFLASH E-PROM/UPDATE DONE AT 75K MILES TO CORRECT PROBLEM. NOW AT 110K DEALER SAYS NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED AS CAR IS EXHIBITING SAME PROBLEMS. CAR HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHEN USING HIGH BEAMS. CAR HAS LOST ALL POWER TWICE WHEN DRIVING AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, THUS CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT STEERING PROBLEM UNTIL THE CAR COULD BE STOPPED. GROUNDING WIRES ADDED TO SEE IF CORRECTION COULD BE MADE. LIGHTS & CAR HAVE NOT QUIT YET, BUT TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT SHIFTING PROBLEMS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. WHEN CAR IS SHUT OFF THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL GO OUT AND NOT COME BACK ON AND THE CAR WILL RESET IT SELF AND RUN OKAY FOR AWHILE. THE CAR ALSO EXHIBITS A LOUD WHINING NOISE WHEN THE SLIPPAGE / JERKING IS ABOUT TO OCCUR. GM WILL NOT ALLOW CONVERSATION WITH ANYONE BUT A CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON. ALL FILE NUMBERS GIVEN TO ME BY GM PERSONNEL WHEN CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY ARE NOT LOADED INTO THEIR DATA BASE, THUS NOTHING CAN BE DONE, MILEAGE IS TOO HIGH AND THESE THINGS ARE EXPECTED TO HAPPEN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073070May 24, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VEHICLE STALLS, MOVING ANYWERE FROM 30-70-MPH. HAS NEARLY CAUSED 4 ACCIDENTS. TWICE WE WERE NEARLY REARENDED; ONCE THIS HAPPENDED WHEN WE WERE PASSING A VEHICLE AND WE LOST CONTROL; AND ONCE THIS OCCURRED AS I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CORNER TOWARDS A GROUP OF CHILDREN. HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR 6 TIMES FOR SAME CAUSE. STILL NOT CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DEALER HAS REPLACED "WIRES", PLUGS, FUEL PUMP, AND COMPUTER "PARTS" TO NO AVAIL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072370May 10, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE SERVICE VEHICLE SOON AND LOW COOLANT LEVEL LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON. I HAD THE RADIATOR CHECKED AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND SO DID THE SERVICE VEHICLE SOON LIGHT. TOOK THE CAR BACK IN AGAIN TODAY TO GET IT HOPEFULLY FIXED. A SENSOR WAS SHORTING OUT FOR THE DRIVER DISPLAY AND REPLACED. I ALSO HAD TROUBLE LAST YEAR WITH THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS GOING NUTS. IT WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY HAZARD SWITCH THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068268May 4, 2004
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR
I BOUGHT A CHEVY IMPALA IN THE FALL OF 2000 . ONE OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES I HAD WAS THE AUTO DIMMER IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR . IN DEC. OF 2003 I NOTICED A 1/2 INCH HOLE APPEARING ON THE MIRROR WHICH WAS CLEAR . I GUESS A YELLOW REFLECTIVE COATING IS PUT ON THE MIRROR TO HELP THE DIMMING . I SPOKE WITH A DEALERSHIP ADVISOR FROM THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR AND DIDN'T SEEM CONCERNED AND SAID IF I WANTED A NEW MIRROR OF THIS TYPE IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $200AND $300 . I SAID NO AT THAT TIME . LAST WEEK FRIDAY APRIL 30 , 2004 WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR AFTER WORK I FOUND THE YELLOW REFLECTIVE COATING HAD JUST ABOUT MELTED AWAY LEAVING ONLY A SMALL COATING AT THE BOTTOM AND WHAT APPEARED WATER DROPLETS ON THE MIRROR ITSELF . I WENT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS INCIDENT WITNESSED AND RECORDED IN MY CAR FILE . TWO SERVICE MANAGERS SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE . THE FOLLOWING MONDAY I WENT TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR TO INQUIRE ABOUT MY OPTIONS AND TO HAVE THEM ACTUALLY SEE THE PROBLEM . ON THE WAY OVER I TOUCHED THE BOTTOM OF THE MIRROR AND FOUND A GOOEY BLACK SUBSTANCE ON MY FINGERS . APPARENTLY THE BOTTOM HAD MELTED . THE SERVICE PEOPLE SAID THERE MUST HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT OCCURED . BUT COULDN'T EXPLAIN ANYTHING ELSE . THE WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT SO THEY SUGGESTED I CALL CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR HELP . THEY SET UP A FILE FOR MY COMPLAINT BUT FOUND NO ONE ELSE HAD REPORTED SUCH A PROBLEM . THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO VERIFY MY STORY AND AGREED EVERYTHING I SAID WAS TRUE . BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE THE MIRROR BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT AND BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE . ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THE MILEAGE WOULD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE . THE CHEVY REP DID SAY THAT FOR CUSTOMER LOYALTY THEY WOULD GIVE ME A $500 CERTIFICATE IF I WANTED TO BUY A NEW CAR . $200-$300 IS STILL ALOT OF MONEY FOR ME TO INVEST . I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WILL DO BECAUSE I DO WORRY BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP ADVISOR DID SAY SOMETHING ELS COULD HAPPEN . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067627April 21, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:PINION SHAFT
THERE IS A CLUNKING AND CLICKING SOUND WHEN STEERING. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WHERE A LOT OF CONSUMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT AND CHEVROLET WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COST. CHEVROLET SAID THAT THEY CAN EITHER CHANGE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT OR USE THE LUBRICATION KIT TO FIX IT. THEY WILL NOT EVEN USE THE LUBRICATON KIT TO FIX IT AT LEAST. THIS IS NOT RIGHT THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD PAY FOR A MISTAKE THAT THE MANUFACTURER CREATED DUE TO A LACK OF LUBRICATION . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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