Chevrolet Impala Complaints
10,446 consumer complaints on file.
- #10502817March 14, 2013FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT REFLECT THE AMOUNT OF GAS IN THE TANK. IT SAYS FULL TANK WHEN IT IS BUT I RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE INTERSTATE WITH IT READING HALF TANK. DANGEROUS!!! WHEN IT RUNS OUT OF GAS THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING, OH EXCEPT YOU STALL AND HAVE ZERO POWER STEERING. FROM 70 TO 0 IN 2.5SEC. CALLED DEALER AND INQUIRED ABOUT ANY ISSUES WITH GAS GAUGES BECOMING FAULTY AND WAS TOLD BY SERVICE PERSON THAT IT COULD GO BAD BUT HE KNOWS NO KNOWN ISSUES WITH FAULTY GAS GAUGES FOR CHEVY. LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND PAGES AND PAGES OF DOCUMENTED FUEL/GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTIONS STRANDING DRIVERS. IF THEY THINK IGNORANCE IS BLISS THEN I HAVE MANY OTHER BRANDS OF VEHICLES TO CHOOSE FROM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502623March 13, 2013ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ALL OF A SUDDEN I FEEL THE VEHICLE SLOW DOWN AND THE MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYS "TRACTION CONTROL OFF" "ENGINE POWER REDUCED". I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH AT THE TIME HOWEVER TO MAINTAIN THAT SPEED AFTER THIS HAPPENED I HAD TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL FURTHER. THE STABILITRAK LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A DAYS ALSO. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502651March 13, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
I OWN A 2011 CHEVY IMPALA AND FOR THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS ON 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY MY ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED AND "SERVICE STABILITRAK" LIGHT APPEARS. AS I HAVE RESEARCHED AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND VERY UNSAFE PROBLEM AMONG GM VEHICLES. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT THERE IS NO CLEAR SOLUTION TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING WITH MANY MECHANICS STUMPED AND REPLACING PARTS IN WHICH THE PROBLEM RECURS ONLY A SHORT TIME LATER. I HAVE ALSO FOUND REPLACING WHAT THE DIAGNOSIS OF CODE P2135 SAYS THE PROBLEM STILL MAY NOT BE SOLVED. AS ONE CAN IMAGINE THAT DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WITH A SEMI,HEAVY TRAFFIC,ETC. AND LOSING ENGINE POWER MAY LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE RESULTS. I HAVE NOT INSTALLED ANY PARTS OTHER THAN TIRES AFTER PURCHASING OF VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502466March 12, 2013SUSPENSION
REAR TIRES HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE TO THE POINT THAT THE THREAD AND WIRES WERE SHOWING. REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. IN JULY 2012 HAD TIRES AND SHOCKS REPLACED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. BIG KNOTS WERE ALSO ON THE TIRES AND CAR SHOOK WHEN GOING AT A LOW SPEED. WAS TOLD THAT REAR SUSPENSION WAS MISALIGNED AND THAT REAR SHOCKS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. MARCH 2013 TIRES FOUR TIRES REPLACED AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT AGAIN. WAS TOLD THAT CAMBER BOLTS WERE NEEDED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. CONTACTED GM IN JULY 2012 ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REP STATES THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE ONLY THE POLICE MODELS. THIS IS UNFAIR FOR CONSUMERS TO HAVE TO KEEP BUYING TIRES. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 88560 MILES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502487March 12, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2008 CHEVY IMPALA. RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. RIGHT FRONT FOLLOWED SUIT SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. NOW, SOME 5 MONTHS LATER, THE DRIVER DOOR IS BEHAVING THE SAME WAY. IT MAKES TRANSPORTING MY CHILDREN DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE. IF THERE WERE TO BE AN ACCIDENT, THE CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT ARE NOT LIKELY TO HAVE THE MENTAL CAPACITY TO REMEMBER TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WHICH COULD LEAD TO FURTHER INJURY OR DEATH. WIRING HARNESS IN THE CENTER CONSOLE IS POORLY DESIGNED AND LOCATED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE WIRING BREAKS AND MAKING IT SO ELECTRICAL SAFETY DEVICES DO NOT DISENGAGE THUS NOT LETTING THE KEY BE REMOVED, THE VEHICLE NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK, AND OTHER FAILURES YET TO BE IDENTIFIED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502537March 12, 2013POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GEAR SHIFT STUCK IN PARK POSITION. WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER POSITION. CHEVROLET MECHANIC FOUND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND MADE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THE REPAIR ORDER. FOUND THAT SHIFT LOCK CONTROL SOLENOID INOP. FOUND THAT GREEN WIRE MELTED ABOUT 12 INCHES FROM SHIFTER AND ALSO CONNECTOR FOR SHIFT LOCK CONTROL HAD HIGH RESISTANCE.. REPAIR COMMENTED: REPLACED CONNECTOR AND REPAIRED WIRE WORKING AS DESIGNED AT THIS TIME. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT UNCOMMON. ALSO FOUND NUMEROUS INTERNET FORUM COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.. VERY SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. GM SEEMS TO BE AWARE SINCE ABOVE REPAIR IMPLIES A REWORKING DESIGN OF WIRE WORKING.: EVIDENCE OF BURNED WIRE INSIDE A VEHICLE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502555March 12, 2013POWER TRAIN
OCCASIONALLY, WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE ENGINE WILL REV UP AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WILL KICK IN TO GEAR. OCCASIONALLY IT SLIPS ON HILLS ALSO. WE GENERALLY DO NOT HAVE TO MERGE INTO HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC BUT IF THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AT THAT TIME THERE COULD BE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER FIVE VISITS, AND APPARENTLY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THEY THEMSELVES EXPERIENCE THE TRANSMISSION SLIP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502312March 11, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER AND TACH QUIT WORKING. WOULD NOT RESET TO 0. ALL OTHER GAUGES CONTINUED TO WORK. SAW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PRODUCT FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS BUT NOT ON THE 2004. DEALER SAID IT IS NOT TYPICAL BUT A SIMPLE SEARCH ON LINE SHOWED A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. GM GOT REIMBURSED BY THEIR PROVIDER FOR MALFUNCTIONING GAUGE MOTORS BUT THIS WAS NOT PASSED ONTO THE CAR OWNERS? HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502353March 11, 2013ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BOUGHT THIS 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA ON JAN. 2 2012 AND ROCKER ARMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES SINCE THEN, JUST TODAY MARCH 11,2013 ( MILES ARE 67483) BACK IN FOR SAME THING, CAR WAS JUST IN ON FEB. 13,2013 FOR ROCKER ARMS ( MILES WERE 100396) AND THE DEALER PUT A NEW ENGINE IN AND IN LESS THEN A MONTH BACK IN SAME THING. HEAD LIGHTS DON'T WORK RIGHT.THIS CAR IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND OFF THE ROAD BEFORE SOMEONE KILLS THEM SELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. WHEN THE ROCKER ARMS WENT DIDN'T HAVE POWER AND ALMOST CRASHED ONTO A WAS WHEN TURNING A BEND.VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502369March 11, 2013ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A START THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV, THEN IT SLAMS INTO GEAR EVENTUALLY. HAVE ALSO NOTICED A DECREASE IN POWER SOMEWHAT. HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALER FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES AND OF COURSE THEY SAY THEY CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. KINDA CRAPPY SINCE THE WARRANTY JUST WENT OUT ON THE DRIVE TRAIN ABOUT A MONTH AGO. PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. I HAVE READ ON FORUMS OF THIS ISSUE ON NUMEROUS VEHICLES THAT USE THE 4T65-HD TRANSMISSION AND THAT GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A FLAW IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502421March 11, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY LEADING INTO AN OVERPASS. AS L ENTERED ONTO THE OVERPASS MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED, AND SERVICE THROTTLE BODY DISABLED FLASH ACROSS MY DASH BOARD, KILLING THE POWER TO MY VEHICLE AND LOCKING MY STEERING WHEEL. WHILE I WAS STOPPED UNABLE TO MOVE MY VEHICLE, CARS FLEW ME AND I WAS ALMOST HIT. AT ONE POINT ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC TRYING TO DODGE ME. THIS WAS THE WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. I HAVE NEVER FEARED FOR MY LIFE LIKE I DID AT THIS TIME. AFTER DOING MY RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN IN MY SITUATION. I WAS TOLD THAT MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR HAS GONE BAD. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND NEEDS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502190March 9, 2013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING ABOUT 25MPH ON FEEDER, ENGINE REDUCED SPEED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THEN PANEL SHOWED TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE REDUCED SPEED. I WAS THANKFUL I WAS GOING HOME. TERRIFIED EXPERIENCE. CHECKED ONLINE. OTHER PEOPLE BAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE AND ALMOST COSTING LIVES BECAUSE OF CLAIMS THE ENGINE STOPS ALSO WITHOUT WARNING. EVERYONE SAID FROM ACCELERATION PEDAL. WHY WAS THIS NOT RECALLED AND I'M HAVING TO TAKE THE CAR TO A SHOP. I CALLED A DEALER BUT DIDN'T OFFER MUCH ASSISTANCE. THIS IS DANGEROUS! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502193March 9, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY BATTERY WAS DEAD, SO I PUT A BATTERY CHARGER ON THE BATTERY, THEN WENT TO START THE CAR. I TURNED THE KEY FOR ABOUT THREE REVOLUTIONS AND THEN THE CAR EXPLODED! I WASN'T SURE WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE I WAS SITTING INSIDE THE CAR AND THERE WAS SNOW ON THE WINDSHIELD. I GOT OUT AND THERE WAS PLASTIC PARTS ALL AROUND THE CAR, AND THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE MOTOR! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502201March 9, 2013ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND OUT OF THE BLUE THE STABILITY CONTROL AND REDUCE ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON THE MESSAGE DISPLAY. THERE WERE NO WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES TOTAL. ONE TIME IT HAPPENED AS SHE WAS WARMING UP THE CAR. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED SHAKING AND SHE FELT AS IF IT WAS ABOUT TO TAKE OFF INTO SPACE. SHE TURNED IT OFF THREE TIMES - EVEN TRIED TO DRIVE IT AND MOVE TO ANOTHER PARKING PLACE AND TURNED IF OFF AGAIN BEFORE IT FINALLY STOPPED SHAKING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502056March 8, 2013ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
THE FIRST INSTANCE I WAS DRIVING AND THE "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" FLASHED ON THE DISPLAY. I HAD ALL BRAKE PADS REPLACED AT DEALER ON 1/3/2013. 2/7/2013 I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWS TO ABOUT 10 MPH AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE THE DASH THEN DISPLAYED "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ON 2/14/2013, I HAD THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR REPLACED AND AT THE SAME TIME HAD THE REAR DEFROST WIRING REPAIRED BECAUSE THAT HAD NOT BEEN WORKING FOR OVER A YEAR. ON 3/4/2013 THE CAR WOULD NOT START BY THE FACTORY REMOTE START, SO WENT OUT AND STARTED THE CAR WITH THE KEY, WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL THE CHIME WOULD SOUND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH FLASHED BUT NO START. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES THEN TRIED AGAIN, THE CAR STARTED BRIEFLY (50 SECONDS) "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" APPEARED ON THE DASH THEN IT SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD SAW THE BATTERY ATTACHMENT WAS LOOSE, TIGHTENED THAT UP AND THEN THE CAR STARTED UP. HOWEVER, THE CAR RADIO (FACTORY RADIO NEVER REPLACED), THE CHIME, OR THE TICKING OF THE TURNING SIGNALS NO LONGER WORK. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER ON 3/14/13, BUT THE CAR SEEMS TO BE FAILING ALL AROUND. IN READING CHEVY/GM FORUMS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CHEVY OWNERS EXPERIENCING THESE SAME ISSUES, CHEVY/GM NEEDS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP AND INVESTIGATE THESE VEHICLES TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. NEARLY 3000 DOLLARS LATER IN DEALER REPAIRS IS NOT GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ISSUE. I WAS NEARLY IN A CRASH DUE TO THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER ISSUE AND THAT WAS SCARY ENOUGH TO MAKE ME NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR OR AN AT ALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502066March 8, 2013ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE EXPLODED LEAVING THE TOP OF THE ENGINE IN HIS FRONT YARD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. ...UPDATED 04/25/13 *BF UPDATED 06/05/2013 *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502130March 8, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE COMPUTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10501983March 7, 2013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE REDUCED POWER WARNING COME ON AND CAR STATES ENGINE DISABLED... WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULD AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP... CHEVY SAYS ITS THE THROTTLE BODY AND PEDAL I HAD THIS REPLACED ONCE BEFORE... LOOKING IT UP ON THE WEB I FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE REPAIRED WITH IT ONLY TO COME BACK... I BELIEVE THIS IS A SOFTWARE DEFECT AND WILL KILL SOME ONE... PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS SITE EDMUNDS.COM AND OTHER LINKS ON THE INTERNET... GM IS TURNING A BLIND EYE.. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502004March 7, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LAST JULY THE DASH LIGHTS AND INTERIOR PANEL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THEY COULD BE MADE TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY BY WIGGLING THE HEADLAMP SWITCH AND / OR BANGING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. LAST NIGHT MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 PM ON A 4 LANE SECONDARY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN MODERATE TRAFFIC AND ALL OF THE HEADLAMPS WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING, LEAVING HIM UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD. HE RAN OVER A CURB, BUT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT TO A STOP IN A NEARBY PARKING LOT. HE AND HIS PASSENGERS (2) WERE VERY SHAKEN EMOTIONALLY. THE CAR WAS LEFT THERE OVERNIGHT. WHEN IT WAS PICKED UP DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS TODAY, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING AGAIN. AFTER DRIVING IT HOME AND TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF MANUALLY, THEY QUIT AGAIN. THEY COULD BE MADE TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY BY WIGGLING THE DIMMER SWITCH / TURN SIGNAL LEVER ON THE STEERING COLUMN. I CALLED THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP NEARBY AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE PART WAS OVER $500. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM IF THIS IS COMMON TO THESE VEHICLES, AS MY SON AND HIS PASSENGERS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY IF NOT FATALLY INJURED HAD THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEEN DIFFERENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10501835March 6, 2013SEAT BELTS
DURING NORMAL USE THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT ENTER INTO THE LATCH SO THE SEAT BELT CANNOT BE FASTENED. THIS IS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATES THIS IS NOT A NO CHARGE REPAIR OF THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ITEM (DEALER ESTIMATED $180 TO $200 TO REPLACE). IS THIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH NHTSA RULES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR SEAT BELTS? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0