Chevrolet Impala Complaints

10,446 consumer complaints on file.

#10272346May 29, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED BY ZEROING OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WOULD PULL OVER, SHUT THE CAR DOWN, AND RESTART IT, AND IT WOULD WORK FINE. IT HAS PROGRESSED TO IT NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10270174May 28, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRONICALLY PROBLEMS WITH DOORS LOCKS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL. BOTH PROBLEMS WERE REPAIRED. NOW A YEAR LATER, EXPERIENCING BOTH PROBLEMS. LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL COME ON AND SPEEDOMETER WILL GO CRAZY WHILE DRIVING. UNABLE TO LOCK THE CAR WITH EITHER KEY OR KEY FOB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10270210May 28, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE ON 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS. MY WIFE BECAME STRANDED LATE AT NIGHT DUE TO THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT TOOK ALMOST 30 MINUTES TO EVENTUALLY GET THE CAR TO START AND IT IS NOW HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. AN INTERNET SEARCH TURNED OUT LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10270214May 28, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
5/1, 5/2--IGNITION SIMPLY CLICKED . IT TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES TO GET IT STARTED IN EACH CASE. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP--COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. NOT THE BATTERY. 5/6, 5/8--ENGINE DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IGNITION CLICKED WHEN TRIED TO RESTART. TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP AGAIN--COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. CHRONIC--SINCE I HAVE HAD THE AUTO THE "LOW COOLANT LIGHT" SHOWS. THIS LAST TIME AT REPAIR SHOP, I WAS TOLD THAT AUTO WAS LEAKING COOLANT--MOST LIKELY GASKET AND WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269958May 26, 2009
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR-ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN HER VEHICLE. SHE BELIEVES THAT THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE BACK PAIN AND A HEADACHE. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND RELEASED THREE HOURS LATER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 122,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10270004May 26, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT RANDOM TIMES, STARTING FROM A STOP, MY 2007 CHEVY IMPALA LTZ CAR WILL SLOWLY ENGAGE 1ST GEAR AND THEN SUDDENLY ENGAGE WITH A STRONG JERK. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THIS OCCURRED WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, STARTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A WET ROAD, AND PULLING UP SLIGHT INCLINED DRIVEWAY INTO GARAGE. SEVERAL OF THESE TIMES I'VE LOST CONTROL BRIEFLY FROM MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, DUE TO THE UNEXPECTED POWER OF THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGING AND JERKING. THE DEALER HAS MADE MULTIPLE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS AT REPAIRS THROUGHOUT 2008 UNTIL NOW. FROM READING ALL THE OWNER DISCUSSIONS AT EDMUNDS.COM I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269670May 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2002 IMPALA. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SPECIFICALLY, THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, THE DOOR LOCK FUSE BLOWS, CLICKING NOISES FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FUSE PANEL, AND ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE STARTER WILL NOT TURN WHEN THE KEY IS PLACED IN THE "START" POSITION. THIS ISSUE CAN EASILY BE FOUND ELSEWHERE ON THE INTERNET. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE SEPT 2003. NO ISSUES UNTIL THE LAST 7 MONTHS. THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND SOMETIMES DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES FIXES THE PROBLEM. IT IS A VERY FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE HAVING TO "REBOOT" THE BCM BY DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE BATTERY ALL OF THE TIME. MY CONCERN IS EVENTUALLY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL COMPLETELY FAIL OR WORSE CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. OTHERS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE ARE SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN PARTS REPLACEMENTS ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RETURN A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER. THIS "SECURITY" PROBLEM HAS TO SOMEHOW QUALIFY AS A RECALL WITH CHEVROLET/GM. CURRENTLY, I AM STILL ABLE TO MANIPULATE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO START. I'M REALLY NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND BE CHARGED ENORMOUS FEES FOR PARTS AND LABOR KNOWING THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL RETURN LATER ON LIKE OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. PLEASE FIND A WAY TO FORCE GM TO DO A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269760May 22, 2009
STEERING
WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO A STORE MY CAR WAS DRIVING JUST FINE BUT, AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT A CAR THAT WAS AT A STOP SIGN. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS UNTIL NOW.. IT JUST HAPPENED UNEXPECTEDLY. I CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT WAS FINE THE CAR THEN DROVE OFF JUST FINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269763May 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GERALD KING NAME/FIRM/COMPANY: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. SUBJECT/CATEGORY: AUTOMOBILES QUESTIONS/COMMENTS: THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY 2004 IMPALA WORKS SOMETIMES AND DOES NOT WORK SOMETIMES. ON AUTOBEEF'S WEB SITE ALONE THERE ARE 109 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SPEEDOMETER. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. SEE BELOW 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER GONE HAYWIRE SEVERITY RATING 8.1 PRETTY BAD TYPICAL REPAIR COST: $454.00 AVERAGE MILEAGE: 61,315 MILES NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS: 109 HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/IMPALA/2004/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SPEEDOMETER_GONE_HAYWIRE.SHTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269399May 19, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FALL OF 2008 NOTICED THAT MY SECURITY LIGHT WAS COMING ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND THEN WHEN I WOULD START MY VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT COULD BE A FEW THINGS AND THAT IF I TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START TO SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND WAIT ABOUT 20 MINS, WINTER OF 2008 NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS COMPLETELY OVER RUNNING AS HOT AS IT COULD GO. BROUGHT IT IN TO MY CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY DID A TEST ON IT AND SAID IT WAS FINE AND THAT JUST MAKE SURE IF IT STARTED TO HAVE SMOKE FROM THE HOOD TO GET IT IN. I THEN LOST MY SPEEDOMETER AND MY TURN SIGNALS AND CALLED YET AGAIN TO SEE IF THERE BY ANY CHANCE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE IT HAD BECOME OBVIOUS TO ME THAT AFTER SEARCHING ON LINE THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF DEFECT WITH THE COMPUTER BOARD SOMEWHERE. SPOKE WITH CHEVROLET AGAIN TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN ON MARCH 4, 2009 AND PAID OUT OF MY POCKET $1100.95 TO GET MY VEHICLE WHERE I COULD TRUST IT. MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 CHEVROLET AND WHEN THE PROBLEMS STARTED IT HAD LESS THAN 44,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269419May 19, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY CAR IS A 2000 CHEVY IMPALA. THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH WILL NOT CHANGE THE LIGHTS FROM LOW TO HIGH. AS WE ALL KNOW SOME ROADS ARE DARKER THAN OTHERS AND HARDER TO SEE AT NIGHT. I CANT PUT MY LIGHTS ON HIGH BEAM AND 2 NIGHTS AGO I HIT A BLOWN TIRE OFF A SEMI THE DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL BUT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. I AM A GOOD DRIVER WITH OVER A MILLION MILES ACCIDENT FREE. GM NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I HAVE READ ABOUT A LOT OF THESE CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269434May 19, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2006 IMPALA WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE HEATER OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT PRODUCE HEAT UNLESS YOU ARE REVVING ENGINE. PROBLEM IS THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM IS DESIGNED DEFECTIVELY SUCH THAT IT IS PRONE TO AIR POCKETS. IF AIR POCKET DEVELOPS, CHEVY HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN DETAILING A COMPLICATED PROCEDURE WHEREBY THE SYSTEM HAS TO BE DRAINED AND ANTIFREEZE THEN PUT BACK IN SYSTEM. IF A MECHANIC IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS SERVICE BULLETIN, HE MAY TELL YOU ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET, INCORRECT ANTIFREEZE MIXTURE, ETC. THIS PROBLEM MAY REOCCUR EVERYTIME THE CLOSED SYSTEM IS OPENED IF NOT THEN CLOSED AS PER THE SERVICE BULLETIN INSTRUCTIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269112May 18, 2009
AIR BAGS
WE PURCHASED A 2009 CHEVY IMPALA IN APRIL . MY WIFE HAS A TAIL BONE MEDICAL ISSUE THAT NECESSITATES THAT SHE SIT ON A SPECIAL PILLOW WHILE RIDING IN A VEHICLE. THE SEAT DISPLACES HER WEIGHT EVENLY ACROSS THE SEAT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE HER WEIGHT SITTING ON THE SEAT, SO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DOESN'T SHOW IT IS OPERATIVE. WE RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD US TO SET A MAGAZINE UNDERNEATH HER TO MAKE THE SENSOR WORK. IT DOES ACTIVATE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON" BUTTON SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME IT WILL NOT ACTIVATE AND MY WIFE IS NOT PROTECTED. I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY SOLUTION TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE, EXCEPT TO TELL ME THAT MY WIFE SHOULD RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT! THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO FURTHER ANSWERS FOR US. WE ARE EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED THAT MY WIFE IS RIDING IN A BRAND NEW VEHICLE UNPROTECTED BY HER AIRBAG NEARLY ALL THE TIME. CAN YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE? THANK YOU! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269119May 18, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AT LEAST THREE TIMES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND FLAMES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CHEVROLET MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO INVESTIGATE THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269033May 18, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS TO ROUTINELY REPLACE THE BATTERY. ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN THE BATTERY DROPPED BELOW 8 VOLTS, IT LOCKED THE TRANSMISSION AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,700. UPDATED 05/21/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD A GARMIN GPS PLUGGED IN MOST OF THE TIME WHICH DRAINED THE BATTERY, BUT IT SHOULDN'T RESULT IN DEAD CELLS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE BATTERY. UPDATED 05/27/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268932May 17, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2002 CHEVY IMPALA LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON AS MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF AND THERE'S NO CHANGE OR VERY LITTLE CHANGE IN LEVEL OF THE ANTI-FREEZE. AS MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE INTAKE GASKETS ARE PLASTIC AND END UP LEAKING. THE 3.4 IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN GM PRODUCTS AND I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER NOT TO BUY 1. PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL. I DON'T HAVE $1000 TO FIX THIS CAR I ALREADY PAID $4400 FOR IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268893May 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAULTY SYSTEM CAUSE ANTI-THEFT MECHANISM TO ACTIVATE INTERMITTENTLY DURING A NORMAL START ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE'S MESSAGE INDICATOR WILL FLASH SECURITY/BATTERY/SERVICE VEHICLE SOON DESPITE HAVING A NEW BATTERY AND A WELL MAINTAINED CAR WITH A CLEAN HISTORY. THE MESSAGES ALWAYS FLASH TOGETHER IN A CYCLE, AND IS ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY THE SYMPTOMS BELOW: DURING THE ABOVE CONDITION, THE VEHICLE WILL NEITHER CRANK NOR START, OR THE VEHICLE WILL START, WITH THE ABOVE INDICATORS, AND THE RADIO WILL LOCK AS WELL AS THE DISABLING OF THE AIR CONDITIONER, HEAT AND ABILITY TO DEFOG/FROST. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION WHEREBY THE WINDOWS FOG DRAMATICALLY, COMPLETELY OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW. THE DEFECT HAS ALSO CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME IN CASES WHERE I'VE HAD TO TURN OFF THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER OF A HIGHWAY AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RESTART IT, AND IN ONE INSTANCE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY GRAZED ON MY ARM BY A PASSING CAR AFTER I EXITED MY VEHICLE. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE LINKED IT TO EITHER A FAULTY PASSLOCK SENSOR, FAULTY BCM OR BAD WIRING, ALL OF WHICH I WAS TOLD SHOULD LAST AT LEAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE, AS IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED FROM IT'S ORIGINAL ASSEMBLY AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR OTHER DAMAGING CIRCUMSTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO FOLLOWED ITS MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE TO A T. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND MORE FREQUENT (SEVERAL TIMES DAILY AS OF 9 MONTHS AGO) SINCE THE INITIAL DATE OF INCIDENCE, BUT BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS, AND UNCERTAINTY FROM REPRESENTATIVES AT SEVERAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTERS, I HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY USING OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION UNTIL I CAN COVER WHAT WILL BE AN EXORBITANT COST TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10268619May 13, 2009
AIR BAGS, SEATS
SIDE AIR BAG/HEATED SEAT,CLOSED THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN CAUSING A REALLY BIG BRUISE ON MY DAUGHTERS SIDE.CONTACTED THE G.M. DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND TO NOT CONTACT ANYONE ELSE. NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM THEM.THEN ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT STARTED BURNING AND IT RUINED THE CENTER CONSOLE ,SEAT,AND CARPET. NO SENSE IN CONTACTING G.M. AGAIN BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE ANYTHING GETS DONE TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS THAT EVERYONE IS HAVING AND THAT G.M. WILL NOT SOLVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10268651May 13, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE ON BOTH BACK DOORS HAVE BROKEN OFF, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF LIKE IMPALAS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM!*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268660May 13, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEAD LIGHTS WILL GO OUT WHEN USING THE DIMMER LEAVER. I HAVE REPLACE THE DIMMER SWITCH TWO TIMES ON MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA. COST $450.00 EACH TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Impala