Chevrolet Impala Complaints

10,446 consumer complaints on file.

#861606May 8, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHILE DRIVING COULD SEE THE BATTERY LIGHT COME ON, THEN ENGINE WILL STALL. CONSUMER WILL TURN IGNITION OFF FOR 10-15 MINUTES, THEN RESTART AGAIN. ON LAST VISIT TO DEALER, THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE DUE TO IMPROPERLY CONNECTED WIRES. REPAIRS WERE MADE, NO PROBLEMS SINCE. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722322May 5, 2000
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE CAR MAKES A POPPING (IN THE STRUCTURE) SOUND UPON STOPPING, STARTING AND TURNING CORNERS VERY LOAD, ANNOYING, AND FREQUENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#861103April 28, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
ABLE TO HEAR FUEL SLOSHING IN THE FUEL TANK WHEN COMING TO A STOP. DEALER NOTIFED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#861012April 26, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
PE 00005; WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY, AND WOULD NOT START FOR 15 MINUTES, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL EXCESSIVELY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721405April 13, 2000
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATER CORE BLOCKED-NO DEFROST CAPABILITY-VISION OBSTRUCTED-DANGEROUS SITUATION-THE IMPALA CLUB HAS HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THIS DEFECT WHICH APPEARS DUE TO THE DEX-COOL ANTI FREEZE INSTALLED BY GMC AT THE FACTORY.ACCORDING TO INPUT FROM THE MEMBERSHIP REPLACEMENT OF THE CORE, FLUSHING THE SYSTEM, REPLACEMENT OF THE RADIATOR AND REFILLING WITH TRADITIONAL ANTI FREEZE CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. FAILURE IN THE SYSTEMS WITH THE DEX-COOL OCCURS IN AS LITTLE AS 11,000 MILES BUT MANY FAILURES SEEM TO OCCUR AT 40,000 TO 50,000 MILES. THE DEX-COOL IS STATED TO LAST FOR 100,000 MILES. GM IS PRESENTLY REFUSING TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721109April 6, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
LF DISC BRAKE CALIPER HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH NOT RELEASING OR "FLOATING" PROPERLY. THIS HAS CAUSED ACCELERATED WEAR TO THE OUT BRAKE PAD. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT. I HAD TO CORRECT MYSELF. I AM AN ASE MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN. DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL" WHICH IT IS NOT. IF I WAS NOT A TRAININED, CERTIFIED AND LICENSED BRAKE TECHNICIAN THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DETECTED AND/OR CORRECTED. THIS COULD HAVE LEAD TO REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721113April 6, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
GMC IN RECENT YEARS HAS REPLACED MOST OF THE FUEL LINES ON ITS VEHICLES WITH A FLEXABLE NYLON FUEL LINE. THIS WAS DONE TO SAVE MONEY AND MAKE INSTALLATION EASIER. THE METAL END FITTING ARE JUST ATTACTED TO THE LINES BY SHIRNK RAPPING THE NYLON LINE TO THE FITTINGS. AS PER GM'S OWN SERVICE MANUAL THESE NYLON FUEL LINES ARE VERY VULNERABLE TO DAMAGE FROM CHAFFING, SHARP OBJECTS, HEAT. THE SERVICE MANUAL STATES THAT THESE FUEL LINES MUST NOT BE EXPOSED TO TEMPERATURES ABOVE 190 DEGREES F. FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR, OR 235 DEGRESS AT ANY TIME. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENVIRONMENT OF THIS VEHICLE CAN FAR EXCEED 235 DEGREES F. I HAVE SEEN THE LINES SOFTEN FROM EXPOSURE TO HEAT AND THE SHRINK RAP AT THE METAL END FITTINGS RELAX. THESE LINES ARE USED BEFORE THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND ARE EXPOSED TO THE FULL FUEL PRESSURE THAT THE FUEL PUMP CAN GENERATE. THIS CAN BLOW THE ENDS RIGHT OFF THE NYLON LINES WHEN THEY ARE EXPOSED TO HEAT ABOVE 200 DEGREES F. THIS CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE SINCE THERE ARE SEVERAL IGNITION SOURCES (ELECTRICAL SPARK AND AUTO IGNITION FROM HEAT)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721122April 6, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
THE VEHICLE WILL FREELY ROLL BACKWARDS OR FORWARD WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM BRAKE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS IN A DRIVE GEAR. EVEN SLIGHT INCLINES WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, BUT A STEEP INCLINE CAN BECOME A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE THE CAR WILL FREELY ROLL, EXACTLY THE SAME WAY A VEHICLE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD ROLL WHEN TAKEN OUT OF GEAR. UNFORTUNATELY, DRIVERS WHO USE AUTOMATICS EXPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO HOLD THE VEHICLE, AT LEAST PARTIALLY, WHEN ON AN INCLINE. IT IS TYPICAL TO USE ONE FOOT TO MOVE FROM THE BRAKE TO THE THROTTLE, BUT ON STEEP INCLINES, THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL SO QUICKLY THAT USING TWO FEET IS OFTEN NECESSARY (ONE FOR BRAKE, ONE FOR THROTTLE) WHEN MOVING OFF A STOP. OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUES ARE: VEHICLE ROLLING INTO SOMEONE, VEHICLE ROLLING INTO AN OBJECT OR ANOTHER VEHICLE, UNNECESSARY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, AND DRIVER DISORIENTATION RESULTING FROM THE EQUIPMENT NOT WORKING AS EXPECTED, WITH POSSIBLE RESULTING ACCIDENT. DEALER SAYS THIS CONDITION IS CONSIDERED NORMAL, BUT I HAVE DRIVEN MANY VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ONE RESPOND IN THIS MANNER, AT LEAST TO THIS DEGREE. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY A DESIGN DEFECT, AND AT THE VERY LEAST, GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD INFORM BUYERS THAT THESE VEHICLES RESPOND DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHERS. ONE REASON WHY I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IS FOR ITS SAFETY TEST RESULTS, BUT THIS PROBLEM MAKES ME CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE IS ACTUALLY UNSAFE FOR MY WIFE TO DRIVE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES--SHE HAS ALREADY TOLD ME THAT SHE WILL NOT DRIVE IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE (STEEP STREETS) WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE IS NOT A HIGHLY SKILLED DRIVER, AND OPERATING THE CAR ON INCLINES WITHOUT EXERCISING EXTRA CAUTION, OR USING TWO FEET (WHICH REQUIRES ADDITIONAL SKILL) COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FOR NHTSA: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GIVE US A WINDOW LONGER THAN 70 CHARACTERS TO TYPE IN. PLEASE ALSO INCREASE THE FIELD SIZE ON THE "SUMMARY"WHENVIEWINGCOMPLAINTDATABASE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721040April 5, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
RE: YOUR ODI#550849 AND ODI#856909 - I TOO EXPERIENCE GAS SLOSHING IN FUEL TANK AND THE FEELING OF BEING TAPPED ON THE REAR BUMPER , OR PERHAPS A BOWLING BALL ROLLING AROUND IN THE TRUNK, WHEN STOPPING. -DEALER ADVISED US THAT THE "BELLOWS" ??? IN THE GAS TANK MAY HAVE SEPARATED AND ADVISED US TO RETURN VEHICLE WITH EMPTY FUEL TANK SO THAT IT COULD BE REMOVED AND EXAMINED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721044April 5, 2000
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE ALUMINUM SUBFRAME HAS TWO BRACKETS THAT NEED TO BE WELDED ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET. THE ALUMINUM SUBFRAME "FLEXES" CAUSING A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT. CHEVROLET ADVISED THE DEALER TO WELD THE TWO BRACKETS AND THAT SHOULD QUIET THE NOISE. CHEVROLET SAID THAT THERE ARE NO SAFETY BULLETINS ON THIS ISSUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720921April 3, 2000
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE FAILED. THE LINKAGE IN THE COWL PLENUM CHAMBER BROKE AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE RIGHT W/S WIPER DRIVE PIVOT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551593March 29, 2000
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATER CORE CLOGS UP FROM (DEX-COOL) ANTIFREEZE, RESULTING IN NO HEAT FOR DEFROSTERS CAUSING FOGGING OF THE WINDOWS, UNABLE TO RECTIFY. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720733March 29, 2000
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN
ON JAN.16 I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 WHEN DRIVER'S SEAT CUSHION CAME OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. I WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE GETTING IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. 2ND INCIDENT ON JAN. 18. 3RD INCIDENT ON JAN 24. RETURNED THE CAR TO BOB BEL FOR REPAIRS. 4TH INCIDENT ON FEB 2ND. CAR WAS TOWED TO JP CHEVROLET IN ABERDEEN. THE WAY THE CAR WAS REPAIRED VIOLATES ALL SAFETY STANDARDS! I HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED BECAUSE OF INJURIES SUFFERED. I AM NOW BEING TREATED FOR WHIPLASH, SEVERE VERTIGO, HEARING AND VISUAL IMPAIREMENT AND BALANCE PROBLEMS. THE CAR IS STILL NOT FIXED ACCORDING TO NATIONAL SAFETY STANDARDS. BAILING WIRE HAS BEEN USED BY JP CHEVROLET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP US IF YOU CAN!! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#720451March 22, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ENGINE/TRANS PARTIAL FAILURE, ALMOST STALLING IN INTERSECTION. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD SYSTEM MANAGMENT LIGHTING IN DASH FLASHING FOR NO REASON. REPLACMENT OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ACTUALLY WORSENED UNCOMMANDED LIGHT FLASHING. INITIAL REPAIR OF ENGINE PROBLEMS DIMINISHED SEVERITY OF STALLING, HOWEVER DID NOT COMPLETELY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE STALLING ON A CONSISTANT BASIS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720499March 22, 2000
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
HEAT/DEFROST HAS FAILED TWICE BOTH TIMES FLUSHED AND REPAIRED BY MYSELF (ASE MASTER CERT. MECH.) BOTH IN COLD WEATHER DEFROST WOULD'NT CLEAR WINDSHIELD FOR PROPER VISIBILTY GM CLAIMS THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH DEX-COOL IN THE SYSTEM AND IT'S MY PROBLEM NOT THEIRS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858925March 21, 2000
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEAT DOESN'T WORK IN THE WINTER. HEATER CORE HAS TO BE FLUSHED EVERY WINTER BECAUSE OF BUILD UP. DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS RARE, NEVER HEARD BEFORE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND DOESN'T KNOW ITS CAUSE. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720444March 21, 2000
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
MAJOR VISABILITY AND SAFETY PROBLEM CAUSED BY DEFROSTER/HEATER FAILURE ON MOST 1996 IMPALAS DUE TO CHEMICAL REACTION WITH NEW (1996) DEX-COOL ANTI-FRREEZE IN HEATER CORE CAUSING ACCELERATED LOSS OF HEAT UNTIL COMPLETE BLOCKAGE OCCURS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720355March 20, 2000
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
MY WIFE HAD COMPLAINED OF THE STEERING GOING OUT ON HER FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. I COULD NEVER GET THE STEERING FAILURE TO MANIFEST ITSELF FOR ME, SO I FIGURED IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN ANOMALIE. LAST MONTH, THE STEERING PROBLEM OCCURRED FOR ME AT VERY POOR TIMES. I WAS TURNING INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND LOST ALL CONTROL OF STEERING AND ALMOST RAN INTO MY SUBDIVISION'S SIGN. THE SECOND TIME WAS WHEN I WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT IN NASHVILLE, AND THE STEERING FROZE. I REV'D THE ENGINE UP TO SEE IF THE INCREASE IN PUMP PRESSURE WOULD HELP, BUT TO NO AVAIL. MY WIFE INSTRUCTED ME TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTART IT. THE STEERING RESPONEDED POORLY, AND I LIMPED THE CAR HOME AND IT IS PARKED THERE TODAY AWAITING A NEW PUMP FROM NAPA. I TRIED TO PULL THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE THIS WEEKEND, BUT THE STEERING COULDN'T EVEN FUNCTION ENOUGH FOR THAT TASK. THIS STEERING PROBLEM ALMOST KILLED ME, MY WIFE,AND POSSIBLY ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNFORTUNITE ENOUGH TO BE IN THE PATH OF THIS CAR. WITHOUT POWER STEERING, THIS CAR IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER, UNLESS YOU ARE VERY STRONG AND RECOGNIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING. THANK GOD FOR 4 WHEEL ABS BRAKES! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720375March 20, 2000
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE CLOGS HEATER CORE, RESULTING IN HEATER NOT WORKING. HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE PUCHASE OF CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858730March 17, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON ANY INCLINE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACK WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE TO THROTTLE. CONSUMER SPOKE TO DEALER WHO SAID THAT FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES DO THAT. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND REPRESENTATIVE CHECKED OUT THE COMPLAINT, AND STATED THAT IT SEEMED TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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