Chevrolet Impala Complaints

10,446 consumer complaints on file.

#10422958September 1, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY WELL-MAINTAINED 2002 CHEVY IMPALA, 3.4L V6, BASE MODEL SHUT OFF A COUPLE DAYS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ACCELERATING, AS THE TRAFFIC WAS FINALLY PICKING UP. THAT'S WHEN I FELT THE CAR JERK AND SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. IT WAS HORRIFYING - THE BRAKE PEDAL & STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, SO I FORCIBLY TURNED THE WHEEL WITH ALL MY STRENGTH, COASTED TO THE SHOULDER, WITH TWO NEAR-COLLISIONS, PRESSED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, THEN SHIFTED TO PARK. THE RED BATTERY SYMBOL WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AS IF THE KEY WAS SET TO "ON", BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE DASH LIGHTS WERE OFF, BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S BECAUSE THE CAR SHUT OFF (WHICH IS WHAT WOULD NORMALLY HAPPEN AFTER SHUTTING OFF A CAR WITH AUTO-OFF LIGHTS). SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START ONLY RESULTED IN SOUNDS OF A CAR STRUGGLING TO TURN OVER, BUT NEVER ACTUALLY TURNING. EVENTUALLY THE CAR STUTTERED, BUT STARTED. I WAS BACK IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING, IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. SAME DRILL - COASTED OFF THE ROAD, AND SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO START BEFORE FINALLY STARTING. BACK ON THE ROAD, A FEW MINUTES LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER 2 MORE EPISODES OF THIS, INSTEAD OF STRUGGLING TO START, THE WASN'T EVEN COMING CLOSE. THE CAR RADIO AND HAZARD LIGHTS WERE STILL WORKING. WHICH LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT CONSTANT STARTING ATTEMPTS MAY HAVE EXHAUSTED THE BATTERY. AFTER A SUCCESSFUL START, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME, USING LOCAL ROADS FOR FEAR OF A HIGHWAY CRASH. 25 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING JUST FINE. IT DIDN'T SHUT OFF AGAIN UNTIL I WAS PARKED AT HOME AND IDLING FOR A FEW MINUTES. EVERYTIME IT SHUT OFF, I'D SEE *NO* CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, *NO* WARNINGS FROM THE MIL, THOUGH IT'S FULLY FUNCTIONAL. THE NEXT DAY I MOVED THE CAR FOR ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING AND IT STARTED UP JUST FINE, NO HESITATION. SEVERAL MORE STARTS SINCE MONDAY - NO HESITATION OR PROBLEM. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT LONG FOR NOW, FOR FEAR OF AN IMMINENT CRASH. THIS COULD BE FATAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422781August 31, 2011
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, HE NOTICED THAT HIS VISION THROUGH THE REAR WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE VERY LARGE SIZE OF THE REAR HEADRESTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE COULD REMOVE THE HEADRESTS AT HIS OWN DISCRETION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422553August 30, 2011
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
OUR 2001 IMPALA RANDOMLY STARTED HAVING THE ABS/TRACTION LIGHT WARNING COME ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT IS SPONTANEOUS AND WITHOUT WARNING. MY BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN I TRY TO STOP, WHEN IN A COMPLETE STOP AND I PRESS THE GAS THE BRAKES MAKE THE CAR HESITATE TO MOVE FORWARD, WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE THE CAR SPUTTERS THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND I FEEL LIKE I'M DRIVING ON ICE. I HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW WHEN OR IF MY CAR IS ACTUALLY GOING TO STOP OR EVEN MOVE FORWARD WHILE I AM ON THE ROAD. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW AND I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT SHOPS AND HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS JUST TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY THINK IS WRONG. I HAVE SPENT AROUND $1000.00 IN REPAIRS AND HAVING IT DIAGNOSED. NOTHING HAS PREVENTED THE ABS/TRACTION ERROR FROM OCCURRING IMMEDIATELY AFTER EACH FIX. THIS PROBLEM HAS GOT TO BE ANNOUNCED AND FIXED BY CHEVROLET IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE OR AN ENTIRE FAMILY GETS HURT OR EVEN KILLED. IF I WAS THE ONLY FLUKE THEN I WOULD UNDERSTAND BUT THERE ARE THOUSANDS WITHIN THE 2001-2005 RANGE THAT HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM. DON'T BE LIKE TOYOTA AND WAIT TIL NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE DIED TO FIX A SIMPLE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422688August 30, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ROUGHLY AROUND 2 1/2 TO 3 YEARS AGO, I WAS DRIVING ACROSS A LEVEE WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY WENT OUT-THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON THE NEXT DAY. THEN AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER WENT COMPLETELY OUT, THEREFORE, I HAD THE DIMMER SWITCH REPLACED. 2 MONTHS AGO MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME WHEN THEY CAME BACK ON, THEY ONLY WORKED ON BRIGHT. I CANNOT DIM MY LIGHTS AND HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER TWICE-ONCE BY A STATE TROOPER AND ANOTHER TIME BY THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10423492August 30, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE STEERING SHAKES SO VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN NEEDED TO SLOW SUDDENLY IN TRAFFIC OR LEAVING THE INTERSTATE THAT HAVE TO RELEASE THE BRAKE AND APPLY BRAKE SEVERAL TIME TO SLOW DOWN. INSTALLED NEW ROTORS AND LESS THEN 3000 MILES HAD TO HAVE THEM TURNED ALSO BALANCE ALL WHEELS, THEY WARPED AGAIN AFTER NOT EVEN 500 MILES. I'M AFRAID WHEN I NEED TO USE THE BRAKES IN A EMERGENCY SITUATION I AM NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP IN TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422449August 29, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE BEING ROTATED WHEN THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR STRUT CHAMBER WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CAUSING THE INTERIOR SIDES OF THE REAR TIRES TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE TIRES MAY BLOW OUT AND DECIDED TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. ON A 65,000 MILE TIRE REPAIR REAR STRUT HOLES CAMBER RODS ETC. UPDATED 10/07/2011 *LN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422496August 29, 2011
SEATS
THE REAR CENTER HEAD REST NEEDS TO BE REMOVED CAN'T SEE TO BACK UP THEY ALL ARE VERY LARGE BUT THE MIDDLE BLOCKS YOUR VIEW TOTALLY SOMEONE WILL GET HURT DUE TO THIS ISSUE IF ITS NOT TAKEN CARE MAYBE THEY CAN'T REMOVE THE HEADREST ITSELF BUT THEY CAN REPLACE THE WHOLE SEAT. I THOUGHT SEATS IN THE BACK WERE SUPPOSE TO FOLD DOWN ALLOWING ACCESS TO THE TRUNK THIS AUTO DOESN'T DO THAT THERE AREN'T EVEN CUPHOLDERS IN THE BACK SEAT THIS WAS DEFINITELY NOT A GOOD DESIGN FOR GM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421682August 27, 2011
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
I AM THE OWNER OF 3 QUICK LUBE CENTERS AND SERVICE THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES PER MONTH. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VALVE STEMS ON THE NEWER TIRES WITH THE TPMS. THE METAL USED IS SUBSTANDARD, THEY BREAK VERY EASILY. I HAVE SEEN THEM BREAK BY TAKING OFF THE METAL CAP COVERING THE VALVE STEM. I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR CLOSE TO ONE HUNDRED OF THESE BECAUSE OF THE SUBSTANDARD METAL BEING USED. THIS IS A SAFTY ISSUE, I HOPE YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS. YOU ASKED TO IDENTIFY A SPCIFIC MAKE AND MODEL AND I CHOSE A 2010 CHEVY IMPALA, BUT MANY MANUFACTURES USE THESE VALVE STEMS *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421684August 27, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
04 CHEVROLET IMPALA. PASSLOCK SECURITY STOPS CAR FROM STARTING. 1. NOTHING LED UP TO FAILURE. CAR JUST TEMPORARILY WOULDN'T START. THES STARTS NORMALLY FOR A FEW DAYS. THEN BACK TO NO STARTING. 2.CAR TEMPORARILY DOESN'T START. HAPPENS 2-3 TIMES A WEEK. TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 15-30 MINUTES TO GET THE PASSLOCK TO RESET. HAS CAUSED ME TO BE LATE TO WORK AND OTHER APPOINTMENTS. 3. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP $600 TO REPAIR PASSLOCK SECURITY DEVICE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421557August 26, 2011
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED WITH THE ILLUMINATED OF THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT. THE FAILURE CAUSED AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421630August 26, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY TO THE CHEST AND BACK. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF THE OPPOSING VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HANDS AND CHEST. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO ASSIST AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 9/19/11 *CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10421652August 26, 2011
SUSPENSION
MY 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA REQUIRED ALIGNMENT OF ALL 4 WHEELS AFTER 35000 MILES OF USE WHICH IS NOT UNUSUAL. HOWEVER, THE REAR WHEELS REQUIRED A SPECIAL PROCESS WHEREIN BOLTS HAD TO BE PUNCHED OUT AND SHIMMING WAS REQUIRED TO ALLOW PROPER ALIGNMENT. THIS EFFORT DOUBLED MY COST FROM $89.00 TO $178.00. THE PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE GENERAL MOTORS PROBLEMS AND COMPLAINTS DEPARTMENT HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT WHICH WAS SUBMITTED JULY 11TH, 2011. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421285August 24, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SECURITY SYSTEM FAILURE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. LUCKILY I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN IT REFUSED TO START. HAD TO REPLACE BODY CONTROL MODULE, LOCK CYLINDER WITH PASSLOCK SENSOR BEFORE CAR WOULD START. THIS MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE PLACES YOUR CAR COULD LEAVE YOU STRANDED, IT'S SCARY. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS PROBLEM ON SEVERAL WEB SITES.THIS IS A FAULT OF GENERAL MOTORS, THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. THEY NEED TO COME UP WITH A PERMANENT FIX FOR THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM AND HAVE A RECALL AND FIX IT ONCE AND FOR ALL. AVERAGE COST FOR THIS REPAIR IS ABOUT $1,000.00 DOLLARS. THE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE PAID IT DESERVES THEIR MONEY BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421390August 24, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY IMPALA AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIME AND HAVE EVEN HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED BUT AM STILL HAVING THE CAR JERK OFF AT A STOP LIGHT. THE DEALER CAN NEVER FIND A PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. I AM PART OF AN CHEVROLET FAMILY AND WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 8 IMPALA AND WE ALL SEEM TO BE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO THE POWER STEERING BELTS AND PULLEY ALWAYS MAKE A HISSING SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED AND HAVE HAD THIS LOOKED AT AND HAVE HAD THE HOSE REPLACE SEVERAL TIMES ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM TO REAPPEAR. IS THERE A RECALL ON THESE ISSUES. HAVING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE THINGS NOW AS MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421401August 24, 2011
SEATS, VISIBILITY, EQUIPMENT
PURCHASED 2011 IMPALA LT/4 DOOR SEDAN 3 WEEKS AGO. REAR CENTER HEADREST COMPLETELY BLOCKS THE VIEW OF VEHICLE TRAVELING BEHIND, WHICH PREVENTS YOU FROM SEEING THE CAR IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS ALSO POSES A HAZARD WHEN BACKING UP, DUE TO 90% SIGHT BLOCKAGE. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED BY GM TO REMOVE THE CENTER REAR HEADREST FROM THIS VEHICLE. THE 2012 MODEL OF THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A CENTER HEADREST. IT ONLY HAS HEADRESTS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT, WHICH PROVES THIS IS AN ISSUE THEY HAVE CORRECTED FOR THE NEWER MODEL. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN THE 2011. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF VISIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421174August 23, 2011
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
ELECTRONIC - FIRST PROBLEM WAS AIRBAG LIGHT STAYING ON - AFTER AT LEAST 4 TRIPS TO DEALER - PROBLEM FIXED - NOW RADIO IS LOCKED AND SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO DOOR LOCKS AND SECURITY SYSTEM - APPARENTLY THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL AND NEEDS RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421178August 23, 2011
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON THRUWAY MY 2011 CHEVY IMPALA LOST POWER STEERING WENT DUE TO A BELT BROKE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF CAR. AFTER GETTING OFF THE THRUWAY,WE NOTICED THAT A PULLEY HAD COME APART. WHICH CAUSED THE BELT TO DISINTEGRATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421244August 23, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES AND HAS SHUT CAR DOWN AND WILL NOT START, UNTIL A SYSTEM RESET. IT HAS DONE THIS 8 TIMES IN LAST 3 MONTHS. FAMILY HAS BEEN INVOLVED EVERY TIME. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM HAS BEEN A CULPRIT FOR MANY A OWNER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422113August 23, 2011
SUSPENSION
TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON I-90, LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING CAME ON, I PULLED OVER TO CHECK MY TIRES AND NOTICED THAT JUST THE INSIDE OF MY REAR TIRES WERE WORN DOWN TO THE BELTS, HOWEVER VERY LITTLE WEAR ON THE OUT SIDE OF THE TIRE. I VISUALLY CHECKED THE TIRE PRIOR TO GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY WEAR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420491August 23, 2011
SUSPENSION
2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TIRE WEAR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL DUE TO A MANUFACTURES DEFECT CAUSING TIRE WEAR. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED COMPENSATION FOR THREE SETS OF TIRES THAT HAD TO BE PUT ON THE VEHICLE BY JANUARY 2010. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER STATED GM WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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