Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2001)

742 consumer complaints on file.

#10265218April 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) CAUSED MY 01 IMPALA TO DO SOME CRAZY THINGS. IT STARTED WITH TURN SIGNALS INTERMITTENTLY WORKING. MY WIFE AND I WERE IN SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OTHER DRIVERS COULD NOT TELL WHAT WE WERE DOING. THEN IT PROGRESSED TO EACH TIME THAT I APPLIED THE BREAKS THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLASH FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. IT DISTRACTED THE DRIVERS IN FRONT OF ME WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. ON MANY OCCASIONS IT CAUSED THE ENTIRE DASH INSTRUMENTATION TO FAIL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SPEEDOMETER. THE MESSAGE CENTER WOULD GIVE ME FALSE INDICATIONS OF REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AND LOW TIRE PRESSURE. TWICE IT LOCKED THE CAR OUT ON "SECURITY" THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO INTERMITTENTLY START. AFTER ABOUT 10MINUTES THE VEHICLE TYPICALLY STARTED BACKUP AGAIN. ONCE, THE VEHICLE LEFT THE HEADLIGHTS ON AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO KEEP IT FROMDRAINING THE BATTERY. AGAIN, AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES IT WOULD ALLOW SOMETHING TO RESET AND ALL WOULD BE FINE. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE MAKE AND MODEL I TOOK IT TOA GM DEALER LEADING THEM TOWARDS THE BCM. I DIDN'T WANT TO PAY AN EXUBERANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FORTHEM TO CHASE AN "ELECTRICAL GHOST". AFTER $500 THEY REPLACED THE BCM AND THE VEHICLE RAN PERFECT FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 MONTHS AND NOW THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INTERMITTENT ONCE AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264902April 10, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD TAKE TEN MINUTES OR THE NEXT DAY TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE INSTALLING NEW PARTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 05/05/09 *BF THE DIMMER SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/07/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264859April 9, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE WAS FAULTY AND A MAJOR SAFETY RISK. THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK, THE DOME LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, THE TRUNK OPENS AUTOMATICALLY, THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATES, THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH OFF AND ON, AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS DO NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 205,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264158April 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA AND WHEN YOU GO TO START THE CAR IT WON'T START. IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME, BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS IT TAKES NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS WITH THE KEY TO GET IT STARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262884March 24, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
FIRST OCCURRENCE 01-08 IS EXACTLY DEPICTED IN NHTSA #04V090000. REPAIR COST $1,600. SECOND OCCURRENCE 01-09 IS REPEAT OF PRIOR, THIS TIME EXPLOSION CAUSED ENGINE FIRE. CAR AT DEALERSHIP, REPAIRS APPROX. $2,000. GM SAYS VIN IS NOT IN RECALL SERIES. HAVE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME COMPLAINT ON INTERNET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261875March 15, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM, ABS LIGHT CONTINUE TO COME ON. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO GET SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IT HAD ONE OF THE BEARINGS REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE OTHER BEARING, AND HUB SENSORS AT MY EXPENSE. THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATES FOR NO REASON AND CREATES A VIBRATION AND INABILITY TO BRAKE ON TIME. THE CAR ALSO HAS A SECURITY LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CAR SOMETIMES DOESN'T START FOR NO APPARENT REASON. USUALLY IF WE WAIT ABOUT 30 MIN. IT WILL TURN BACK ON, BUT I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHEN NOTHING WOULD TURN IT ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND WAS FIRST TOLD IT WAS THE EGR VALVE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT NOW AM BEING TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I'VE TAKEN IT TO A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 5 TIMES A YEAR SINCE 2006 AND THESE PROBLEMS ARE NEVER CORRECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259691February 23, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ON MOST OCCASIONS, HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FIFTEEN MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO CRANK. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES OR ERROR CODES WITH THE VEHICLE. DURING THE FAILURE, THE ENGINE FAILS TO START, BUT ALL THE OTHER COMPONENTS WORK NORMALLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258078February 9, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DROVE CAR TO WORK, PARKED 3 MIN LATER CUSTOMER COMES TO MY JOB SCREAMING TO CALL 911 BECAUSE A CAR IS ON FIRE, I CAME OUT AND WAS MINE. AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUR, THEY SUSPECTED THAT A FUEL LINE WAS LICKING, I WENT TO A WEBSITE TO FIND 2 RECALLS ON MY CAR THAT I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF, THIS ONE WAS BACK IN 2001, AND I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A CHEVY DEALER ON 2002, AND WAS SERVICE BY THEM SEVERAL TIMES. NOW CHEVROLET ONLY WANTS TO PAY $2,000.00, BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, I CONTACTED THE GENERAL STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE STATE AND HIS OFFICE SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT TRUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257228February 2, 2009
VISIBILITY
AFTER A ICE STORM IN 2008 I ATTEMPTED TO USE MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THEY PROCEEDED TO GET STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. THIS PAST WEEK AFTER ANOTHER ICE STORM MY WIPERS WERE STUCK IN THE UP POSITION ONCE AGAIN. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT CLEARED ALL OF THE ICE OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD THIS TIME. AFTER MY DAD FIXED IT ONCE AGAIN, EVERY TIME I TURN THEM ON IN THE INTERMITTENT POSITION WHEN I TURN THEM OFF THEY STOP IN THE UP POSITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256964January 30, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVEN MINUTES, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V136000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE REPRESENTATIVE ADDED THAT BECAUSE THE CONTACT DID NOT PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, SHE WOULD ONLY BE REIMBURSED $2,000 FOR ACCRUED VEHICLE DAMAGE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT YET RECEIVED ANY ASSISTANCE. SHE HAS ACCESS TO OBTAINING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256975January 30, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA. BASICALLY SINCE THE MOMENT I BOUGHT IT, IT WOULD RANDOMLY FLASH THE "SECURITY" LIGHT THEN NOT START. I GOT SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS ABOUT WHY (SECURITY FOB, NEUTRAL SWITCH, BATTERY) AND TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS. BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID, WELL, DON'T WORRY, IT'S JUST AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. I GUESS THAT'S EASY TO SAY WHEN YOU'RE NOT STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH A NON-STARTING CAR... NOW I FIND OUT THAT CHEVY INSTALLED A PASSLOCK SYSTEM WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP YOUR CAR FROM BEING STOLEN, BUT THAT SINCE IT WAS INSTALLED IN THEIR NEW CARS, IT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM. THEY REFUSE TO RECALL THE CARS AND FIX THE SECURITY SYSTEM PROBLEMS, INSTEAD FORCING THEIR CUSTOMERS TO WASTE TIME AND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255125January 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2001 NO-START SITUATION SIMILAR TO HUNDREDS OF OTHERS THAT ARE POSTED ON THE INTERNET FOR THE 2000-2003 CHEVY IMPALAS & MALIBUS (THERE MAY BE OTHER MODEL YEARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS). THE CAR WILL NOT CRANK WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO THE START POSITION. NO NOISE WHEN THIS HAPPENS BUT SOMETIMES SECURITY LIGHT WILL COME ON. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT WE'VE SPENT OVER $1000 TRYING TO RESOLVE. IT OCCURS WITH NO RHYME OR REASON AND HAS PUT OUR DAUGHTER IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. CAR ALWAYS STARTS EVENTUALLY AND IT SEEMS THAT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WAITING A RANGE OF 10 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS. ALWAYS A PAIN IN THE BUTT BUT SOMETIMES A SAFETY ISSUE WITH BAD WEATHER AND OTHER FACTORS. LOCAL GM DEALER NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT OUR PROBLEM AND GM CORPORATION DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE EITHER. MAYBE NHTSA CAN GET GMS ATTENTION TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUSLY AFFECTS MANY PEOPLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254885January 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. ONE DAY WE WERE DRIVING IN TOWN AT 45 MPH AND THE TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED A HIGH PITCHED SOUND AND TWO SECONDS LATER IT DROPPED TO 25 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST FOR THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR DUE TO A LARGE GAP BETWEEN THE CLUTCH AND THE GEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254061January 6, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CHEVY IMPALA LS 2001 DON"T START SOMETIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253583January 2, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STEERING, STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE WHEELS FAILED. THE BRAKES ARE CURRENTLY FAILING. THE CONTACT HEARS GRINDING METAL WHEN BRAKING, DRIVING OVER BUMPS, AND WHEN REVERSING. THE DEALER HAS YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE NOISE HAS INTENSIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252520December 22, 2008
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. IN OCTOBER OF 2006, WHILE STOPPED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE OTHER PASSENGER. SHE INJURED HER HEAD AND HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED. SHE SUSTAINED MEMORY LOSS AND HAD TO UNDERGO THERAPY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ON DECEMBER 8, 2008 ON ICY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SLID INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDERS OF BOTH VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED. THE SEAT BELT FAILURE CAUSED HEAD INJURIES ONCE AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DEPENDED UPON THE TYPE OF CRASH AND HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS MAY OR MAY NOT LOCK UP IN A CRASH TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY SHOP THAT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD HAVE LOCKED IN BOTH CRASHES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10250204November 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR STALLING AT STOPLIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS, AND DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. NUMEROUS MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND NO CONCLUSION HAS BEEN MADE. FINALLY IT STALLED AND NOW ITS STRANDED. IT WILL NOT START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249506November 21, 2008
STEERING, SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS AND HEARD A NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES. SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE NOISE PERSISTED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FIVE MONTHS LATER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING AND WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249012November 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA AUTOMOBILE. "SECURITY LOCK" LIGHT CAME ON DURING NORMAL DRIVE 2 DAYS BEFORE CAR FAILURE. ON THE MORNING OF FAILURE, CAR DOORS WERE UNRESPONSIVE TO REMOTE KEY. A CONTINUOUS LOW DRONING NOISE EMITS FROM INSIDE OF DASHBOARD. WHEN KEY WAS INSERTED INTO IGNITION CYLINDER AND TURNED, NOTHING HAPPENS. ENGINE DID NOT START, ELECTRONIC SYSTEM CHECKS DID NOT COME ALIVE. NOT EVEN A SPUTTERING SOUND FROM THE CAR HOOD. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM, PROFILE FITS THE RECURRENT PROBLEM OF PASSLOCK SENSOR OF GENERAL MOTOR CARS. CAR TECHNICIANS QUOTED ME $400 - $600 FOR REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH AND CYLINDER; $600 ON AVERAGE FOR CHANGE OF BODY CONTROL MODULE. HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/VBULLETIN/T147983.HTML HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-IMPALA/T30R7CEJ84KTJEL1M/P4 TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS RECURRING PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON VARIOUS SOURCES FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS. TO THIS DAY, IT REMAINS UN-RESOLVED. I IMPLORE THE AUTHORITIES TO TAKE CHARGE AND INVESTIGATE THOROUGHLY THE EXTENT OF THIS "NON-START" PROBLEM THAT AFFLICTS THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CHEVROLET CARS ON THE ROAD. SINCERELY YOURS, DEXTER (KENG HAO) CHUN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248857November 14, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS AN ONGOING REPEATED PROBLEM. MY 2001 IMPALA RANDOMLY WON'T START ABOUT 3 TIMES A WEEK. I WILL TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WAIT 10 MINUTES AND THE SECURITY (PASSLOCK) SYSTEM WILL RESET AND THE CAR WILL CRANK, BUT NO TIME IN BETWEEN...THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS NOW AND I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE BOTH THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH AND THAT I HAVE READ ONLINE.. THIS DOES NOT JUST OCCUR IN CHEVROLETS. ONE PERSON SAID THAT IT OCCURRED IN A PONTIAC. I WOULD ASSUME THIS IS A GM PROBLEM...AND WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED? THIS IS AN EXTREME INCONVENIENCE FROM CHEVROLET AND I HAVE READ INSTANCES WHERE THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED BY REPLACING THE IGNITION, BCM, ETC. AND THIS PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. WHY ARE THERE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NO KNOWN SOLUTION. RECALL? DEFECT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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