Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2002)

795 consumer complaints on file.

#10250842December 5, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, SUSPENSION
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA. I HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH IS CAR SINCE THE MOMENT I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. IN MY OPINION, THE WHOLE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. BUT, I AM ONLY GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON MY CURRENT ISSUE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I STARTING HEARING A ROARING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY CAR WHEN I DROVE DOWN THE ROAD. IT WAS REALLY STRANGE BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE, BUT THE NOISE WAS NOT CAUSE FROM PUSHING THE GAS, JUST THE TIRES DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE CENTER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THE HUB BEARING LOCATED NEAR MY TIRE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SO BAD THAT MY TIRE WOULD HAVE FALLEN OFF WHILE DRIVING, WHICH COULD HAVE A CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THEY FIXED IT, CHARGING ME $350. NOW, LAST MONTH (NOV 08), I STARTED HEARING THAT SAME NOISE. I ALREADY KNOW THAT IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT UNSURE IF ITS COMING FROM THE SAME SIDE OR NOT. IT IS SO BAD THAT WHEN I AM GOING AROUND A CURVE WHILE DRIVING, THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES AND RATTLES. I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET THIS FIXED AGAIN. I HAVE CHILDREN AND AM VERY CONCERNED FOR OUR SAFETY. I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND COULD BE DANGEROUS. I DO THINK THAT CHEVY SHOULD RECALL THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249680November 24, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AT 5 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS DAMAGED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. GENERAL MOTORS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WOULD NOT PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 189,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249152November 18, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD PULSATE AND THE STEERING COLUMN TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MONTHS LATER, THE ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED AGAIN. THE FAILURE HAS PERSISTED FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED SINCE AUGUST OF 2008. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO HIS VIN; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248805November 14, 2008
STEERING
HAVE A CLUNKING SOUND WITH STEERING. HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT AT TIMES THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED A LOCK UP AND COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS PROBLEM AND GM KNOWS ABOUT IT. THERE IS A TSB #01023200 ON THE CAR. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO THE CAR HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS DONE THIS SINCE IT WAS NEW. JIMMI
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248372November 10, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA I HAVE A 50 / 50 CHANCE OF GETTING THIS JUNK TO START. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS REPLACE THE BCM AND THE IGNITION, BUT JUDGING FROM THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS MODEL WHY SPEND THE MONEY IF IT IS NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SOME ONE SOME WHERE MUST KNOW HOW TO FIX IT, IT CAN'T BE THAT DIFFICULT. WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING TO GET IT STARTED IS LEAVE THE KEY ON THE ON POSITION FOR A FULL TEN MINUTES UNTIL THE SECURITY LIGHT STOPS FLASHING 3 TIMES. IF YOU TRY AND START IT TO SOON YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER TEN MINUTES, THE GREAT PART ABOUT ALL THIS IS GM WANTS THE GOVERNMENT TO BAIL THEM OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOSING MONEY, I WISH GM WOULD HELP BAIL ME OUT OF THIS PIECE OF JUNK, I'M LOSING MONEY TRYING TO KEEP THIS THING GOING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247208October 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND USING THE "HIGH BEAMS," THEY GO OUT AFTER AWHILE. NEARLY CRASHED UNTIL I COULD SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO SAFELY STOP! BY MOVING HIGH/LOW BEAM LEVER, I WAS ABLE TO GET HEADLIGHTS TO COME BACK ON IN THE LOW BEAM POSITION. IN CHECKING NHTSA WEB SITE, FOUND THIS IS A PROBLEM GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF BUT EXPECTS OWNERS TO PAY FOR REPAIR OF POORLY DESIGNED PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247262October 30, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TRACTION CONTROL PANEL WOULD LIGHT UP WHEN THERE WASN'T ANY SNOW. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE WARNING WOULD BE TO "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL", WOULD SHUT DOWN THE ABS. CAR WAS SERVICED, BAD WHEEL BEARING. COST $427.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244658October 7, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
MY WINDOW REGULATOR KEEPS SNAPPING. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE THAT I PURCHASE IN ONE YEAR AT THE COST OF $300.00 EACH TIME TO REPAIR. THE REPAIRMAN SAID THAT HE BELIEVE THAT THE WINDOW IS TO HEAVY FOR IT. EACH TIME I GET IT REPAIRED, THEY SAID THAT THEY GET A LOT OF THEM TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243935September 29, 2008
STRUCTURE
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA AND IT IS A MAINTENANCE NIGHTMARE. THE LATEST ISSUE IS I HAVE FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE AFTER THE RAIN. A GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS OTHERS ARE HAVING THE TROUBLE WITH VARIOUS YEARS. I AM TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH IMPALA'S AND IS REALLY UNACCEPTABLE. BESIDES HAVING TO REPLACE ALL THE HUBS, THE CAR LITERALLY ATE TIRES FOR THE FIRST 2 YEARS I OWNED IT BUT HAVE FOUND TIRES THAT LAST MORE THEN 4000 MILES AND LAST THE PAINT IS NOT STAYING ON THE CAR. I CANNOT FIND ANY RECALLS AND I KNOW SEVERAL TRUCKS THAT THE PAINT IS PEALING OFF AND THE OWNERS ARE TOLD TO BAD BY THE DEALER. I HOPE THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING SO A RECALL CAN BE DONE. I COULD LITERALLY SWIM IN THE WATER FROM THE RAIN THAT CAME IN. OH ALMOST FORGOT THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW IS RANDOMLY WORKING AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243526September 26, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXIT HIS VEHICLE, BUT WAS LOCKED INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE RADIO DISPLAYED "LOCKED" AND HE COULD NOT EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DOORS NOR THE WINDOWS BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALER STATED THAT HE OWNED THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE AND HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DEFECT AND REPAIRED IT AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF OVER $1,400. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE KEY SWITCH AT THE COST OF $492.13 THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,301 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,328. UPDATED 020209 *BF THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. UPDATED 02/03/09. *JB SEVERAL COMPONENTS WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WERE REPLACED AND THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWICE. UPDATED 02/20/09. *JB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED AN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS NEEDED AT A COST OF $300.00. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, IT MADE STRANGE NOISES AS IF IT WERE ABOUT TO BREAK. UPDATED 0423/10.*JB UPDATED 04/29/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243111September 22, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2002 CHEVY IMPALA INTAKE GASKET ON MOTOR LETS WATER INTO MOTOR COST $740 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. HAD SAME TROUBLE ON A 95 BUICK WHICH RUINED THE ENGINE. MY SON HAD SAME TROUBLE ON A 97 BUICK. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE GM HAS HAD THIS TROUBLE FOR YEARS I KNOW OF A FEW OTHER WHO HAVE HAD SAME TROUBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242933September 19, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE VEHICLE LOSES TOTAL POWER. SHE HAS TO DISCONNECT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND THEN RECONNECT THE CABLE. AFTER SHE WAITS FOR IT RECHARGE ITSELF, THE VEHICLE WILL START IMMEDIATELY OR TWO HOURS LATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $445. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. *UPDATED 10/20/08 *BF UPDATED 10/21/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242790September 18, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN STRAIGHT LINE, THE DRIVER MUST MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL FURTHER OUT. DEPENDING ON WHAT SIDE THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, THERE IS SOME SLACK IN THE WHEEL AND NOISES ARE MADE. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT AND THE DEALER INSTALLED A SHORT STEERING SHAFT. THIS REPAIR CORRECTED THE FAILURE FOR FOUR YEARS. WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT UNDER THE WARRANTY SINCE IT EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED FOR FREE BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. HE PAID FOR THE DEALER TO INSTALL A NEW SHORT STEERING SHAFT ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/20/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242839September 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VALVE BROKE OFF IN ENGINE CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. 60,400 MILES ON ENGINE AT TIME. OIL RESERVOIR WAS FULL, OIL PUMP WAS OPERATIONAL AND FILTER HAD NOT COLLAPSED. ENGINE COOLANT WAS FULL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242122September 14, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
1. CASUAL USE OF VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE THE ONLY VARIABLE LEADING UP TO THE DISPLAY OF THE SECURITY MESSAGE AND THE CAR NOT STARTING. 2. MY RESEARCH SUGGEST THE ETIOLOGY OF THE PROBLEM (CAR NOT STARTING AND SECURITY MESSAGE DISPLAY) MAY BE A MALFUNCTION OF THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM, BUT FAILURE CAN STILL OCCUR ONCE PASSLOCK IS REPLACED. THE CAR FAILS TO START ABOUT ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS AND IS UNPREDICTABLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A THREE MONTH PERIOD OVER THE SUMMER OF 2008 DURING WHICH THE CAR'S BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED BY A GM DEALER. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE CAR FAILING TO START INCLUDE THE DRIVER MISSING WORK, BEING LATE TO WORK, BEING STRANDED IN 90 DEGREE HEAT AND IN SECLUDED AREAS. 3. A BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE SECURITY MESSAGE/PASSLOCK ISSUE AS WELL AS AN OTHER ISSUE (CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE). APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER THE CAR AGAIN WOULD NOT START AND THE SECURITY MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. ***WHILE NO INJURIES HAVE YET OCCURRED, THE CAR NOT STARTING CAN LEAVE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS VULNERABLE TO THE ELEMENTS AND VICTIMIZE (ROBBERY, ASSAULT, RAPE, AND MURDER). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241755September 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO START HIS VEHICLE WHILE THE SECURITY LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240037August 28, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA WITH 80,000 THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2001. APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AS THE ANTIFREEZE LEAKED OUT INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKETS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO THEY FOUND THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE BAD AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITH REGARD TO THE LEAK I WAS TOLD I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE MOST TIMES THE FAILED GASKETS CAUSES THE ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE MOTOR AND SEIZE IT. I HAD THE REPAIRS DONE AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1,500.00. THIS PAST WEEKEND WHILE ON THE BELTWAY MY CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER THE MOTOR DIED. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN, THAT THEY KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE PISTON WAS IN MY OIL PAN. NOW I NEED TO HAVE THE MOTOR REPLACED. WHICH I HAVE GOTTEN PRICES FROM $4,500 - $6,500.00. ALSO, THEY TOLD ME MY BRAKES ARE BAD AGAIN, ONLY AFTER 4 MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237847August 12, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES RESTART AND SOMETIMES NOT. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. DURING THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, BUT THE STARTER DID NOT MAKE A NOISE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237888August 12, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE PASSLOCK SEEMS TO BE FAILING ON MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA..74,000 MILES. WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START IT, NOTHING HAPPENS, AND I HAVE TO WAIT 10-20 MINUTES BEFORE I CAN START IT AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE MARCH 2008. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237525August 9, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON MANY OCCASIONS, CAR WILL NOT START AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MANY TIMES TO BE FIXED. LOTS OF MONEY SPENT AND NO RESOLUTION. LEAVES MY ELDERLY PARENTS STRANDED AND COULD RESULT IN MAJOR ISSUE IF IN THE WRONG PLACE. SOMEONE NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE - GM IS NOT!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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