Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2001)

742 consumer complaints on file.

#10137883September 27, 2005
STEERING:COLUMN
I OWN A 2001 IMPALA AND IT HAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, I HAD THIS FIXED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE IT THAT WAY BECAUSE IT WAS DANGEROUS. NOW IT IS BACK AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP HAVING THIS FIXED. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW HOW DANGEROUS IS THIS?*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137503September 24, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TURNING INTO MY MOTHER'S DRIVEWAY, I APPLIED THE FOOT BRAKE. THE TOE OF MY SHOE HIT THE PANEL ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DASH. AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO RELEASE THE PEDAL, THE PANEL FELL ONTO AND BLOCKED THE PEDALS. THE PANEL WAS TETHERED BY A BULB, SOCKET AND CABLE. I COULD NO LONGER REACH OR OPERATE THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. ALTHOUGH GOING VERY SLOWLY, BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO STOP I HAD CRASHED INTO MY MOTHER'S GARAGE DOOR. ONE OF 2 PLASTIC CLIPS BROKE WHEN THE TOE OF MY SHOE STRUCK IT CAUSING IT TO FALL AND BLOCKING THE USE OF THE PEDALS. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED AT 60 MPH, I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED. MY ASSESSMENT IS "FAULTY DESIGN" OF THE PANEL AND CLIPS. STRIKING THE PANEL WITH THE TOE OF THE SHOE SHOULD NOT BREAK THE FASTENERS SUCH THAT THE PANEL FALLS AND MAKES THE PEDALS UNREACHABLE AND UNUSABLE. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137762September 22, 2005
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 68 MPH.*MR *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136430September 14, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
- I HAVE A 2001 IMPALA LS 3.8L WITH TRACTION CONTROL - SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. ABS BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN (LOOSE OR TIGHT TURN) AND WHEN ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE ABS TO ENGAGE WHEN MAKING THESE TURNS, ROAD CONDITIONS WERE PERFECT. - I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THE SPEED SENSOR HAS FAILED DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS (PLEASE REFERENCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 FOR A RECALL ON GM PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUV'S). MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS CAMPAIGN BUT THE PROBLEM DESCRIBE IN THE CAMPAIGN IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS FAILED IN MY SITUATION. - THE SHOP REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT HUB BEARING AND WIRING HARNESS USING HUB KIT 6.307 AND SENSOR KIT 4.720 -PROBLEM WAS FIXED - I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY CARS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE CAPAIGN LIKE TRUCKS AND SUV'S THAT HAVE THE SAME SPEED SENSOR.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136385September 13, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2001 IMPALA - FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILURE; CONTINUED INTERMITTENT GASOLINE ODORS: INCREASINGLY STRONG GASOLINE ODORS OVER SEVERAL WEEKS SENT ME TO DEALER 7/6/05 WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR DIAPHRAM HAD FAILED - REPLACED; RETURNED TO DEALER 7/22 BECAUSE OF CONTINUED GASOLINE ODORS - A TEST PORT CAP HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED ON 7/6; 7/23-26 - CAR NOT DRIVEN (OUT OF TOWN); 7/29 - SLIGHT ODOR 3 TIMES; 7/30 - STRONG ODOR; 8/1 - DEALER FOUND NO LEAKS OR ODOR; 8/1 - FIVE MINUTES AFTER LEAVING DEALER, SLIGHT ODOR; 8/2-5 - CAR AT DEALER BEING CHECKED AND DOUBLE CHECKED; FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR POSSIBLY REPLACED AGAIN; 8/10-11 - ODOR CHECKED AGAIN; DRIVEN 104 MILES BY 'SENSITIVE NOSE' TECHNICIAN; NO ODOR DETECTED OR LEAKS FOUND; 8/18-21 - CAR NOT DRIVEN (OUT OF TOWN); 8/23 - STRONG ODOR; 8/25 - SLIGHT ODOR; 8/27 - SLIGHT ODOR TWICE; 8/30 - STRONG ODOR; 9/1 - SLIGHT ODOR; 9/4 - SLIGHT ODOR; 9/7 - ?SLIGHT ODOR?; 9/9 - STRONG ODOR THAT LASTED 2-3 MINUTES; 9/9 - CAR BACK AT DEALER FOR WORK ON 9/12-?*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135213September 2, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
THE ANTILOCKING BRAKES SYSTEM OF MY 2001 IMPALA CAR CORRODED WITH ONLY 5264 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAD TO PAY $760.49 TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I DROVE THE CAR ONE DAY AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE, THEN THE NEXT WEEK WHEN I DROVE THE CAR, EVERYTIME THAT I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, THERE WAS THIS TERRRIBLE SCRAPING, NOISE, EVEN AFTER THE CAR HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT WAS SO LOUD THAT EVERYONE ON THE STREET AND IN CARS NEXT TO ME WAS TURINING TO LOOK AT MY CAR TO SEE WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM. I FEARED STEPING ON THE BRAKE AND WAS NOT SURE THAT I COULD GET THE CAR AND MYSELF HOME SAFELY. ON 8/30.05, LIZ CRENSHAW, THE CONSUMER REPORTER FOR CHANNEL 4, NBC NEWS REPORTED AND IT WAS ALSO IN THE WASHINGTON POST NEWSPAPER ON 8/31/05 THAT GM HAD RECALLED PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUV, 1999-2002, BECAUSE OF CORROSION OF THE BRAKES. IT STATED THAT THE NHTSA HAD OPENED THE INVESTIGATION IN APRIL OF MORE THAN 1.2 GM PICKUPS AND SUV'S IN 20 STATES BECAUSE OF QUESTIONS OVER THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I E-MAILED CHEVROLET AND A DUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER CALLED ME AND DENIED EVEN KNOWING THAT THERE WAS SUCH A STUDY AND RECALL. SHE (HEATHER VOLTZ) SAID THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL WITH REGARD TO SENSORS BUT NOT CORROSION OF THE ABS. SHE WASNTED ME TO SEND HER ALL THE INFORMATION AND I SUGGESTED SHE COULD GO TO YOUR WEBSITE AND READ IT THE SAME AS I DID. SHE IS NOW WAITING FOR ME TO SEND HER THE COPY OF THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE FROM THE WASHINGTON POST, WHICH SHE COULD ALSO LOOK UP ON THEIR WEBSITE. I AM GOING TO SEND THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE. I DO NOT LIKE BEING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BECAUSE I HAVE A CAR AND NOT AN SUV OR PICKUP. THE CORROSION HAPPENED TO THE CAR THE SAME AS TO THE SUV'S AND PICKUPS. WHY SHOULD OWNERS OF SUV'S AND PICKUPS GET THE BENEFIT OF THE RECALL WHEN I HAVE TO PAY FOR MINE WITHIN THE SAME YEARS AS THOSE RECALLED? MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME DEAL WITH CHEVROLET. THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134583August 29, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DT: 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AT 6,500 MILES THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE BRAKES GRINDING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON JULY 7, 2003, AND SHE WAS TOLD IT WAS A NORMAL METALLIC PAD NOISE, AND THERE WAS NO CORRECTION NECESSARY. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CORRECTIONS TO THIS VEHICLE AT ALL. THE CONSUMER'S SON RECENTLY DROVE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE PROBLEM HIMSELF. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CHEVROLET, AND THEY RECOMMEND THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133712August 22, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: THE CALLER SAID THAT WHILE ACCELERATING TO GET BACK ON THE HIGHWAY LOST FORWARD MOTION. HE SAID THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE PUSHED OFF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALER HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING YET. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WERE CONTACTING THE DEALER AND WILL GET BACK TO THE CALLER. THEY WERE HOLDING OFF UNTIL AN INSPECTOR LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. INSPECTOR WAS NOT A GMC EMPLOYEE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134504August 18, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAD A CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE VEHICLE LOST PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD WITHOUT WARNING, REAR DEFROSTER SHORTED OUT AND ALMOST INJURED THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER, THE DOORS SEIZED, THE DRIVER WINDOW SEIZED CONSTANTLY, AND THE FAN BLOWER ONLY WORKED ON 5. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132430August 11, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER SCANNED FOR CODES-- FOUND 3 CODES CURRENT, B0026-FRONTAL DEPLOYMENT LOOP STAGE 1, B0043 L/F FRONTAL DEPLOYMENT LOOP STAGE 2 VOLTAGE OUT OT RANGE, B0044 L/F FRONTAL DEPLOYMENT LOOP STAGE OPEN DEALER DID SIR DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM CHECK FOUND SIR COIL MODULE HAD OPEN CIRCUIT. THEY REPLACED SIR COIL MODULE. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. AIR BAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. OLD PART IS UNAVAILABLE (DEALER KEPT IT).*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131787August 6, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA IT HAS A COMPLETELY CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. I CONTACTED COUNTRY CHEVY IN WARWICK NY THEY CANT HELP ME W/O CHARGING ME BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED 1800 MILES AGO. I UNDERSTAND FROM THERE SERV DEPT AS WELL AS NUMEROUS MECHANICS THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NO WARNING LIGHT FOR THIS OR I MAY HAVE KNOW PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRING. NOW I HAVE A CAR I PAID CASH FOR THAT I CANT DRIVE. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY PRIOR COMPLAINTS. I AM CONTACTING GM TO SEE IF THEY CAN ASSIST ME FURTHER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129682July 22, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS AND TRACT CONTROL LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENLY. DEALER CANT SOLVE ISSUE, WAS TOLD BY MANUFACTURER TO PUT SOME " SPECIAL TAPE" ON WIRING HARNESS. ALSO AT FIRST ACCELERATION TRACTION CONTROL KICKS IN. HAD RF HUB BEARING AND STEERING SHAFT REPLACED. NO RESOLUTION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129382July 19, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
TURNING SIGNAL FAILURE. PROBLEM IS FIXED TEMPORARLY WHEN I TAP ON THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH. I CALLED UP MANUFACTURER TOLD ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH BUT, THEY WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. THIS PROBLEM HAS ALMOST CAUSED A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130233July 15, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2001 IMPALA FRONT AND REAR BRAKES COMPLETELY REPLACED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE PADS WERE FALLING OFF IN HIS HANDS. THE ROTORS HAD SOME SCRATCHES ON THEM, BUT THEY COULD NOT BE MACHINED DOWN. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD A 2001 CHEVROLET S-10 THAT HAD THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128372July 11, 2005
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
MY 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA MAKES A VERY LOUD BANGING NOISE WHEN ROTATING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE STOPPED OR AT VERY LOW SPEED, SUCH AS WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE.I HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW, THE INSPECTION REVEALED FAULTY SUB FRAME WELDING. THE MECHANIC ALSO SAID THIS WAS VERY COMMON WITH THE RECENT IMPALA'S AND AFTER MANY SUB FRAMES WERE REPLACED DUE TO MISSING VERTICLE WELDS AND FAULTY SUB FRAME WELDS, THE MANUFACTURER{ GENERAL MOTORS} BEGAN USING A LESS EXPENSIVE SUPER GLUE TYPE LOCKING MATERIAL KIT OVER THE FAULTY WELDS, WITH AT LEAST THE LAST 5 REPAIRS AT THIS SHOP COMPLETED AS SUCH. I HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS OF POLICE VEHICLES {IMPALA'S} INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS AFTER CONTROL LOSS, WHICH MAY BE RELATED TO THE MISSING AND FAULTY WELDS. THE LOUD BANGING NOISE IS METAL TO METAL CAUSED BY FLEXING OF THE ALUMINUM SUB FRAME AT THE MISSING/ FAULTY WELDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125536July 8, 2005
STEERING
DT: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE HEARD A CLANKING NOISE AND COULD FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAPPENED MOST OF THE TIME, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME. SOME DAYS THE NOISE WOULD NOT BE APPARENT. LAST WEEK BEFORE IT WAS WORKED ON, THE CONSUMER COULD FEEL THE VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. CONSUMER SAID THAT SOUND DID NOT SEEM TO FOLLOW ANY APPARENT CYCLE OR SEEM TO BECOME MORE DEFINED AT ANY CERTAIN TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, AND WAS APPARENTLY FIXED. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE LAST YEAR. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127631July 6, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES
WHILE PARKING AT VERY SLOW SPEED, VERY LOUD CRACKING NOISE FROM FRONT OF CAR WHILE SLIGHTLY TURNING STEERING WHEEL. HAPPENING OFTEN. HAVE HAD FRONT END INSPECTED TWICE, NO PROBLEM FOUND WITH WHEEL BEARINGS,OR TIE RODS. PREVIOUS OWNER HAS HAD STEERING RACK REPLACED, POSSIBLY DUE TO SAME COMMON PROBLEM- WHICH MAY BE POOR LUBRICATION OF STEERING SHAFT AS REPORTED IN WWW.IMPALAHQ.COM/TSB01-02-32-001A.HTML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126648June 27, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
CAR SECURITY LIGHT HAS COME ON AND THEN WOULD OCCASIONALLY BE UNABLE TO START THE CAR. TURNS OUT THE PASSLOCK ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND WOULD COST $450 TO REPAIR. THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO DISABLE OR BYPASS THE SYSTEM SINCE I COULD REALLY CARE LESS TO HAVE AN ANTI THEFT DEVICE FOR MY IGNITION. NOW I EITHER HAVE TO DISH OUT THE MONEY TO THE DEALERSHIP (OTHER MECHANICS SEEM UNABLE TO REPAIR THIS OF COURSE), OR TAKE THE RISK THAT THE CAR WILL NOT FAIL TO START SOMEWHERE WITH MY TWO LITTLE KIDS IN THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125748June 19, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS ONCE IN A WHILE. LATELY IT IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. IF I TURN OFF CAR AND RESTART THE TURN SIGNALS WORK AGAIN FOR A WHILE. TONIGHT WHILE DRIVING ONE HOUR HOME, I HAD TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND RESTART IT 4 TIMES SO THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD WORK AGAIN. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT - MY CAR ONLY HAS 39,400 MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124792June 3, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT AND AFTERWARDS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION.*MR THE TRANSMISSION HAD NO REVERSE AND HAD SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE THRUST BEARINGS BROKE AND DAMAGED THE SUN GEAR, INPUT CARRIER AND REACTION SUN GEAR. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT'S FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED SERVICE BULLETINS REFERENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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