Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2001)

742 consumer complaints on file.

#10063653March 22, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
MY CAR MADE A WHINING NOISE WHILE MOVING AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY LET ME KNOW MY POWER STEERING RACK NEEDS REPLACING AT 68,000 MILES IN FEBRUARY 2004. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS IS NOT BEING RECALLED AND THIS IS SOMETHING A LOT OF CAR REPAIR CENTERS ARE SURPRISED THIS HAS FAILED ON A 3 YEAR OLD CAR. CHEVROLET WANTS $1,000 TO REPLACE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063649March 22, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
DRIVER SEAT AIR BAG COMING OUT OF COMPARTMENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062372March 16, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I GET A SHOCK WHENEVER I USE MY POWER LOCKS UPON LEAVING MY CAR- NOT FROM INSIDE THE CAR BUT FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062952March 11, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, HEAVY SMOKE CAME UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT SHOP, TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060664March 7, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE. POTENTIALLY A PROBLEM WITH DEPLOYMENT IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS I THOUGHT I SHOULD SUBMIT MINE. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060660March 7, 2004
STEERING
STEERING MAKES CLUNK AT LOW SPEED TURNS AND MAKES A WHINING NOISE. STEERING SEEMS TO SLIP ON CORNERING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM! 2001 IMPALA HAS BEEN IN TO HAVE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT LUBRICATED 3 TIMES NOW. FIRST AT 17,840 MILES ON 11/16/01, THEN AT 22,773 MILES ON 2/26/02 AND THE THIRD TIME AT 43,594 ON 2/3/04. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060665March 7, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR ROLLS BACKWARD WHILE IN DRIVE ON INCLINE. DEALER CLAIMED THAT IT IS NORMAL. SEEMS TO ME THAT IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. ALSO WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE TRANS WILL SHIFT BUT WHEN I ACCELERATE THE TRANS SLAMS INTO GEAR. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE CAR IN TO DEALER AS THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY DAY. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSIONS IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060157March 2, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
KNOCKING NOISE & JOLT IN STEERING WHEEL OF 2001 CHEV. IMPALA AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MI.. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED AND WORSENED. IT WAS DETERMINED BY AN INDEPENTENT AUTO SHOP AND THE DEALER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE RACK. DEALER GAVE ME INFORMATION TO CONTACT CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AT GM, WHICH I DID. GM REFUSED TO MAKE ANY CONCESSION FOR THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE FACT THAT WARRENTY HAD EXPIRED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060192March 2, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS, 3.8L V6. BEFORE 36,000 MILES I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING POORLY AND WHEN IT WAS COLD THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR. DEALER MADE SOME REPAIRS AND TOLD ME THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. I DECLINED THE FUEL SERVICE AT THE TIME AND THE TRANSMISSION SLAMMING INTO GEAR FROM A COLD START CONTINUED. THE PROBLEM WORSENED AT 47,000 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND AFTER 2 DAYS I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL SYSTEM SERVICE. AT 50,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING SEVERELY. I TRIED TO GET THE CAR HOME AND IT FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. I GOT THE CAR HOME TO PERFORM THE 50,000 MILE SERVICE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND FOUND A HANDFUL OF METAL IN THE PAN. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY TOTALLED. GM ONLY OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF THE REPAIR COSTS. THERE IS NO RECOMMENDED SERVICE BEFORE 50,000 MILES AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED IT LESS THAN 3 YEARS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058799February 23, 2004
TIRES, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
WE OWN A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA , VIN # [XXX], THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS CLUNK NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR, WE WERE THEN ADVISED IT WAS THE TIRES SO WE REPLACED THE TIRES . THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK FOR REPAIR AND THE LEFT TIE ROD WAS REPLACED, THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WAS THEIR TIRES AND ALSO HAVE HAD TIE RODS REPLACED. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THE SUBJECT TSB. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE REPAIR CALLED FOR IN THE TSB, LUBRICATION OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT USING LUBRICATION KIT # [XXX]. THIS REPAIR LASTED ABOUT 30 DAYS. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND SINCE I HAVE 38000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE NO COVERAGE FROM CHEVROLET IS AVAILABLE. *AK THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CHEVROLET SINCE BEFORE JULY OF 2002 WHEN THE TSB WAS ISSUED. I FEEL THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVING THE STEERING AND CHEVROLET SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THE ISSUE AT NO COST TO ME.*AK UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057035February 11, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN, CAR SHOOK ALL OVER AND I HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. I COASTED TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WHERE I WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME AFTER ABOUT A WEEK, THAT MY PLANETARY GEAR HAD EXPLODED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE FLUID FILTER WAS FULL OF METAL SHAVINGS. HE STATED TO US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. MY NEW TRANSMISSION COST ME $2200. THIS CAR HAS JUST 55000 MILES ON IT. IT IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE THAT I AM PAYING ALL OF THIS MONEY TO REPAIR THIS CAR, THAT IS PRACTICALLY NEW. I HAVE CONTACTED GM'S CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE AND THEY WILL OFFER NO ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. THE SERVICE I RECEIVED FROM THEM WAS POOR. THE CASE WAS ACTUALLY LOST ONCE THEREFORE I HAD TO START ALL OVER AGAIN. THE WOMAN WHO THEN TOOK OVER THE CASE BOLD FACE LIED TO MY FIANCE AND THEN BACK PEDALED BY SAYING THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER CASE JUST LIKE MINE AND THE WOMAN JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE THE SAME NAME AS ME. WHAT A COINCIDENCE. IN ADDITION TO THIS, JUST 10 DAYS PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION'S DEATH, I HAD TO REPLACE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056984February 11, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I OWN A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 20,000 MILES AND NOW I AM REPLACING THEM AGAIN 1 YEAR LATER WITH ONLY 46,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE USED BOTH GM ROTORS AND ANOTHER MANUFACTURER AND BOTH ROTORS WARPED VERY PREMATURELY. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE REGARDING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. I ALSO EXPERIENCE SEVERE VIBRATIONS WHEN BRAKING AT SPEEDS OF GREATER THAN 45 MPH. IT IS NOT NORMAL CAR MAINTENANCE TO HAVE TO REPLACE FRONT ROTORS EVERY 20, 000 MILES. I BELIEVE THERE MUST BE A DESIGN FLAW OR SOME OTHER EVENT CAUSING THIS SCENARIO.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056602February 5, 2004
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THREE TIME AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. TURN SIGNALS STOP WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP REPLACED BODY CONTROL MODULE (COSTING ME OVER $300) DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054851January 25, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAS A RECURRING INCIDENT OF CLICKING NOISES AT RIGHT FRONT STEERING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS IS SUPPLEMENTAL TO THE VEHICLE DEVELOPING A UNEVEN WEAR AT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. WHEN TAKEN TO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT ROTATING THE TIRES WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AS THE PROBLEM GREW WORSE (INCLUDING A BADLY SHIMMYING FRONT END AT HIGH SPEEDS),I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED WELD ON IT CHASIS AND REPAIRED IT. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE TIRES, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW ONES AT MY OWN EXPENSE. A SMOOTH RIDE WITH NEW TIRES WAS SHORT LIVED, AS A BADLY SHIMMYING FRONT END HAD DEVELOPED AGAIN (WITHIN 24 HOURS). TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SECOND DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS A WORN TIE ROD. ONCE THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, I PERIODICALLY HEARD LIGHT CLICKING NOISED FROM THE STEERING WHEN MAKING TURNS (RIGHT & LEFT). TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SECOND DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF LUBRICATION. ONCE LUBRICATED, THE VEHICLE STOPPED MAKING CLICKING NOISES FOR ABOUT 30 T0 40 DAYS. I NOTICED THAT THE CLICKING NOISES BEGAN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN OVER UNEVEN AREAS OF A ROAD OR PARKING LOT, OR WHEN THE VEHICLE NEGOTIATES TIGHT LEFT TURNS (LOW SPEEDS) AND WIDE/SWEEPING LEFT CURVES AT HIGH SPEEDS. NEVER THE LESS, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM CONCERNS LUBRICATION. LATEST MAINTENANCE DATE AS INCIDENT DATE 10/16/03 (COMPLAINT: F/E SNAPPING WHEN TURNING. DIAGNOSIS: INADEQUATE LUBRICANTS IN THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. CORRECTION: REMOVED SHAFT - LUBRICATED AND RE-INSTALLED PART# [XXX]. THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP: RHODES CHEVROLET OF SWANSBORO, NC (NOW UNDER NEW NAME AND MANAGEMENT). THE DEALERSHIP MAKING REPAIRS: MARINE CHEVROLET CADILLAC OLDSMOBILE. INITIAL THUMPING/ UNEVEN TIRE WEAR IS WITHIN ONE MONTH OF VEHICLE PURCHASE 01/18/01. VIN [XXX]. *LA UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT T
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055634January 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS AND LURCHED FORWARD. DEALER REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION ALSO SLIPPED GEARS AND LURCHED FORWARD. *AK WHEN VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ON FIRST FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE COLOR OF THE FLUID IN THE TRANS AXLE WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE IN THE BOTTLE. CONSUMER DECIDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE AND FLUID AFTER VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR A NUMBER OF MILES BECAUSE THE FLUID COLOR GETS DARKER. AFTER REPAIR, JUST AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD, TRANSMISSION BLEW UP THEN VEHICLE QUIT DRIVING FORWARD; TRANSMISSION TECHNICIAN AND COULD NOT TELL THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. CONSUMER SPOKE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER AND SAID THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF AN AXLE BEARING OR BEARING FAILURE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054682January 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COOLANT LEAK AROUND THERMOPLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS COOLANT LEAK DEVELOPED AROUND 42000 MI AND IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT THE DEALER ADMITS. ALSO DEX-COOL IS FALSLEY ADVERTISED THAT IT CAN GO 150,000 OR 5 YEARS. MOST CONSUMERS AREN'T AWARE THAT IT TURNS ACIDIC AND DESTROYS GASKETS AND OTHER COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS. I FEEL THE COOLANT LEAK AND ASSOCIATED DEX-COOL PROBLEMS DEMONSTRATES GM FAILURE TO CORRECT A KNOWN DEFECT. UNFORTUNATLEY THE CONSUMER PAYS DEARLY RIGHT AS WARRANTY EXPIRES. GM SHOULD REPLACE THERMOPLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WITH SOMETHING MORE DURABLE AND HEAT RESISTANT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071305January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CLEAR COAT IS COMING OFF THE CAR. WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED (OCT. 26/01) AND TOOK IT TO ZIEBART TO HAVE A PROTECTIVE COATING PUT ON.(NOV. 9/01) THE GM PROTECTION PLAN WAS VERY EXPENSIVE. WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK FOR ITS ONE-YEAR CHECK-UP(OCT. 21/02),THE TECHNICIAN AT ZIEBART TOLD US THAT THE CLEAR COAT WAS COMING OFF. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON OCT. 31/02. THE WARRANTEE WAS FOR 60000 KM (38000 MILES). THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PART THAT WAS COMING OFF "AS A GESTURE OF GOOD WILL" BECAUSE THE WARRANTEE WAS UP, BUT WE REQUESTED THAT THEY DO THE WHOLE CAR, AS WE FELT THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD RECUR. "THEY DO NOT REPAIR WHAT IS NOT DAMAGED." NOW, 7 MONTHS LATER, THE CLEAR COAT IS COMING OFF A DIFFERENT PART OF THE CAR. THEY WILL COVER 50% OF THE COST OF REPAIR, BUT WHEN I ASKED WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS PROBLEM RECURS, I WAS TOLD WE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. GM CANADA IS PLAYING HARD-BALL AND BACKS THE DEALERSHIP. "THE MATTER IS CLOSED". WHEN I ASKED IF THERE WAS AN OMBUDSMAN, THEY SAID NO AND THAT MY ONLY OTHER OPTION IS "TO GET LEGAL COUNSEL OR GO TO GM MEDIATION OR ARBITRATION." DO YOU HAVE A CANADIAN COUNTERPART? THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070456January 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AT 25963 MILES AND AGAIN AT 40196 MILES THE BRAKE ROTORS ON THE REAR OF THE CAR HAD TO BE REPLACED. FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE RESURFACED, AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED. CHEVROLET CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL WEAR, BUT HAD PREVIOUSLY INDICATED THAT THEY WERE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH ROTORS THAT WERE FLAKING AND WARPING AT 15,000 MILES. CHEVROLET REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047918January 15, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
TURN SIGNAL FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK WHEN THE SIGNAL WAS ENGAGED IT DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE HAZARD SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE MALIBU WHICH WAS RECALLED. *JB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053716January 9, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING UPHILL VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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