Chevrolet Impala Complaints

10,446 consumer complaints on file.

#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
#10060195March 2, 2004
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN
MY WIFE BOUGHT A 2002 IMPALA AND WE BOTH LOVE THE CAR. BUT RECENTLY IT HAS HAD A CLUNKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I AM A MECHANIC AND KNOW THAT IT COULD BE A FAULTY INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? I HAVE RESEARCHED THESE ARCHIVES AND HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. EVEN SOME FAILURES. WHY ARE DEALERS NOT WILLING TO DO ANY REPAIRS FOR THE CLUNKING NOISE?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060216March 2, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY LOCKS UP DURING TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED 3 YEARS AGO. CHEVROLET DEALERS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE BOTH DENY ANY EVIDENCE OF A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH IMPALAS ALTHOUGH THE NHTSA WEB SITE AND AN IMPALA OWNERS' WEB SITE BOTH LIST NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES OF THIS MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT RENDERS THE CAR TEMPORARILY OUT OF CONTROL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061097March 1, 2004
STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 TO 20 MPH VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. *AK CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THEY CAN'T LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, KNOCKING AND JERKING IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING, AND IT WAS FOUND THAT INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CREATED NOISE. INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059099February 27, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COOLANT LEAKING FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. DEALER INDICATES THAT THEY ALL DID THAT. WERE SUPRISED MINE LASTED AS LONG AS IT DID. GM SAID THEY WOULDN'T HELP WITH THE COST.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055386February 26, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO ACTIVATE THE HORN. *AK THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE HORN ASSEMBLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054130February 24, 2004
STEERING
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A KNOCKING SOUND. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB THE STEERING FELT LOOSE AS IF IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TIGHTER. *JB
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
#10058737February 23, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059262February 18, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, CAUSING STEERING FLUID TO LEAK. CONSUMER HAD NO POWER ASSIST. *AK DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058327February 17, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
ON GOING PROBLEM OF MOISTURE BUILD UP IN HEAD LIGHT HOUSING. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR ALL CHEVY IMPALAS AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE EXCEPT TO "BLOW OUT" THE MOISTURE. THIS CONDITION OCCURS EVERYTIME LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. DEALER CALLS THIS THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT. ILLUMINATION OF ROADWAY AT NIGHT IS EFFECTED. PROBLEM REPORTED TO GM HOWEVER, COMPLAINT NUMBER 1-188065149, THEY DID NOT INDICATE THAT THIS WOULD BE LOOKED OR ADDRESSED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058110February 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
FAILED MANIFOLD GASKETS ON 2000 3.4 ENGINE USED IN MOST GM CARS. GM IS INSUFFICIENTLY DEALING WITH OR TRYING TO KEEP FROM BECOMING A RECALL. MINE WAS THE 5TH 2000 IMPALA THIS WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (ITS ONLY WEDNESDAY). EXPECT TO PAY $250+ FOR REPAIR. MECHANIC SAYS GM INSTALLED WRONG SIZE MANIFOLD BOLTS DURING ASSEMBLY (DEALER REPAIR KIT COMES WITH CORRECT, BUT DIFFERENT, BOLTS).*AK
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
#10056974February 11, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASHBOARD LIGHTING FAILED TO LIGHT UP WHEN CAR IS STARTED. SPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT TIME, BECAUSE THIS IS ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY FAILURE OF THE TAIL LIGHTS TO TURN ON. HEAD LIGHTS ARE NOT AFFECTED. THERE IS NO OVERRIDE TO MANUALLY TURN ON THE TAIL LIGHTS NOR DASHBOARD LIGHTS. APPARENTLY THERE IS A SENSOR THAT TURNS THESE LIGHTS ON WHEN CAR IS STARTED. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. AGAIN, SPECIALLY DANGERROUS SITUATION WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF NO TAIL LIGHTS, AND NO WAY FOR DRIVER TO TELL WHAT IS THE DIRVING SPEED. ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.*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
#10053440February 10, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WORE OUT, CAUSING HEAVY VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE WARPED ROTORS AND CLEANED THE PADS BUT THE VIBRATION RECURRED. THE CONSUMER HAD TWO DIFFERENT TECHNICIANS FAX HIM A COPY OF GENERAL MOTOR DOCUMENTS PERTAINING ROTOR PROBLEMS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056886February 9, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
DRIVING 2003 IMPALA IN RAIN WHEN ENGINE DIED SUDDENLY IN THE MIDDLE OF STREET,CAUSING TRAFFIC HAZARD. STARTER REFUSED TO TURN OVEREVEN THOUGH ELCTRICSL SYSTEM CONTINUED TO FUNCTION, DEALER SAID WATER GOT INTO ENGINE AND CHEVY WAS NOT RESPONCIBLE, ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT AT OWNERS EXPENSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056690February 6, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
CHVE IMPALA, WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID TENDS TO FREEZE EASILY. *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
#10056412February 3, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, IN THE WINTER BELOW 20 DEGREES CAR MUST WARM UP BEFORE IT CAN BE SHIFTED IN TO DRIVE. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE NEW.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Impala