Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2002)
795 consumer complaints on file.
- #10277243July 17, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA DOES NOT START ON MANY OCCASIONS. THE ENGINE DOES NOT EVEN CRANK. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO 2 REPAIR SHOPS THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FOUND AND BOTH PLACES HAVE NO IDEAS. I HAVE DONE MY OWN RESEARCH AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM A 23 YEAR OLD FEMALE AND FOUND MYSELF STUCK OVER AN HOUR FROM HOME EARLIER THIS WEEK WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT START. HOW CAN I FIX IT OR IS THERE A RECALL THAT I AND ALL THE OTHERS DO NOT KNOW ABOUT? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10276131July 8, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
2002 CHEVY IMPALA 7 TIMES IN 3 YEARS I HAD SECURITY LIGHT ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE LEAVING ME STRANDED I HAD PAID TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE UNTIL I THROUGH A FIT IN DECEMBER OF 2007 GM HONORED IT BECAUSE THE PART THEY PUT IN WAS FAULTY. HERE IT IS A YEAR AND A HALF LATER AND I HAVE THE SAME SECURITY ISSUE THIS TIME IT COST ME 510 BUCKS AND SOME CHANGE. THE CAR HAS 50 THOUSAND MILES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY PERIOD. SINCE I HAVE BEEN DOING MANY SEARCHES ON THIS ISSUE AND NOW SEE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10276132July 8, 2009AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR DIMMED ONCE THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS REDUCED. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME FAILURE, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,122 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,652.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10275320June 30, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE). SOMETIMES WHEN I START IT UP IT WILL NOT LET ME START IT UP BECAUSE THAT SECURITY SYSTEM COMES ON. IT ALSO FAILED IN GENERAL YESTERDAY WHICH I FIGURED THIS OUT BECAUSE I HAD UNPLUGGED MY BCM AND RECONNECTED IT AND MY CAR STARTED UP JUST FINE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT IF IT COULD POSSIBLY BE THAT BECAUSE I AM NOT GM CERTIFIED. BUT LIKE ANY OTHER PLACE THEY GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND AND TOLD ME IT CAN BE SOMETHING ELSE AND SOMETHING ELSE BUT I'M PRETTY SURE ITS THIS. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH ONLINE AND MOST PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THERE BCM, ONCE THEY CHANGE IT THE PROBLEMS GO AWAY. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR FREE BECAUSE ITS SOMETHING THAT ONLY HAPPENS ON CHEVY'S. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I OWNED A 2001 CHEVY MALIBU AND IT USED TO DO THE SAME THING. THIS ALSO HAS HAPPENED TO ME MORE THEN TEN TIMES IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS AND ITS RIDICULOUS. NOW I GO TO SEE IF I CAN GET IT FIXED AND THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF THEY PROGRAM IT AND ITS NOT THAT MY MONEY IS NOT REFUNDABLE AND I'M STUCK WITH A CAR THAT DOESN'T WORK AND I LOOSE OUT AROUND 300-400 DOLLARS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10275340June 30, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA THAT HAS ONLY 38,000 MILES ON IT. IN THE LAST TEN DAYS THIS CAR HAS COST ME $1,100.00. THE MAJORITY OF THIS COST WAS BECAUSE OF THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GET THIS REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CAR COULD HAVE STOPPED RUNNING AT ANY TIME. IT APPEARS FROM WHAT I HAVE READ RECENTLY THAT THIS AUTO AND OTHERS LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED LONG AGO BECAUSE OF THESE SECURITY SYSTEMS THAT SEEM TO GO OUT QUITE FREQUENTLY. I CANNOT GIVE AN ACCURATE INCIDENT DATE SINCE THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF FOR OVER TWO MONTHS - I HAVE FINALLY BEEN ABLE TO BORROW THE MONEY TO GET IT FIXED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10274870June 24, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WILL TURN INSIDE OF THE IGNITION, BUT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SAME FAILURE THREE YEARS AGO AT 40,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, THE SECURITY LIGHT FEATURE BEGAN TO FLASH BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 7/23/109 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM AND GM DOES NOT HAVE A PROPER FIX. UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10274206June 18, 2009EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS DIM. THE CONTACT HAS TO PLAY WITH THE DIMMER SWITCH IN ORDER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE AGAIN. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR TWO YEARS AND PROVIDES POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CHEVROLET AND A CHRYSLER DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE APPROXIMATELY $600 FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD MAKE THE REPAIR AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE BELIEVES THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 07/08/09 *BF THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHEN THE DIMMER WAS USED. THE DEALER STATED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS FAILING INTERNALLY. UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10273975June 16, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
SAFETY RECALL # 09047: OIL DRIP FROM 2002 IMPALA 3.8L ENGINE MAY CAUSE FIRE WHEN DEPOSITED ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND MAY SPREAD TO SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND. DATE OF DEFECT RECALL IS CONSPICUOUSLY MISSING BUT I RECEIVED THIS NOTICE THE WEEK OF JUNE 8, 2009, I CALLED DEALER ON JUNE 10, 2009. DEALER IS STATING THAT THEY ARE BACKED UP IN DOING THE REPAIR DUE TO LACK OF PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE ARE DRIVING CARS THAT ARE JUST WAITING TO GO ON FIRE AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME THIS TYPE OF POTENTIAL FIRE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED ON THESE SPECIFIC ENGINES.*TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10273724June 14, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TURN SIGNAL TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY. WORK FINE MOST OF THE TIME. I WENT AS FAR AS REPLACING ALL BULBS AS WELL AS THE FUSE. STARTS WORKING A COUPLE OF MONTHS THEN STARTS FAILING AGAIN. SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I'VE LEARNED ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10273758June 14, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA'S SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING. LIGHTS FLICKERED AND A STRANGE CLICKING NOISE OCCURRED. SOMETIMES VEHICLE WON'T START. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10273457June 10, 2009FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE JERKS. THE JERKING STOPS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY FOUND NO FAILURES. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOW FUEL SURGE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC WOULD COST $90 AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 062909 *BF UPDATED 07/01/09.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10273480June 10, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65-70 MPH WITH THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONING ACTIVATED, THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR PANEL AREA IGNITED INTO FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE PASSENGER EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE DASHBOARD AND CARPET SUSTAINED MINOR FIRE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10273486June 10, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A PASS LOCK FAILURE, WHICH IS A SECURITY ISSUE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE THINKS IT IS BEING STOLEN AND WILL NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE BY THE DEALER. THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 06/24/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEAST CHEVROLET COULD IS FIX THE PROBLEM IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ISSUE A RECALL. UPDATED 06/26/09. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10273120June 8, 2009EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FOG UP. THE DEALER CHARGED $300 TO REMEDY THE ISSUE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THERE WERE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR A YEAR; HOWEVER, THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED DIM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10273134June 8, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. ON MARCH 10, 2009, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. GM ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL HIS INSURANCE COMPANY BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR GM RECALL NUMBER 90047, WHICH STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD CATCH FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10273151June 8, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE TURNS THE IGNITION, IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. SHE HAS TO WAIT 10-15 MINUTES TO TURN THE IGNITION AGAIN BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTS NORMALLY. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MONTHS. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE SECURITY LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATES IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE RELAY SWITCHES RUN THROUGH THE FUEL PUMP. TWO NEW RELAY SWITCHES WERE INSTALLED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,651.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10272827June 4, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS/ 3.8-V6 THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. TOOK IN TO DEALER, AFTER IT WAS REPLACED, ANOTHER PROBLEM SURFACED.. WE KEEP GETTING THE RUN AROUND AT THE DEALER..THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY STARTS. WHEN IT WANTS TO. THE DEALER THAT I BROUGHT IT TO SAID HE WAS 80% SURE THAT IT WAS MY BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULES) AND HE WOULD HAVE TO RESET MY RADIO. THE TWO REPAIRS WOULD RUN ME ABOUT $1,200 AND THAT ISN'T EVEN 100% GUARANTEED THAT IT WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM. WHAT A WAY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE ARE NO SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS.. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH I SEE THE PROBLEM IS QUITE FAMILIAR ON MODELS OF THE SAME PLATFORM.. I'M AT MY WITS END WITH THIS PROBLEM.. THE CAR DOES FINALLY START AFTER SITTING THERE FOR 10 MIN OR SO.. MY ISSUE WITH THIS IS! I'M HAPPY TO PAY IF THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY BUT NON OF THE G.M DEALERS I'VE CONTACTED SEEM TO BE UPFRONT REGARDING THE MATTER, AND I QUOTE "BRING IT IN WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT" THAT'S IT! HOW ABOUT FIXING IT? I REPLY.. "WELL WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT".. THE CAR DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME, BUT A LOT OF THE TIME.. USUALLY AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE TIME. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A NEW ONE IT'S HAPPENING A LOT.. I'M SURE A DESIGN FLAW. I'M JUST SCARED OF ANOTHER FIRE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10270210May 28, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE ON 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS. MY WIFE BECAME STRANDED LATE AT NIGHT DUE TO THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT TOOK ALMOST 30 MINUTES TO EVENTUALLY GET THE CAR TO START AND IT IS NOW HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. AN INTERNET SEARCH TURNED OUT LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10269958May 26, 2009AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR-ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN HER VEHICLE. SHE BELIEVES THAT THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE BACK PAIN AND A HEADACHE. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND RELEASED THREE HOURS LATER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 122,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10269670May 22, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2002 IMPALA. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SPECIFICALLY, THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, THE DOOR LOCK FUSE BLOWS, CLICKING NOISES FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FUSE PANEL, AND ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE STARTER WILL NOT TURN WHEN THE KEY IS PLACED IN THE "START" POSITION. THIS ISSUE CAN EASILY BE FOUND ELSEWHERE ON THE INTERNET. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE SEPT 2003. NO ISSUES UNTIL THE LAST 7 MONTHS. THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND SOMETIMES DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES FIXES THE PROBLEM. IT IS A VERY FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE HAVING TO "REBOOT" THE BCM BY DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE BATTERY ALL OF THE TIME. MY CONCERN IS EVENTUALLY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL COMPLETELY FAIL OR WORSE CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. OTHERS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE ARE SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN PARTS REPLACEMENTS ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RETURN A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER. THIS "SECURITY" PROBLEM HAS TO SOMEHOW QUALIFY AS A RECALL WITH CHEVROLET/GM. CURRENTLY, I AM STILL ABLE TO MANIPULATE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO START. I'M REALLY NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND BE CHARGED ENORMOUS FEES FOR PARTS AND LABOR KNOWING THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL RETURN LATER ON LIKE OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. PLEASE FIND A WAY TO FORCE GM TO DO A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0