Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2000)

818 consumer complaints on file.

#10231322June 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY PROBLEM STARTED BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2006. I HAD TO LEAVE WORK TO GO PICK UP A SICK CHILD. WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR IT WOULD NOT CRANK. I TRIED JUMPING IT OFF BUT IT STILL WOULDN'T START. I BORROWED A CAR FROM A COWORKER AND WHEN I CAME BACK LATER IT STARTED WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A FUEL ISSUE. BUT AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS I REALIZED IT WAS INDEED A PASSLOCK PROBLEM. IT WILL HAPPEN ABOUT EVERY 7 TO 10 DAYS, IN FACT TODAY WITH THE DAY. WHEN OUT TO MY CAR AT LUNCH AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I DO NOT WANT TO SPENT $500 TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED IF IT'S NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE YOU MONEY BUT NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230932June 13, 2008
AIR BAGS
MY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. HAD A FENDER BENDER IN JULY OF 2006, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I ASKED MECHANIC AT AUTO COLLISION SHOP IF BAGS LOOKED OK AND HE REPLIED THAT HE NOTED NO DEFECTS. LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR YEARS NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230933June 13, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW, MY FUEL INDICATOR FLUCTUATES. ONLY TIME IT READS ACCURATELY IS WHEN IT IS FULL, OR ALMOST EMPTY. A COWORKER WHO ALSO OWNS AN IMPALA HAS SAID THAT HE JUST STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229284May 30, 2008
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON HAVE HAD CHECKED BY CHEVY DEALER AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHY LIGHT STAY ON SYSTEM NOT READING AIR BAG. ALSO DEALER CAN NOT GET LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT TO TURN OFF. WILL NOT TURN OFF BY TURNING LIGHT ON AND OFF THREE TIMES AND HAS NO RESET BUTTON IN FUSE BOX AND CAN NOT TURN OFF IN RADIO SETTINGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228310May 20, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TRIED TO START OUR CAR. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THE FUEL LINE CAME OFF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD RUPTURED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10225430April 22, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA 4 DOOR WITH 3.8 V6 ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING AND I WAS STUCK INSIDE DUE TO ALL ELECTRICAL GOING DOWN. POLICE ARRIVED WITHIN MINUTES OF ME CALLING 911 FROM CAR. I WAS JUST EXITING THE CAR 3 MINUTES AFTER CALLING THEM. DOORS WERE LOCKED AND CAR WAS A BLAZE AND ALSO SMOKE FILLED INTERIOR. PEOPLE WERE ALL AROUND VEHICLE AS I WAS TRYING TO EXIT. I NOW HAVE A SEVERE COUGH AND LUNG PAINS DUE TO PLASTICS BURNING AND NOW I AM TAKING ADVAIR INHALER. THE CAR GAVE NO WARNING AT ALL AS IT JUST BURST INTO FLAMES. THE DOORS AND ALL WINDOWS LOCKED. A CITY EMPLOYEE CAME RUNNING WITH AN EXTINGUISHER TO TRY BREAK WINDOWS AS I WAS INSIDE, I EXITED AS THE POLICE CAME TO CAR AND HE BLOCKED THE ROAD TO TRAFFIC WITH HIS CRUISER. THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER HE DID. I WAS ALL BLACK WITH AN OILY SUBSTANCE AND SOOT AS WELL AS COUGHING LOTS. I AM AWAITING AN APPOINTMENT WITH LUNG SPECIALIST AS THIS COUGH WILL NOT SUBSIDE AND IT IS AWFUL AS I CAN'T TALK OR EXHALE WITHOUT GASPING FOR AIR AND COUGHING ALL THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10224589April 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED TWICE WITHIN 45,000 MILES, HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED TWICE FOR THIS INTAKE ISSUE, WHICH INVOLVED MISSING WORK. BAD ENOUGH I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIRS, BUT THEN I HAVE TO MISS WORK AS WELL. LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY AND VEHICLE OVER HEATS. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, RADIATOR REPLACED, WATER PUMP REPLACED AND HAVEN'T ONLY OWNED THE CARE FOR 3 YEARS. I AM REBUILDING THE ENTIRE CAR! I'VE OWNED 7 CHEVY CARS BUT NONE AS BAD AS THIS. I WILL NEVER,EVER,EVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221876March 20, 2008
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
WHILE TURNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO THE OFF POSITION THEY DON'T GO DOWN. THEY SAY IN THE UP POSITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219826March 2, 2008
SEATS, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
RIGHT PASSENGER HEATED SEAT OVERHEATED AND CHARRED LEATHER SEAT COVER BEFORE I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I'VE REMOVED FUSE TO THIS SEAT, BUT MY SEAT IS RUINED. MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER SAID HE HAS HAD THREE OTHER GM VEHICLES TO DO THIS AND EVEN CAUGHT ONE MAN'S COAT ON FIRE LAYING IN THE SEAT. BUT , HE SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON HIS RECORDS FROM GM. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A FIVE OR SIX HUNDRED DOLLAR REPAIR BILL IF I HAVE IT FIXED. I CAN'T TAKE FUSE OUT FOR DRIVER,S SEAT, AS IT ALSO CONTROLS ANOTHER FUNCTION ON CAR. NOW I'M AFRAID IT WILL OVERHEAT AND I'LL BE BURNED LIKE SOME OF THE OTHERS I'VE READ ABOUT ON THE INTERNET. SEE WWW.CARSTATS.COM/SAFETYSTATION.ASP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219267February 27, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-35 MPH IN FOGGY WEATHER, THE DRIVER DROVE AROUND AN S-SHAPED CURVE AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE DRIVER WAS KILLED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000. UPDATED 4/16/08 *CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10217475February 8, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
LOW BEAM LIGHTS WENT OUT. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM THIS WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.CARSMART.COM/CONTENT/RESEARCH/FORUMS/INDEX.CFM/ACTION/POSTS/FID/136 I DECIDED THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE AT GM IN LINE OF A RECALL. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN YOU ALL OF A SUDDEN DON"T HAVE ANY LIGHTS. AND IF YOU DRIVE WITH YOUR HIGH BEAMS ON YOU CAN BLIND ONCOMING DRIVERS. MY CAR IS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217508February 8, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
VEHICLES TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT ALLOW THE HAZARD LIGHTS TO WORK. THIS POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK - I WAS STOPPED IN A DARK UNLIT AREA WHEN MY VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AND VEHICLES WERE UNABLE TO SEE MY CAR OR MYSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216592January 31, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STRUCTURE
OUR 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA WAS LEFT IN AN APARTMENT BEHIND MY CHILDREN'S' APARTMENT IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA. WHEN THEY RETURNED FROM CHRISTMAS BREAK, THE BATTERY WAS DOWN AND IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE. THEY TRIED TO JUMP START THE CAR USING JUMPER CABLES FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE NEXT TO IT. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN FRONT OF THE CAR TO REMOVE THE JUMPER CABLES AFTER IT STARTED. WHEN MY SON TRIED TO CRANK THE ENGINE, IT EXPLODED ALL OVER THE PARKING LOT, SHOWERING MY DAUGHTER WITH BITS AND PIECES OF THE PLASTIC TOP OF THE ENGINE. MY DAUGHTER WAS SHAKEN UP BUT NOT HOSPITALIZED AND HER CONFIDENCE IN STARTING GM AUTOS IS "GONE." GM CLAIMS THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THERE IS 120,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION AND WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY SAFETY ADVICE ON STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE. THEY ALSO CONTEND THAT THE CHILDREN WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR BLOWING UP THE CAR BY STARTING IT WITH JUMPER CABLES, ALTHOUGH THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT WAS STARTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OWNERS MANUAL. THERE SEEM TO BE UNRESOLVED SAFETY ISSUES HERE THAT GM DOES NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR ADMIT TO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10215793January 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
CAR RANDOMLY DOESN'T START. WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR(6 MOS AGO) I REPLACED THE STARTER HAVING NO IDEA THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO MANY IMPALA OWNERS IF NOT ALL OF THEM. STARTED FINE FOR 2 WEEKS AND IT'S BEEN HAPPENING EVER SINCE. SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR DOESN'T START IT TRIPS THE PASSLOCK AND I HAVE TO WAIT ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 30MINS BEFORE IT RESETS IN ORDER TO TRY STARTING AGAIN. I'VE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR AND AT QUICK STOPS I HAVE TO LEAVE IT RUNNING TO BE SURE I WON'T GET STUCK THERE FOR 30 MINS OR SO. I'VE ALSO BEEN STUCK AT GAS STATIONS WAITING 10 TO 30 MINS(AT THE PUMP) FOR IT TO START AGAIN (VERY EMBARRASSING). AFTER ALL THE COMPLAINTS I'VE READ I'M AFRAID TO SPEND ANYMORE MONEY ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215137January 16, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR WAS INOPERATIVE. IN ADDITION, HE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH AND LOCK ASSEMBLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,378. . UPDATED 02-14-08 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214367January 9, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
RECEIVED 2000 CHEVY IMPALA AS AN INHERITANCE. WITHIN 2 WEEKS CAR AT TIMES WOULD NOT START. ALL LIGHTS ON DASH WOULD ILLUMINATE FOLLOWED BY THE YELLOW/ORANGE SECURITY LIGHT. THIS IS DUE TO A PASSLOCK PROBLEM WHERE THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM THINKS THAT SOMETHING OTHER THAN A LEGITIMATE KEY IS BEING USED TO TRY AND START THE CAR. MY SISTER HAD THIS PROBLEM AND AT TIMES WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO "ON POSITION" AND WAIT 10 MINUTES. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF RESEARCH I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT TO RESET THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM THE KEY NEEDED TO BE LEFT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE "ON POSITION" THEN REMOVED AND REPEATED TWO MORE TIMES (3 TIMES, 30 MINUTES TOTAL). AFTER DOING THIS I HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS. MY ONLY PROBLEM IS THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT MECHANICALLY INCLINED, AND PLENTY OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO HAD THEIR VEHICLES TOWED AND FACE A DIAGNOSIS FEE (AND PLENTY OF TIMES MISDIAGNOSIS). ACCORDING TO ALL THE INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE CHEVY/GM HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS AND I CONSIDER IT SHAMEFUL THAT THEY DO NOT ALLOW SOME KIND OF CONCESSION OR MODIFICATION SO THAT A CUSTOMER OF THEIRS WITH A LEGITIMATE KEY CANNOT START THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214021January 7, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE STRUCK A POTHOLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211908December 14, 2007
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SEATS WERE BECOMING HOTTER THAN NORMAL. SHE DEACTIVATED THE SEAT HEATER; HOWEVER, THE SEAT CONTINUED TO HEAT. SHE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND NOTICED SMOKE AND A WHOLE IN THE SEAT. AS OF DECEMBER 14, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 160,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211275December 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING:COLUMN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL AFTER DRIVER PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR TO MOVE IT FROM A PARKED, IDLING POSITION, AFTER NOTICING A BURNING LIKE ODOR. IT WAS NOTED BY THE DRIVER AT THAT TIME THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS IN THE RED ZONE. WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE CAR TO A SAFER PARKING AREA ONLY A FEW FEET IN DISTANCE, SHE HEARD A SHARP SNAPPING SOUND AND ALSO FELT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN AREA. THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD, THE HEAD LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTING WENT COMPLETELY OUT AS THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS NO STEERING OR BRAKE CONTROL. NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE AN INSURANCE COMPANY IS INVOLVED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10208119November 7, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
ON THURSDAY 01 NOV 07 AND MONDAY 05 NOV 07 MY WIFE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN OFF A BUSY HIGHWAY WHERE WE LIVE. WHEN SHE TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT IT LOCKED OR WOULDN'T MOVE PLACING HER IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION OF POSSIBLY BEING HIT BY ON-COMING TRAFFIC. I CONFIRMED THE STEERING WHEELING LOCKING WHEN TURNING LEFT ONLY WHEN I GOT HOME BY DRIVING THE CAR AND HAVING IT LOCK ON ME ONE TIME IN A PARKING LOT. I HAVE SEEN A WEB SITE CALLED WWW.DIRECT.CA/TRINITY/GM-STEERING-PROBEM.HTM WHICH HAS RECORDED OVER 250 U. S. COMPLAINTS. IT MENTIONS POLICE CHEVROLET IMPALA STEERING CAN LOCK-UP WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED. MY POWER STEERING FLUID IS AT CORRECT LEVEL AND CAR HAS HIGHER MILEAGE AT AROUND 148,000. WE ARE PUTTING A RE-MANUFACTURED STEERING RACK AN PINION IN THIS WEEK TO TRY AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AS RECOMMENDED BY WEB LETTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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