Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2002)

795 consumer complaints on file.

#10150371February 15, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY VEHICLE HAS 62,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS ALREADY HAD BRAKES REPLACED AND A FUEL PUMP WHICH COSTED $789 DOLLARS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149065January 30, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP; THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NOR HAS THE MANUFACTURER BEEN ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148862January 27, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AROUND 7:30 PM ON TUESDAY ON JANUARY 24, 2006, DARK OUTSIDE. I HAD MY LIGHTS ON BRIGHT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WERE NO LIGHTS. I DID HAVE FOG LIGHTS ON AND I COULD STILL SEE THEM, BUT THERE WEREN'T ANY HEADLIGHTS. I QUICK FLICKED THE DIMMER SWITCH AND THEY CAME BACK ON. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT BEFORE. HOWEVER, WHEN I TALKED TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY HE SAID SOMEONE THE WEEK BEFORE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING TWICE IN ONE DRIVE. THE PIECE TO REPLACE THIS IS QUITE EXPENSIVE. I HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED YET, BUT I FELT IT SHOULD BE REPORTED. THIS HAPPENED ONCE. ANOTHER ITEM OF CONCERN IS THAT MY SECURITY LIGHT INSIDE MY CAR HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE MY CAR WON'T START ON THE FIRST TURN. ONLY ONCE DID I HAVE TO HAVE IT JUMPED. THERE IS PLENTY OF POWER AS THE LIGHTS AND RADIO STILL WORK. MY MECHANIC HAS TRIED REPLACING AN IGNITION SWITCH (I THINK), BUT THE FIRST TIME I STARTED IT DIDN'T TURN OVER AND THEN IT DID, BUT THE SECURITY LIGHT WAS STILL ON. IT'S BACK IN THE SHOP TODAY. THE OTHER PERSON MENTIONED ABOVE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS SAME DEFECT. THEY ALSO OWN AN IMPALA. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON MY CAR. MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148351January 23, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES KEEP FAILING IN THE WINTER MONTHS. DEALER KEEPS SAYING NEED TO CLEAN BETTER, BUT THAT HAS NOT WORKED, AND THEY HAVE FAILED WHILE IN USE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN MY MIND. KEEP PUTTING NEW PARTS INTO THE WIPER TRAIN. AT MY EXPENCE AND IT STILL IS A PROBLEM EVERY WINTER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147798January 15, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA, AND THE CAR HAS 89000 MILES ON IT. THE GAS LINE THAT GOES TO THE ENGINE HAS A HOLE IN IT AND GAS IS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. THE LEAK IS FROM A STEEL LINE THAT WAS RUBBED THROUGH BY THE HOLDER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147434January 11, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
ON 01/09/06 WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA AT DARK WITH THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ON, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD VERY CAREFULLY. AS I COULD NOT SEE AT ALL. I THEN HIT THE DIMMER, HIGH BEAM SWITCH A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I REPORTED IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP (MARQUARDT) WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW. THEY STATED THEY HAD ONE OTHER INCIDENT OF THE SAME NATURE. THEY HAD ME BRING THE CAR IN AND THEY REPLACED A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THEY STATED THEY WERE NOT SURE IF THIS WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM OR NOT BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY HAD DID IN THE OTHER CAR THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS STILL UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY STILL MADE ME PAY $50.00 DEDUCTIBLE ON IT. I FELT THAT WAS VERY UNFAIR, SINCE THIS WAS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO ISSUE A COMPLAINT WITH GM ABOUT IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147283January 9, 2006
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR-END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY (EXPECTED) AND THE SHOULDER RESTRAINT DID NOT PREVENT MY HEAD AND BODY FROM GOING FORWARD AND STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL (UNEXPECTED.) I RECEIVED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF MY FOREHEAD STRIKING (I ASSUME) THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10145774December 21, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
MIS-DIAGNOSIS AND WILLFUL NEGLIGENCE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS OF ENGINE KNOCKING AND LOSS OF POWER UPON ACCELERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED A CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER, HOWEVER, THE SYMPTOMS RETURNED WITHIN 15 DAYS. NOW THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE ENGINE IS DAMAGED AND MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,000. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY PURCHASED 6 WEEKS AGO AT A COST OF $12,000. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS MADE UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, NOW THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND WARRANTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145576December 19, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE. WHEN HE PRESSED THE HIGH BEAM/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146457December 19, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
2002 IMPALA BRAKES PULSATE WHILE ON A HILL. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND RUSTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145288December 15, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON THERE WAS A LOSS OF LIGHTING. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE. MANEUVERING THE HIGH BEAM/LOW BEAM SWITCH QUICKLY ACTIVATED THE HEADLIGHTS. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS FAULTY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO EXCESSIVE COST. *AK UPDATED 01/19/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144439December 5, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) FAILED AFTER 57,000 MILES. THE OTHER COMPUTER THAT RESIDES IN THE SAME HOUSING IS COVERED BY A 80,000 MILE WARRANTY, WHERE AS THE BCM IS NOT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS TSB'S THAT ARE POSTED CONCERNING FAILURE OF THE BCM. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND MANY SOURCES ARE AVAILABLE BY RESEARCHING THE INTERNET. THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP EVEN SAID THAT "IMPALAS ARE NOTORIOUS" FOR PROBLEM WITH THE BCM. GENERAL MOTORS SAYS THAT IT IS NOT COVERED AND THEREFORE WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT COSTS OF THE BCM. IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR MODEL (2002 IMPALA LS) THEN WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE BY THEM. I AM THANKFUL THAT MY CAR DID NOT SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY AND DID SO IN MY PARKING LOT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143706November 26, 2005
STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1. LOW COOLANT LIGHT WAS CONTINUALLY ON, AND IT DID REQUIRE COOLANT AT THE TIME, BUT THERE WAS NO INDICATION WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE COOLANT - AFTER 2 WEEKS OF SMELLING ANTIFREEZE WITHIN THE VEHICLE, IT WAS THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING AROUND THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEAR THE BOLTS AND THEN THIS LED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE GASKET ITSELF..IT TOOK 8.5 HOURS OF LABOR AND THE COST OF THE NEW GASKET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. 2. THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE AT SLOW SPEEDS...APPARENTLY IT IS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE CHEVROLET DEALER BUT WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM FOR US...THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND THAT THEY HAVE TRIED TO GET CHEVROLET TO RECALL THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE COMPLAINTS FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS. BOTH PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE LISTED ARE A CONTINUAL PROBLEM FOR MANY IMPALA OWNERS AND I FEEL AS THOUGH SINCE THEY HAVE ISSUED NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS TO THEIR DEALERS ABOUT BOTH OF MY COMPLAINTS, THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS BUT STILL REFUSE TO CORRECT THEM FOR THE CONSUMER. AS A CONSUMER I FEEL AS THOUGH GM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND MADE TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS FOR ALL OF US 2002 IMPALA OWNERS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143425November 22, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, 72K MILES, POOR ACCELERATION, OVER-HEATING OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER. FIRE IS POSSIBLE. NO ANNOUNCED RECALL, HOWEVER A SERVICE RECALL WAS ISSUED AND WARRANTY EXTENDED DUE TO FAULTY CONVERTER. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ANNOUNCE RECALL, UNLESS A PROBLEM OCCURS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140628October 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
THE AC DELCO BATTERY POST CAME OFF OF THE BATTERY. THE CLAMP AND CABLE WERE TIGHT, THE POST WAS EATEN IN TWO FROM THE INSIDE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140398October 20, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
I PURCHASED MY '02 IMPALA THROUGH THE CORPORATE LEASING COMPANY OF MY FATHER'S EMPLOYER. HE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR OTHER THAN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TURNING BLACK BY 85,000 MILES. WHEN I GOT THE CAR IN JUNE OF '05, IT WAS AT 121,000 MILES, I DROVE THE CAR AROUND ALL DAY, PARKED THE CAR FOR 5 MINUTES, AND WHEN I WENT TO START IT, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE DASH LIT UP, THE RADIO CAME ON, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T TURN OVER, NOT EVEN A CLICKING SOUND, INDICATIVE OF A DEAD BATTERY. I WAITED 10 MINUTES, TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I WENT FOR ANOTHER MONTH WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, HOWEVER IN LATE JULY, THE CAR FAILED TO START. AGAIN I WAITED 10-15 MINUTES, AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. THIS CONTINUED SPORADICALLY UNTIL OCTOBER 20, WHEN IT TOOK 30 MINUTES OF WAITING TO GET IT TO CRANK. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL GM DEALER, WHO PUT IT ON THE MACHINE AND ADVISED ME THAT THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) HAD FAILED AND WAS SENDING A SIGNAL TO THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM TELLING IT THAT MY KEYS WERE INCORRECT. THE SERVICE WRITER INFORMED ME THAT A NEW BCM INSTALLED WOULD RUN ABOUT $500.00, AND THE SERVICE TECH ADVISED THAT THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON FAILURE IN BOTH THE IMPALA AND THE MALIBU, WHICH GM HAS YET TO RECALL. THE TECHNICIAN DID SUGGEST THAT A MORE COST EFFECTIVE OPTION EXISTED WITH SEVERAL OF THE AFTER-MARKET SHOPS, IN WHICH A BYPASS-RELAY WAS INSTALLED UNDER THE DASH, TO BLOCK THE ERRONEOUS SIGNALS FROM THE BCM, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE COST FOR THIS BYPASS IS ABOUT $55.00 AND TAKES APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR TO INSTALL. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS SOLUTION, IS IT BLOCKS THE KEY RECOGNITION FEATURE OF THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM, WHICH WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO STEAL, IF SOMEONE CAN START IT WITHOUT DAMAGING THE KEY IGNITION. I THINK IT IS NECESSARY FOR GM TO UNDERSTAND THAT A VEHICLE'S FAILURE TO START DUE TO FAULTY COMPONENT IN THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IS A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN WHICH NEEDS TO ADDRESSED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140986October 14, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CONSUMER BRAKES BEGAN TO VIBRATE, BRAKES WERE CLEANED AND LATER REPLACED. *TS THE DEALER HAS RESURFACED THE REAR ROTORS, REPLACED THE FRONT DISC PADS, REPLACED BOTH REAR ROTORS TWICE, CLEANED RUST OFF THE REAR ROTORS, CLEANED THE BRAKING SURFACE AND CLEANED THE FRONT ROTOR SURFACES. THE TRUNK HANDLE CAME OFF IN THE TRUNK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139138October 9, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION OCCASIONALLY AND THIS PROBLEM WAS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY. NO ACCIDENTS,BUT I HAD TO ROLL DOWN WINDOW TO GIVE TURN INDICATIONS. MY CHEVY DEALER REPLACED A PART OR PARTS AND I SEEM TO BE OK. AT A COST OF OVER 100 DOLLARS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137599September 26, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
REPEATED INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF TURN SIGNALS. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO THE FAILURE TO SIGNAL INTENT OF TURN OR LANE CHANGE. THE FAILURE CAN SOMETIMES BE OVER COME BY BRIEFLY ACTIVATING THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH. MY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS FAILURE IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE 03V327000 RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE 2001 MALIBU. WHICH MAKES ME WONDER IF IT IS THE SAME PART. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137170September 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2002 CHEVY IMPALA LS CAR STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OFTEN AFTER HITTING LARGE BUMP, RESULTING LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING IS DANGEROUS. FULL TEXT OF CORRESPONDENCE WITH GM, POSTINGS ON LINE AND SEARCH OF TSB IS AVAILABLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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