Chevrolet Impala Complaints

10,446 consumer complaints on file.

#10350737August 20, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOR OVER A YEAR, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA. FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THE SECURITY LIGHT IN MY DRIVER?S PANEL INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAYED WHEN I PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND MY CAR FAILED TO START. THE CAR WOULD EVENTUALLY START AFTER 15 ? 30 MINUTES. AT FIRST, THIS OCCURRED SPORADICALLY BUT THEN BECAME A MORE COMMON OCCURRENCE. WHEN I TOOK MY IMPALA TO A LOCAL AUTO-REPAIR SHOP, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSIS THE EXACT PROBLEM. THEIR EQUIPMENT REPORTED A NUMBER OF ELECTRONIC ERRORS BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PINPOINT THE PRECISE CAUSE OF THE CAR?S ISSUES. INSTEAD, THEY OFFERED TO RESET THE ELECTRONIC CODES AND ADVISED ME TO BRING MY CAR BACK AT THE FIRST SIGN OF ANY ELECTRONIC ISSUES. MY IMPALA OPERATED FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WITHOUT ISSUE. HOWEVER, A NEW ELECTRONIC ISSUE EMERGED WITH MY VEHICLE. I NOTICED MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AUTOMATICALLY. FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT A MODERATE AMOUNT OF SPEED AS SOON AS I RELEASED THE BRAKE. LIKE THE PREVIOUS ISSUE, THIS PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND SOON PROGRESSED TO A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. WHEN I TOOK THE IMPALA BACK TO THE AUTO-REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANICS STATED THE AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION WAS DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SENSOR. AFTER I HAD THE FAULTY IGNITION SENSOR REPLACED, THE IMPALA ONCE AGAIN RAN WITHOUT ISSUE FOR A FEW MONTHS. HOWEVER, THE SOLUTION PROVED TEMPORARY AS THE PREVIOUS AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION ISSUE RETURNED. I ONCE AGAIN TOOK MY CAR TO THE AUTO-REPAIR SHOP AND ONCE AGAIN, THE MECHANICS BLAMED A FAULTY IGNITION SENSOR. AT THIS POINT, I HAD THE MECHANICS REPLACE THE IGNITION SENSOR. SINCE THAT POINT, MY CAR HAS OPERATED WITHOUT ISSUE UNTIL TODAY. THE SECURITY LIGHT IN MY DRIVERS PANEL NOW CONTINUALLY DISPLAYS WHENEVER I DRIVE. I FEEL AS IF I AM AT THE END OF MY ROPE. I HAVE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE TO NO AVAIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350810August 20, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350815August 20, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS FAILING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE GASKET WAS MANUFACTURED FROM PLASTIC AND WOULD EVENTUALLY, WOULD NOT RETAIN COOLANT FROM PENETRATING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350488August 19, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN A HEADLIGHT FAILS ON MY 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA THE MANUAL MAKES IT LOOK LIKE IT IS VERY EASY FOR THE OWNER TO CHANGE THE HEADLIGHT. HOWEVER, AFTER PURCHASING THE HEADLAMP AT AN AUTOPARTS STORE I TRIED EVERY DRIVER I HAD ON THE SO CALLED SCREW THAT HOLDS THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IN PLACE. THE FALE NORMAL LOOKING SCREW THEY USE IS A SAFETY TRAP. IT'S HEAD IS TOO SHALLOW TO REACH INTO ANY NORMAL DRIVE. I HAD TO DRIVE AROUND WITH MY HEADLIGHT OUT UNTIL I FIND A CAPABLE MECHANIC WITH THE SPECIAL TOOL. IF THEIR SHOP MANUAL WARNED I NEEDED A SPECIAL TOOL I COULD HAVE TRADED THE CAR IN ON A NEW ONE OR GONE TO A MECHANIC TO BEGIN WITH. IT MADE ME SO ANGRY THAT I TOOK IT OUT ON MY WIFE WHEN SHE COMPLAINED THAT IT WAS TAKING TOO LONG TO DO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A "JUST WAIT A MINUTE HONEY UNTIL I GET DONE" JOB. ANY MORE ANGRY I COULD HAVE TURNED INTO A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD STORM! ITS ALMOST AS BAD AS WHEN GM MADE ME PURCHASE A LEASE LOOKING LOAN FROM GMAC WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. AFTER I PAID IT OFF THEY STILL OWNED THE CAR. FOR SOME REASON THEY INSISTED THAT IT WAS A LOAN AND NOT A LEASE. AND NOW THE GUY IN THE OFFICE NEXT TO ME GOT A GOOD DEAL ON A NEW IMPALA AT TAX PAYER EXPENSE. I HEAR THAT GM IS CONNING THE PUBLIC INTO THINKING THEY ARE PAYING BACK THEIR LOAN WHEN THEY ARE REALLY PLAYING TRICKS BY NOT TALKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE 30 BILLION AND MESSING USING TARP MONEY TO PAY THE GOVERNMENT BACK. PEOPLE AT GM COULD GET HUNG OR AT LEAST TARRED AND FEATHERED FOR THIS WHICH IS ANOTHER SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350494August 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN
YESTERDAY, MY CHEVY 08 IMPALA WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. I CONTACTED AAA WHO WAS UNABLE TO HELP ME. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A CAR MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE WIRESUNDER THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HAD COME UNATTACHED. I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH CHEVY WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AND MY MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WAS OVER AT 36, 000 MILES. I HAD TO PAY $ 91 TO HAVE THE WIRES RECONNECTED BACK INTO THE PIECE EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE WIRES ARE TO SHORT TO BEGIN WITH AND THAT IS WHY THEY CAN BECOME TANGLED AND TEAR OUT OF THE CONNECTING PIECE. I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS FAIR FOR THE CONSUMER TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS WHEN IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350909August 19, 2010
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES EXTREME VIBRATION, SEVERE STEERING DIFFICULTIES AND BRAKE UNRESPONSIVENESS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE FROZEN IN ONE POSITION . THE DEALER MACHINED THE FRONT ROTORS AND SANDED THE PADS. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE IN 3RD GEAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350012August 17, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY IMPALA THAT HAS A CRAZY DASH CLUSTER!! I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE!! GM HAS RECALLED OTHER TYPES OF VEHICLES WITH THE SAME TYPE OF CLUSTER PROBLEM, BUT WON'T RECALL THE IMPALAS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME DANGEROUS ISSUE!! I HAVE YOUNG TWO CHILDREN THAT ARE ALWAYS WITH ME AND WHEN I'M DRIVING ; NOT KNOWING HOW FAST I AM GOING, NOT KNOWING MY TEMPERATURE, OR HOW MANY RPMS MY CAR IS PUSHING! VERY SERIOUS WHEN I'M NOT THE ONLY VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. I HOPE GM ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM FOR THE SAFETY OF THERE CUSTOMERS! HOPEFULLY THE GOVERNMENT CAN PUSH THEM TO DO SOMETHING!!! WE PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE WILL APPRECIATE IT GREATLY!!! THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350068August 17, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER HAD HER HAND OUT THE WINDOW WHEN THE WINDOW BEGAN TO INDEPENDENTLY CLOSE. THE WINDOW CLOSED WITH THE PASSENGERS RING FINGER CAUGHT IN THE WINDOW AND SEVERED THE END JOINT OF HER FINGER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NOT A SENSOR THAT WOULD STOP THE WINDOW FROM CLOSING WHEN OBSTRUCTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10350137August 17, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2005 CHEVY IMPALA, THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND GIVES FALSE READINGS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW THE SPEED THE CAR IS GOING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350174August 17, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2002 CHEVY IMPALA. THE TURN SIGNALS OFTEN FAIL TO ACTIVATE, CREATING A ROAD HAZARD. APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM ON THAT TIME PERIOD IMPALAS. SUSPECTED A FAULTY MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349541August 16, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
THE ABS SYSTEM ON MY 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA ENGAGES AND THE "TRACTION ACTIVE" LIGHT COMES ON WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND THE ABS SYSTEM DISENGAGES WITHIN ABOUT 5 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE EACH TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. THREE TRIPS TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND NO REPAIRS MADE AND NO SOLUTION THUS FAR. THE CHEVY DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349501August 15, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FIRST ISSUE TOOK PLACE ON A CLEAR SUNNY DAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE SPEEDOMETER AT FIRST SEEMED TO STICK AS IT MOVED UP AND DOWN INSTEAD OF MOVING NORMALLY. THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS TO EXTREMES IN SPEED, EITHER SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER OR SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN ACTUAL. ONCE THE ISSUE STARTED, IT HAS REMAINED A PROBLEM. AFTER LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE, IT APPEARS THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON COMPLAINT FOR GM VEHICLES, SPECIFICALLY WITH MODEL YEARS 2000 - 2006. THE CAR IN QUESTION IS A 2005 IMPALA. THE CURRENT RECOMMENDED FIX BY GM SEEMS TO BE TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH CAN COST UPWARDS OF 700 DOLLARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349503August 15, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2004 CHEVY IMPALA: SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONS, USUALLY JUMPS TO OVER 120 MPH AT FREEWAY SPEEDS BUT CAN READ LOW OR HIGH. WHEN STOPPED IT CURRENTLY IS STUCK AT 67 MPH. TOMORROW IT MAY BE 35 WHO KNOWS. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349259August 13, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE TOGGLE BETWEEN LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM QUIT WORKING, IT WON'T STAY IN HIGH BEAM, BUT THAT DIDN'T AFFECT MY LIFE VERY MUCH. BUT SUDDENLY, THE DRIVING LIGHTS WENT OUT ON THIS 2004 CHEVY IMPALA. THIS IS DANGEROUS, NOT JUST A MINOR INCONVENIENCE, AND NOW I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT AT ALL, DRAMATICALLY AFFECTING MY LIFE. THE PART IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE, BETWEEN $550 AND $800, AND THAT SEEMS TO RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY, GIVEN THE SIMILAR CONSUMER ITEMS THAT HAVE SWITCHES THAT PERFORM SATISFACTORILY FAR LONGER IN THE LIFE OF A PRODUCT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349281August 13, 2010
WHEELS
BOLT HOLDING THE HUB IN PLACE JUST FELL OUT LAST YEAR ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THIS OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A RELATIVES HOUSE ON A BUSY ROAD. LUCKILY, NO CRASH. BOLT WAS REPLACED WITH A BRAND NEW ONE. 1 MONTH AGO TODAY, THE SAME BOLT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FELL OUT. NO REASON, JUST PLAIN FELL OUT. DRIVING HOME FROM PICKING UP MY SON AFTER WORK, NO CRASH OCCURRED. THIS IS A HUGE RISK AND I FEAR DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY TIME BECAUSE I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS, BUT CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA 3.4L. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348865August 11, 2010
SUSPENSION:REAR
I'VE HAD TO REPLACE REAR TIRES EVERY 23,000 MILES. TOOK CAR TO CHEVY DEALER AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE HOLES FOR THE STRUTS WOULD HAVE TO BE ELONGATED AND MODIFIED WITH A CAMBER KIT AT MY EXPENSE OR ELSE THE REAR ALIGNMENT WOULD NOT BE ACCORDING TO SPECS. I PAID FOR FRONT AND REAR ALIGNMENT,CHEVY WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS UNLESS ITS A POLICE CAR. IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT, THERE ARE A LOT OF THE SAME MODEL YEAR CHEVROLETS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348864August 11, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CHEVY 2007 IMPALA FAILS TO START AT CERTAIN TIMES DUE TO PASSLOCK DEFECTS. THE INTERNET LISTS COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE WEB ABOUT THIS GM PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL. IT HAS DONE THIS 14 TIMES IN THE LAST 30 DAYS. SOMETIMES STARTING 10 MINUTES LATER, SOMETIMES NOT STARTING UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. I NEED A CAR THAT STARTS WHEN NEEDED, ESPECIALLY IF I AM IN A BAD AREA OR PARKED IN AN AREA THAT HAS BECOME UNSAFE. HAVE SOLDERED CONNECTIONS TO TERMINALS THAT SEEMED TO WORK FOR 3 DAYS BUT PROBLEM CAME BACK. NEXT WILL TRY AFTER MARKET BYEMASS MODULE AS MENTIONED ON COMPLAINT SITES AS A FIX, AS CHEVY APPEARS TO CHARGE IN EXCESS OF $500 FOR TEMPORARY FIXES. JUST HAD MY SECOND TOW JOB AFTER A SHOP COULDN'T FIX IT, OVER 70 MILE TOW THIS TIME BACK HOME BECAUSE SHOP COULDN'T DETERMINE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348872August 11, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMBINATION CONTROL SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. WHENEVER THE HIGH BEAMS WERE ON AND THE LOW BEAMS WERE ACTIVATED THEY WOULD NOT FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY. THE GEAR LEVER BOX THAT WAS ILLUMINATED AT NIGHT ALSO FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 208,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348896August 11, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING WE HIT ANOTHER CAR ON ITS SIDE I WONT GET IN TO BIG DETAILS BUT THE OTHER CARS AIR BAGS WENT OFF AND NOT OURS, WHY DIDN'T THEY GO OFF AND WHAT IS THE POINT OF BUYING A CAR THAT WOULD "SAVE OR LIVES" IF THE MAIN THING WE PAID FOR DID NOT WORK? THE ACCIDENT WAS AT ABOUT 10-20 MPH. THE CAR HYDROPLANED IN TO THE OTHER WE HAD A FULL CAR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS WEIGH MORE THAN 160LBS EACH. I HAVE SOME PHYSICAL PAIN, INCLUDING BECK AND BACK SPRAIN. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10348398August 10, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA. ON OCCASION IT JUST WON'T START. I HAD IT INTO THE CHEVY DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO KNOW AVAIL. THERE HAS BEEN MILLIONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WHY HASN'T GM ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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