Chevrolet Impala Complaints

10,446 consumer complaints on file.

#10056454February 3, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE LEAK APPEARS IN THE GASKET THAT IS DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE STOVE PIPE FROM THE EXHAST MANIFOLD. IT APPEARS THE HIGH TEMPERATURE FROM THE THE STOVE PIPE IS DETERIORATING THE GASKET IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS HAS EVERY INDICATION OF AN ENGINEERING DEFECT DUE TO THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME PROBLEM. OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS WERE DISCOVERED IN IMPALA WITH VIN TYPE K MINE IS TYPE E SEE TSB 03034.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056165January 30, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
INTAKE MANAFOLD LEAK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056168January 30, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
INTAKE MANAFOLD LEAK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056073January 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
FAN MOTOR FROZE UNDER VERY COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. AS A RESULT, DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO USE DEFROSTER. THEREFORE, DRIVING VISIBILITY WAS VERY POOR. DEALER REPLACED THE FAN MOTOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055060January 28, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
PERSISTENT COOLANT LEAK DUE TO FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055076January 28, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE TRAVELING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET THE CAR CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE NEXT WEEK WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 70 MPH THE CAR CUT OFF AGAIN WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS. ONCE I GOT IT STARTED IT CUT OFF ABOUT 4 MORE TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET HOME. THE DEALER REPLACE THE FUSE BOX. NOW ABOUT 7 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN. I INFORMED GMAC AND THEY TOLD ME TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER. I GUESS SO THEY CAN HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO HURT SOMEONE THIS TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054969January 27, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PREMATURE FAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSING LEAKING OF COOLENT AND OIL MIX. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054992January 27, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STAYED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN THEY WERE SHUT OFF. TOOK THE CAR TO THE BILL WINK DEALER AND PAID $ 78.00 TO REPOSITION THEM BUT ONLY 3 DAYS LATER, THE WIPERS WON'T EVEN MOVE. I HEAR THE MOTOR TRYING TO MOVE THEM BUT ITS LIKE THEY JUST DON'T CATCH THE WIPER TO MOVE THEM. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054884January 26, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL CAME ON UNEXPECTEDLY. IT WAS THE 2ND SUCH INCIDENT ON THIS CAR. THE CAR HAD BEEN IN CRUISE, BUT I HAD SLOWED DOWN FOR A REDUCED SPEED AREA. WHEN I GAVE IT THE GAS, THE CRUISE CAME ON WITHOUT THE RESUME BUTTON BEING PUSHED. THE FIRST TIME, THE CAR WAS NOT IN CRUISE. I HAD JUST STARTED IT IN A PARKING LOT, WAS ENTERING TRAFFIC, AND IT CAME ON AT 15 MPH. BOTH TIMES, THE CRUISE WENT OFF WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054851January 25, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAS A RECURRING INCIDENT OF CLICKING NOISES AT RIGHT FRONT STEERING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS IS SUPPLEMENTAL TO THE VEHICLE DEVELOPING A UNEVEN WEAR AT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. WHEN TAKEN TO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT ROTATING THE TIRES WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AS THE PROBLEM GREW WORSE (INCLUDING A BADLY SHIMMYING FRONT END AT HIGH SPEEDS),I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED WELD ON IT CHASIS AND REPAIRED IT. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE TIRES, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW ONES AT MY OWN EXPENSE. A SMOOTH RIDE WITH NEW TIRES WAS SHORT LIVED, AS A BADLY SHIMMYING FRONT END HAD DEVELOPED AGAIN (WITHIN 24 HOURS). TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SECOND DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS A WORN TIE ROD. ONCE THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, I PERIODICALLY HEARD LIGHT CLICKING NOISED FROM THE STEERING WHEN MAKING TURNS (RIGHT & LEFT). TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SECOND DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF LUBRICATION. ONCE LUBRICATED, THE VEHICLE STOPPED MAKING CLICKING NOISES FOR ABOUT 30 T0 40 DAYS. I NOTICED THAT THE CLICKING NOISES BEGAN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN OVER UNEVEN AREAS OF A ROAD OR PARKING LOT, OR WHEN THE VEHICLE NEGOTIATES TIGHT LEFT TURNS (LOW SPEEDS) AND WIDE/SWEEPING LEFT CURVES AT HIGH SPEEDS. NEVER THE LESS, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM CONCERNS LUBRICATION. LATEST MAINTENANCE DATE AS INCIDENT DATE 10/16/03 (COMPLAINT: F/E SNAPPING WHEN TURNING. DIAGNOSIS: INADEQUATE LUBRICANTS IN THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. CORRECTION: REMOVED SHAFT - LUBRICATED AND RE-INSTALLED PART# [XXX]. THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP: RHODES CHEVROLET OF SWANSBORO, NC (NOW UNDER NEW NAME AND MANAGEMENT). THE DEALERSHIP MAKING REPAIRS: MARINE CHEVROLET CADILLAC OLDSMOBILE. INITIAL THUMPING/ UNEVEN TIRE WEAR IS WITHIN ONE MONTH OF VEHICLE PURCHASE 01/18/01. VIN [XXX]. *LA UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT T
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047921January 23, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THERE WAS A BAD ODOR WITHIN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR DID NOT OCCUR WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON . THE ODOR MADE THE OCCUPANTS SICK. THE CAUSE AND LOCATION OF THE ODOR WAS UNKNOWN ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE ROTORS BEING TO THIN. *AK THE ODOR WAS CAUSED BY A BAD FAN MOTOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART. THE BRAKE ROTOR PROBLEM CONTINUED. GM REFUSED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054696January 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PERIODICALLY FAILS TO PROCEED WITH SHIFTS AFTER REACHING 25-30 MPH. AT THAT POINT, THE ENGINE ROARS, AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, AND THE VEHICLE CEASES TO ACCELERATE. SOMETIMES THIS IS RESOLVED WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS WITH A LURCH. MOST OFTEN, IT IS NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE SPEAD AND ONCE AGAIN ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PROBLEMATIC RANGE. THIS USUALLY LEADS TO THE CAR RESUMING A NORMAL PATTERN OF ACCELERATION. HOWEVER, ON SOME ACCASIONS THIS PROCESS HAS LED TO MULTIPLE REPITITIONS OF THE SAME PROBLEM, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FAIL TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY INTO TRAFFIC FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD WITH RESULTANT DANGER TO THOSE IN THE VEHICLE AND IN OTHER VEHICLES NEARBY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES OVER THE PAST FIVE MONTHS, WITH THE FIRST REQUEST FOR SERVICE OCCURRING WHEN THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE WAS JUST UNDER 10,800. THE FIRST FOUR SERVICE VISITS FAILED TO RESULT IN EFFECTIVE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE RESULTS OF THE FIFTH SERVICE VISIT ARE PENDING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055634January 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS AND LURCHED FORWARD. DEALER REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION ALSO SLIPPED GEARS AND LURCHED FORWARD. *AK WHEN VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ON FIRST FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE COLOR OF THE FLUID IN THE TRANS AXLE WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE IN THE BOTTLE. CONSUMER DECIDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE AND FLUID AFTER VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR A NUMBER OF MILES BECAUSE THE FLUID COLOR GETS DARKER. AFTER REPAIR, JUST AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD, TRANSMISSION BLEW UP THEN VEHICLE QUIT DRIVING FORWARD; TRANSMISSION TECHNICIAN AND COULD NOT TELL THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. CONSUMER SPOKE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER AND SAID THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF AN AXLE BEARING OR BEARING FAILURE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055683January 22, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
THE SECURITY SYSTEM CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND SHUT THE AUTOMOBILE DOWN. CHEVROLET PUT IN A BODY CONTROL MODULE IN 08-12-03. ON 01-15-2004, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START, VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THIS TIME THE DRIVER WAS LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR LOCKS DID NOT RELEASE, AND THE KEY DID NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054682January 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COOLANT LEAK AROUND THERMOPLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS COOLANT LEAK DEVELOPED AROUND 42000 MI AND IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT THE DEALER ADMITS. ALSO DEX-COOL IS FALSLEY ADVERTISED THAT IT CAN GO 150,000 OR 5 YEARS. MOST CONSUMERS AREN'T AWARE THAT IT TURNS ACIDIC AND DESTROYS GASKETS AND OTHER COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS. I FEEL THE COOLANT LEAK AND ASSOCIATED DEX-COOL PROBLEMS DEMONSTRATES GM FAILURE TO CORRECT A KNOWN DEFECT. UNFORTUNATLEY THE CONSUMER PAYS DEARLY RIGHT AS WARRANTY EXPIRES. GM SHOULD REPLACE THERMOPLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WITH SOMETHING MORE DURABLE AND HEAT RESISTANT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054548January 20, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
FAILED MANIFOLD GASKETS INVOLVING ALOT OF CARS THAT GM IS INSUFFICIENTLY DEALING WITH OR TRYING TO KEEP FROM BECOMING A RECALL ON THE 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA, 3.4 ENGINE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054405January 18, 2004
STEERING
THERE ARE 2 PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR I BOUGHT: 1. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE PAINT ON THE BUMPERS--IT PEELS OFF. 2. THE STEERING SHAFT ON THIS CAR WAS POPPING AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAD PLAY AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES AND THEY REPLACED THE SHAFT AND TOLD ME THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANOTHER PROBLEM. NOW THE CAR HAS ABOUT 90,000 MILES AND WHEN IT HAD 70,000 IT STARTED THE SAME STEERING PROBLEMS IT HAD BEFORE. DOES IT TAKE INJURIES OR FAILED STEERING TO GET SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THIS AS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL???? I GAVE UP ARGUING ABOUT #1 EVEN THOUGH THE PAINT ISN'T THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. NUMBER 2 IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT, WHEN THE DEALER HAD TO PAY BEFORE I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY NOW!!! *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055257January 16, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DURING COLD WEATHER MONTHS THE CONSUMER COULD SMELL FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055312January 16, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR WHEEL. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CALIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER CHANGED THE CALIPER TWICE BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKES WERE METALLIC THEREFORE THEY WOULD ALWAYS SQUEAK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071305January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CLEAR COAT IS COMING OFF THE CAR. WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED (OCT. 26/01) AND TOOK IT TO ZIEBART TO HAVE A PROTECTIVE COATING PUT ON.(NOV. 9/01) THE GM PROTECTION PLAN WAS VERY EXPENSIVE. WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK FOR ITS ONE-YEAR CHECK-UP(OCT. 21/02),THE TECHNICIAN AT ZIEBART TOLD US THAT THE CLEAR COAT WAS COMING OFF. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON OCT. 31/02. THE WARRANTEE WAS FOR 60000 KM (38000 MILES). THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PART THAT WAS COMING OFF "AS A GESTURE OF GOOD WILL" BECAUSE THE WARRANTEE WAS UP, BUT WE REQUESTED THAT THEY DO THE WHOLE CAR, AS WE FELT THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD RECUR. "THEY DO NOT REPAIR WHAT IS NOT DAMAGED." NOW, 7 MONTHS LATER, THE CLEAR COAT IS COMING OFF A DIFFERENT PART OF THE CAR. THEY WILL COVER 50% OF THE COST OF REPAIR, BUT WHEN I ASKED WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS PROBLEM RECURS, I WAS TOLD WE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. GM CANADA IS PLAYING HARD-BALL AND BACKS THE DEALERSHIP. "THE MATTER IS CLOSED". WHEN I ASKED IF THERE WAS AN OMBUDSMAN, THEY SAID NO AND THAT MY ONLY OTHER OPTION IS "TO GET LEGAL COUNSEL OR GO TO GM MEDIATION OR ARBITRATION." DO YOU HAVE A CANADIAN COUNTERPART? THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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