NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Chevrolet Impala. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
STEERING SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE...TOO HARD TO TURN. THIS HAS CAUSED THE FINGERS AND THUMBS TO BECOME DEFORMED (TWISTED AND BENT) FROM TURNING THE STIFF WHEEL. I ALSO HAVE A NECK PAIN WHICH LEADS TO A PAIN SHOOTING UP THE BACK SIDE OF MY NECK AND CAUSING A HEADACHE. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED AFTER I PURCHASED MY 2001 IMPALA. *NLM
THE BRAKE DISC KEEPS WARPING. CONSUMER HAS TO REPLACE THEM EVERY 12/14 THOUSAND MILES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED ROTORS 3 TIMES AND TURN THEM TWICE, BUT PROBLEM THIS RECURRED. TS BRAKES PULSATED AT 12,374, 17,770, 18,856, 34,526, 38,960 AND 52,459 MILES. ROTORS REPLACED 4 TIMES. THERE WAS ALSO A MISS AT IDLE AND IN PARK. DEALER UNABLE TO VERIFY. *TT
DEFECTIVE ROTORS. WARP EVERY 10,000 TO 15,000 MILES COULD CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE LEADING TO ACCIDENT. TS
BRAKE LININGS WAS FACTORY INNCORRECT. *AK
PAD CUTS INTO OUTER ROTOR AT SMALLEST DIMENTION OF ROTOR/PAD. *AK
DRIVER'S LEFT VEHICLE IN PARK WITH ENGINE RUNNING. CONSUMER GOT OUT, RAN IN HOUSE FOR A MINUTE, AND VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE, AND ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO A TREE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
BRAKE PADS CUT INTO ROTORS, CAUSING A LOUD/GRINDING AND SQUEAKING NOISE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *JB
THERE IS THIS VIBRATING FEELING THAT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED AT ANY SPEEDS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER REPLACED ROTORS ON VEHICLE.*AK
BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED. AFTER A YEAR BATTERY WAS LEAKING. ALSO VEHICLE HAD TROUBLE STARTING UP. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND THE DEALER REPLACED BATTERY.*AK
WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE AND YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE IT WILL START TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT OR SITTING IN YOUR DRIVEWAY. WHEN THIS OCCURS YOU HIT THE GAS AND MIGHT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU. OR ROLL BACK AND HIT THE CAR BEHIND YOU. THE SALESMAN AT THE DEALERSHIP WERE I GOT THE CAR HAS HAD A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM, HIS NAME IS [XXX]. I HAVE CALLED THE CHEVROLET COMPANY TO VOICE MY PROBLEM. I AM WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION FEEL FREE TO CALL OR EMAIL ME AND I WILL ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THANKYOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER.*AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE. POTENTIALLY A PROBLEM WITH DEPLOYMENT IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS I THOUGHT I SHOULD SUBMIT MINE. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR! *JB
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN VEHICLE LOST STEERING, AND CONSUMER HIT A LIGHT POLE. DEALER REPLACED A BROKEN TIE ROD AND A- FRAME. CONSUMER SUFFERED A BRUISED ARM. PLEASE ADD AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAD NOTICED A THUMPING NOISE IN THE TIRES. THE TWO REAR TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BETWEEN THE DATES OF APRIL 17TH AND AUGUST 22ND 2002, THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A NEW THUMPING NOISE, WAS LATER TOLD THAT THE TIRE IS OUT OF ROUND, GOODYEAR TIRES. *SCC
THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT 5 TIMES WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35-55 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *YH *NM
WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE WANDERS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THERE IS A NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
THE VEHICLE HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. *NLM *MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN VEHICLE IS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, WITH VEHICLE IN DRIVE GEAR IT WILL ROLL BACKWARDS, WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE PAD. TS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE VEHICLE EXPIERENED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. NLM
CONSUMER GOT INTO VEHICLE AND CRANKED IT UP, AND VEHICLE POPPED. CONSUMER TURNED ENGINE OFF,THEN CRANKED IT UP AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS IDLING. BUT WHEN CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS, ACROSS MAIN STREET, AND QUIT IN A FIELD. STATE POLICE WROTE IT UP AS A MECHANICAL DEFECT, AND WOULD NOT LET ANYONE MOVE VEHICLE. VEHICLE BEEN SITTING FOR 10 DAYS. CONTACTED DEALER AND GOT NO RESPONSE.*AK
VEHICLES STALLED IN TRAFFIC, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO LOOK AT IT AT THAT TIME. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT WIRES UNDER THE DASH HAD BEEN CUT.*AK ALSO THE REAR DEFROGGER WAS INOPERATIVE, THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE WAS INACCURATE, AND THE DOORS THAT MOVE THE AIRFLOW FROM THE WINDSHILED TO THE FLOOR DID NOT MOVE THE AIR TO THE SPECIFIED AREA, THE DEALER ORDERED AN ACTUATOR FOR THE DOORS AND FOR THE AIRFLOW, AN AFTERMARKET DEVICE THAT WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY STALL WHILE DRIVING. *JB
INTERMITTENTLY, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
THE CAR IS MESSING UP WITH THE ENGINE.
PREMATURE WEAR OF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. DEALER HAS REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FOUR TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL #01V136000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 01035 REPAIRS. CONSUMER WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE REMEDY OF RECALL. CALLED DEALER, AND TALKED TO SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE.*AK THE TECHNICIAN WAS ADVISED THAT THIS REMEDY WAS THE ONLY ONE SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS PROPERLY COMPLETED BY THE DEALER, THE DEALER DID NOT INSTALL A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BRACKET THAT WILL MAINTAIN POSITIONING OF THE FUEL LINE IN A FRONTAL CRASH AS PROMISED IN THE RECALL. NLM
LOW COOLANT SENSOR HAS FAILED (4) TIMES (BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST AT 35,800 MILES). DEALERSHIP HAS FLUSHED COOLANT SYSTEM AND REPLACED THE SENSOR ON EACH OCCASION. EACH SENSOR HAS FAILED AT ABOUT 20,000 MILE SPAN. CURRENTLY ON FOURTH SENSOR WHICH HAS FAILED ON 5-27-04.*AK
A POLICE OFFICER PARKED TVEHICLE AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AFTER RUNNING THE VEHICLE FOR AN UNKNOWN TIME. SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND FRONT END OF VEHICLE. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO THE CAUSE OF FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN VEHICLE RUNS OVER A BUMP IT CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL OUT. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT A POWER SURGE OCCURS WHICH CAUSES HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO MALFUNCTION. LOW BEAM FLASHES TO HIGH BEAM. DEALER CANNOT CORRECT PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT DOES NOT HAVE A REMEDY. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DASH LIGHTS ARE ALSO AFFECTED BY THE POWER SURGES. *JB
CONSUMER STATES UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE A SWISHING WOULD COME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING OR MAKING TURNS. ALSO, WHEN STANDING STILL AND NOT TOUCHING THE STEERING WHEEL, SOUND GETS LOUDER. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. NLM *YD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, GAS IN FUEL TANK CAN BE HEARD THROUGHT CAR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC FOR CHEVROLET IMPALA'S. CONSUMER WAS UNHAPPY WITH DEALER'S EXPLANATION. *AK *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP BLEW, THE ROOF MOLDING WAS LIFTING ON BOTH SIDES, THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW LEAKS AIR AND THE WINDOW HITS HARD IN THE TOP OF THE DOOR JAM, WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE TIE ROD ENDS YET THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. NLM
ACCELERATING ONTO FREEWAY, NOTICED SMOKE OUT OF BACK OF CAR- PULLED OVER AND FLAMES COMING OUT OF ENGINE. FIRE DEPT. PUT OUT- FIRE MARSHALL INVEST. STARTED- HAD TO CUT BATTERY LINES TO STOP FIRE AND TOOK 45 MIN TO PUT FIRE OUT, GAS SPRAYING THROUGHOUT ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM. CAR TOTALLED..
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS NO POWER FOR A SHORT TIME WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP, WHILE IN TRAFFIC IT WILL NOT MOVE FOR A FEW SECONDS OR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE FINALLY MOVING FORWARD, CONSUMER HAS BEEN TO DEALER EIGHT TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND DEALER CAN NOT FIND A REMEDY. *SLC
APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES, CONSUMER HAS TO HAVE FRONT ROTORS AND FRONT PADS SERVICED AND REPLACED. *JG *NM
FRONT PASSENGER'S SEATBELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. WHEN USED IT KEPT TIGHTENING AND WOULD NOT RELEASE UNLESS UNBUCKLED. AT THIS TIME BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT, AND WILL BE REPLACED FOURTH TIME SINCE MAY 2001. *AK
WHEN BRAKING OR PULLING OFF CAN HEAR GAS MOVING AROUND IN TANK. CONSUMER IT WAS SHAKING THE CAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.AK
WHILE DRIVING WOULDSTEP ON BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKES WILL NOT STOP OR REDUCE SPEED OF VEHICLE WHERE HAD OCCURRED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING.*AK
WHEN KEY WAS IN ACCESSARY POSITION AND WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES SHIFT LEVER CAN BE MOVED OUT OF PARK POSITON WHICH WAS DONE BY A 2 YEAR OLD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT VEHICLES DID NOT HAVE A SAFETY FEATURE TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING.*AK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING ARMS AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E063000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ......UPDATED 04/01/16 *BF CONSUMER STATED STEERING ARMS LEAKED AND POWER STEERING LEAKED UPDATED 6/7/18*JB
POWER LOCKS WOULD LOCK INTERMITTENTLY, DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT AFTER STARTING VEHICLE HE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THE SYSTEM HAS COMPLETED BEFORE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. THIS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHY SHOULD ONE HAVE TO WAIT? *AK CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IS THE WAY SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED. *YD
TIGHT/STIFF STEERING HAS RESULTED IN INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS BECOMING BENT AND TWISTED TO CONFORM TO THE CONTOUR OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HIGH EFFORT DAMAGE TO THE FINGERS ARE IRREVERSABLE. THIS HAS A CRIPPLING EFFECT IN THAT IT CAUSE THE TENDONS TO MOVE OFF CENTER TO THE FINGERS AND REDUCES THE GRIPING EFFORTS OF THE HANDS AND RESTRICTS FINGER MOVEMENT. THIS STIFF STEERING RESULTS IN SHOULDER PAIN WHICH OFTEN FORCES PEOPLE TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION BECAUSE THE PAIN RADIATED DOWN THEIR ARM AND THEY THINK THEY ARE HAVING A HEART ATTACK AND IF VISIT THE HOSPITAL FOR SUCH. THE SHOULDER PAIN HAS ALSO RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENTS. THIS INFORMATION PRESENTED BY MY FRIEND MIKE TOMICH 989, 665-2311 MTOMICH@TBAND.NET DT
THE STEERING IN MY CAR IS HARD TO STEER AND I DONT LIKE IT IT SEEMS TO STICK IVE DROVE CHEVYS ALL MY LIFE AND I DO NOT LIKE THIS CAR AND THE STEERING IS THE MAJOR CAUSE
CONSUMER HAS HAD PROBLEM STARTING VEHICLE. IT STATRTED AFTER 45 MINUTES. THEN, VEHICLE JUST STOPPED IN TRAFFIIC WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP REPLACED COMPUTER. *AK WAITED 8 DAYS FOR PART. *YH
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ROTORS HAVE FLAT SPOTS ON THEM, CAUSING THE ROTORS TO WEAR DOWN FASTER THEN USUAL. CONTACTED DEALER. *MR
REFLECTION FROM DASHBOARD CREATES A BLIND SPOT ON WINDSHIELD DURING DAY AND NIGHT. *AK
WHEN SITTING ON A HILL AND TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACK VERY FAST, AND DRIVER HAS TO SLAM ON BRAKES, AND THEN GO FORWARD. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS.*AK
VEHICLE "PULLS" TO RIGHT DURING OPERATION AT ANY GIVEN SPEED, DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND CANNOT FIND A CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES AND WAS CHARGD FOR FRONT AND REAR ALIGNEMENT, THE LAST TIME VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO DEALER, CONSUMER WAS IFNORMED THAT IS JUST THE WAY THE VEHICLE IS MADE.*SLC
DURING NORMAL OPERATION THERE IS A VIBRATION AT ANY SPEED, MORE SEVERE WHEN MAKING A TURN TO EITHER SIDE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND HAS REPLACED 'ENGINE CRADLE TWICE. VIBRATION IS STILL PRESENT, AND DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO EFFECTIVELY REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK