2001 Chevrolet Impala Complaint Log

STEERING TIE RODS FAILING AT AN ALARMING RATE. $1300 SPENT ON REPLACING TIE RODS AND OTHER STEERING PARTS THAT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE WHEEL OR LOSS OF STEERING OCCURS. *TR

2000-2005 CHEVY IMPALAS EXPERIENCE FLICKERING INTERIOR LIGHTS AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS, FAULTY DASH GAUGES, NO SHIFTER SIGNS ON DASH, NO MANUAL INTERIOR LIGHTING OR EXTERIOR LIGHTS, NO CRANK OR START. WAS TOLD THAT A BAD BCM WAS THE PROBLEM. (BODY CONTROL MODULE) PART# GMAB166 IS VERY OLD FOR THE MAKE OF CAR THE IT WAS PUT IN. THERE IS A NHTSA BULLETIN OUT AND GM REFUSE TO FIX IT. BULLETIN $ 010603005 AND 110501. BECAUSE OF THIS HAZARD I CRASHED MY CAR INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER GOING 65 MPH WHEN THE CAR JUST SUDDENLY STALLED AND THERE WASN'T ADEQUATE BRAKE PRESSURE TO STOP THE CAR. *TR

ON MY 2001 IMPALA, THE TURN SIGNALS SOMETIME FAIL TO OPERATE - I HAVE FOUND THAT I CAN TURN ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND THEN DISENGAGE THEM TO RESTART NORMAL TURN SIGNALS. INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ALSO DIM AT TIMES MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ SPEED OR ANY OTHER INSTRUMENTS - PROBLEMS DO NOT NECESSARILY OCCUR TOGETHER BUT CAN AND IT DOES AT TIMES - RANDOM IN PROBLEM OCCURRENCE I ALSO HAVE A GAS GAUGE PROBLEM WHERE IT WILL READ FULL WHEN IT IS NOT AND SHOW DIFFERENT AMOUNTS. NOW IT IS STARTING TO SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING IT WILL HOWEVER RESTART. BUT SOMETIMES SHUTDOWN AFTER A COUPLE OF RESTARTS BEFORE IT STAYS RUNNING. THIS HAS OCCURRED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE; MILEAGE APPROX 105,000. *TR

ABS SYSTEM MAKE GRINDING NOISE LIGHT COMES ON CAR IS HARD TO STOP AND IS DIGGING INTO NEW ROTORS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND ACTIVATED THE ALARM, THE VEHICLE SEEMED DIFFICULT TO RESTART. THE LIGHTS AND DOORS WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY BUT THE VEHICLE TOOK 10-20 MINUTES TO GET IT STARTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

TRAC CONTROL ABS PROBLEMS FRONT WHEELS GRAB PULL WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2001 CHEVY IMPALA LS IN 2004, UNTIL DECEMEBER 2009 THE CAR WAS RUNNING GREAT. IT STARTED WITH MY CARS "TRACTION ACTIVE" LIGHT COMING ON ON WHENEVER I ACCELERATED THEN AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF THIS LIGHT COMING ON MORE AND MORE OFTEN (4-6 TIMES DAILY) I EXPERIENCED AN INCEDENT IN WHERE MY BRAKES JAMMED UP THE BRAKE PEDAL GOT HARD AND I ALMOST HIT A CAR INFRONT OF ME. I WENT TO GET MY BRAKES CHECKED AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WHERE FINE (I FIGURED THEY WHERE FINE A I HAD JUST RECENTLY CHANGED THEM) WELL THE ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES STARTED HAPOENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE DAILY NOT EVRYTIME BUT 1-2 TIMES A DAY AND THEN THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUTO SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME IMPALA'S ARE KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS MODULE. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM IMPALA OWNERS ALL OVER THE U.S HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TRACTION ACTIVE AND THE ABS LIGHTS COMING ON. IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE. THIS MODULE AND THE REPAIR COST ME A TOTAL OF ABOUT $1,000.00

DASH AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS DIM TO WHERE I CAN'T SEE WHAT SPEED I'M DOING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I CAN'T MANUALLY ADJUST THEM WITH HEADLIGHT KNOB WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MAKING FOR A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. HE STATED THAT ON DECEMBER 26, 2009 THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. TWO VEHICLES THAT WERE PARKED NEXT TO HIS ALSO CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE INITIATED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HIS RESIDENCE. HE WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 85,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. WHEN THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM LIGHT FLASHED THE RADIO TURNS OFF, THE DOORS LOCKS, THE DOME LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF, THE TRUCK LID OPENS, AND SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF AND WILL NOT RESTART. THE FUSE MUST BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE IS CURRENTLY CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE A CRASH COULD OCCUR DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY. CAR WILL NOT START FOR 10/15 MIN. I'VE BEEN STRANDED LATE AT NIGHT AND IN SOME BAD WEATHER. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS UNLESS THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AT THE GARAGE, OTHERWISE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I'VE SPENT IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. HAVE HAD BCM REPLACED, CYLINDERS AND SENSORS REPLACED. STILL DOESN'T WORK. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM. (SEE CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND LOOK UNDER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS). *TR

ON MY 201 IMPALA, THE TURN SIGNALS SOMETIME FAIL TO OPERATE - I HAVE FOUND THAT I CAN TURN ON THE EMERGENCY SIGNALS AND THEN DISENGAGE THEM TO RESTART NORMAL TURN SIGNALS. INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ALSO DIM AT TIMES MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ SPEED OR ANY OTHER INSTRUMENTS - PROBLEMS DO NOT NECESSARILY OCCUR TOGETHER BUT CAN AND DO AT TIMES - RANDOM IN PROBLEM OCCURRENCE; MILEAGE APPROX 144,000. *TR

MY 2001 IMPALA WITH A 3.8 V-6 WOULD NOT START AFTER GOLF LAST THURSDAY, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE SHOP PUT IN A NEW FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. THE BILL CAME TO $900. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM VARIOUS OCCASIONS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS AND DECIDED TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET. THIS SITE POPPED UP WHEN I "SEARCHED STALLS WHILE DRIVING" BECAUSE THE CAR STARTED STALLING OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING UNDER JUST ABOUT ANY CONDITION. I BOUGHT A NEW CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FROM CAR QUEST INSTALLED IT MYSELF IN LESS THAN AN HOUR AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW. THANKS FOR THE INFO. *TR

SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON, RPM'S DROP TO 0, GAS DROPS TO 0, CONSTANT DRAINING OF BATTERY AND IS DEAD AFTER 10 OR SO HOURS. MANY PEOPLE ON FORUMS ARE ALL COMPLAINING OF THE SAME THING AND EVEN MECHANICS SAY THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS YET THERE IS NO RECALL! I HAVE SPENT AS OF NOW 1000 DOLLARS ON THIS PROBLEM AND MY DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT MIGHT NOT FIX THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY!!! I HAVE PUT IN A NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW BATTERY, NEW BCM, AND NOW A NEW IGNITION SWITCH! I CURRENTLY HAVE THE OLD BCM AND THE NEW ONE IS IN MY CAR. *TR

PROBLEM STARTING 2001 CHEVY IMPALA IN EXTREMELY WARM WEATHER. ALL LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD LIGHT UP AND CAR WILL NOT START. REPLACED THE BATTERY THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IN FALL. REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. REPLACED THE WIRES TO THE BATTERY. RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT IT WAS THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM, FOR WHICH NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. HAVE BEEN STUCK AT WORK PARKING LOT IN EVENING, AT GAS STATION AFTER FILLING UP AND OTHER LOCATIONS, USUALLY WHEN I'M ALONE. WILL NOT ALLOW MY SON OR DAUGHTER TO DRIVE VEHICLE. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TRAC CONTROL ABS PROBLEMS IT MAKES A GRINNING NOISE AND IT VERY HARD TO PRESS BRAKES. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA SEDAN. WITHOUT WARNING THE TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING. IF I STOP THE CAR AND RESTART IT, THE SIGNALS USUALLY START WORKING AGAIN, BUT FOR HOW LONG? THE MILEAGE IS 175,000. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT GM HAS IDENTIFIED THAT THE HAZARD SWITCH IS THE ROOT CAUSE. THIS SWITCH IS THE SAME SWITCH ON SEVERAL MODELS. I WENT TO CHANDLER CHEVROLET IN TAPPAHANNOCK , VA .GM WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH ON THE 2001 MALIBU (THIS IS THE SAME SWITCH THAT IS IN MY CAR). THEN THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID UP TO 150,000 MILES. NHTSA INVESTIGATION #PEO2064 MY OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED RIGHT REAR STOP LIGHT FAILURE. HOWEVER THE RUNNING TAIL LIGHT DOES WORK. AT FIRST THE SHOP WHERE I TOOK IT, REYNOLDS GARAGE IN OTTOMAN, VA FIGURED IT WAS A BURNED OUT STOP LIGHT ELEMENT. REPLACING THE BULB DID NOT BRING THE STOP LIGHT BACK INTO SERVICE. THEN WE REPLACED THE SECTION OF WIRING HARNESS. STILL NO LUCK. I LEFT THE CAR AT THE SHOP AND MR. REYNOLDS SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IT W/O SOLVING THE PROBLEM. I WONDER IF THIS RIGHT REAR STOP LIGHT PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE FAILED HAZARD SWITCH AND ITS WEAK SOLDER JOINTS. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. *TR WILLIAM E. STEINMETZ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE IN EITHER DIRECTION, HE HEARD A GRINDING AND CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 07/14/09 *BF UPDATED 07/16/09.*JB

THIS PROBLEM STARTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. AT RANDOM ENGINE WILL NOT START. THIS SEEMS TO AFFECT MANY DIFFERENT MODELS OF CARS. I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA. I USED TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE BATTERY BC IT WOULD HAPPEN EVERY YR. NOW I HAVE TO TURN KEY TO ON AND WAIT TEN MINUTES TO CRANK IT. I AM A SINGLE FEMALE AND THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY INCONVENIENT BUT UNSAFE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT IT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MY DEALER AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM BUT SAY NOTHING WORKS FOR IT AND NOT TO SPEND THE MONEY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HERE AND ON THE INTERNET. *TR

WHILE OPERATING MY CAR, WHEN MOVING OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. IF THE CAR IS MOVING AT 50 TO 65 MPH THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART ON ITS OWN. AT 35 MPH OR LESS I MUST COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, STOP MOVING AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE CAR WILL RESTART WITH THE TURNING OF THE IGNITION SWITCH TO START. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND WOULD NOT DRIVE OVER 30-35 MPH. THE RPM'S APPEARED TO BE NORMAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND A MECHANIC REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND FILTER, BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMEDY REFERENCED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WOULD NOT SUFFICIENTLY CORRECT THE FAILURE. HE STATED THAT BY INSTALLING TWO NEW SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS FOR FREE WILL NOT STOP DROPS OF ENGINE OIL FROM BEING DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING. THE DEALER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 158,000.

SAFETY RECALL RECEIVED FROM GM ON 6/5/09 REGARDING RECALL #09047. CONTACTED DEALER ON 6/8/09 FOR NEEDED REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD THAT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ETA FOR AVAILABILITY AND/OR REPAIRS. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2009 AND IT IS A TERRIFIC CAR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CAR CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, ON THE HIGHWAY AND ANYWHERE IT LIKES. I COULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR JUST CUTS OFF. THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ONE AND I TURN THE CAR SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AND IT STARTS UP AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL PLACES AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR A PERSON TO BE DRIVING AND THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. I HAVE GONE ON THE 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA WEBSITE FOR RECALLS, DEFECTS, AND OTHER ISSUES AND THERE ARE SOOO MANY IMPALA'S WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS IS NOT SAFE BUT IT IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION. *TR

I HAVE 2001 CHEVY IMPALA AND IT HAS STARTING ISSUES. IT DOESN'T START AT TIMES AND IT'S GETTING TO BE MORE OFTEN AND NOTHING WILL GET IT TO START. I JUST LEAVE IT SIT, SOMETIIMES FOR 2 HOURS AND IT MAY OR MAY NOT START. IT QUIT WHILE GETTING READY TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, AS I COULDN'T STEER MY CAR AND IT SMELLED HOT. ALSO THE BLINKERS WON'T WORK AT TIMES AND I HAVE TO PRESS MY EMERGENCY FLASHER SWITCH TO GET THEM TO WORK. I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE STARTING ISSUE HASN'T IMPROVED AT ALL. IT IS VERY MADDENING AS I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL NOT START WHEN I GO TO LEAVE SOMEWHERE AND IT'S VERY UNDEPENDABLE TO TAKE ANYWHERE. PLEASE CAN YOU HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM? IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST YEAR AND IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN LATELY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A TIRE FLATTENED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. SHE OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HERSELF. SHE ARRIVED HOME AND CALLED HER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO COME TO HER RESIDENCE AND INVESTIGATE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GENERAL MOTORS, WHICH STATED "THAT SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING. IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE." THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000. UPDATED 06/27/09 *BF UPDATED 06/23/09.*JB

WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO A STORE MY CAR WAS DRIVING JUST FINE BUT, AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT A CAR THAT WAS AT A STOP SIGN. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS UNTIL NOW.. IT JUST HAPPENED UNEXPECTEDLY. I CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT WAS FINE THE CAR THEN DROVE OFF JUST FINE. *TR

SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES AND CAR WILL NOT START. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECEIVING ENOUGH POWER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE STARTER, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. WHILE DRIVING MORE THAN 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 100,000.

THE TURN SIGNAL ON MY 2001 CHEVY IMPALA INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS WHEN DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS THE RECALL ON THE CHEVY MALIBU LISTED BELOW, RECALL ID # 03V327000 - EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH. PLEASE ADD THIS RECALL TO THE CHEVY IMPALA BEFORE MANY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS OCCUR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF HER VEHICLE. SHE LIFTED THE HOOD AND NOTICED A SMALL FIRE BETWEEN THE ALTERNATOR AND SEVERAL WIRES. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AFTER A FEW MINUTES WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE LOCAL GM DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE; HOWEVER, THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND MAY HAVE STARTED THE FIRE. ONE WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT STATED "IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE". NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 WAS REFERENCED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 100,000. UPDATED 8/10/09 *CN UPDATED 08/13/09.*JB

MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE FAST LANE ON I71 HEADING FROM COLUMBUS, OHIO TO CLEVELAND, OHIO. SHE SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 75 MPH AND WENT TO BRAKE BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING DOWN. WHEN SHE HIT THE BRAKE THEY DID NOTHING! SHE IMMEDIATELY PANICKED AND MOVED OVER 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE BERM NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SHE QUICKLY THREW THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IT STOPPED. I CALLED A CHEVROLET DEALER AFTER SHE CALLED ME FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE THE CAR. THEY ASKED IF THE CAR MATS POSSIBLY BLOCKED THE BRAKE AND MY DAUGHTER SAID NO, SHE REACHED DOWN AND PULLED IT OUT AND THE CAR WOULD STILL NOT SLOW DOWN. SHE EVEN STATED BOTH FEET WERE PUSHING DOWN ON THE BREAK PEDAL AND NOTHING WAS SLOWING DOWN THE CAR. I JUST HAD A FRONT HUB REPLACED AT AUTO PLUS (WHERE I TAKE MY CARS FOR SERVICE) IN ORIENT, OHIO. MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIEND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA CAR WAS TOTALED BEFORE RECALL WAS ISSUED *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE A SHARP RIGHT TURN WHEN I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COME FROM MY CAR IT WAS THEN I NOTICED THE TRACTION ACTIVITY LIGHT COME ON . I GOT READY TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE TURNING LEFT AND NOISE HAPPENED AGAIN BUT IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A DELAY IN MY STOPPING AND ALSO TURNING. AFTER WORK I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT WITH NO PROBLEMS SO I JUST PAY IT NO ATTENTION. UNTIL I TURNED IN TO MY MOM'S TO PICK UP MY KIDS AND IT DID IT AGAIN BUT THIS TIME AN 18 WHEELER WAS BEHIND ME AND ACTUALLY HAD TO BRAKE AND GO AROUND ME BECAUSE OF THE DELAY IN MY TURNING. I ACTUALLY HAD TO FIGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO PROCEED WITH MY TURN. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY TIME I MAKE A SHARP TURN LEFT OR RIGHT , WHETHER I'M TURNING SLOWLY OR NOT , AND I BELIEVE SOME ONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT BY THIS PROBLEM IF ITS NOT CORRECTED. IT WASN'T UNTIL 2MONTHS AGO I FOUND OUT THAT IF YOU TURN THE TRACTION OFF THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENS BUT NOT AS BAD AND THAT IT HAD SOME THING TO DO WITH PART#10340313 AND PART#10340314 WHICH IS THE ABS HARNESS WHICH CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED THROUGH THE DEALER OR ON GMPARTSDIRECT.COM. WHICH I THINK WE AS OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR BUT WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR TO INSURE OUR FAMILY AND OUR OWN SAFETY. ANOTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS THAT THE TURN SINGLE ALSO STOPS WORKING I HAVE TO PUSH DOWN ON THE HAZARD BUTTON TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN AND SOME TIMES HIT THE DASH TO GET IT TO WORK. *TR

THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) CAUSED MY 01 IMPALA TO DO SOME CRAZY THINGS. IT STARTED WITH TURN SIGNALS INTERMITTENTLY WORKING. MY WIFE AND I WERE IN SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OTHER DRIVERS COULD NOT TELL WHAT WE WERE DOING. THEN IT PROGRESSED TO EACH TIME THAT I APPLIED THE BREAKS THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLASH FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. IT DISTRACTED THE DRIVERS IN FRONT OF ME WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. ON MANY OCCASIONS IT CAUSED THE ENTIRE DASH INSTRUMENTATION TO FAIL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SPEEDOMETER. THE MESSAGE CENTER WOULD GIVE ME FALSE INDICATIONS OF REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AND LOW TIRE PRESSURE. TWICE IT LOCKED THE CAR OUT ON "SECURITY" THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO INTERMITTENTLY START. AFTER ABOUT 10MINUTES THE VEHICLE TYPICALLY STARTED BACKUP AGAIN. ONCE, THE VEHICLE LEFT THE HEADLIGHTS ON AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO KEEP IT FROMDRAINING THE BATTERY. AGAIN, AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES IT WOULD ALLOW SOMETHING TO RESET AND ALL WOULD BE FINE. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE MAKE AND MODEL I TOOK IT TOA GM DEALER LEADING THEM TOWARDS THE BCM. I DIDN'T WANT TO PAY AN EXUBERANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FORTHEM TO CHASE AN "ELECTRICAL GHOST". AFTER $500 THEY REPLACED THE BCM AND THE VEHICLE RAN PERFECT FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 MONTHS AND NOW THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INTERMITTENT ONCE AGAIN. *TR

MY 2001 IMPALA'S RIGHT REAR TURN AND BRAKE LIGHT STOP WORKING. I CHECKED FOR VOLTAGE AT THE RIGHT REAR LIGHT. NO VOLTAGE WAS PRESENT BUT I HAD A GOOD GROUND. I STARTED TO CHECK THE HARNESS BACK TRACKING THE CIRCUIT TO THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, THE HARNESS WAS GOOD. I REMOVED THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH AND NOTICED A LOT OF GREASE FROM THE COLUMN. I CLEANED THE SWITCH AND ASSEMBLED IT BACK TOGETHER. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AND ONCE AGAIN THE RR TURN SIGNAL STOP WORKING. I PRICED A SWITCH FOR MY IMPALA FROM MY LOCAL PARTS DEALER, IT WAS OVER $300. I RESEARCHED TO SEE IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WAS SURPRISED ON HOW MANY INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED. I THINK GM NEED TO BACK UP THEIR CARS AND CONSIDER THIS AS A SAFETY RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REMEDY DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD TAKE TEN MINUTES OR THE NEXT DAY TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE INSTALLING NEW PARTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 05/05/09 *BF THE DIMMER SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/07/09.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE SENSING DIAGNOSTIC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V371000 (AIR BAGS) AND IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V244000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I OWN A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA. BASICALLY SINCE THE MOMENT I BOUGHT IT, IT WOULD RANDOMLY FLASH THE "SECURITY" LIGHT THEN NOT START. I GOT SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS ABOUT WHY (SECURITY FOB, NEUTRAL SWITCH, BATTERY) AND TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS. BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID, WELL, DON'T WORRY, IT'S JUST AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. I GUESS THAT'S EASY TO SAY WHEN YOU'RE NOT STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH A NON-STARTING CAR... NOW I FIND OUT THAT CHEVY INSTALLED A PASSLOCK SYSTEM WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP YOUR CAR FROM BEING STOLEN, BUT THAT SINCE IT WAS INSTALLED IN THEIR NEW CARS, IT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM. THEY REFUSE TO RECALL THE CARS AND FIX THE SECURITY SYSTEM PROBLEMS, INSTEAD FORCING THEIR CUSTOMERS TO WASTE TIME AND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD FIX. *TR

FIRST OCCURRENCE 01-08 IS EXACTLY DEPICTED IN NHTSA #04V090000. REPAIR COST $1,600. SECOND OCCURRENCE 01-09 IS REPEAT OF PRIOR, THIS TIME EXPLOSION CAUSED ENGINE FIRE. CAR AT DEALERSHIP, REPAIRS APPROX. $2,000. GM SAYS VIN IS NOT IN RECALL SERIES. HAVE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME COMPLAINT ON INTERNET. *TR

AFTER A ICE STORM IN 2008 I ATTEMPTED TO USE MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THEY PROCEEDED TO GET STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. THIS PAST WEEK AFTER ANOTHER ICE STORM MY WIPERS WERE STUCK IN THE UP POSITION ONCE AGAIN. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT CLEARED ALL OF THE ICE OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD THIS TIME. AFTER MY DAD FIXED IT ONCE AGAIN, EVERY TIME I TURN THEM ON IN THE INTERMITTENT POSITION WHEN I TURN THEM OFF THEY STOP IN THE UP POSITION. *TR

2001 NO-START SITUATION SIMILAR TO HUNDREDS OF OTHERS THAT ARE POSTED ON THE INTERNET FOR THE 2000-2003 CHEVY IMPALAS & MALIBUS (THERE MAY BE OTHER MODEL YEARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS). THE CAR WILL NOT CRANK WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO THE START POSITION. NO NOISE WHEN THIS HAPPENS BUT SOMETIMES SECURITY LIGHT WILL COME ON. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT WE'VE SPENT OVER $1000 TRYING TO RESOLVE. IT OCCURS WITH NO RHYME OR REASON AND HAS PUT OUR DAUGHTER IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. CAR ALWAYS STARTS EVENTUALLY AND IT SEEMS THAT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WAITING A RANGE OF 10 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS. ALWAYS A PAIN IN THE BUTT BUT SOMETIMES A SAFETY ISSUE WITH BAD WEATHER AND OTHER FACTORS. LOCAL GM DEALER NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT OUR PROBLEM AND GM CORPORATION DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE EITHER. MAYBE NHTSA CAN GET GMS ATTENTION TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUSLY AFFECTS MANY PEOPLE. *TR

THE LIGHT WENT OUT ON THE SPEEDOMETER. THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTING CLUSTER WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER FOR $614.00 AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN IN ABOUT ONE YEAR. IT IS OUT NOW. THE SPEEDOMETER SPEED CANNOT BE READ AT NIGHT. *TR

THE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. ONE DAY WE WERE DRIVING IN TOWN AT 45 MPH AND THE TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED A HIGH PITCHED SOUND AND TWO SECONDS LATER IT DROPPED TO 25 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST FOR THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR DUE TO A LARGE GAP BETWEEN THE CLUTCH AND THE GEARS. *TR

CAR STALLING AT STOPLIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS, AND DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. NUMEROUS MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND NO CONCLUSION HAS BEEN MADE. FINALLY IT STALLED AND NOW ITS STRANDED. IT WILL NOT START. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT FUNCTION. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 144,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

I OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA AUTOMOBILE. "SECURITY LOCK" LIGHT CAME ON DURING NORMAL DRIVE 2 DAYS BEFORE CAR FAILURE. ON THE MORNING OF FAILURE, CAR DOORS WERE UNRESPONSIVE TO REMOTE KEY. A CONTINUOUS LOW DRONING NOISE EMITS FROM INSIDE OF DASHBOARD. WHEN KEY WAS INSERTED INTO IGNITION CYLINDER AND TURNED, NOTHING HAPPENS. ENGINE DID NOT START, ELECTRONIC SYSTEM CHECKS DID NOT COME ALIVE. NOT EVEN A SPUTTERING SOUND FROM THE CAR HOOD. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM, PROFILE FITS THE RECURRENT PROBLEM OF PASSLOCK SENSOR OF GENERAL MOTOR CARS. CAR TECHNICIANS QUOTED ME $400 - $600 FOR REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH AND CYLINDER; $600 ON AVERAGE FOR CHANGE OF BODY CONTROL MODULE. HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/VBULLETIN/T147983.HTML HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-IMPALA/T30R7CEJ84KTJEL1M/P4 TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS RECURRING PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON VARIOUS SOURCES FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS. TO THIS DAY, IT REMAINS UN-RESOLVED. I IMPLORE THE AUTHORITIES TO TAKE CHARGE AND INVESTIGATE THOROUGHLY THE EXTENT OF THIS "NON-START" PROBLEM THAT AFFLICTS THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CHEVROLET CARS ON THE ROAD. SINCERELY YOURS, DEXTER (KENG HAO) CHUN *TR

I HAVE ROTATED MY FRONT ROTORS AND CHANGED BRAKE PADS 2. I ALSO HAVE REPLACED THEM AND 6 MONTHS LATER I HAVE TO TURN THE NEW ONES. THEY HAVE WARPED AND MY CAR VIBRATES VERY BAD. *TR

THIS IS AN ONGOING REPEATED PROBLEM. MY 2001 IMPALA RANDOMLY WON'T START ABOUT 3 TIMES A WEEK. I WILL TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WAIT 10 MINUTES AND THE SECURITY (PASSLOCK) SYSTEM WILL RESET AND THE CAR WILL CRANK, BUT NO TIME IN BETWEEN...THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS NOW AND I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE BOTH THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH AND THAT I HAVE READ ONLINE.. THIS DOES NOT JUST OCCUR IN CHEVROLETS. ONE PERSON SAID THAT IT OCCURRED IN A PONTIAC. I WOULD ASSUME THIS IS A GM PROBLEM...AND WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED? THIS IS AN EXTREME INCONVENIENCE FROM CHEVROLET AND I HAVE READ INSTANCES WHERE THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED BY REPLACING THE IGNITION, BCM, ETC. AND THIS PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. WHY ARE THERE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NO KNOWN SOLUTION. RECALL? DEFECT? *TR