2002 Chevrolet Impala Complaint Log

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA. WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, THERE ARE CLUNKING NOISES COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SHARPER THE TURN, THE WORSE THE PROBLEM IS. I ALSO HEAR AN INTERMITTENT WHIRRING NOISE WHEN I MAKE TURNS (THE SOUND IS LIKE WHEN YOU WEAR A NYLON COAT, AND YOUR SLEEVES RUB AGAINST THE BODY OF THE COAT). IT IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM, AND I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THAT I WILL LOOSING STEERING CONTROL. I MADE THE MISTAKE OF LOOKING AT THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE, AND I HAVE FOUND 17 OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT ISSUE WITH 2002 CHEVY IMPALA VEHICLES. NOW I AM REALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I AM PLANNING ON GETTING THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY CAN RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT, OF COURSE, SINCE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. BUT I FEEL THAT MY LIFE IS WORTH THE MONEY. HOWEVER, DON'T YOU THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE BY NOW? HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DO YOU NEED BEFORE YOU REALIZE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED? I HOPE THAT SOMEONE DOESN'T NEED TO BE INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE ANY ACTION IS TAKEN. I HOPE THAT MY ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT WILL HELP OTHER IMPALA OWNERS GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED THROUGH A RECALL NOTICE. I'M SURE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE NUMEROUS MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE (AND OTHERS) IF MORE PEOPLE REALIZED THAT THIS COMPLAINT PROCEDURE WAS AVAILABLE. MAYBE THE ROADS WOULD BE SAFER. PLEASE TRY TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED THROUGH A RECALL NOTICE. *NM

DRIVING WHEN ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THEN THE BATTERY LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A SHORT PERIOD. IT DID NOT EFFECT THE CAR PERFORMANCE BUT IT DID RESET THE CLOCK ON THE RADIO AS IF THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED. ANOTHER TIME THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS BRAKE LIGHTS FLASHED AND THE RADIO PULSED. THE SECURITY LIGHT REMAINED ON AS I WAS MOVING FORWARD OUT OF A DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE STALLED BUT IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED AND ALL THE LIGHTS CLEARED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HITTING A BUMP, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OIL IN THE GEAR BOX. THE PROBLEM RETURNED TWO YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

I HAVE A 2002 IMPALA. I EXPERIENCED A COOLANT LEAK FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS CAN RESULT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ENGINE SEIZURE, BLOWING A ROD, ETC. I BELIEVE THIS IS REFERRED TO IN SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 070803 AND NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10003814 PER RECORDS FOUND ON THIS SITE. AFTER CALLING CHEVROLET'S 800 NUMBER, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FOR MY VIN, BUT THEY ONLY OFFERED IT FOR 2 YEARS, FROM 07/03 - 07/05. SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED, I WAS NOT SENT A RECALL NOTICE AND NOW IT APPEARS I HAVE TO PAY THE RATHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILL.

THE HEAD LIGHTS ON MY 2002 IMPALA ARE GETTING WATER IN THEM CAUSING ELECTRICAL AND SAFETY PROBLEMS. STEAM - MOISTURE GATHER IN THE LIGHTS AND WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. THIS IA A DEFECT THAT IS ON EVERY 2002-2003 IMPALA I HAVE SEEN, GM REFUSES TO REPLACE OR EVEN RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM, THEY AND THE DEALER I PURCHASED FROM SAID ITS NOT CONSIDERED A DEFECT UNLESS IT IS A RECALL, I WAS TOLD UNTIL A MAJOR ACCIDENT HAPPENS THAT THEY WILL NOT CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE. I TOLD THEM WHEN THE LIGHTS GET HOT THE WATER IN THE HEAD LIGHTS TURN TO STEAM FOGGING UP THE LIGHTS PREVENTING ME FROM SEEING THE ROAD WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, THEY (THE DEALERSHIP) SAID WELL YOU SHOULD DRIVE ONLY DURING THE DAY. THIS IS ALSO CAUSING OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING SOMETIMES AND HAZARDS NOT WORKING NOT TO MENTION HAVING TO REPLACE A BULB EVERYTIME IT GETS WET. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN WE WASH OUR CAR OR GET INTO BAD WEATHER. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL... GM REFUSES TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM UNTIL WE HAVE MULTIPLE FATAL ACCIDENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY? NOT SMART THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE ON OUR STREETS AND HIGHWAYS THAT ARE BEING PUT AT RISK. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2002 CHEVROLET WITH IMPALA 48000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 60 MPH THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CONFIRMED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55000. *AK

A STATE INSPECTION @30,000 MILES REVEALED A BAD UPPER CONTROL ARM, LEFT AND RIGHT INNER TIE ROD ENDS AND BOTH MOTOR MOUNTS. MY MECHANIC FEELS AS THOUGH THESE PART FAILURES ARE VERY PREMATURE AND WERE CAUSED BY A VERY LOOSE STEERING RACK . HE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD CONTACT SOMEONE TO SEE IF THERE IS A REPAIR BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK A CAR SHOULD NEED THAT KIND OF FRONT END WORK A 30,000 MILES . I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT MY WIFE ,WHO DRIVES THE CAR ON A DAILY BASIS, IS AT RISK WHILE DRIVING HERSELF AND OUR 2 KIDS TO AND FROM THEIR DAILY ROUTINES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!! THANK YOU!! *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC PASS LOCK SYSTEM PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A YEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MUST BE PRESENT TO RECEIVE A COMPUTER GENERATED CODE IN ORDER TO INSTANTLY RECTIFY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH ALSO PREVENTED IT FROM STARTING. VARIOUS COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 4-6 TIMES, INCLUDING TWICE THIS WEEK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,500.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE FROM LOW TO HIGH BEAMS, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF, INTERMITTENTLY. THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON AFTER CHANGING FROM HIGH TO LOW A FEW TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DIMMER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - *NM

2002 IMPALA LS WITH SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE FIRST PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE TURN SIGNALS GOING OUT. THEN THE RADIO WOULD NOT GO OFF EVEN WHEN THE KEYS WERE OUT AND DOORS LOCKED, AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK NO LONGER WORKS. WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR, I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN WAIT FOR IT TO FINALLY START. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER. THE HEADLIGHTS DON'T ALWAYS WORK - I TRY NOT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY'LL GO OUT. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WORKS ABOUT HALF THE TIME, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE OR HOW FAST I AM GOING. THE MESSAGE DISPLAY GOES BETWEEN "SECURITY", "HIGH BEAM OUT", "SERVICE ENGINE SOON", WHEN IT'S WORKING. THERE SEEMS TO BE A NEW ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT GOES OUT EACH DAY. *JB

CAR WOULD NOT START. THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY OR POSSIBLY THE ALTERNATOR, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FAILED BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM). OUR CAR HAD ONLY 46,000 MILES WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE SHOULD BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL ON THE BCM GIVEN THE NUMEROUS BULLETINS AND COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE BCM BEFORE SOMEONE'S LOSES HIS OR HER LIFE AS A DIRECT OR INDIRECT RESULT OF ITS FAILURE. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. IF THE DIMMER SWITCH IS PRESSED THE LIGHTS WILL TURN ON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A REPAIR SHOP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000 MILES.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE ROTORS PULSATED AT 11,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REFACED THE ROTORS AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED AT 33,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO INSTALL NEW ROTORS BUT REFACED THE ROTORS A SECOND TIME. THE ROTORS BEGAN PULSATING A THIRD TIME. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE 2005 MODEL OF THE SAME VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED SIMILAR BRAKE PROBLEMS.

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 55 MPH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE WERE TURNING ON AND OFF. BOTH THE WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS WERE GOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE TOOK FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON BOTH THE DRIVER 'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE HORN STARTED SOUNDING. THE HORN HAD TO BE DISENGAGED MANUALLY. THEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD NOT COVER THE EXPENSE OF THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE CONTACT DIDN'T STRIKE ANYTHING. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE REPAIR WILL COST $3,000. *AK UPDATED 02/27/07. *JB

SEVERAL TIMES I WOULD GO TO START MY CAR AND THE SECURITY LIGHT WOULD BE ON IN THE MESSAGE CENTER. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT DID NOTHING LIKE A DEAD BATTERY. I WOULD WAIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND TRY AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT WOULD START SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T. IT WAS DOING THIS 2 OR 3 TIMES A WEEK. ON SEPT. 9, 2006 I CAME OUT FROM SHOPPING AND IT WOULDN'T START. I WAITED FOR 15 MINUTES AND STILL NOTHING. I DID THIS FOR AN HOUR. THEN I CALLED A FRIEND TO COME AND GET ME. I WENT BACK TO MY CAR WHICH IS A 2002 IMPALA, THE NEXT DAY, STILL NOTHING. THE NEXT DAY, STILL NOTHING. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO THE DEALER TO GET IT FIXED. ALSO MY POWER DOOR LOCKS HAD QUIT AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO GIVE THEM $100.00 JUST TO LOOK AT IT. 3 HOURS LATER THEY CALLED AND SAID THAT I COULD PICK UP MY CAR. TOTAL COST TOWING $59.00, DEALER $496.95. I AM DISABLED AND ONLY GET $600.00 A MONTH FROM DISABILITY. NOW I HAVE NO MONEY FOR MY LIVING EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH BUT THE CAR IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. ON THE 1ST OF OCT. I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND GUESS WHAT IT WON'T START. SINCE THIS WAS A SUNDAY I CALLED THE DEALER ON MONDAY MORNING TO TELL THEM THAT IT WAS NOT FIXED . IT WAS STILL DOING THE EXACT SAME THING THAT IT WAS BEFORE THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT. BY THE WAY WHEN THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIX IT THEY REPLACED THE BMC. NOW THEY WANT ANOTHER $100.00 TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN. THE PART WAS GUARANTEED BUT NOT LABOR, I COULD NOT AFFORD ANOTHER BILL LIKE THE LAST ONE, I JUST HOPE IT STARTS WHEN I GO TO THE DR. IT STARTS ONLY WHEN IT WANTS TO. MY HUSBAND JUST HAD BRAIN SURGERY, I HAVE HAD 5 SURGERIES ON MY SPINE, I NEED A CAR THAT I CAN DEPEND ON TO START. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT. I WILL HOLD CHEVROLET RESPONSIBLE IF ANY THING HAPPENS TO MY HUSBAND OR MY SELF BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T START. AFTER I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER I CAME HOME, LOOKED ON THE INTERNET UNDER CHEVROLET IMPALA 2002 AND FOUND 100'S OF SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. WHY ISN'T ANY THING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR

DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. MOISTURE CONDENSES ON FRONT OF ASSEMBLY OBSCURING LIGHT SOMEWHAT. *JB

PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA USED AT A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER. THE COOLANT LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A MONTH, BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS, THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET AND THE COST IS ($1000). HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THAT THE GASKET IS NOW PLASTIC, WHEREAS PREVIOUSLY WAS MADE OF METAL. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS ALSO PLASTIC AND INDICATED THAT THIS WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE REPLACED IN THE FUTURE. THERE IS NO BETTER PROOF OF PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE. AS I AM DOING MY RESEARCH, I FIND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON. THE SERVICE MANAGER EVEN SAID THEY HE IS SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. THX, GEK. *NM

DT:CALLER STATES THAT HIS SPOUSE WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH WHILE CROSSING INTERSECTION A CAR CAME AN HIT THE VEHICLE THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR.VEHICLES AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CAR HEAD ON. NEITHER THE SIDE AIRBAGS AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.INSURANCE DETERMINED THAT THE CAR WAS TOTALED NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.NO LOSE OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE WARNING LIGHT DID NOT SIGNAL DURING OR AFTER ACCIDENT. NO INJURIES.DID NOT CONTACT MANUFACTURER.NO PRE-IMPACT BRAKING OCCURRED. DRIVER WAS WEARING THEIR SEATBELT.NO PICTURES WERE TAKEN MY OCCUPANT POSSIBLE PICTURES TAKEN BY INSURANCE COMPANY.

SEVERAL ELECTRICAL / SECURITY PROBLEMS - LIGHTS GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALSO AT TIMES WHEN APPROACHING CAR, IT WON'T START DUE TO SECURITY SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN STARTER CIRCUIT. ALTHOUGH THESE THINGS CORRECT THE PROBLEM AFTER WAITING, THE DEALER DOESN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT I PAY FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT MIGHT FIX THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE. *JB

WHILE ENGAGING IN A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN, A KNOCKING NOISE IS DETECTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL BOX. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 6/16/2006 - WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE USED THE DASH LIGHTS WENT DARK. *NM

MY 2002 IMPALA HAS JUST 70K MILES. THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND OVER HEATED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT IS A INTAKE GASKET THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNUSUAL WITH THE DEXTRON COOLANT THAT GM USES. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM FROM MANY MECHANICS AND IT SEEMS THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO FIX THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. MY FAILURE HAPPENED WHEN MY FAMILY WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF NO COOLANT IN THE ENGINE. *JB

ONLY 78000 MILES ON MY 2002 IMPALA WHEN THE COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON. NEARLY $1000.00 LATER THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW WATER PUMP, INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, BELT, RADIATOR CAP, THERMOSTAT AND OF COURSE AN OIL CHANGE. ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THE COOLANT GM REQUIRES IS CORROSIVE AND CAUSES THE ABOVE ITEMS TO DETERIORATE. HOW LONG WILL THE REPLACEMENTS LAST? NOT SURE I WANT TO FIND OUT. *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED AND WHEN SWITCHING FROM THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS TO THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS, THE LIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WOULD SWITCH THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF, BUT THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 05/29/14 MA THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 06/2014 *JS

HEAD LIGHT POPPED OUT OF PLACE AS I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD ONE EVENING. ONE WORKED BUT ONE DID NOT. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION IN MY HOMETOWN. THE OWNER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID HE COULD SEE WHY IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE THE SEAL LOOKED AS IF IT HAD BEEN BROKEN FROM AROUND THE LIGHT. HE SAID THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE CAUSED FROM THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT A PROPER SEAL AND SEEMED TO SHRINK BECAUSE OF EXPOSURE TO THE SUN. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT HAD NOT BEEN RECALLED. I CHOSE TO GET IT FIXED TO KEEP FROM GETTING A TICKET FOR A DAMAGED HEADLIGHT. *JB

COMPLETE HEADLIGHT FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. COULD NOT GET HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. *NM

MOISTURE IN DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT. IT NEVER DRIES OUT. MAKES DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THAT SIDE HARD TO SEE. TALKED TO DEALER, WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. COULD NOT AFFORD $450.00 TO REPAIR. *NM

FRONT HEADLIGHT SEALED UNITS LEAK AND ALLOW MOISTURE TO COLLECT INSIDE WHICH REDUCES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LIGHT EMANATING FROM THE LAMPS. *NM

ENGINE COOLANT LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, OR AT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD TO LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A LOW ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL OR COOLANT POOLING ON MANIFOLD. SAME PROBLEM AS NOTED IN TSB#03034(NHTSA ID#10003430, JULY 01, 2003) THIS PROBLEM IS PRESENT IN MY IMPALA THAT HAS BEEN WELL SERVICED EVERY 5K MILES AND SUDDENLY PRESENTED AT 96K MILES. *JB

TURN SIGNALS WON'T WORK UNLESS YOU MESS WITH THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE PULSATES UNTIL STOPPED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PADS AND ROTORS TWICE BUT THIS HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MATERIAL PADDING HOOKS WERE BROKEN OFF OF THE SIDE OF THE SEAT AND PLACED IN THE MOUTH BY THE TODDLER. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RISK OF CHOKING, THE CHILD DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE SEAT WAS INSPECTED BY A CHILD SAFETY SEAT TECHNICIAN WHO SUGGESTED DISCARDING THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

I OWN A CHEVROLET, IMPALA - 2002. IN THE BEGINNING OF APRIL I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT INTO A BUSY FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY AS I HIT THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE THE CAR FELT SLUGGISH AS THOUGH IT WERE NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS OR NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THAT EVENING I STOOPED TO FILL UP THE GAS TANK AND UPON LEAVING I WAS CLIMBING A HILL AND THE CAR ACTED UP AGAIN AND MADE A DIFFERENT SOUND AND AGAIN ACTED AS THOUGH IT WERE NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR OR NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL AND THE SECURITY LIGHT (NOT SERVICE ENGINE) CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I IMMEDIATELY PHONED MY HUSBAND AND HE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (JOHN SERRETTI). WE HAVE MAINTAINED THIS VEHICLE FAITHFULLY SINCE WE PURCHASED IT OIL CHANGES, TIRES ROTATED ETC. ALL PERFORMED AT JOHN SERETTI'S EVERY 3/4 MONTHS. AFTER REVIEWING ALL PAPERWORK RECEIVED AT HOME FOR THE IMPALA MY HUSBAND CAME ACROSS A LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS MAILED IN OCTOBER 2005 STATING THAT SOME VEHICLES WERE EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IF WE DID INDEED HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS TO TAKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT, BUT IF NOT, NOTHING NEEDED TO BE DONE AND THIS LETTER WAS NOT A RECALL. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ($90) AND FOUND THAT INDEED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTED WAS CLOGGED AND SUPPOSEDLY CAUSED THE SPARK PLUGS WIRE TO ARC AND MELT WHICH ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE (ALMOST $600). MY HUSBAND HAS TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS IN REFERENCE TO THIS AND THEY ALL AGREE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION POSSIBLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. GM DID COVER PART OF THE REPAIRS BUT IN MY OPINION THEY SHOULD HAVE COVERED THEM ALL BECAUSE THE CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND IF CARBON HAD BUILT UP TO THAT EXTENT TO CAUSE ALL OF THIS DAMAGE AND LEADING ME AND OTHER MECHANICS TO BELIEVE IT COULD VERY WELL HAVE STARTED A FIRE, WHY WASN'T IT DISCOVERED AT THE PREVIOUS INSPECTION-OIL CHANGE? *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL GAUGE READS FULL UNTIL THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GASOLINE. THE CONTACT VERBALLY SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHICH STATED, THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.

NOTICEABLE LOOSENESS AND "CLUNK" IN STEERING WHEN TURNING AND/OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR AT LOW SPEED. CAR HAD NEARLY 50,000 MILES. HOW MUCH LONGER BEFORE A LOSS OF STEERING COULD OCCUR? *NM

PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA USED AT A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, IN LESS THAN 8 MONTHS I HAVE COME ACROSS TWO PROBLEMS. ONE, THE TURN SIGNAL STARTS ACTING UP AND AFFECTS THE SYSTEM AND THEY TELL ME IT IS THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ($400.00) AND THE SECOND, I NOTICED I HAD TO CONSTANTLY ADD COOLANT/WATER TO THE RADIATOR BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS, THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET AND THE COST IS ($1000). AS I AM DOING MY RESEARCH TO FIND A MORE REASONABLE COST TO WHICH I CAN ACCOMMODATE, I FIND THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE TOO COMMON IN THE VERSION OF THE MOTORS/STYLE OF VEHICLES. SO FAR, THAT EVEN TWO OF THE SHOPS I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR AN ESTIMATE HAVE SAID THEY ARE SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL, ESPECIALLY IN THE LOWER INTAKE PROBLEM. WHERE CAN I TURN TO, TO TRY TO GET HELP AND MAKE SURE THESE MANUFACTURERS TAKE CARE OF THESE ISSUES THAT ARE VERY COSTLY AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IN LESS THAN 3 TO 4 YEARS, THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY FOR THEM. THANK YOU!! *NM

HEATED SEAT BURNED A SMALL HOLE IN SEAT AND BURNED THE BACK OF MY LEG A LITTLE. I HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTURE AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TRIED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURE AND HAS LEFT VOICE MAIL AND HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURE. THE SEAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED. *NM

(1) AT FIRST, THE TURN SIGNAL DID NOT WORK SOMETIMES. AND IT WOULD BE OKAY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED. BUT AFTER THAT, THE PROBLEM WAS MORE SERIOUS. 2)TURN SIGNAL FAILURE WHEN DRIVING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT I CAN NOT WARN OTHER DRIVERS THAT I WILL BE TURNING WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. (3) NOT YET DONE. THE REPLACEMENT OF HAZARD SWITCH SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. *JB

LOW ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT WENT ON. HAD IT CHECKED OUT. LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THAT OIL WAS GETTING INTO THE RADIATOR, POSSIBLE INTAKE MANIFOLD OR HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. WENT TO CHEVY DEALER EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND HE STATED IT WAS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 IMPALA. HE DIAGNOSTIC THE PROBLEM AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, COST TO REPAIR $1000. I PHONE ANOTHER CHEVY DEALER COST $800, LOCAL MECHANIC $600. COST OF THE PARTS AT AUTOZONE LESS THAN $75 AMOUNT OF LABOR TIME SHOULD BE 3-5 HOURS. CHEVY DEALERS 8 + HOURS. ALL THIS BECAUSE GM USES BAD ANTIFREEZE. GM CAUSED THE PROBLEM THEY NEED TO STEP UP AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO IMPALA OWNERS. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS WILL BE MY LAST GM PRODUCT. *JB

2002 IMPALA BRAKING CALIPERS ON THE BACK DISC ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HOLDS LESS THAN ONE INCH OF THE DISC. TRANSMISSION ROLLS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SLOPE OF THE ROAD. *TS THE CALIPERS ON THE REAR DISC ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HOLDS LESS THAN ONE INCH OF THE DISC. THE OTHER THREE CALIPERS GO ALL THE WAY NORMALLY. THIS HAS RESULTED IN LESS BRAKING CAPACITY ONE ONE SIDE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *NM

2002 IMPALA BREAKING SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION ARE DEFECTIVE. THE BRAKING CALIPERS ON THE BACK DISC ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HOLDS LESS THAN ONE INCH OF THE DISC. *TS THE OTHER THREE CALIPERS GO ALL THE WAY NORMALLY. THIS HAS RESULTED IN LESS BRAKING CAPACITY ON ONE SIDE. THE TRANSMISSION ROLLS WHEN ON A HILL. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. *NM

TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMEDIATELY. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH IMPALAS. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN I SIGNAL I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO WORK. I HAVE ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I COMPLAINED MULTIPLE TIMES TO THE DEALER BUT THEY CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG. AS SOON AS I HIT THE 100,000 MILE MARK THEY ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE A SOLUTION. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF TIMES IT'S BEEN REPORTED. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE SWITCH. *TR

MY VEHICLE HAS 62,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS ALREADY HAD BRAKES REPLACED AND A FUEL PUMP WHICH COSTED $789 DOLLARS. *NM

IS THERE A WAY TO LOOK INTO THE CHEVROLET IMPALA 2002, 2001, AND 2000 MODELS FOR FAILURE OF THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THE LIGHT COMES ON AT TIMES AND WHEN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE YOU ARE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM CAN'T BE FOUND. AFTER THE LIGHT COMES ON, YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN OR IF THE CAR WILL START AND YOU HAVE IT TOWED AND NO PROBLEMS ARE FOUND. I THINK THIS CAN LEAD TO SOME TYPE OF SAFETY PROBLEM IF YOU NEED TO MOVE YOUR CAR IN A HURRY AND IT DON'T START. I'VE TALKED WITH MANY OWNERS OF THE TYPE OF CARS AND THEY ALL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *NM

BOUGHT VEHICLE IN APRIL, 2002. WE HAVE HAD REPEATED MALFUNCTIONS OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. I HAVE UPLOADED A FEW OF THE REPAIR DOCUMENTS WE HAD COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS. I HAVE SEVERAL MORE. DESPITE NUMEROUS REPAIRS, FROM WHEEL SENSORS, TO WIRING (INCLUDING COMPLETE HARNESS), COMPUTER CHIPS, RESETS, ETC. EVERY ATTEMPT BY CHEVY TO FIX THIS POORLY DESIGNED SYSTEM HAVE FAILED. CHEVY HAS ADMITTED THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THEIR BEST SUGGESTION IS TO TRY YET ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. I AM TIRED OF WASTING MY MONEY ON A POORLY DESIGNED AND INSTALLED SAFETY FEATURE. THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED ON START UP, DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, LOW SPEEDS, WHILE BRAKING, ETC. I HAVE CONTACTED GM CORPORATE TWICE. ONCE THEY REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS ONLY TO HAVE IT FAIL SHORTLY AFTER. MY SECOND CONTACT IS IN PROGRESS. MY ONLINE SEARCHES OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL HAVE REVEALED MANY SUCH COMPLAINTS ON THIS MODEL AND SIMILAR MODELS. THE STORY IS THE SAME: GM CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. WE LIVE IN SNOW COUNTRY, AND TRACTION CONTROL IS IMPORTANT TO US. CURRENTLY THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR OVER TWO YEARS. IF YOU INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL, YOU WILL FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT GM HAS NOT RECALLED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU. *TR

WE BOUGHT THIS 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA IN APRIL OF 2002. FORTUNATELY, WE PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WE HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. INITIALLY, THE WARRANTY COVERED THE MALFUNCTIONS: WHEEL SENSORS, MODULES, BRAKE PUMP, WIRING, ETC. WERE REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTER EACH REPAIR, THE SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN. WHEN THE WARRANTY EXPIRED WE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, REPLACING PART AFTER PART. TO DATE, OVER $3.5K HAS BEEN SPENT TO ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS POORLY DESIGNED AND INSTALLED SYSTEM. IT HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR MORE YEARS, THAN IT HAS FUNCTIONED. IT HAS BEEN OUT FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS, BECAUSE WE CAN NOT PUT GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD. I RECENTLY CONTACTED GM CORPORATE WITH MY COMPLAINT AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT IN FOR SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS. SAME RESULT: BRAKE PUMP AND MODULE OUT, WITH POSSIBLE WIRING PROBLEMS AND WHEEL SENSORS. ESTIMATE TO TRY TO FIX: $2.5K. NO GUARANTEE IT WILL WORK. THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS WITH NO WARNING: SOMETIMES UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING. I INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS, NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THEM FIXED PROPERLY. IT OCCURS IN IMPALAS AND MONTE CARLOS OF SIMILAR YEARS, 2002-2008. HOW CAN GM JUSTIFY SPENDING $6K TO MAINTAIN A SINGLE SYSTEM WHICH WORKS DIRECTLY WITH THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM? MY CONTACT AT GM IS [XXX] 855.880.1500 EXT. [XXX]. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS FAULTY, POORLY ENGINEERED SYSTEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU. (I HAVE ATTACHED JUST A FEW OF THE MANY INVOICES I HAVE COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS FOR YOUR INSPECTION.) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

1-28-06, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA WENT OUT. WE FLASHED THE DIMMER/BRIGHT SWITCH AND THEY CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES OVER THE NEXT 3 MONTHS. WE THOUGHT WE HAD A WIRING PROBLEM. THEN IN LATE APRIL, MY CAR JUST QUITE RUNNING, WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IT STARTED BACK UP, BUT IT THEN WAS OUR CUE TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY TO WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK A SECOND TIME BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WASN'T FIXED, THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. AT THIS POINT, MAY, 2006, SINCE IT IS DAYLIGHT FOR MORE HOURS OF THE DAY, WE DON'T DRIVE A LOT AT NIGHT SO I HAVEN'T NOTICED IT HAPPENING AGAIN. ON 5-30-06 I HEARD ON A NEWS REPORT THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED 15 COMPLAINTS OF HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT ON CHEVY IMPALAS, I WANTED TO ADD ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO THAT. *NM

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

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.

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