2002 Chevrolet Impala Complaint Log

WATER LEAKING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH ROOF THROUGH TRIP COMPUTER. LEFT REAR DRAIN HOSE PINCHED CLOSED DURING ASSEMBLY. YEARS OF DIRT ACCUMULATION CLOGGED THE RESTRICTED HOSE CAUSING WATER OVERFLOW TO ENTER VEHICLE CABIN DURING HEAVY RAIN STORMS. *JB

IN JANUARY 2006 MY 2002 IMPALA LOSS POWER. I WAS GOING UP A VERY SMALL HILL AND I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT UP. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL MOM AND POP'S GARAGE AND THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER. IT SHOWED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD EVENTHOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. I HAD THEM REPLACE NOT KNOWING THAT THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR EMISSIONS AND THEY DIDN'T USE A GM PART. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID COME ON. AGAIN IT SHOWED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AS THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID HE HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH PUTTING A NON-DEALER PART ON A CAR BEFORE BUT DID REPLACE THE CONVERTER ONCE AGAIN WITH A NON-GM PART IN CASE THE FIRST ONE HAPPENED TO BE A BAD PART. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHOWS AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION. OF COURSE, THEY WOULDN'T MAKE GOOD ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BY THIS TIME BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT WASN'T THE ORIGINAL GM PART. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $775 JUST FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS AND JUST BROUGHT THE CAR HOME. I'M STILL DRIVING IT BUT IT'S WORSE AND WORSE EVERY DAY. I WOULDN'T TRUST DRIVING THIS CAR VERY FAR. I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER & THE TRANSMISSION THAT YOU WOULD THINK GM WOULD HAVE TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING. AT THIS POINT I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GM VEHICLE AND MY HUSBAND IS DIEHARD GM. I'VE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR HOPING THAT IT WOULD LAST UNTIL MY DAUGHTER STARTS DRIVING AND I COULD HAND IT TRUSTINGLY DOWN TO HER BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE CASE. MY HUSBAND DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF HIS TRUCKS LIKE I WOULD AND HE STILL HAS A 1995 THAT RUNS GOOD.

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA, AND THE CAR HAS 89000 MILES ON IT. THE GAS LINE THAT GOES TO THE ENGINE HAS A HOLE IN IT AND GAS IS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. THE LEAK IS FROM A STEEL LINE THAT WAS RUBBED THROUGH BY THE HOLDER. *NM

ON 01/09/06 WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA AT DARK WITH THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ON, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD VERY CAREFULLY. AS I COULD NOT SEE AT ALL. I THEN HIT THE DIMMER, HIGH BEAM SWITCH A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I REPORTED IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP (MARQUARDT) WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW. THEY STATED THEY HAD ONE OTHER INCIDENT OF THE SAME NATURE. THEY HAD ME BRING THE CAR IN AND THEY REPLACED A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THEY STATED THEY WERE NOT SURE IF THIS WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM OR NOT BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY HAD DID IN THE OTHER CAR THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS STILL UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY STILL MADE ME PAY $50.00 DEDUCTIBLE ON IT. I FELT THAT WAS VERY UNFAIR, SINCE THIS WAS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO ISSUE A COMPLAINT WITH GM ABOUT IT. *JB

THE HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2002 IMPALA WILL GO OUT ON THEIR OWN. YOU CAN GET THEM BACK ON BY QUICKLY OPERATING THE HIGH/LOW BEAM ARM. WHEN OPERATING AT NIGHT YOU DON'T DARE TRY TO SWITCH TO HIGH BEAM OR THE LIGHTS SHUT OFF. THIS IS A VERY,VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION NOT ONLY FOR IMPALA OWNERS BUT ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THE REPAIR WILL LIKELY BE EXTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAG .WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL?ALSO THE TURNING SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ALL THE TIME. TO GET THIS WORKING ONCE IT HAS STOPPED YOU MUST TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT CONTINUALLY UNTIL IT WORKS AGAIN. *JB

I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR-END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY (EXPECTED) AND THE SHOULDER RESTRAINT DID NOT PREVENT MY HEAD AND BODY FROM GOING FORWARD AND STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL (UNEXPECTED.) I RECEIVED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF MY FOREHEAD STRIKING (I ASSUME) THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY THE LAST THREE YEARS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION AND PASS SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) FAILED AFTER 57,000 MILES. THE OTHER COMPUTER THAT RESIDES IN THE SAME HOUSING IS COVERED BY A 80,000 MILE WARRANTY, WHERE AS THE BCM IS NOT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS TSB'S THAT ARE POSTED CONCERNING FAILURE OF THE BCM. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND MANY SOURCES ARE AVAILABLE BY RESEARCHING THE INTERNET. THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP EVEN SAID THAT "IMPALAS ARE NOTORIOUS" FOR PROBLEM WITH THE BCM. GENERAL MOTORS SAYS THAT IT IS NOT COVERED AND THEREFORE WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT COSTS OF THE BCM. IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR MODEL (2002 IMPALA LS) THEN WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE BY THEM. I AM THANKFUL THAT MY CAR DID NOT SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY AND DID SO IN MY PARKING LOT. *NM

MIS-DIAGNOSIS AND WILLFUL NEGLIGENCE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS OF ENGINE KNOCKING AND LOSS OF POWER UPON ACCELERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED A CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER, HOWEVER, THE SYMPTOMS RETURNED WITHIN 15 DAYS. NOW THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE ENGINE IS DAMAGED AND MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,000. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY PURCHASED 6 WEEKS AGO AT A COST OF $12,000. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS MADE UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, NOW THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND WARRANTY. *JB

VALVE COVER LEAKS OIL ONTO MANIFOLD . WHEN ENGINE IS HOT YOU CAN SMELL THE OIL BURNING ON THE MANIFOLD. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE #15757 NOTIFYING US OF THIS PROBLEM IN DECEMBER 2015. THE DEALER TELLS US GM DOESN'T HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE DEFECT BUT THEY DEALER WOULD REPAIR DEFECT AND BILL US AND GM WOULD REIMBURSE US FOR REPAIR. IF THE DEALER HAS THE PARTS TO REPAIR DEFECT WHY NOT JUST DO IT? RECALL NOTICE WARNS US NOT TO PARK VEHICLE IN GARAGE BECAUSE OF FIRE DANGER.

APPROXIMATELY 60K MILES, PASS LOCK LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER SAID IT WAS COMMON IN IMPALAS, WOULD COST $1500, NEEDED TO REPLACE COMPUTER MODULE WHICH RUNS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. STARTED HAVING STARTING ISSUES, AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONS, POWER DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING, WIPER & WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS, TRUNK OPENING ON ITS OWN, ETC. TOOK TO MECHANIC, SAID SAME AS DEALER, HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF IMPALAS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. CAR RANDOMLY DOES NOT START, AIRBAG MALFUNCTION, AND DOORS NOT WORKING. *TR

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, 72K MILES, POOR ACCELERATION, OVER-HEATING OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER. FIRE IS POSSIBLE. NO ANNOUNCED RECALL, HOWEVER A SERVICE RECALL WAS ISSUED AND WARRANTY EXTENDED DUE TO FAULTY CONVERTER. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ANNOUNCE RECALL, UNLESS A PROBLEM OCCURS. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON THERE WAS A LOSS OF LIGHTING. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE. MANEUVERING THE HIGH BEAM/LOW BEAM SWITCH QUICKLY ACTIVATED THE HEADLIGHTS. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS FAULTY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO EXCESSIVE COST. *AK UPDATED 01/19/06. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE. WHEN HE PRESSED THE HIGH BEAM/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER. *AK

1. LOW COOLANT LIGHT WAS CONTINUALLY ON, AND IT DID REQUIRE COOLANT AT THE TIME, BUT THERE WAS NO INDICATION WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE COOLANT - AFTER 2 WEEKS OF SMELLING ANTIFREEZE WITHIN THE VEHICLE, IT WAS THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING AROUND THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEAR THE BOLTS AND THEN THIS LED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE GASKET ITSELF..IT TOOK 8.5 HOURS OF LABOR AND THE COST OF THE NEW GASKET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. 2. THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE AT SLOW SPEEDS...APPARENTLY IT IS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE CHEVROLET DEALER BUT WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM FOR US...THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND THAT THEY HAVE TRIED TO GET CHEVROLET TO RECALL THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE COMPLAINTS FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS. BOTH PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE LISTED ARE A CONTINUAL PROBLEM FOR MANY IMPALA OWNERS AND I FEEL AS THOUGH SINCE THEY HAVE ISSUED NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS TO THEIR DEALERS ABOUT BOTH OF MY COMPLAINTS, THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS BUT STILL REFUSE TO CORRECT THEM FOR THE CONSUMER. AS A CONSUMER I FEEL AS THOUGH GM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND MADE TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS FOR ALL OF US 2002 IMPALA OWNERS. *NM

THE AC DELCO BATTERY POST CAME OFF OF THE BATTERY. THE CLAMP AND CABLE WERE TIGHT, THE POST WAS EATEN IN TWO FROM THE INSIDE. *NM

TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION OCCASIONALLY AND THIS PROBLEM WAS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY. NO ACCIDENTS,BUT I HAD TO ROLL DOWN WINDOW TO GIVE TURN INDICATIONS. MY CHEVY DEALER REPLACED A PART OR PARTS AND I SEEM TO BE OK. AT A COST OF OVER 100 DOLLARS. *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO STATED THAT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL WIRING NEEDED TO BE TESTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

AROUND 58K MILES THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A SLIGHT LEAK AROUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO THE DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE THAT IS USED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME, AND THE COST WOULD BE AROUND $700 TO REPAIR. I'VE BEEN NURSING THIS ISSUE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AS THE LEAK WAS SLIGHT, HOWEVER NOW IT IS GREATER AND MUST BE DEALT WITH. I HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH THE DEALERS AND WILL HAVE TO REPAIR IT AND BEAR THE COST. *NM

REPEATED INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF TURN SIGNALS. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO THE FAILURE TO SIGNAL INTENT OF TURN OR LANE CHANGE. THE FAILURE CAN SOMETIMES BE OVER COME BY BRIEFLY ACTIVATING THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH. MY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS FAILURE IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE 03V327000 RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE 2001 MALIBU. WHICH MAKES ME WONDER IF IT IS THE SAME PART. *JB

8-10-2005 I BOUGHT IT USED MILEAGE WAS 91186 7-5-2006 TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP THEY REPLACED INTAKE/VC/HEAD/GASKETSFLUSHED RADIATOR REPLACED H2O PUMP/THERMOSTAT COOLANT OIL CHANGE RESURFACE HEADS COVERED BY GUARDIAN WARRANTY OVER $1700.00 DOLLARS 2/2008 IT STARTED ALL OVER LOW COOLANT LIGHT IT WOULD GET HOT BROWNISH LOOKING WATER REPLACED RADIATOR/HOSES/WATERPUMP/COOLANTSENSER /THERMOTSTAT/FLUSHED COOLANT SYSTEM BUT IT STILLWOULD GET HOT/BUT IF YOU TURN ON THE HEATER ON HOT BUT IT WOULD NEVER BLOW OUT HOT AIR IT WAS COLD ONLY IT SMELL AS IF THEIRS COOLANT SEEPING INTO THE MOTOR OIL MY MILEAGE AT THE FIRST REPAIR WAS 102100 MY MILEAGE AS OF TO DAY139297 AS IT SIT IN DRIVE WAY I STILL HAVE PAYMENTS OF 300.00AMONTH IM PAYING FOR 11MORE MONTHS AND CANT EVEN DRIVE IT NOT EVEN A1/2MILE TO WORK I BEEN TOLD ITS AFFECT IN THE CLOSED COOLINGSYSTEM AND DEX COOL IT INTERNAL AND I CANT AFFORD THE REPAIR OR THE PAYMENT BUT IM STUCK WITH THEM. *TR

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH STALLING AND MISFIRING.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. A HOLE BURNT THROUGH THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF AIR TO ENTER THE SYSTEM. THE CLOGGED CONVERTER WAS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM WHICH ALLOWED EXCESSIVE BACK PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE SYSTEM AND GASES THAT WERE MUCH HOTTER THAN NORMAL ENTERED THE MANIFOLD. *SC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH, ALARM, AND SECURITY LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE IS DISABLED AND FAILS TO START. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE NEEDED AN IGNITION SWITCH AND THE MODULE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER OFFERED 10% OFF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

CONSUMER BRAKES BEGAN TO VIBRATE, BRAKES WERE CLEANED AND LATER REPLACED. *TS THE DEALER HAS RESURFACED THE REAR ROTORS, REPLACED THE FRONT DISC PADS, REPLACED BOTH REAR ROTORS TWICE, CLEANED RUST OFF THE REAR ROTORS, CLEANED THE BRAKING SURFACE AND CLEANED THE FRONT ROTOR SURFACES. THE TRUNK HANDLE CAME OFF IN THE TRUNK. *NM

DT: THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ENGINE WAS NOT DESTROYED, BUT THE SEATS WERE DOWN TO THE WIRES. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED A SPARK COME FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED, BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATES THEY ARE GOING TO INSPECT IT. THE BACK WINDSHIELD SHATTERED BEFORE THIS, APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS PRIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING ERRATICALLY BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTEED BUT ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY HAVE TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID RESPOND. THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL WIRING. THE POLICE DID RESPOND, BUT DID NOT FILE A REPORT. THIS HAPPENED JULY 3, 2005. *NM

2002 IMPALA DEVELOPED A PROBLEM DUE TO IMPROPER AND UNSAFE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS.****NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT EH DEALER TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER HAD ANOTHER REPAIR FACILITY LOOK AT THE BRAKES AND THEY BELIEVED THAT THE PADS WERE TO SMALL AND THAT THE ROTORS WERE NOT HEAVY ENOUGH FOR THE WEIGHT AND SIZE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SECONDS SET OF PADS AND ROTORS ALSO FAILED AND AT THAT TIME THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE ROTORS AND PADS. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRST BRAKE JOB. *NM

HEADLITES GO DIM AND THEN GET BRIGHTER, THIS HAPPENS OFF AND ON, BY THEMSELVES.

ITERMEADIATE STERRING SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED, COST $400.

DT: 2002, CHEVROLET, IMPALA LS, WHILE CONSUMER WAS BACKING THE VEHICLE UP THE AIR BAGS ON BOTH FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DEPLOYED, THIS WAS WITHOUT IMPACT , AND NOT WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP. CONSUMER HAD ONLY BACKED UP ABOUT ONE FOOT WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER CONTACTED GM TWICE, UPON CALLING THE SECOND TIME, GM INSTRUCTED THE CONSUMER TO TAKE IT TO A LOCAL DEALER, WHO DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, AND COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. GM WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER'S INSURANCE AGENCY SAID THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. CONSUMER REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE POLICE , AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT FILE A REPORT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *AK

I PURCHASED MY '02 IMPALA THROUGH THE CORPORATE LEASING COMPANY OF MY FATHER'S EMPLOYER. HE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR OTHER THAN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TURNING BLACK BY 85,000 MILES. WHEN I GOT THE CAR IN JUNE OF '05, IT WAS AT 121,000 MILES, I DROVE THE CAR AROUND ALL DAY, PARKED THE CAR FOR 5 MINUTES, AND WHEN I WENT TO START IT, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE DASH LIT UP, THE RADIO CAME ON, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T TURN OVER, NOT EVEN A CLICKING SOUND, INDICATIVE OF A DEAD BATTERY. I WAITED 10 MINUTES, TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I WENT FOR ANOTHER MONTH WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, HOWEVER IN LATE JULY, THE CAR FAILED TO START. AGAIN I WAITED 10-15 MINUTES, AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. THIS CONTINUED SPORADICALLY UNTIL OCTOBER 20, WHEN IT TOOK 30 MINUTES OF WAITING TO GET IT TO CRANK. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL GM DEALER, WHO PUT IT ON THE MACHINE AND ADVISED ME THAT THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) HAD FAILED AND WAS SENDING A SIGNAL TO THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM TELLING IT THAT MY KEYS WERE INCORRECT. THE SERVICE WRITER INFORMED ME THAT A NEW BCM INSTALLED WOULD RUN ABOUT $500.00, AND THE SERVICE TECH ADVISED THAT THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON FAILURE IN BOTH THE IMPALA AND THE MALIBU, WHICH GM HAS YET TO RECALL. THE TECHNICIAN DID SUGGEST THAT A MORE COST EFFECTIVE OPTION EXISTED WITH SEVERAL OF THE AFTER-MARKET SHOPS, IN WHICH A BYPASS-RELAY WAS INSTALLED UNDER THE DASH, TO BLOCK THE ERRONEOUS SIGNALS FROM THE BCM, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE COST FOR THIS BYPASS IS ABOUT $55.00 AND TAKES APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR TO INSTALL. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS SOLUTION, IS IT BLOCKS THE KEY RECOGNITION FEATURE OF THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM, WHICH WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO STEAL, IF SOMEONE CAN START IT WITHOUT DAMAGING THE KEY IGNITION. I THINK IT IS NECESSARY FOR GM TO UNDERSTAND THAT A VEHICLE'S FAILURE TO START DUE TO FAULTY COMPONENT IN THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IS A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN WHICH NEEDS TO ADDRESSED. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN RESURFACED THE BRAKE ROTORS. TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE HE WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH A SUFFICIENT EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE ROTORS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,009 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 42,363. UPDATED 06/09/08 *BF THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. UPDATED

OUR 2002 CHEV IMPALA IS A VACATION AND LONG TRIP VEHICLE, VERY LITTLE CITY DRIVING. AT FIRST WE DROVE IT VERY LITTLE, THEN THE FIRST WINTER WE DROVE IT AND PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE TILL SPRING. THE VEHICLE THEN GAVE US PROBLEMS WITH SHIMMY AND SHAKING ALONG WITH NOISY GRINDING WHEN STOPPING. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID IT HAD WARPED ROTORS AND THEN TURNED ALL 4 ROTORS DOWN AT 19755 MILES. THEN IN JUNE OF 2005 I TOOK IT BACK IN BECAUSE OF A CONSTANT GRINDING SOUND WHEN BACKING UP AND THE SHIMMY WHEN BRAKING WAS RETURNING MORE EVERYDAY. THE DEALER THEN TELLS ME THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT IT NEEDS 4 NEW ROTORS BECAUSE THEY ARE WARPED AND PITTED. THIS IS A PEP CAR FROM THE COMPANY AND I MISTAKENLY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY TILL END OF JULY. I WAS INFORMED THIS IS NOT TRUE AND THAT THE REPAIR WILL BE $732. THIS VEHICLE HAS 30,335 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD BAD ROTORS AND STOPPING SINCE WE STARTED TO DRIVE IT IN 2002/03 WINTER AND THEN PARKED IT TILL SPRING OF 2004. THIS I BELIEVE IS A DEFINITE SAFTEY HAZARD AND ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM ON THE IMPALAS AND THE MALIBUS ALOT. ACCORDING TO THE ADVISOR GM WILL NOT LET THEM REPLACE THE ROTORS ONLY TURN THEM TO SPECS. THIS I EQUATE TO GETTING OPEN HEART SURGERY AND ONLY USING BANDAIDS AND TAPE TO CLOSE THE ARTERIES AND INCISIONS. I AM TOTALLY DISGUSTED WITH THE QUALITY AND SERVICE WORK DONE BY GENERAL MOTORS. INFERIOR PARTS AND SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS SEEM TO BE THE WAY TO GO AT GM TO GET THEIR REQUIRED PROFITS AT CUSTOMER EXPENSE. THE ADVISOR SAYS THAT THE ROTORS THEY FOUND WERE THE CHEAPEST AND MANUFACTURED IN CHINA. I DON'T THINK THE CHINESE CARE MUCH ABOUT PROVIDING AMERICANS CONSUMERS WITH A QUALITY PRODUCT. GM IS SELLING US OUT FOR THEIR BOTTOM LINE AND WE SUFFER AS THE END USER WHO WILL BE THE INJURED PARTY IF THE PARTS FAIL ON THE ROADS OF AMERICA.

EXPERIENCED A PULSING IN THE BRAKING OF THE CAR. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS, SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTEE. I RETURNED TO MY SHOP (WHERE I WORK) AND THEY TURNED THE ROTORS FOR ME. THIS WAS LAST YEAR. NOW THE PULSING IS BACK. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AND INFORM THEM OF THE RETURNING PULSATION. SEE WHAT THEY SAY, HAS ANYONE GOTTEN THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM???

DT: ENGINE STARTED TO SPIT AND SPUTTER. IT GOT WORSE. CALLER CHANGED FUEL FILTER BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID IT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CAR RAN FAST AND TRIED TO TAKE OFF, AND SHE HAD TO SLAM THE BRAKES HARD, AND HOLD THEM TO T STOP CAR. DEALER SAID A HOLE WAS BURNED INTO THE MANIFOLD, AND WHEN THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THEY SAID A MISFIRE CODE CAME UP. PROBLEM WAS WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEING PLUGGED. DEALER FIXED THE BURNED INTAKE MANIFOLD BEFORE THEY FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THAT WAS THE ONLY THING WRONG WITH IT. *AK

DT: CONTACT STATES THE REAR DEFROSTER TERMINAL FELL OFF. THIS HAS BEEN THE 5TH TIME THIS OCCURRED. THE REAR WINDOW HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE, WAITING TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK

CLUNCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE TRUNK AND DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO WORK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. SHE HAS REPROGRAMMED THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE WINDSHIELD ON A CLEAR DAY CAUSED BLURRED VISION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD, THE FAILURE DID NOT CONTINUE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO BLINK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE KEY DISLODGED FROM THE IGNITION WITHOUT CAUSE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THERE WAS NO KNOWN DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND THE KEYS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT KEYS WERE DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE DETAILS OF THE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE TRAVELING TO JACKSON, FL., THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HER HEADLIGHT WAS FLICKERING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER IN FLORIDA AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT HOUSING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $1,000. THE CONTACT COULD NOT PROVIDE THE FAILURE MILEAGE; HOWEVER, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE HAS WORSENED OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

DT: WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE ROAD AT 2000 RPMS AND ABOUT 65 MPH, USING CRUISE CONTROL FOR ABOUT 50 MILES, THE ROAD STARTED CHANGED TO ONE LANE AND CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM STOPPED ELECTRICALLY, BUT THE MECHANICAL PORTION CONTINUED TO ENGAGE. BRAKES HAD TO BE DEPRESSED HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND PUT INTO NEUTRAL TACHOMETER JUMPED TO 4000 RPMS. *AK

I OWN A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA. ON 5/20/05 THE SECURITY LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND WOULD REMAIN ON. THE SECURITY LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AND NOW THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD TAKE 10-30MINUTES BEFORE I COULD START THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. ON 6/15/05 THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM STARTED UP AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A NEW STARTER. ON 7/16/05 SAME PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN WITH SECURITY LIGHT. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE AND CODES CAME UP FROM A NOTICE FROM GM (8/04). THE CODE #'S WERE B2958 AND B2960. THE CODE SAID TO REPAIR POOR TERMINAL CONNECTIONS AT BODY CONTROL MODULE. THE SECURITY LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND CAR DOES NOT START. THIS CONTINUES ON/OFF FROM 9/11/05-11/28/05. ON 11/28/05 THE IGNITION LOCK/SENSOR IS REPLACED AND THE PCM IS REPROGRAMMED. AND I AM GIVEN A NEW KEY. LOOKS LIKE AT THE MOMENT THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED. WELL TODAY 7/17/08 I NOTICE THAT THE SECURITY LIGHT IS BACK ON AND I BEGIN TO CRINGE BECAUSE OF WHAT I WENT THROUGH IN 05'. I GET ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THE # OF COMPLAINTS FROM DISGRUNTLED CUSTOMERS ABOUT THIS SECURITY LIGHT. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! GM BY NOW IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THIS SECURITY LIGHT GOING ON. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL NOTICE GOING OUT TO CHEVY IMPALA OWNERS. I HAVE CONTACTED GM. MY COMPLAINT IS ON FILE. I HAVE 2 FILE #'S. ONE FOR IN 2005--# [XXX] AND A NEW ONE JUST STARTED TODAY (7/17/08)--#-[XXX]. PLEASE GOOGLE CHEVY IMPALA AND SECURITY LIGHT PROBLEM AND SEE THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS THAT COME UP. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE! I FEEL THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO ASAP. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. IT HAS AROUND 53,000 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR AND IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN SLOWLY. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO SHE TOLD ME THE CAR SHIFTED HARD AND I DROVE IT AND FOUND THAT PROBLEM ALSO. THAT WENT AWAY FOR 2 WEEKS AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WE WERE REFERRED TO A INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN THE IMPALA HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS AND WE WERE TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY IS SOME PROBLEMS BUT JUST WOULDNT GET SPECIFIC WITH ME. I THEN WENT TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING AS THE FIRST SHOP TOLD ME AND THAT WAS I NEEDED THIS REBUILT. THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS A BAD DESIGN AND WANT $2400. TO $2600. TO FIX IT. THIS IS THE SAME PRICE AS THE FIRST PLACE GAVE ME. I THINK IF THIS IS SO COMMON OF A PROBLEM G.M. SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I AM GOING BACK TO THE CHEVY DEALER AND AM GOING TO ASK THEM JUST WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR ME. I'M NOT A HAPPY PERSON, THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN HARD AND INFACT IT'S BEEN TREATED NICELY. I CAN'T FIND A RECALL ON IT BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE SHOULD BE ONE IN EFFECT FOR IT. I ALSO THINK THIS PROBLEM COULD BE A SERIOUS ROAD HASSARD IF THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT WHILE BEING DRIVEN.

PARKED AND TURNED OFF CAR, GAUGES, LOCKS AND LIGHTS WENT CRAZY. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUED TO GO CRAZY EVENTUALLY THE BATTERY EXPLODED AND EVERYTHING TURNED OFF. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS THE BCM. 6 YEARS LATER BCM IS BAD AGAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65-70 MPH WITH THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONING ACTIVATED, THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR PANEL AREA IGNITED INTO FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE PASSENGER EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE DASHBOARD AND CARPET SUSTAINED MINOR FIRE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

BOUGHT CHEV IMPALA 2002 BRAND NEW, NO MILES. 2005 BEGAN EXPERIENCING COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS-RUNNING HOT ETC. REPLACED RADIATOR, FLUSHED SYSTEM, REPLACED THERMOSTAT, ETC. ETC. SEVERAL TIMES, BODY CONTROL UNITS- LIGHTS AND LOCKS GOING CRAZY, HUB ASSEMBLY/TRACKING SYSTEM PROBLEMS- SOUNDS AND PULSATING WHEN TRY TO BRAKE OR TURN, HIGH BEAM LIGHT WON'T STAY ON TO THIS DATE. EXPERIENCING SMOKE FROM HOOD-MAY BE A LEAK WHICH SEEMS TO BE ACOMMON COMPLAINT BUT DEALER PUT DYE IN AND SAID THEY DON'T DETECT A LEAK. NO AIR-FREON REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BECOME FILLED WITH WATER WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AND RESEALED YET THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO RETAIN MOISTURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT WOULD SHORT OUT WHENEVER THE BULB WAS REPLACED. THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS WOULD ONLY OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.

DT: CONSUMER STATES: BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. WHEN TRYING TO START IT'S LIKE A DEAD BATTERY, NO NOISE LIKE SOMEONE TOOK THE STARTER OFF. HAVE SOME LIGHTS COME ON BUT NOT ALL.*AK

THE SECURITY LIGHT GOES AND CAR WILL NOT START BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS. HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, COMPUTER MODULE EVERYTHING! AND STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE RADIO IS LOCKED. THE WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. I HAVE PUT SO MUCH MONEY INTO THIS CAR AND IT STILL ONLY RUNS WHEN IT WANTS. *TR

DT: ON 4/20/05 WHILE DRIVING,GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN UNINTENTIONALLY ,AND UPON PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL, CAR WOULD NOT SPEED UP. THIS OCCURRED ON DRY PAVEMENT ON HIGHWAY. CAR WAS REGULARLY SERVICED WITH RECORDS AVAILABLE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS. *AK

WHEN GETTING INTO MY CAR I GO TO START MY CAR AND NOTHING HAPPENS. I HAVE TO WAIT FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START. THE SECURITY LIGHTS COMES ON WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THE CAR WILL NOT START AND THE SECURITY LIGHT IS ON. IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THIS. SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT 30 MINUTES BEFORE THEIR CAR WILL START. THIS COULD PUT A WOMAN IN A SERIOUS SITUATION. WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND I HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP. *JB