2002 Chevrolet Impala Complaint Log

2002 CHEVY IMPALA THE SECURITY LIGHT GOES ON WHEN DRIVING. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WHEN DRIVING THIS WAY THE CAR WILL NOT START AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. A FRIEND WHO HAS A NEWER IMPALA HAS HAD SECUIRTY LIGHT GO ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN . VERY SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS COULD ARRIVE IF ON HIGHWAY OR BRIDGE AND CAR DIES.

I HAVE A 2002 IMPALA AND THE SAME PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE. MY BLINKERS WILL RANDOMLY STOP WORKING. WHEN I PUSH THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND OFF 3 OR 4 TIMES THE BLINKERS START TO WORK AGAIN. *TR

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL DURING A SLOW MANEUVER, YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL CLUNKING COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IT FEELS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS BECOMING LOOSE. I HAVEN'T GONE TO THE DEALER YET BECAUSE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND SEEING SOO MANY COMPLAINS ABOUT IT IT SHOULD BE RECALLED.

P102 MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILURE, CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO REMAIN IN A STEADY ON CONDITION. VEHICLE WOULD FAIL EMISSIONS TEST WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, BUT DEALER SAYS THIS CONDITION NOT COVERED BY EMISSIONS WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE OWNER'S MANUAL CLEARLY STATES THIS CONDITION IS A EMISSIONS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.*AK

STEERING CLUNKS WHEN TURNING OR TOUCHING THE BRAKES OR LETTING OF THE BRAKES AND EXCELLERATING. I AM AFRAID OF A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THIS.

TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT CAME ON . ALSO THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON.I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. A SHORT WHILE LATER THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO MATTHEW HARGREAVES CHEVROLET. 2000 E. 12 MILE RD. P. O. 278, ROYAL OAK, MI 48068 PHONE 248-398-8800 FAX 248-398-0867. THEY TOLD ME THE LEFT REAR ABS SPEED SENSOR HAD AN OPEN CIRCUIT. SO THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 39,020 MILES, AND WAS PURCHASED ON JANUARY 14, 2002.*AK

IGNITION SWITCH - MALFUNCTIONED. Y HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH SECURITY LIGHT. HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER SERVICE. *AK

I RECENTLY(3-7-05) PURCHASED A USED 2002 CHEVY IMPALA FROM MY UNCLE. HE TOLD ME THAT BASED ON INFO RECEIVED FROM A FORMER GM MECH.; THERE WAS A STARTER PROBLEM THAT HE HAD YET TO EXPERIENCE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR A LITTLE OVER 3 WEEKS NOW AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 5 DAYS. I REPLACED THE STARTER YESTERDAY(3-23-05) BASED ON WHAT MY UNCLE HAD TOLD ME. 20 MINUTES AFTER INSTALLING THE NEW 1 THE CAR DID NOT START. CALLED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING(3-24-05) AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS DEALER TOLD ME THAT HE HAS 1 MONTE CARLO/IMPALA COME IN EVERY MONTH WITH THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED HIM IF IT WAS RECALL ON THE PART(S). HE TOLD ME "NO" AND THE THE REPLACEMENT COST WAS BETWEEN $450-600. NOW I'M OUT $250 FOR A STARTER I DIDN'T NEED AND BEING TOLD I'M LOOKING @ ANOTHER BILL AROUND $500. IN MY OPINION 1 CAR A MONTH IS TOO MANY AND THAT WAS AT JUST 1 DEALER. I HAVE 14 CHEVROLET DEALERS WITHIN 15 MILES OF MY HOUSE. THAT IS 168 CARS JUST NEAR ME IN 1 YEAR. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WILL TURN INSIDE OF THE IGNITION, BUT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SAME FAILURE THREE YEARS AGO AT 40,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, THE SECURITY LIGHT FEATURE BEGAN TO FLASH BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 7/23/109 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM AND GM DOES NOT HAVE A PROPER FIX. UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM HAS BEEN FAILING ME SINCE 2005. THE CAR STARTS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED FOR 6 MONTHS, LATE TO WORK, AND MENTALLY STRESSED THANKS TO THIS PROBLEM. EVERYDAY FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. IN 2005 I HAD THE BCM REPLACED, AND GM BLAMED THE PROBLEM ON THE VIPER ALARM SYSTEM. AS OF LAST WEEK GENERAL MOTORS CUT A NEW KEY, BECAUSE THE OLD KEY WAS STATED AS THE PROBLEM. NOW THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST GM INFORMS ME THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION. THIS HAS TO BE A FORM OF RAPE. I AM A VETERAN, UNIVERSITY STUDENT, AND A PART-TIME WORKER, SO MY VEHICLE IS VERY MUCH NEEDED. MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY WATCH ME STRUGGLE DUE TO THIS VEHICLE ISSUE. I GUESS THIS IS THE THANKS YOU GET FOR BEING A HARD WORKING AMERICAN. *TR

THE FIRST THING IS THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET TWO TIME NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN INTO THE WATER RESERVOIR THEN I HAD TWO REPLACE THE MAIN CONTROL ( BCM ) AND ( PCM ) BY THE DEALERSHIP HA TO REPLACE THE STARTER AND THE WATER PUMP HAD TO RE PLACE TWO WINDOW MOTOR AND TWO WINDOW ELECTRONIC SWITCH THAT CONTROL EACH WINDOW THERE A LOT MORE BUT THIS ARE THE MORE IMPORTANCE ONES IT WOULD BE OKAY IF I GOT THIS CAR USED BUT I PAID FOR A NEW CAR SO I WOULD NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF BREAKDOWNS DOES GM STAND BEHIND THERE CAR OR WHAT !!!!!!!! *TR

DT: CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS HIMSELF. FIRST, THE BRAKES WERE GRABBING AND THEN THEY STARTED MAKING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND AFTER THEY HEARD THE NOISE, THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS THE BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE HIMSELF AND CHANGED THE BRAKE PADS, HE KEPT THE OLD ONES AND THEY WERE UNBOUNDED. CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED BECAUSE CONSUMER DIDN'T HAVE HIS SERVICE WORK DONE WITH THEM. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF WHERE HE LIVES THE BRAKE PADS MALFUNCTIONED FASTER. CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES ON THE BRAKE PADS.*AK

THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

STARTING 2/05 I HAVE HAD THE "SECURITY" WARNING LIGHT AND MY ENGINE FAIL TO START ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. I HAD TO REPLACE THE BCM THE FIRST TIME BUT HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS A TSB ON THIS ISSUE AND THAT, PER GM, I NEED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED PARTS TO PREVENT MY VEHICLE FROM SHUTTING DOWN ON THE ROAD. IF THAT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT WILL NOT STAND BEHIND IT'S DEFECT UNTIL A MAJOR ACCIDENT HAPPENS. THEY SHOULD DO A RECALL AND HAVE THESE ALL REPAIRED BEFORE A MAJOR ACCIDENT DOES TAKE PLACE. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST BECAUSE OF A WELL KNOWN DOCUMENTED FLAW. *NM

MY CAR WAS RUNNING ONE DAY WHEN I WAS IN A STORE AND I CAME OUT AND GOT IN AND IT WAS DINGING AND LIGHTS WERE FLASHING RADIO DIDN'T WORK FAN WAS NOT AS STRONG AS USUAL. AND ONCE IN AWHILE I WON'T EVEN HAVE LIGHTS UNLESS I HOLD IN THE BRIGHTS SWITCH. BUT THAT WAS JUST THE START IT GOT MORE FREQUENT THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN THEN, IT WOULN'T START I WOULD TRY FOR HOURS TO GET IT TO START I WOULD HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND WAIT AND THEN EVEN AFTER DOING THIS IT MIGHT NOT START. AND THEN JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT WILL DING AND FLASH RAID SHUTS OFF SAYS "LOCKED" WHAT WHAT IS THIS NOW. SO I WILL STOP SHUT OFF WONT START, FINALLY STARTS THEN NONE OF THE GAUGES WORK OR RADIO OR EVEN THE A/C. I HAVE LOST TWO JOBS BECAUSE OF MY CAR NOT STARTING AND BEING LATE FOR WORK OR NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT CAUSE IT WONT START. NOW I HAVE TAKEN IT TO ABOUT TEN DEALER SHIPS , WELL EVERY PLACE TELLS ME SAME THING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR CAR. MAY 30,2007 WAS THE WORST TIME WITH MY CAR, IT WAS RAINING REALLY HARD, MY CAR STARTED TO ACT UP LIKE USUAL MY A/C WOULDN'T WORK IT WAS REALLY HUMID AND ABOUT 85 DEGREES AND I GOT TO A TOWN AND SHUT OFF THE CAR AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AS USUAL ALSO AND NOTHING HAPPEN AND THIS WENT ON FOR 2 HOURS AND STILL NOTHING HAPPENED THE WORST PART ABOUT THIS IS I HAD MY 6 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER WITH ME, MY FIANCE IS OUT OF TOWN WE ARE AN HOUR FROM HOME AND MY FRIEND HAS A FLAT TIRE AND MY PARENTS ON VACATION I HAD NO RIDE OR ANY BODY TO CALL AND I COULDN'T CALL A TOW SERVICE BECAUSE I ONLY HAD $10.00 TO MY NAME I HAD TO BUNDLE MY DAUGHTER UP IN HER BLANKET AND START WALKING HOME, I WALKED FOR ABOUT 20MINS BEFORE ANY ONE STOPPED TO PICK US UP. I AM SO SICK AND TIRED OF THIS HAPPENING AND WOULD LIKE THIS PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED BUT I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD HAVE TO BE AT MY EXPENSE WHEN IT OBVIOUSLY IS NOT JUST HAPPENING TO ME! PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME !! I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!! AKL *TR

DEFECTIVE EXTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH) ON 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THIS LIGHT SWITCH BECOMES DEFECTIVE WITHOUT WARNING AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. CURRENT MODELS COME EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS WHICH COME ON AT DUSK (OR IN DARKENED CONDITIONS) HOWEVER THIS DEFECT DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY WARNING THAT THIS AUTOMATIC FUNCTION HAS FAILED AND THE MANUAL LIGHT SWITCH IS ALSO DISABLED BY THE SAME DEFECT. *JB

ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO HIGH BEAMS WOULD GO OUT COMPLETELY (NO LIGHTS AT ALL) UNTIL HIT LEVER. GOT WORSE UNTIL NO HEADLIGHTS AT ALL. TOOK TO DEALER AND CHARGED ME $629.66 FOR A MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH. ADVISED GM OF NHTSA PEO6017 BUT THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT GM WOULD NOT COVER DUE TO AGE (2002) AND MILEAGE (107,200). *TR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN TURNED ON OFF ARE IN AN UPRIGHT POSTION ON WINDSHIELD. *JB

THE CONSUMER STATES THE TURN SIGNALS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SIGNALS OPERATE THROUGH THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH. *TC

CRUISE CONTROL NOT RESPONDING. SUDDEN LUNGE/ACCELERATION CAUSED CAR TO SPEED OFF THE ROAD. DRIVER INJURED, CAR TOTALED. SUSPECT CRUISE CONTROL LATER KICKED IN, SOME 40 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND SUBSEQUENT ACCIDENT.*AK

2002 CHEVY IMPALA 3.4L 84,000+ MILES LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON. LEAKING ANTIFREEZE BUT NOT SURE WHERE. CONTINUALLY HAVING TO ADD ANTIFREEZE TO OVERFLOW TO MAINTAIN LEVEL. CAR SMELLS LIKE BURNING ANTIFREEZE AFTER BEING DRIVEN. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOUND ONLINE AT CAR FORUMS WITH OTHER CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE. CONTENTS IN RADIATOR AND OVERFLOW IS THICK, OILY-LIKE SUBSTANCE. SO FAR, WHILE CHECKING OIL, IT IS OK. NOT MILKY OR CLOUDY. NUMEROUS REASONS WHY VEHICLE HAS COOLANT PROBLEMS. ONE THEORY IS DEXCOOL CAUSES THE SLUDGE. ANOTHER THEORY IS FAULTY INTAKE VALVE & GASKET. MAIN THEORY IS PROBLEM ORIGINATES FROM INTAKE VALVE (GASKET) AND DOMINOS. *TR

INTAKE/HEAD GASKET FAILURE. LEAKING COOLANT IS DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECTIVE GASKET. IN FACT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED BUT IS INSUFFICIENT TO REPAY COST OF REPAIR. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL ITEM. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED AMONG WEB-BASED AUTOMOTIVE COMPLAINT FORUMS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM MOST IF NOT ALL OWNERS EXPERIENCE....2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA..... *TR

I NOTICED THAT MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD WHEN IT WARMS UP. I TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALER, THEY CHANGED MY TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, AND DOG BONES. I PAID QUITE A FEW DOLLARS AND MY VEHICLE STILL HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS 85,000 MILES, BUT I,VE MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE VERY WELL. I,VE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING PLAY.THE DEALER CHANGED SOME PARTS IN THE ASSEMBLY WHICH IS BETTER. I'M A MECHANIC AND I DON'T BELEIVE THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY DRIVETRAIN MOUNTS, BUT IT'S IN THE TRANSMISSION. I PAID ALOT OF MONEY AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SINCE OWNING THE CAR I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS WINDOW. THE MOTOR WAS CHANGED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY NOW IT'S DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS IT WILL GO DOWN BUT WON'T GO UP SOMETIMES. *AK

GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE LIGHTS WENT OFF. CONSUMER TOUCHED THE TURN SIGNAL AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC AND THE DIMMER SWITCH WAS REPLACED.*AK

MY 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA SUFFERED A BREAKDOWN OF THE ANTIFREEZE THAT TURNED INTO A THICK BROWN SUBSTANCE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND GM DID HAVE THE COOLANT FLUSHED. TWO WEEKS LATER THE LIFTER BEGAN TO RATTLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT A SEAL WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE OIL. I WAS ASSURRED THAT THIS WAS NOT RELATED TO THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM AND WAS NOT COVERED. THE REPAIRS WILL COST OVER 760.00. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AFTER WAITING ALL DAY, THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS NOT THERE, BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE FIRST PROBLEM. THE COOLANT TURNED INTO A THICK BROWN GRITTY SUBSTANCE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE SANDPAPER GOING THROUGH THE ENGINE AND THEY CLAIM THAT IT COULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE SEAL TO FAIL. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO STAND UP FOR OBVIOUS FAILURE AND DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. THEY REFUSE TO STAND UP FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS COOLANT ACCORDING TO GM IS SUPPOSED TO LAST AT LEAST 100,000 MILES AND IT DOES HOLD UP AS THEY STATE. THEY SHOULD ADMIT THE PROBLEM AND MAKE THE PROPER REPAIRS TO CUSTOMERS VEHICLES.

THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED, AND THE ISSUES WERE STILL THERE. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNS ON THE HEAT OR AIR A SOUR ODOR CAME IN FROM THE VENT AREA. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER WAS PREGNANT AT THE TIME. THE ODOR MADE THE CONSUMER SICK. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT A SOLUTION HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK *SC *JB

I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET IMAPLA. IT CAME WITH HEATED LEATHER FRONT SEATS. LAST YEAR THE SEAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FAILED TO HEAT. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAD BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER OF THE SEAT BEFORE IT QUIT WORKING. IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND QUIT AGAIN. A SECOND HOLE WAS BURNED IN THE LEATHER SEAT IN THE SAME PLACE AND THREE HOLES WERE BURNED THROUGH THE MATERIAL OF TWO COATS. MY WIFE INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BECAME SO HOT THAT AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES SHE HAD TO TURN IT OFF. BOTH SEATS WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE. THEY FOUND TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. I HAD BOTH SEATS DISCONNECTED TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER DAMAGE BY ACCIDENT. WE HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED THAT TWO OF OUR FRIENDS HAVE GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES IN WHICH THE HEATED SEATS FAILED. THEY DID NOT HAVE THEM REPAIRED OR REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE COST. MY CONCERN IS ONE OF SAFETY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF IT GOT HOT ENOUGH TO BURN THROUGH LEATHER, AND BURN HOLES IN MY COATS, IT COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS WELL AS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. BOTH MY SECRETARY AND MY DAUGHTER HAD INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HEATED SEATS IN THEIR VEHICLES. I HAVE TOLD THEM OF MY EXPERIENCE. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF PERSONS WHO DO GO TO THE EXPENSE OF HAVING THESE KINDS OF SEATS INSTALLED IN THEIR CARS. *AK

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AS LOOSE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THAT BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE AN ALIGNMENT COULD BE PERFORMED. JOHN WIGANT OF WALKER CHEVROLET TOLD ME, PRIOR TO A WRITTEN STATEMENT, THAT BOTH SIDES EXHIBIT A WORN OUT DIAGNOSIS, BUT THAT ONLY ONE SIDE SHOULD BE REPLACED NOW AND THAT THE OTHER MIGHT NEVER NEED TO BE REPLACED OR IT COULD GET WORSE. IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM JOHN WIGANT OF WALKER CHEVROLET, I WAS INFORMED THAT ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE BEARING SHOULD BE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH ROTORS THAT LITERALLY SHOOK MY FRONT END AND STEERING COLUMN DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD OF 36,000 MILES. AND THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE LAST TIME IT WAS REPORTED ON NOVEMBER 18, '04 AND NOT REPAIRED UNTIL DECEMBER 30, '04 AT 53,267 MILES. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT REPLACING THESE HUB BEARINGS WILL COST ME ABOUT $1,000.00 TO REPAIR. I HAVE READ ANOTHER COMPLAINT IN NHTSA FILES THAT A SAME YEAR IMPALA FRONT WHEEL OR AXLE FELL OFF AND CAUSED A DRIVER TO VEER OFF THE ROAD. I FEEL THAT THE PAST ROTOR AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT PROBLEMS HAVE EXASPERATED THIS WEAR AND CAUSED IT TO BE A BIGGER PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SPEEDOMETER CABLE, RADIO, AND REAR WINDOW. ALL HAVE BEEN SERVICED, BUT CONTINUE TO EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT EXISTED BEFORE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. *JB

AT JUST UNDER 60,000 MILES, LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER SAYS IT'S LEAKING COOLANT AT 2 PLACES: AT LOWER INTAKE AND AT WATER PUMP. COST TO REPAIR: $600 TO $850, DEPENDING ON REPAIR FACILITY. IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS, I DID NOT RECEIVE.*AK

WHEN CHANGING THE LIGHTS FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM THE LIGHTS GO COMPLETELY OFF. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER, HOWEVER,THE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE HAS EXPIRED.*AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. *NM

ENGINE COOLANT HAS TURNED BROWN AND CLOGGED UP THE COOLING SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TYPE OF COOLANT BEING USED IN NEW VEHICLES. I HAVE BEEN REFERED TO HAVE MY ENGINE FLUSHED AND THAT GM WILL NOT STAND UP FOR THE REPAIRS.

THE INTERMEDIATE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT STATED MAKING NOISES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. TOOK FOR SERVICE THE PART WAS ORDERED ON NOV 3 2004. PART STILL HAS NOT CAME IN. CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER. SEEMS LIKE ITS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM. AND TAKES ABOUT 2 MONTHS TO GET THE PART. I WAS TOLD ONLY 6,000 ARE MADE A WEEK AND THEY STARTED IN THE HOLE 100,000 AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. IF THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY ARE THEY NOT RECALLING THE PART. I ASKED THE MAN IF MY CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE HE SAID ISN'T IS UNDER WARRANTY. I SAID NO AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. IT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE AND I AM NOT AT ALL CONFIDENT ABOUT DRIVING AND I THINK CHEVY SHOULD ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. *JB

JUST PURCHASED A 2002 IMPALA WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIION WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. THE CAR ROLLS BACKWARDS AT AN INCLINE WHEN IN DRIVE. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT ALL AUTOMATIC DO THIS TODAY. DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. I CONSIDER THIS A HAZARD. HAVE BEEN DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS FOR YEARS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE.*AK

ENGINE STALLS, REMOTELESS KEY ENTRY DOESN'T WORK, COOLANT LEAKING. *AK

FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 3.8 LITER V6 AND THERE'S ALREADY A RECALL ON SEVERAL MODELS 04V090000.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT. THE CONSUMER HIT THE DIMMER SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THE OCCURRED AGAIN BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED A MODULE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THUS FAR, THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED. *AK *SC

WHEN THE CONSUMER ACCELERATED FROM A STOP HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE. *NM THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT. THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD AND HAD A CRACK IN IT. ALSO, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, GOING 65 MPH IN CRUISE, THE MOTOR SUDDENLY SPED UP THEN SLOWED DOWN AND A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. *SC *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT EVERY WEEK, HE HAD TO FILL THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND COOLANT SPILLED INSIDE THE ENGINE. *AK *JB

CATALYTIC CONVERTER CLOGGED ON 2002 VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WAS CALIBRATED TO RUN TOO LEAN MAKING THE EXHAUST GASES TOO HOT, LEADING TO PREMATURE FAILURE. NOTICED GRADUAL POWER LOSS SINCE 50,000 MILES BUT THOUGHT IT WAS AIR FILTER. ENGINE LIGHT STILL DID TURN ON. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS OK FOR WARRANTY. *NM

CLICKING OR CLUNKING SOUND IN THE FRONT END WHEN YOU TURN TO GO AROUND A CORNER. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY WERE VERY MUCH AWARE OF IT. THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FAULTY PARTS QUITE OFTEN. MY PROBLEM IS THAT I AM OVER MY WARRANTY IN MILES. THIS IS ALSO NOT JUST A PROBLEM ON THE 2002 MODELS. IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM BEFORE. BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN AND ON GOING PROBLEM I FEEL ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE RECALLED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINEDTHAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKTE HAD FAILED. *AK *JB

AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB

LOUD "THUMPING" NOISE COMING FROM LOWER ENGINE AREA. ECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM. FLY WHEEL DISINEGRATED. POORLY MANUFACTURED PART. *AK ONE MONTH LATER "LOW COOLANT" ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS BAD INTAKE VALVE SEAL. POOR QUALITY GM PART. BOTH PARTS REPLACED AND REPAIRED AS RECOMMENDED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN STRAIGHT LINE, THE DRIVER MUST MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL FURTHER OUT. DEPENDING ON WHAT SIDE THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, THERE IS SOME SLACK IN THE WHEEL AND NOISES ARE MADE. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT AND THE DEALER INSTALLED A SHORT STEERING SHAFT. THIS REPAIR CORRECTED THE FAILURE FOR FOUR YEARS. WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT UNDER THE WARRANTY SINCE IT EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED FOR FREE BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. HE PAID FOR THE DEALER TO INSTALL A NEW SHORT STEERING SHAFT ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/20/08. *JB

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR. FORD RANGER IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO AVOID HEAD ON COLLISION. I HAD PLENTY OF TIME FOR CAR TO STOP BUT ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP AND I REAR ENDED THE TRUCK. THEN AFTER HITTING THE TRUCK HARD ENOUGH TO HAVE CAR TOWED THE BATTERY BURST AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED. *AK

REAR WHEEL HUBS AND BEARINGS ARE MAKING NOISE. INSIDE THE HUB THERE IS A BEARING WHICH HOLDS THE TIRE/WHEEL ON, AND BOLTS TO THE REAR AXLE WERE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THIS WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS ALREADY REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES. THE ABS LIGHT AND SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. CONSUMER HAS HAD THE BEARINGS REPLACED 2 MONTHS AGO AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. CURRENTLY, THE BEARINGS ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AFTER ON 6,000 OR 7, 000 MILES.*AK

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA IS HAVING A PROBLEM ON THE SECURITY FEATURE ON THE BCM. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS UP AND THE CAR WILL START, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED BECAUSE SHE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT. THE CAR IS STILL STARTING INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER CALLED GM, AND THEY REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. GM MADE A FILE OF HER COMPLAINT. THE CONSUMER STATED SPECIFICALLY THAT SHE HAD BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS AND SHE CONSIDERED THAT A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SHE HAS FIVE KIDS. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT SHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SECURITY FEATURE FOR THE PAST YEAR.*AK

TWO MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS FOGGED OVER. THEY COST $250 A PIECE TO REPLACE (HAVE NOT YET REPLACED). ABOUT A MONTH LATER A COMPUTER CHIP THAT CONTROLLED MY LIGHTS, LOCKS, WINDOWS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND STEREO WENT BAD AND THAT COST $353 TO REPLACE. SOON AFTER THAT I NOTICED THAT MY CAR FELT LIKE IT MOVED BACK AND FORTH WHEN I DROVE IT, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE WHEN I TURNED. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A VERY BIG DEAL BUT TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I TOOK IT IN AND FOUND OUT THAT I WAS MISSING 2 BEARINGS ON MY SUSPENSION WHICH PUT PRESSURE ON MY DRIVE SHAFT(NOT SURE ABOUT ACTUAL TERMINOLOGY HERE NOT SURE IF IT WAS DRIVE SHAFT OR STEERING COLUMN) CAUSING MY RACK AND PINION TO GO BAD. THAT COST $1100 TO FIX. SO NOW I AM $1453 INTO HAVING MY CAR REPAIRED FOR THINGS THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE GONE BAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. TODAY (MAY 9TH 2005) I FOUND OUT THAT MY INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS GONE BAD AND I CAN SMELL BURNING ANTIFREEZE WHEN I DRIVE, AND MY COOLANT SENSOR IS BAD. TO FIX THOSE TWO THINGS IS GOING TO COST ME $840. I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT I HAVE CHECKED THIS CAR OUT ON CARFAX.COM THERE WAS ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER AND NOTHING SIGNIFIGANT AS HOW IT WAS TREATED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT 34,000 MILES AND IT NOW HAS 53,000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT ALMOST 2YRS AGO. I HAVE CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE 3 TIMES NOW, AND EACH TIME I AM GIVEN THE SAME ANSWER "I AM SORRY MS.... THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU AT THIS TIME...". GM NEEDS TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND START MAKING CARS THAT ARE WORTH WHAT THEY SELL THEM FOR. HAD I KNOWN HOW GM MADE VEHICLES WITH BAD PARTS AND REFUSE TO BACK THEM UP, I WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THAT NOW SITS IN MY GARAGE.

VEHICLE FAILS TO START - MOTOR DOES NOT CRANK, STARTER DOES NOT ENGAGE. TESTS SHOW BATTERY, STARTER, ALTERNATOR CIRCUITS ARE GOOD - NO ERROR CODES GIVEN. VEHICLE ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AND THE GAS MILEAGE HAS DECREASED CONSIDERABLY. LOCAL MECHANIC STATES THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTERS OVERWRITING ITS OWN CODE AND THEREFORE CAUSES PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THIS, WITH THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE STARTS OCCASIONALY AT BEST. VEHICLE IS UNRELIABLBE - CANNOT TRUST IT TO START WHEN NEEDED. GOING TO CALL DEALER TO CHECK IF THERE IS A "SILENT RECALL" TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. OTHERWISE, WILL ATTEMPT TO USE NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN #00214A TO TRY TO GET PROGRAM RELOADED INTO VEHICLE'S COMPUTER WITHOUT CHARGE THOUGH I EXPECT VERY LITTLE HELP, IF ANY, FROM A DEALER.*AK