2002 Chevrolet Impala Complaint Log

AT 45MPH THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING AND WILL NOT START BACK UP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND PARKED, HEADLIGHTS WILL PULSATE AND DIM TO HALF THE BRIGHTNESS. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING, ANNOYING, AND UN-NERVING BECAUSE IT CAUSES THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU TO BELIEVE YOU ARE FLASHING YOUR LIGHTS AT THEM. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM 3 TIMES SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT IT IN APRIL 2002. DEALER STATES THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, WON'T TRY AND IT'S NORMAL. THIS WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO ME WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE OTHERWISE HAD I KNOWN, I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT IT. *JB

MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA LS HAS HAD A PROBLEM, SINCE BUYING IT IN MAY 2002, WITH THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING TO THE POINT OF CUTOFF THEN COMING BACK TO FULL INTENSITY IN A RAPID FASHION. I HAVE HAD THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, BELTS, CABLES/WIRES CHECKED BUT TO NO AVAIL. I DO NOTICE THAT IF I ACCELERATE SHARPLY, OVER 3000 RPM, THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A WHILE, SUGGESTING THERE IS A CHARGING PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, BUT IS INCREASING IN FRENQUENCY AS MY ODO REACHES 23,000 MILES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD REMAIN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,413. UPDATED 7/7/14*CN UPDATED 07/11/2014 *JS

WHEN IN DRIVE AND STOPPED AT AN INCLINE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACK IF BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED.*AK

THE TOP OF THE DASH BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS LIFTING AWAY FROM THE FRONT OF THE DASH BOARD (YOU CAN SEE THE GLUE). INTERESTING POINT TO MENTION - THE RENTAL CAR WE RECEIVED WAS ALSO AN IMPALA AND WE NOTED THE SAME THING WAS HAPPENING TO THE DASH BOARD ON THE RENTAL VEHICLE. (CAN THIS AFFECT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT?)*AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES' SOMETIMES VEHICLE WON'T START. CONSUMER HAS TO TRY ABOUT THREE TIMES BEFORE VEHICLE WILL START. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

PRESSING HORN BUTTON TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT. DEALER SAID IT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. *AK

CONSUMER RETURNED TO HER CAR WHICH WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT TO FIND IT ON FIRE, CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM OCCURRED DUE TO FAULTY WIRING. *SLC

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, CONSUMER FEELS VEHICLE JERKING. FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND HAD TO BE SHAFED DOWN BY DEALER.*AK *TT

IT TAKES EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO MAKE HORN WORK. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT POSITION OF AIRBAG IS MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR HORN TO WORK.*AK *YH

CAR ROLLS BACKWARD ON AN INCLINE. I.E. AT A STOP LIGHT. MUST USE BOTH FEET (1 ON THE GAS AND 1 ON THE BRAKE) TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING INTO THE CAR BEHIND WHEN I AM ON A STEEP INCLINE. I HAVE DOCUMENTS FROM THE DEALER STATING THIS IS "NORMAL". THIS IS THE FIRST AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION I HAVE EVER OWNED THAT ROLLED BACKWARD WITHOUT STOPPING AFTER A FEW INCHES. THIS IS AN UNRESOLVED PROBLEM AND NOT JUST AN INCIDENT. FEBRUARY 1 2002 IS JUST A START DATE YOU CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY THAT I HAVE SEVERAL INCIDENTS EVERY DAY BECAUSE THIS TRANSMISION WILL DO THIS ON EVERY INCLINE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THE WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A STRONG SMELL THAT GOES INSIDE THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE AND AT TIMES THE CONSUMER HAS TO PULL OVER BECAUSE THE CONSUMER CANNOT STAND THE SMELL. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

HAVE A CLUNKING SOUND WITH STEERING. HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT AT TIMES THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED A LOCK UP AND COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS PROBLEM AND GM KNOWS ABOUT IT. THERE IS A TSB #01023200 ON THE CAR. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO THE CAR HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS DONE THIS SINCE IT WAS NEW. JIMMI

WHEN ON AN INCLINE, VEHICLE WILL START TO ROLL BACKWARDS. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK DEALER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NORMAL. *JB

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR EXPLODED - SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. I WAS TOLD SOMETHING HIT THE MIRROR CAUSING IT TO EXPLODE. THIS WAS BASED ON THE MIRROR CASING HAVING SCRATCHES ON THE TOP. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A MIRROR EXPLODING - FOR ANY REASON - AND NEITHER HAS ANYONE ELSE I HAVE SPOKEN TO, INCLUDING THE DEALERSHIP THAT IS FIXING MY VEHICLE. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO CHEVROLET BUT THEY DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE. MY NIECE WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT AT THE TIME AND, FORTUNATELY, DID NOT HAVE THE WINDOW DOWN - OTHERWISE SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. *AK

HORN IS VERY HARD TO LOCATE AND ACTIVATE WHEN NEEDED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE SEVRICE MANAGER SAYS THAT AIR BAGS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO BLOW THE HORN DURING AN EMERGENCY CONDITION. ALL IMPALAS AND MALIBUS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *YH

CONSUMER BACKING UP AT ABOUT 3 MPH WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER CAME OFF. DEALERSHIP REPLACED GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY.*AK *SLC

WHILE CHILD SEAT WAS LOCKED IN PLACE IN REAR WITH SEAT BELT( CHILD IN SEAT), THE SEAT BELT UNLOCKED WITHOUT ANY INTENTIONS, CAUSING CHILD AND SEAT TO FLIP OVER,ACCELERATING TO TURN LEFT THE BELT RELEASED AFTER MAKING TURN, THE BELT RELEASED TUMBLING CHILD TOWARD REAR PASSENGER DOOR. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE CHILD AND SEAT FLIP UPSIDE DOWN*JG

THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ROOF TOP OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS SET IN PARKING WHEN THE TEMPERATURES ARE HIGH AND/OR HOT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK *SCC

HEADLIGHT FILLING WITH WATER VAPOR DEGRADING QUALITY OF LIGHT. *JB

THE BRAKE ROTORS CONTINUE TO WARP ONLY AFTER 4 TO 6,000 MILES (ALL FOUR BRAKES). NLM

AN UNCONNECTED WIRE RENDERED THE VEHICLE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM INOPERABLE WHICH IN TURN RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *NM

REQUEST FOR SAFETY ASSURANCE OF GOODYEAR OEM TIRES ON 2002 IMPALA.*MR (NAR) *CB

2002 IMPALA BRAKES PULSATE WHILE ON A HILL. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND RUSTY. *JB

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED AT 36,000 MILES THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. AT 43,165 MILES, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE DEALER ONCE AGAIN REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT.*JB

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT HAD TO BE RESET. *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ONLY STAYED OFF FOR 12 MILES THE LAST TIME IT WAS RESET BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED ONLY 2 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE ROTORS CRACKED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. THE BLINKERS WOULD ONLY WORK IF THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS OFF AND THE RADIO WOULD ONLY WORK IF THE BLINKERS WERE OFF AND WHEN GOING UP HILLS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE TO A SPEED OF 10-15 MPH. *JB

GLARE ON WINDSHIELD AFFECTS DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. *AK

THE HORN ON 2002 MODEL WAS HARDER TO PUSH THAN ON THE OLDER MODELS DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE HORN DESIGN SAFETY PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *YH

REFLECTION FROM SUN ON DASHBOARD CAUSES A DISTRACTION TO DUE TO A TERRIBLE GLARE ON FRONT WINDSHIELD COMING OFF DASHBOARD FROM THE SUN. CONSUMER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THE PROBLEM SOLVED AFTER GOING TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS. CHEVROLET WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 3052 MILES ON IT AND HAS STALLED ON TWO OCCASIONS, BOTH WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. *SLC

WHEN USING THE LANE CHANGE FEATURE ON THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, INSTEAD OF FLASHIMG AT SAME SPEED AS WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS, THE FLASHER (AT TIMES) WOULD FLASH AT A RAPID SPEED SIMILAR TO WHEN A BULB WOULD BE BURNED OUT IN THE TAIL LIGHTS. CONSUMER HAD A NEW SWITCH PUT IN, BUT THAT DIDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER ALONG WITH A DEALER REP, HAD TESTED OTHER OF THE SAME VEHICLE MAKE, AND NOTICED THAT ONE HAD ACTED THE SAME AS THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES ON THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER. THE ONE THAT ACTED PROPERLY DID NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER. *SCC

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING WITH AIR VENT ON WHILE CAR IS IDLING CONSUMER NOTICE FUEL SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE IN RESULT OF MAKING PASSENGER AND CONSUMER SICK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATED A MALFUNCTION IN THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSED HIM TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.*JB

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER FRONT AIR BAG(S) ARE DEFECTIVE. RECALL #C020325. NHTSA#02V222000 SCC PH

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXTREMELY HARD. *JB

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXTREMELY HARD. *JB

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXTREMELY HARD. *JB

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXTREMELY HARD. *JB

GLARE INSIDE WINDSHIELD.

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES EXCESSIVELY, AND HEARS A GRINDING NOISE. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE NEEDED. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 26000 MILES.*AK

THE RECALL REMEDY FOR THE UPPER/LOWER INTAKE CO303-4 MANUFACTURER # IS A SHORT TERM FIX, AND IS NOT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. *AK IF A SEALANT WAS USED TO STOP THE LEAKAGE INTO THE COOLANT SYSTEM TO THE VEHICLES MOTOR IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ALSO IT COULD MOVE AROUND AND FLOW TO OTHER PLACES AT ANYTIME THERE WAS A TEMPERATURE CHANGE. *SCC *JB

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A KNOCKING SOUND. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB THE STEERING FELT LOOSE AS IF IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TIGHTER. *JB