NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH A STEERING PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AFTER 20,000 MILES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *KB
TRACTION FREQUENTLY ACTIVATES. "SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM" AND "ABS" LIGHTS COME ON FREQUENTLY. LAST SPRING AND SUMMER, MY MECHANIC REPLACED A COUPLE OF PARTS BUT IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CAN NOT TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT THOSE PARTS WERE WITHOUT FINDING MY RECEIPTS FOR THE WORK. LAST SPRING AND SUMMER, THE TRACTION DID NOT ACTUALLY ACTIVATE BUT THE LIGHT DID COME ON. DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO RESULTS EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE OF TIMES. I HAD THE BODY MODULE REPLACE LAST FALL. I HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT A MONTH BUT PROBLEMS STARTED PERIODICALLY AND ARE GRADUALLY INCREASING. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. WITH THE TIRES SPINNING LIKE THAT, IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR MAKING A TURN, MY TRACTION SOMETIMES ACTIVATES. *TR
THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING WITH THE RADIO LOCKING OUT ON OUR 2002 IMPALA AT 15,630 MILES. LOVE CHEVY HUMMER RESET THE COMPUTER. LATER THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. AT 16,009 MILES LOVE CHEVY HUMMER REPLACED THE INFLATABLE RESTRAINT SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE. LATER, THE SAME PROBLEMS RECURRED MANY TIMES BUT, WE FOUND THAT WE COULD RESET THE COMPUTER BY SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR AND RESTARTING THE CAR. AT 23720 MILE THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO TUSCALOOSA CHEVROLET. THE COMPUTER INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. IT WAS REPROGRAMMED. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER THE SAME PROBLEMS RECURRED OVER AND OVER. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BARKLEY PONTIAC, CADILLAC, GMC. THE COMPUTER CODE INDICATED A BODY CONTROL MODULE WAD NEEDED BUT THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. IT WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THEM BACK ON BY FLASHING THE LOW BEAM / HIGH BEAM LEAVER. NOTIFIED GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP SPECIALIST SPOKE WITH CARLEY LEBLANC. (SERVICE REQUEST: 71-437167435). AFTER SEVERAL EMAILS AND PHONE CONSERVATIONS WE WERE TOLD US TO FIX IT OURSELVES IF WE WERE SO CONCERNED. WE SENT ADDITION INFORMATION TO CARLEY LEBLANC AND LATER ANGELINA MONCIVAIS CONTACTED ABOUT OUR COMPLAINTS. AFTER SEVERAL MORE EMAILS AND PHONE CONVERSATIONS ANGELINA SAID SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP US. IN JANUARY OF 2008 ALL WARNING INDICATORS STARTED CYCLING AND THE WARNING BELLS STARTED RINGING. ON FEBRUARY 6, 2008 THE IMPALA WOULD NOT START. I CHARGED THE BATTERY AND ON FEBRUARY 15, 2008 TOOK IT BACK IN TO TUSCALOOSA CHEVROLET. AFTER ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC CHECK WAS TOLD THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED REPLACING AT A COST OF NEARLY $600.00. CALLED GM ASKING FOR HELP SINCE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR HAVE OCCURRED SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW ON JUNE 6, 2002. AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS OF PHONE CONVERSATIONS WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING GM WOULD DO. *TR
THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT MANY TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. IT CONTINUES TO GO OUT ALL THE TIME. THE RACK & PINION GEAR, THE PUMP AND THE HOSES WERE REPLACED WITH ORIGINAL DELCO PARTS BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CHEVROLET DEALER MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS CAUSED BY LOW TIRES BUT MY TIRES WERE NOT LOW. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. IT IS HARD TO STEER ON THE STRAIGHT ROAD AND IT GOES OUT ON A TURN AND I CAN'T STEER IT. I HAVE TO HIT MY BRAKES. A LOCAL MECHANIC HAS TRIED TO REPAIR IT ABOUT 5 TIMES AND HE FINALLY GAVE ME MY MONEY BACK AND SAID TO TAKE IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHICH I DID AS NOTED ABOVE. *TR
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. ALSO THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES AND THE RADIO SAYS LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET IT STARTED IS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND LET THE COMPUTER REBOOT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATED AS IF THE PEDAL WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A WEEK LATER. THE CONTACT WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK A THIRD TIME TO BE REPAIRED. HE PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,800. UPDATED 05/05/08. *BF THE IGNTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED A SENSOR AND WIRING HARNESS WERE REPLACED.UPDATED 05/05/08.*B
ON A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. FOLLOWING THIS EVENT VARIOUS ELECTRICAL ABNORMALITIES OCCUR. DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ALL FLASH TOGETHER, DASH GOES DARK. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU START THE CAR THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH AS IF THEY WERE ICC FLASHERS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET. CHEVROLET DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY FINITE FIX FOR THIS AND RANDOMLY REPLACES THE BCM AND IGNITION SWITCH AS POSSIBLE CAUSES. MOST PEOPLE REPORT HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OVER AGAIN SEVERAL DAYS LATER??? DUE TO THIS ERRONEOUS REPORTING I THOUGHT I HAD A BATTERY PROBLEM AND THE GARAGE CHANGED MY ALTERNATOR. AT A COST OF $306 DOLLARS. WHICH I NOW BELIEVE WAS TOTALLY UN-NECESSARY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THREE DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT FELT A HARD VIBRATION IN THE AXLE AND ALSO HEARD A CRACKING NOISE ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE OIL WAS CHANGED AT 104,000 MILES. BEFORE THE OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE OIL HAD NEVER BEEN CHANGED AND THAT A NEW RACK AND PINION AND SERPENTINE BELT WERE NEEDED. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURE THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE DEALER WOULD NOT GIVE HER A CARFAX REPORT AFTER ONE WAS REQUESTED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,979 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,840.
ME AND MY WIFE WAS RIDING DOWN AZALEA ROAD IN MOBILE ALABAMA AND A CAR CAME INTO OUR LANE AND WE HIT IT DEAD ON...MY WIFE HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED .. WE WERE GOING ABOUT 35 MPH..WE WERE IN A 2002 IMPALA THAT WE JUST BOUGHT THE DAY BEFORE..I WANT SOME ANSWERS FOR WHAT HAPPEN AND I REALLY WANT TO SUE THE CHEVY COMPANY..PLEASE GIVE ME INFORMATION ABOUT WHO I SHOULD TALK TO ABOUT MY LAWSUIT.. EVEN THOUGH MY WIFE AND I WERE NOT HURT, SHE COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS HEAD INJURY, BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN HER HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CRACK THE WINDSHIELD..WE HAD TO TAKE AN AMBULANCE RIDE AND EVERYTHING AND GET X-RAYS...PLEASE NOTIFY ME ON WHAT CAN I DO... *TW
VEHICLE IGNITION IS LOCKED UP, NO WARNING, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MOST OF THESE VEHICLES PRODUCED WITH IN DASH IGNITIONS. AT 51,000 MILES GM WANTS CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR REPAIRS OF THESE AT THE CUSTOMER COST BEING AROUND $900.00 AND IN MOST INSTANCES WITHIN 18MONTHS THE FAILURE OCCURS AGAIN. I FEEL THAT THIS IS CRIMINAL OF GM TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND NOT RECALL EVERY VEHICLE TO COVER REPAIRS. TOWING BILL 75.00 TO DATE AS WELL 900.00 FOR REPAIRS. *TR
ON 01/22/08 WHILE DRIVING, THE "SECURITY" LIGHT APPEARED IN THE MESSAGE CENTER ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED IT OFF, AND RESTARTED, ALL WAS FINE AND THE LIGHT REMAINED OFF. THE FOLLOWING DAY, AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES, THE "SECURITY" LIGHT APPEARED. THIS HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES, MOST RECENTLY ON 01/27/08. WHEN THE LIGHT APPEARED, THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED FOR A MOMENT. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR, THE LIGHTS ON THE RADIO WERE EXTREMELY DIM. ON 01/28/08, I WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE BATTERY APPEARED TO BE DEAD. AN ATTEMPT TO JUMP OFF THE CAR WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THIS SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE VERY COMMON "PASSLOCK" PROBLEMS ON OTHER GM PRODUCTS. *TR
I TOO AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLANT SYSTEM AND THE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE MANIFOLD GASKET ISSUE HAS TURNED INTO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST GM. RECENTLY A DECISION WAS MADE IN FAVOR OF CAR OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. DETAILS SHOULD BE RELEASED IN FEB 08 ABOUT THIS BUT I'VE HEARD THAT GM WILL HAVE TO PAY CAR OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED A PORTION OR ALL OF THE REPAIR COST. FOR MORE INFO GOOGLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, GM, AND GIBBS(THIS IS THE ATTORNEY). *TR
2002 IMPALA. HAVE A BUILD UP OF WATER IN BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS, THIS PROBLEM IS ON GOING FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS..VERY HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. HIGH BEAMS WILL NOT TURN ON WITH MULTI SHIFTER AND CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF USE. DEALER STATES THIS IS ALL NORMAL. THIS LAST PROBLEMS WITH CRUISE CONTROL IS A NEW PROBLEM. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH ONLY 47,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *CN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR AN HOUR OR LESS, IT FAILS TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION MEMORY WAS BLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
SAFETY FLASHES ON DASHBOARD AND CAR WILL NOT START FOR 10 TO 15 MINUTES. IT HAPPENS TOTALLY AT RANDOM TIMES IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER. DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY DOES NOT HELP NOR DOES RESETTING A FUSE WITH A KILL SWITCH. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? I WAS TOLD FROM A DEALER IT WAS A COMPUTER ISSUE AND COULD BE FIXED FOR AROUND 1000 DOLLARS. I WANT TO BUY AMERICAN CARS BUT DO I HAVE TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF THIS CHOICE? WHAT AN AWFUL INCONVENIENCE. *TR
DEALER SAYS I NEED A NEW ELECTRONIC BODY CONTROL MODULE.( $1,100.) ABS LIGHT ON AND OFF, TRACTION LIGHT ON AND OFF, SECURITY LIGHT ON AND OFF, CAR WOULD NOT START 4 TIMES. TRUNK OPENS ON AND OFF. SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME IT IS NOT COMMON. WHILE PICKING UP MY CAR,I REFUSED TO HAVE THE EBCM REPLACED, ANOTHER CUSTOMER CALLED IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MECHANICS WHO WORK INDEPENDENT HAVE TOLD ME THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS GM REQUIRES ARE A MAJOR RIP OFF. A CLASS ACTION SUIT NEEDS TO BE STARTED AGAINST GM FOR DESTROYING THE MORAL OF THE AUTO CONSUMER. I HAVE SEEN OTHERS POST THAT THEY HAD THE MODULE REPROGRAMMED. OTHERS HAVE HAD IT REPLACED FOR $400-500. SERVICE WRITERS SHOULD NOT BE ON COMMISSION THIS GIVES THEM A RIP YOU OFF MENTALITY! GM DEALERS ARE SCUM CHEVY IS SCUM. *TR
CAR IS HAVING MULTIPLE STRANGE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENTLY - WILL OFTEN NOT WORK AT ALL. SOMETIMES HAVE TO TURN ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS TO GET TURN SIGNALS TO WORK. ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY - DOES NOT SHOW THE CORRECT FUEL LEVEL. WILL SOMETIMES SHOW FULL WHEN THE TANK IS EMPTY, WILL SOMETIMES SHOW EMPTY WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. MOST OFTEN SHOWS HALF FULL, REGARDLESS OF ACTUAL FUEL LEVEL. GM CERTIFIED MECHANIC VERIFIED THAT FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT ARE NOT FAULTY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS. BCM WAS REPLACED, NO CHANGE IN PROBLEMS. POSSIBLE ISSUE WITH INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC). BECAUSE OF TURN SIGNAL PROBLEMS, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL "NEAR MISSES" IN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY SIGNAL FOR A TURN. FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM HAS CAUSED ME TO BE STRANDED WHEN I RAN OUT OF FUEL UNEXPECTEDLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL I ACTUALLY HAD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AND THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY COULD REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT UNIT FOR $600 AND THE TURN SIGNAL MODULE FOR $400. THE CHEVROLET MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES OR RECALLS RELATED TO THE HEADLIGHTS OR TURN SIGNALS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.
MY CAR STARTED A SOUND IN THE WIRING SUCH AS A POPPING SOUND AS IF THE WIRES ARE GROUNDING OUT THEN SOMETHING SMELL SMOKE THEN IT STARTED NOT CRACKING AND I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WAY I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY REPLACED IT THEN WOULDN'T START AGAIN AFTER I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BATTERY THE DASH READS SECURITY ON IT THIS HAPPEN TO MY CAR MY FRIENDS CAR AND MY HUSBANDS COUSINS CAR THEY ARE ALL IMPALAS ALL IN 2002 I HAVE ALSO SPOKE TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THEM SAME PROBLEM WANT START READS SECURITY ON DASH WIRES GROUND OUT AND HEAR POPPING SOUND AND THE BATTERY DRAINS FROM THE HEAD LIGHTS NOT TURNING OF OR SECURITY READS AND THE LIGHTS FLASH ITS BROKEN DOWN IN MY YARD NO ONE AROUND HEAR REALLY KNOWS THE PROBLEM THEY SAY ITS THE SECURITY MY HUSBAND BELIEVES ITS THE WIRING AND IT GROUNDS OUT CAUSING THINGS TO HAPPEN. *TR
WE ARE THE OWNERS OF A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN OCTOBER OF 2001. IT HAS BEEN LIGHTLY DRIVEN AND WELL MAINTAINED. IT HAS HAD TWO MAJOR REPAIRS; THE FIRST BEING A RECALL OF THE STEERING SYSTEM, THE SECOND, A FAILURE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER FEDERAL LAW AND REPLACED. TODAY, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR POSSIBLE FIRE FROM DRIPPING OIL. THAT IS THE BASIC HISTORY. FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, WE HAVE HAD A FRIGHTENING ISSUE WITH THE CAR. YOU TURN THE KEY AND NOTHING. A LIGHT THAT SAYS "SECURITY" FLASHES THREE TIMES OVER AND OVER AND YOU CANNOT START THE CAR FOR TEN MINUTES. GM'S PASSLOCK SYSTEM, WHICH I BELIEVE MALFUNCTIONS, THINKS THE CAR IS BEING STOLEN. TEN MINUTES LATER, YOU CAN START THE CAR. THE PROBLEM IS EVEN IN THE MANUAL FOR THE CAR. GM ADMITS THAT, BUT THEY SAY IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AS MUCH AS I HAVE IT HAPPEN, LIKE ONE TIME IS OK, BUT THE 5-6 TIMES OUT OF 10 THAT MY CAR WON'T START IS EXCEPTIONAL. TEN MINUTES IS A LONG TIME WITH A SICK CHILD, ALONE IN A DARK PLACE AT NIGHT, IN AN EMERGENCY OF ANY KIND. IT IS A TERRIFYING SAFETY ISSUE AND I HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. GM OFFERED ME A COUPON TOWARDS A NEW CAR. I KNOW THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS IN THE MANUAL AND PEOPLE ARE FRIGHTENED AND SCARED ABOUT IT. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL A LONG TIME AGO SINCE PEOPLE ARE BEING STRANDED WITH A CAR WITH NO FUEL SUPPLY. DUE TO THE CAR'S COMPUTER SOMEHOW MALFUNCTIONING AND THINKING THE CAR IS BEING STOLEN, THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM REACTS BY CUTTING OFF FUEL SUPPLY FOR A DESIGNATED PERIOD OF TIME, IN THIS CASE, 10 MINUTES EXACTLY. GM SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR HAVING THIS ISSUE AND DOING NOTHING. *TR
HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT IS IN AT THE DEALER NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A WEEK. THIS COULD KILL OR INJURE SOMEONE. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR A MONTH AGO (2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA). *TR
WAS STRANDED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES BECAUSE CAR WOULDN'T START ON MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA THE ORIGINAL SECURITY SYSTEM PASSLOCK DOESN'T LET THE VEHICLE START. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT 10 AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS I HAVE READ SOME FORUMS IN THE INTERNET AND IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH GM AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND A RISK SINCE THEY ARE TRYING TO FIX IT BY WORKING BY THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRIGGER THE AIR BAG. SOME PEOPLE SAY IT COULD BE THE BCM I DON'T KNOW BUT GM DOES. *TR
OWNER OF 2002 CHEVY IMPALA THAT HAS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK. FAMILY MEMBER ALSO HAD AN IMPALA, 2003, AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE. WHY IS THIS SUCH A PROBLEM? WHEN I SEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE I FOUND MANY OWNERS THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE PROPER GASKETS INSTALLED IN THEIR CARS. THIS CAR IS NOT A CHEAP CAR, AND TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS IS A SIGN OF A POOR QUALITY. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LAMP ON PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE INTERMITTENT. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 98,764 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED AT ABOUT 89,000 MILES. THERE IS AN ASSORTED AMOUNT OF SYMPTOMS THAT GO ALONG WITH THIS ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS AND COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. HERE ARE THE SYMPTOMS YOU MAY EXPERIENCE YOU MAY HAVE ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: 1. AFTER START UP (WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED) THE ABS/TRACTION LAMP MAY OR MAY NOT COME ON. THIS IS TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT COLD START OR HOT RESTART (IT SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY AT THE BOTH EXTREMES). 2. THE ABS BRAKES MAY CYCLE ON JUST DURING NORMAL BRAKING. THIS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY PULL TO THE RIGHT. 3. THE ABS BRAKES MAY CYCLE ON WHILE MAKING A SLOW RIGHT HAND TURN WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED LIGHTLY. 4. THE ABS BRAKES MAY CYCLE ON WHEN TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT ROADWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND THEN COMING TO A SLOW STOP WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL LIGHTLY APPLIED. 5. THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LAMP MAY COME ON WHILE TRAVELING IN LIGHT AND HEAVY RAIN. THIS MAY ALSO OCCUR AFTER RUNNING THE CAR THOUGH AN AUTOMATIC CAR WASH. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT YOU MAY HEAR THE ABS PUMP MOTOR CYCLE A NUMBER OF TIMES (USUALLY 3) BEFORE THE INDICATOR LAMPS COME ON. TECHNICAL INFORMATION: THE FOLLOWING FAILURE CODES MAY BE STORED IN THE EBCM SEE BELOW: C1216 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE COMMANDED PRESSURE RELEASE IS TO LONG. C1221 LF WHEEL SPEED SENSOR INPUT SIGNAL IS 0. C1222 RF WHEEL SPEED SENSOR INPUT SIGNAL IS 0. C1223 LR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR INPUT SIGNAL IS 0. C1224 RIGHT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR INPUT SIGNAL = 0. C1225 LEFT FRONT EXCESSIVE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR VARIATION. C1226 RIGHT FRONT EXCESSIVE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR VARIATION. C1232 LEFT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CIRCUIT IS OPEN OR SHORTED. C1233 RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CIRCUIT IS OPEN OR SHORTED. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LAMP ON PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE INTERMITTENT. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 98,764 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED AT ABOUT 89000 MILES. THERE IS AN ASSORTED AMOUNT OF SYMPTOMS THAT GO ALONG WITH THIS ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS AND COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. HERE ARE THE SYMPTOMS YOU MAY EXPERIENCE YOU MAY HAVE ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: 1. AFTER START UP (WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED) THE ABS/TRACTION LAMP MAY OR MAY NOT COME ON. THIS IS TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT COLD START OR HOT RESTART (IT SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY AT THE BOTH EXTREMES). 2. THE ABS BRAKES MAY CYCLE ON JUST DURING NORMAL BRAKING. THIS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY PULL TO THE RIGHT. 3. THE ABS BRAKES MAY CYCLE ON WHILE MAKING A SLOW RIGHT HAND TURN WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED LIGHTLY. 4. THE ABS BRAKES MAY CYCLE ON WHEN TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT ROADWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND THEN COMING TO A SLOW STOP WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL LIGHTLY APPLIED. 5. THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LAMP MAY COME ON WHILE TRAVELING IN LIGHT AND HEAVY RAIN. THIS MAY ALSO OCCUR AFTER RUNNING THE CAR THOUGH AN AUTOMATIC CAR WASH. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT YOU MAY HEAR THE ABS PUMP MOTOR CYCLE A NUMBER OF TIMES (USUALLY 3) BEFORE THE INDICATOR LAMPS COME ON. TECHNICAL INFORMATION: THE FOLLOWING FAILURE CODES MAY BE STORED IN THE EBCM SEE BELOW: C1216 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE COMMANDED PRESSURE RELEASE IS TO LONG. C1221 LF WHEEL SPEED SENSOR INPUT SIGNAL IS 0. C1222 RF WHEEL SPEED SENSOR INPUT SIGNAL IS 0. C1223 LR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR INPUT SIGNAL IS 0. C1224 RIGHT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR INPUT SIGNAL = 0. C1225 LEFT FRONT EXCESSIVE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR VARIATION. C1226 RIGHT FRONT EXCESSIVE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR VARIATION. C1232 LEFT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CIRCUIT IS OPEN OR SHORTED. C1233 RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CIRCUIT IS OPEN OR SHORTED. *TR
WE HAD JUST TURNED ON TO HWY 188 WHICH IS A COUNTRY ROAD IN WISCONSIN. MY HUSBAND HAD JUST TURNED ON THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN WITHOUT WARNING WE LOST ALL HEADLIGHTS. HE SWITCHED IN BACK TO THE LOW BEAMS BUT IT WAS UNRESPONSIVE FOR 30 SECONDS, THEN AFTER CYCLING THE LIGHT SWITCH A FEW TIMES IT CAME BACK ON TO THE LOW BEAMS AND WE DIDN'T USE THE HIGH BEAMS AT ALL FOR FEAR WE WOULD LOSE LIGHTS AGAIN. *TR
KEY START DELAY START ISSUE, DUMMY LIGHTS, NO CRANK. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. SIX MONTHS AGO, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL CONTROL MECHANISM FAILED. THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK ON A CONSISTENT BASIS AND WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHILE MAKING A TURN IN TRAFFIC, THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK PROPERLY. THE FAILURE IS AN ONGOING OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
IT STARTED BACK IN 2002 A FEW MONTHS I PURCHASED MY 2002 IMPALA. IT WAS A USED CAR WITH 15,000 MILES. THE CHECK ENGINE AND LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE WATER PUMP AND LOW COOLANT SENSOR REPLACED. A WEEK LATER, LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. AGAIN TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO REPLACE ANOTHER SENSOR. THAT HAPPEN 10 TIMES DURING THE SAME YEAR. AS OF NOW, JULY 2009, THE LIGHT IS STILL ON. IN 2007, MY VEHICLE STARTED TO RUN HOT. WAS TOLD I NEEDED THE MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET, THERMOSTAT AND HOSES REPLACED WHICH WOULD OF COST ME OVER $1000.00. I COULDN'T AFFORD IT. I GOT A LOCAL MECHANIC TO REPLACE EVERYTHING WHICH HE CHARGED ME $300.00. JUST RECENTLY, I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR ESPECIALLY AFTER I DRIVE IT FOR A WHILE. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER WHO GOES TO SCHOOL AND WORK AND THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. THIS CAR HAS BEEN GIVING ME THE BLUES THE PAST FEW YEARS AND I'M SICK OF IT. ALL THIS STARTED WITH ABOUT 150,000 MILES AND CURRENTLY I HAVE ABOUT 168,000 MILES. I WILL GET A BETTER, DEPENDABLE VEHICLE LATER THIS YEAR AND I WON'T BUY ANOTHER GM VEHICLE AGAIN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON INITIALLY, BUT NOW THEY WILL NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 020209 *BF THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FAILED. UPDATED 02/03/09.*JB
NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BY G.M. ABOUT SAFETY DEFECT, I JUST HAPPEN TO TAKE MY CAR IN THE SHOP AND HAD TO PAY FOR A RECALL ; I HAVE A 2002 IMPALA THE STEERING SHAKES, I FEEL SOMETHING RATTLING AROUND IN THE STEERING. *TR
IN READING NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE06017 - I WANT TO REPORT THAT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA - THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL WITHOUT PREDICTION. *TR
INTERMITTENT FLASHING OF ALL VEHICLE EXTERNAL LIGHTS. IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FOLLOWING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: CONNECTION AT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE MUST BE REPAIRED. THE PASSOLCK SENSOR AND IGNITION SWITCH MUST BE REPLACED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS DIM. THE CONTACT HAS TO PLAY WITH THE DIMMER SWITCH IN ORDER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE AGAIN. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR TWO YEARS AND PROVIDES POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CHEVROLET AND A CHRYSLER DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE APPROXIMATELY $600 FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD MAKE THE REPAIR AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE BELIEVES THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 07/08/09 *BF THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHEN THE DIMMER WAS USED. THE DEALER STATED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS FAILING INTERNALLY. UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB
OUR 2002 CHEVY IMPALA'S STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO SHOW ALOT OF PLAY. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE INTO OUR MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BECAME CRACKED. WE THEN HAD IT REPLACED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WORK SPORADICALLY AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE WOULD TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO RESTART. INITIALLY, THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT IT NOW OCCURS EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE SECURITY SYSTEM WOULD LOCK UP THE INJECTORS AND HE WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE KEY ON FOR 10-15 MINUTES TO REPROGRAM THE MODULE. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SECURITY SYSTEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PAID APPROXIMATELY $700 FOR THE REPAIR, BUT IT DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MYSELF AND MY WIFE HAVE EXPERIENCED HEADLIGHT FAILURE. IT APPEARS THAT THERE MAY BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE DIMMER SWITCH BECAUSE WHEN THE LIGHTS DO GO OUT, MANIPULATION OF THE SWITCH USUALLY CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO COME BACK ON. *JB
WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER WINDOW FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR FRAME CAUSING SUCH A LOUD NOISE AND STARTLING ME WHILE DRIVING I NEARLY CRASHED MY CAR, LEAVING MY CHILD EXPOSED TO THE WEATHER AND OTHER THINGS. *JB
SECURITY LIGHT COMING ON AND PASSLOCK FAILURE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY GM IS NOT FIXING THIS PROBLEM WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THEM. MY SECURITY LIGHT WILL ONLY GO OFF IF I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. THE LIGHTS BLINK, AND FROM WHAT I AM HEARING, SOON I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO START MY CAR. *TR
CAR WOULD NOT START THERE WAS NO CLICKING SOUNDS OR ANYTHING PASSLOCK SECURITY LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON FIDDLED AROUND WITH LOCK AND UNLOCK ON REMOTE WAITED 10 MINUTES AND CAR STARTED NO PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR 2 WEEKS AGO. I AM NOT IMPRESSED WITH THIS CAR. GOOD THING I WASN'T STRANDED SOMEWHERE ESPECIALLY WITH MY 5 WEEK ON SON IN THE CAR. *TR
MY PASSLOCK SYSTEM HAS FAILED. SHUTS THE FUEL OFF. 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. *TR
2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL AND HIT THE MEDIAN WALL. *KB AN EXAMINATION OF THE TIRE SHOWED TWO HOLES APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER ON THE SIDEWALL. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE STEERING MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON APRIL 2, 2008, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION PRIOR TO A ROAD TRIP. AT THAT TIME, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ROD WAS GOING TO NEED REPLACING AGAIN SOON. HE BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, IN WHICH THEY SHOULD REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,926. UPDATED 04/22/08. *LJ THE STEERING SHAFT WAS LUBRICATED. UPDATED
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO START HIS VEHICLE WHILE THE SECURITY LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
TURNING SIGNAL DID NOT COME ON. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY PUTTING MY LIFE IN DANGER IN MANY OCCASIONS. *TR
I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS 4D. I WOULD BE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND FOR NO REASON BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD TURN OFF, DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITHOUT ABILITY TO SEE. WHEN I THEN I THEN HIT THE HIGH/LOW DIMMER SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES WITH MY HAND THE LIGHTS WOULD RETURN. THIS WOULD OCCUR ONCE EVERY MONTH OR SO, AND OCCURRED AT THIS APPROXIMATE FREQUENCY OF TIME FOR AS OFTEN AS I OWNED MY CAR, SINCE 2007. IT IS QUITE FRIGHTENING TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WHEN YOUR LIGHTS WOULD SUDDENLY GO OFF WITHOUT WARNING. FINALLY, LAST YEAR THE HIGH BEAM WOULD NOT CLICK ON WITH THE SWITCH APPARENTLY BEING BROKEN. MY FATHER OWNED THE SAME YEAR IMPALA, AND HE REPORTED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM, THE LIGHTS WOULD SUDDENLY GO OUT AND HE WOULD HAVE TO HIT THE SWITCH TO HAVE THE LIGHTS RETURN ON. HE HAD HIS FIXED AND IT COST HIM IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 600 DOLLARS. MY BRIGHTS ARE CURRENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING DUE TO THIS BROKEN SWITCH WITH THE COST TO FIX BEING AROUND 600 DOLLARS. I FIND IT QUITE UNUSUAL WITH THE SAME YEAR IMPALA TO HAVE THIS OCCUR, AND FIND IT EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
WAS WAITING IN TERMINAL FOR MY FERRY HOME...TRIED TO START CAR WHEN ASKED TO MOVE ONTO FERRY...NOTHING CAR WOULD NOT START .. JUST DEAD...TRIED TO START WITH TWO DIFFERENT CHARGERS..NO LUCK.. CALLED BCAA .. MISSED FERRY...FINALLY BACK IN CAR TO WAIT FOR AAA TALKING TO HUSBAND WHO ASKED IF WINDOWS WORKED AND RADIO? YES WINDOWS DID BUT HADN'T TRIED RADIO...WENT INTO CAR TURNED ON IGNITION TO START RADIO AND CAR STARTED RIGHT AWAY...NO HESITATION...HAD TO LEAVE ON WHILE WAITING FOR LAST FERRY HOME AND DURING THE TRIP ACROSS THE STRAIGHT...GOT HOME TURNED OFF CAR...TRIED TO START AGAIN...NO PROBLEM STARTED FIRST TIME...STILL HAVEN'T FOUND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND HOW TO FIX IT. *AK
THERE WERE NO EVENTS THAT LEAD TO THIS FAILURE. WITH ALL FUSES OPERATIONAL, I DO NOT HAVE ANY DASHLIGHTS ILLUMINATED AT NIGHT. I HAVE TO USE MY CELL PHONE LIGHT TO PLACE OVER MY SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER PANEL TO VIEW MY SPEED, GAS LEVELS AND ANY WARNING LIGHTS. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. WHEN MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE ON, THEY BLINK CONSTANTLY AND OTHER DRIVERS THINK I AM EXPERIENCING AN EMERGENCY. IF I USE MY INTERIOR LIGHTS, THEY FLASH LIKE I AM TRYING TO SIGNAL FOR HELP. SAME IF I OPEN THE VISOR TO USE THE LIGHTED MIRROR. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS REPAIRED SINCE GM WILL NOT GUARANTEE A RESOLUTION WITH A REPAIR. I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP GIVING MONEY TO GM DEALERSHIPS WITHOUT A REPAIR. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AT NIGHT, I CANNOT USE MY CRUISE CONTROL EVERYWHERE. MY TRACTION CONTROL WILL NOT DISENGAGE EITHER. *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026