TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, HE DRIFTED TO SLEEP AND CRASHED INTO DITCH. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, RIBS AND THE CHEST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOW YARD AND WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
2001 Chevrolet Impala complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2001 record →
I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA WITH A 3.8L V6. MONDAY AROUND 9:45AM I WENT OUTSIDE TO START MY VEHICLE AND I SAW THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD SO I GOT A NEIGHBOR OF MINE TO COME OVER WITH THEIR CAR AND PUT ON JUMPER CABLES AND ALLOWED THE BATTERY TO CHARGE, AFTER WAITING FOR IT TO CHARGE, I TURNED THE KEY. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, AND THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE HAD TO BE PUT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT IT OUT. I HAD PLASTIC PIECES ALL OVER. I WANT TO KNOW WHY I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A RECALL ON THIS IF THERE HAS BEEN REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE. *TR
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM WHICH MAKES THE CAR NO START UP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STARTER SWITCH CONTINUOUSLY FAILED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE, SUCH AS THE ANTI THEFT AND PASS LOCK SYSTEMS, WHICH CONSTANTLY CAUSED THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
MY CAR HAS A STARTING PROBLEM MY SECURITY LIGHT USE TO STAY ON FOR A WHILE AND THEN ONE DAY (JUNE 20 2012) MY CAR WOULDN'T START AT ALL IT USE TO TAKE UP TO 10 MINUTES AND THEN IT WOULD START BUT NOW ITS COMPLETELY NOTHING MY SECURITY LIGHT USE TO ALSO BLINK AND THEN AND FOR THE FIRST TIME ITS NOT STARTED FOR 4 WHOLE MONTHS I TRY EVERYDAY SEEING WILL IT START BUT IT HASN'T CAN U ALL PLEASE MAKE THIS PROBLEM NOTICEABLE AND DO A RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGED INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE A COOLANT LEAK OR ANY SMOKE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC REPLACED A SENSOR. AFTER THE REPAIR THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGED STILL INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A STRANGE SOUND WHEN TURNED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING SHAFT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGED AND AS A RESULT, PREVENTED HIM FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE SECURITY WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
FATHERS DAY I WAS DRIVING MY IMPALA ABOUT 9 MILES TO MY HOUSE EVERYTHING WAS FINE THE ENGINE WASN'T HOT NO WARNING THAT SOMTHING WAS WRONG. I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY VECHICLE KEPT UP WITH WORK ON IT ANYWAYS I DROVE IT HOME PARKED IT WENT INSIDE AND NOT EVEN 5 MIN LATER THERE WAS SMOKE AND A FIRE HAD STARTED UNDERNEATH MY HOOD. LOOKED LIKE IT WAS SOMTHING ELECTRICAL AND ALL I HAVE ON THE VECHICLE FOR INSURANCE IS LIABILITY. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MIDDLE SEAT HEAD REST WAS BLOCKING THE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
ON 4/09/12 AT APPROXIMATELY 18:20 I GOT IN THE CAR THAT HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER FEELING THE HOOD I OPENED IT AND DISCOVERED A FIRE ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE AND ALONG THE BACK SIDE OF THE ENGINE CLOSEST TO THE FIREWALL. FORTUNATELY SINCE I WAS HOME I HAD QUICK ACCESS TO AN ABC FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND I RAN INTO THE GARAGE AND GRABBED IT AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT I NOTED THE ENTIRE ENGINE COVER AND THE TOP OF THE ENGINE UNDER THE COVER WAS IN PIECES ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND IT APPEARED THE EXPLOSION WAS INSIDE THE AIR PLENUM/ INTAKE MANIFOLD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL AUTO SERVICE LOCATION VIA AAA AND CONTACTED MY INSURANCE CARRIER THE FOLLOWING DAY. REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACING THE AIR PLENUM, FUEL RAIL, INJECTORS, FUELS LINES, IGNITION WIRES, FUEL REGULATOR, AND VARIOUS GASKET KITS AND SENSORS. BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH I HAVE HEARD OF THE FUEL REGULATOR DRAWING RAW FUEL INTO THE AIR PLENUM / INTAKE MANIFOLD VIA A VACUUM LINE WHICH RESULTS IN THE EXPLOSION WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR. *TR
WE HAVE A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS, AND HAVE HAD A COUPLE INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE VEHICLE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, AND WOULD DISPLAY A SECURITY WARNING ON THE DASH. TYPICALLY WE HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 10 - 15 MINUTES TO TRY AGAIN, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD START. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ANTI THEFT FAILING ON THESE VEHICLES NOT ALLOWING THEM TO START. GM HAS NOT ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL, AND EVEN AFTER THE ALLEGED ISSUE HAS BEEN FIXED BY A DEALERSHIP, MANY OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED THE ISSUE STILL EXISTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ANTI-THEFT SECURITY BATTERY WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RESISTOR AND ANTI THEFT MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,428.
CARS BATTERY DIES WHEN PARKED FOR A FULL DAY. INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, CANNOT TURN ON FOG LIGHTS, DRIVING LIGHTS DON'T COME ON, LIGHTS STAYING FLASHING. BATTERY LIGHTS ON AND SO IS THE SECURITY LIGHT. IM NOT EVEN COMFORTABLE TURNING IT OFF WHEN I GET OFF AT STORES CAUSE THE CAR DOESN'T RESTART I HAVE TO WAIT AN HOUR BEFORE RESTARTING. FACTORY RADIO IS LOCKED WHEN I TOOK IT IN THEY CHARGED ME TO UNLOCK IT BUT SAID THAT IT'LL COME BACK ON THAT THEY PRETTY MUCH DON'T KNOW WHY IT HAPPENS ALL THEY CAN TELL ME WAS THAT IT IS A SECURITY PROBLEM. *TR
BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE FOR ABOUT A YEAR TILL IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK AND SECURITY LOCK WOULD POP UP FREQUENTLY NOW IT ALMOST TAKES AN HOUR TO CRANK IT EVEN IF U HIT THE STARTER THE STATER MOVES BUT WANT CRANK THE CAR I HAVE SPENT OVER 4 GRAND ON IT TRYING TO FIX IT BUT NOTHING WORKS EVEN CHECKED FUSES WIRES AND COMPUTER BOX NOTHING LOOKS BAD CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AWHILE BACK TOO. *TR
THIS MODELS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FLAWED. ITS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, FOR EXAMPLE I HAVE REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTER TWO TIMES NOW TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND PROBLEM PERSIST!! OTHERS INCLUDE ONE HEADLIGHT DUAL, LIGHTS IN DASH CUTTING IN AND OUT, AND REAR DEFROST. I AM DONE WITH THIS CAR AND ITS COMPANY! FROM NOW ON I AM ONLY BUYING FORD! *TR
SECONDARY AIR PUMP FAILED. *TR
CAR WON'T START THEN 10 20 OR EVEN 30 MINUTES LATER IT STARTS. *TR
MY TURN SIGNALS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. PRESSING THE HAZARD SWITCH A COUPLE TIMES FIXED PROBLEM. ONLINE FORUM SAID REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH. FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A MONTH. NOW, MY CAR NEEDS TO BE RUNNING AND WARMED UP BEFORE THE TURN SIGNALS WORK CORRECTLY. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WORSENING HAS THE TEMPERATURE DROPS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PERFORM NORMALLY UNTIL REACHING THE DESTINATION WHERE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE SIMILAR FAILURE. THE BATTERY, STARTER, ALTERNATOR, AND RELY SWITCH WERE REPLACED AT DIFFERENT TIMES; HOWEVER THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. MOST RECENT, ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CONSISTENT MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
WHEN CAR SITS FOR A DAY, BATTERY IS DEAD, AND CAR WILL NOT START. REQUIRES A JUMP, THEN CAR CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. DIES WHEN AT SLOW SPEED OR IDLE. *TR
MY CAR WILL NOT START DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSKEY/PASSLOCK SYSTEM. IT IS A ANTI THEFT FUNCTION INSTALLED ON SEVERAL OF THE GM MODELS THAT WHEN IT FAILS TO WORK IT ACTUALLY KEEPS THE OWNER FROM USING THE VEHICLE. AFTER GOING ON LINE TO RESEARCH THIS ISSUE I NOTICED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM TO HAVE. IN ADDITION TO GETTING THE SYSTEM FIXED MANY OWNERS SAY THAT AFTER ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS THE PROBLEM COMES BACK AND HAVE EVEN DIED ON THEM AS THEY WERE DRIVING. SOME TRY TO BYPASS THIS SYSTEM AND OTHERS ATTEMPT TO HAVE IT FIXED, BUT REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY DEAL WITH IT, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE MANUFACTURES RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES THEY SELL; NOT TO MENTION THAT HONDA WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES AND ISSUED A RECALL. *KB
SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR WILL NOT START FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. *TR
OUR 2001 IMPALA RANDOMLY STARTED HAVING THE ABS/TRACTION LIGHT WARNING COME ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT IS SPONTANEOUS AND WITHOUT WARNING. MY BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN I TRY TO STOP, WHEN IN A COMPLETE STOP AND I PRESS THE GAS THE BRAKES MAKE THE CAR HESITATE TO MOVE FORWARD, WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE THE CAR SPUTTERS THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND I FEEL LIKE I'M DRIVING ON ICE. I HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW WHEN OR IF MY CAR IS ACTUALLY GOING TO STOP OR EVEN MOVE FORWARD WHILE I AM ON THE ROAD. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW AND I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT SHOPS AND HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS JUST TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY THINK IS WRONG. I HAVE SPENT AROUND $1000.00 IN REPAIRS AND HAVING IT DIAGNOSED. NOTHING HAS PREVENTED THE ABS/TRACTION ERROR FROM OCCURRING IMMEDIATELY AFTER EACH FIX. THIS PROBLEM HAS GOT TO BE ANNOUNCED AND FIXED BY CHEVROLET IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE OR AN ENTIRE FAMILY GETS HURT OR EVEN KILLED. IF I WAS THE ONLY FLUKE THEN I WOULD UNDERSTAND BUT THERE ARE THOUSANDS WITHIN THE 2001-2005 RANGE THAT HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM. DON'T BE LIKE TOYOTA AND WAIT TIL NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE DIED TO FIX A SIMPLE PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD DISPLAY THE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEVEL WAS MORE THAN THE CAPACITY IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 10/4/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER FILLING THE TANK TO CAPACITY, THE GAUGE WOULD ONLY READ 1/4 TANK TO 3/4 FULL. UPDATED 10/24/11
1. THERE WERE REALLY NO EVENTS THAT LED UP TO THE FAILURE. 2. THE ABS SYSTEM STARTED ENGAGING AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES (WHEN TRACTION CONTROL WAS NOT WARRANTED--COMPLETELY DRY). THIS STARTED OUT SPORADICALLY BUT HAS SINCE BECOME DAILY. AT FIRST, JUST THE ABS ENGAGED AND THE "TRACTION ACTIVE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. NOW, IT WILL CAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO DISARM ITSELF AND THE "SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM" LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE. 3. THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES WITH 4 DIFFERENT PARTS. *TR
TURN/ HAZARD SIGNALS INTERMITTENLY MALFUNCTION. *TR
I PURCHASED A USED 2001 IMPALA WITH A LITTLE OVER 145K MILES ON IT IN NOVEMBER 2010. IT DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH UNTIL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. NO PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY IT HAD COOLING ISSUES AND WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP. IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE TO REPLACE SUCH PARTS ON A USED VEHICLE. THE REAL ISSUES BEGAN IN THE SPRING WHENEVER MY CAR STARTED TO DISPLAY SECURITY WARNINGS, BATTERY WARNINGS, AND SERVICE VEHICLE WARNINGS FOR NO REASON. I COULD FIND NO MECHANIC OR ELECTRICIAN WHO COULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY, THE PROBLEMS BECAME WORSE: THE BLINKERS WOULD NOT WORK, MY ODOMETER, TEMPERATURE, AND FUEL GAUGE ALL QUIT WORKING. MY AIR-CONDITIONER WOULD NO LONGER COOL. THE RADIO "LOCKED". AND WHENEVER I APPLIED THE BRAKES, AN ELECTRONIC "POP" WAS AUDIBLE. CHEVY DEALERSHIPS ARE LEFT WITH THE EXHAUSTIBLE TASK OF DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES--WHEN THEY ARE NOT THEIR FAULT, BUT THE MANUFACTURERS. A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE WILL REVEAL THAT IMPALAS ARE PLAGUED WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM THE BODY CONTROL MODULE TO FAULTY AMPS IN THE TRUNK. IF THESE PROBLEMS ARE SO WIDESPREAD, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN AN EFFORT BY THE MANUFACTURER TO HELP FIND A SOLUTION? IT'S QUESTIONS LIKE THESE THAT MAKE ME WONDER WHY OUR GOVERNMENT BAILED OUT A COMPANY THAT CAN'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT--OR EVEN CORRECT A VERY SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM IN THEIR VEHICLES. *TR
PROBLEM: THE GAS METER IS NOT ACCURATE, IT GIVES ME FALSE READINGS WHICH RESULT IN ME RUNNING OUT OF GAS OR OVER FILL MY GAS TANK. I NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE! THE GAS METER USUALLY READS FULL BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. WHILE DRIVING THE GAS METER WANDERS BACK AND FORTH FROM FULL TO EMPTY. I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR FAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. PLEASE HELP ME!
TROUBLE STARTING MY 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA., I TRY TO START MY CAR AND IT WONT START, SECURITY LIGHT POPS ON AND WONT LET ME START MY CAR. CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED AND LATE MANY TIMES. IF I WAIT 15MIN-1HR I CAN THEN GET THE CAR TO START. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND MANY GM VEHICLES HAVE IT. THEY NEED TO PUT OUT A RECALL. *TR
AS I'VE FOUND FROM MANY OTHER FOLKS THROUGH THE INTERNET AND IN PERSON, THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM IN MY 2001 IMPALA IS FAULTY AND DANGEROUS! THE BEST CASE SCENARIO THE ENGINE WON'T START AND WHEN YOU COME BACK 15 MINUTES LATER IT STARTS JUST FINE ASSUMING YOU ARE IN THE COMFORTS OF YOUR OWN LIVING SPACE. WHEN ON THE ROAD THIS IS A SEVERE PROBLEM!! ALSO, MY WIFE RECENTLY WAS DRIVING THROUGH AND INTERSECTION AND THE VEHICLE JUST QUIT! SAME ISSUE. WAIT AND IT STARTS!!! NOW IN THIS CASE THERE WASN'T AND ACCIDENT, BUT VERY EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN!! CARS DYING WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IS NOT MY IDEA OF A SAFE VEHICLE!!! SINCE THAT EPISODE, WE'VE HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I'M NOW 100% SURE IT'S THE PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. ONCE AGAIN, THIS VERY MORNING WE WENT TO DROP KIDS AT DAYCARE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START............WAIT 15 MINUTES AND IT STARTS JUST FINE. THERE IS AND OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ON THESE VEHICLES AND THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE PRESENT BUT A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRE, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WHICH ADVISED OF THE POTENTIAL OF AN ENGINE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 173,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BUT COULD NOT FIND THE ORIGIN OF IT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. A REPORT WAS FILE WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,598.
2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START IF IS SITS A NUMBER OF HOUSE I.E. OVERNIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE FOR SERVICING TO DEALER THEY TRIED TWICE AND THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. TOOK THE CAR TO CHEVY DEALER THEY DISCONNECTED CAR ALARM SYSTEM ONLY FOR THE PROBLEM TO STILL EXIST. I WORK NIGHTS I CRIED BECAUSE OF BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ALONE. HOW COULD THIS BE AND GM NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP. SO MANY COMPLAINTS AND STILL NO ACTION. I WILL TRY TO CONTACT TO SEE IF ASSISTANCE CAN BE GIVEN. IF NOT I WILL MAKE IT MY PERSONAL MISSION TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYDAY NOW AND I AM BEYOND FED UP. THE ALTERNATOR, TWO BATTERIES, STARTER, CONTROL MODULE, AND FUSES WERE REPLACED AND YET EXPERTS CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. GM SHOULD BE ASHAMED I TAKING A PLAN OF ACTION TO CONTACT MY LOCAL NEWS STATION AND BBB. THIS IS NOT FAIR AND NOT CUSTOMER SERVICE. AS A RESULT MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN LATE TO SCHOOL AND MISSED SCHOOL, I HAVE BEEN LATE TO WORK AND MISSED WORK. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A CURSE AND I WOULD SELL THE VEHICLE BUT I CANNOT IMAGINE DISADVANTAGING SOMEONE ELSE AS IT HAS BEEN DONE TO ME. MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS. *TR
BOUGHT MY CHEVY 2001 IMPALA MAY 2010 AT 114,000 MILES. A WEEK LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. CAR RAN FINE, CHANGED THE MAF IN FEBRUARY 2011 AS THE CAR BEGAN TO CHUG AT STOP LIGHTS. A WEEK LATER THE CAR STALLED ON THE WAY HOME AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OF DRIVING. HAD SPARK PLUGS, FILTERS, FLUIDS, TPS SENSOR (TWICE), CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND IGNITION MODULE CHANGED. CAR IS NOW CHUGGING, STALLS OUT, AFTER STALLING THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK FOR A WHILE AND HAS TROUBLE CLIMBING TALL HILLS (DOES NOT ACCELERATE). THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON OCCASIONALLY AND IT READS THE TPS SENSOR IS BAD. CHECKED THE WIRES NEAR THE TPS SENSOR AND MAF SENSOR NOTING WHEN TOUCHING WIRES THE IDLE OF THE CAR INCREASES. COME TO FIND OUT THERE WAS A COMPARTMENT FIRE BEFORE I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT APPEARS SOME WIRES WERE SPLICED. IN PROCESS TO CHANGE THE WIRING HARNESS. UNSURE IF THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEMS. *TR
CHEVROLET IMPALA LS 2001 HAVE A DEFECT WHERE THE GAS GAUGE MOVES UP AND DOWN CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I DRIVE! YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE BECAUSE THE GAS GAUGE IS NOT ACCURATE. WHICH LEADS TO RUNNING OUT OF GAS OR OVER FILLING. I DON'T THINK IT CAN BE FIX. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT ITS JUST A DEFECT. *TR
FOR THE THIRD TIME A POWER WINDOW "REGULATOR CABLE" HAS BROKEN IN MY CAR, TWICE IN THE DRIVER DOOR (9/29/04 AND 5/15/11) AND ONCE IN THE PASSENGER DOOR (09/15/09), EACH TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A STREET OR HIGHWAY. NOTHING NOTICEABLE BEFORE WINDOWS DROPPED. HAD TO DRIVE IT TO A DEALER (ONCE FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES). COST OF REPAIRS WERE AS HIGH AS $433. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 11/2001. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE; THE CODES DISPLAYED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ENGINE JUST CUTS OUT. WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A LIGHT THE ENGINE WOULD JUST CUT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THERE IS NO ENGINE CODES, ENGINE JUST DIES. SOMETIMES IT IS A PAIN TRYING TO STAR THE ENGINE WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *TR
VEHICLE WILL NOT START AT TIMES. SECURITY SYSTEM THINKS YOU'RE STEALING THE CAR. YOU HAVE TO WAIT TEN OR SO MINUTES TILL THE BYPASS SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS ITSELF LEAVING YOU STRANDED TILL YOU GET A RESTART. WORN CONTACTS ON THE IGNITION SWITCH ARE NOT RECOGNIZING YOUR KEY. HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. SEEMS TO BE EXTREMELY COMMON ON GM CARS '99 TO '05. *TR
MY 2001 IMPALA'S RIGHT REAR TURN AND BRAKE LIGHT STOP WORKING. I CHECKED FOR VOLTAGE AT THE RIGHT REAR LIGHT. NO VOLTAGE WAS PRESENT BUT I HAD A GOOD GROUND. I STARTED TO CHECK THE HARNESS BACK TRACKING THE CIRCUIT TO THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, THE HARNESS WAS GOOD. I REMOVED THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH AND NOTICED A LOT OF GREASE FROM THE COLUMN. I CLEANED THE SWITCH AND ASSEMBLED IT BACK TOGETHER. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AND ONCE AGAIN THE RR TURN SIGNAL STOP WORKING. I PRICED A SWITCH FOR MY IMPALA FROM MY LOCAL PARTS DEALER, IT WAS OVER $300. I RESEARCHED TO SEE IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WAS SURPRISED ON HOW MANY INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED. I THINK GM NEED TO BACK UP THEIR CARS AND CONSIDER THIS AS A SAFETY RECALL.
2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA SECURITY LIGHT WILL FLASH AND BLINK NOT ALLOWING VEHICLE TO START. I HAVE TRIED NEW KEYS AMONGST OTHER POSSIBLE INEXPENSIVE PROBLEMS WITH NO DESIRED RESULTS. SO AFTER I AM LATE FOR WORK OR OTHER THINGS ON MY SCHEDULE, SOMETIMES AFTER THE SYSTEM "RELEARNS" AND "FIXES" THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE STILL WON'T START. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE SPENDING MORE MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET TO FIX SUCH A WIDE SPREAD AND SURPRISINGLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MULTIPLE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY GM! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED HIM TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SHE HEARD A NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,000.
I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA WITH A 3.8L V6. TODAY AROUND 3:30 CENTRAL TIME I WENT OUTSIDE TO START MY VEHICLE AND I SAW THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD SO I GOT ANOTHER VEHICLE OF MINE AND PUT ON MY JUMPER CABLES AND ALLOWED THE BATTERY TO CHARGE, AFTER WAITING FOR IT TO CHARGE, I TURNED THE KEY. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, AND THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS SO LARGE I HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT IT OUT, THEY WROTE A REPORT ON THE INCIDENT. I HAD PLASTIC PIECES ALL OVER. I WOULD TO KNOW WHY I HAVEN'T RECIEVED A RECALL ON THIS IF THERE HAS BEEN REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE.
I HAVE 2001 CHEVY IMPALA LS WITH ABOUT 80K MILES ON IT. WHEN THE WEATHER STARTED GETTING BAD, THE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT KICKED ON FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. I TOOK IT OFF B/C I DON'T LIKE. NOW WHEN I GET IN THE CAR, AND TURN IT ON, MY ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND "SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. THE "SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT GOES OFF, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE OTHER TO DO OFF. IT SEEMS I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THE TYPE OF PROBLEM. 100'S OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE US HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL RANGING FROM YEARS 01-04. *TR
2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES. HE HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL RAIL HAD RUPTURED AND SPRAYED GASOLINE THROUGH THE HOT ENGINE. *KB
01 IMPALA 3.8. I WENT TO START THE CAR. THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE INTAKE PLENUM EXPLODED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IS GREAT IF SOMEONE IS STANDING NEAR THE OPEN ENGINE BAY. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION DESPITE THE HIGH MILES. *TR
I HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT MY IMPALA. MY ABS LIGHTS ON MY DASH KEEP GOING OFF AND MY SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM KEEPS SHOWING UP IN MY MESSAGE BOX. WHEN I AM PULLING OUT FROM ANYWHERE THAT INVOLVES ME TURNING MY WHEEL IS WHEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS GO OFF. YOU HEAR A NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE MY BRAKES GRINDING. ONCE THE LIGHTS GO OFF, MY BRAKES ARE HARD TO SLOW DOWN MY CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW INCIDENTS WHEN MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR AND I THOUGHT WE WEREN'T STOPPING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND EVEN GM TOLD ME IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. PEOPLE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX THEIRS AND STILL HAVEN'T FOUND AN ANSWER. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY CHEVY WON'T FIX IT OR MAKE IT A RECALL. THIS WILL BE THE LAST GM PRODUCT I BUY SINCE THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. IF YOU LOOK ON THE SAFECAR.GOV WEB PAGE THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE FILED ABOUT THE SAME COMPLAINT. IT IS DANGEROUS. I TALKED TO THE MECHANIC AT MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND HE SAID HE HAS HAD MULTIPLE IMPALA'S IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND AFTER REPLACING MANY PARTS, THEY STILL COULDN'T FIND THE ANSWER. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET KILLED FOR CHEVY TO WAKE UP?
CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START IF IT'S COLD OUTSIDE (35 DEGREES OR COLDER). SOMETIMES IT TAKES 10-30 MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO FINALLY START. IT HAPPENS NUMEROUS TIMES. I'VE REPLACED BATTERY, I'VE HAD CAR ALARM SYSTEM CHECKED, STARTER CHECKED, AND STILL HAVE PROBLEMS. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS BRANDS FROM GENERAL MOTORS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT FUNCTION. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 144,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2001 Chevrolet Impala → · Every Impala year → · How the figures are calculated →