2001 Chevrolet Impala complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT IT WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE SECURITY PASS LOCK. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 137,933.

CONSUMER HAS A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA WITH ENGINE AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL OF THE ENGINE AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS FAILED DUE TO OIL DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ONE TURN SIGNALS AND FLASHER ONLY WORK ABOUT HALF TIME, ONE BRAKE LIGHT WORKS ABOUT 1/2 TIME DRIVERSIDE HEATED SEAT OVER HEATED COULD NOT CUT IT OFF TOOK STRAIGHT TO DEALER POGUE CHEVROLET SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO PUT IT ON COMPUTER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, SAID IT WOULD COST $100.00 TO CHECK IT OUT I ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD CHECK IT WITH OUT ME PAYING THE $100.00 THEY SAID NO I TOLD THEM I COULD NOT DRIVE IT LIKE THAT THEY UNPLUGGED THE SEAT, LATER I WAS INFORMED BY MY COUSIN WHO CAME UP FROM FLORIDA THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOU PEOPLE HE SAID CHEVROLET WERE OBLIGATED TO FIX ANY SAFETY ISSUES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND WOULD NOT DRIVE OVER 30-35 MPH. THE RPM'S APPEARED TO BE NORMAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND A MECHANIC REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND FILTER, BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE IN EITHER DIRECTION, HE HEARD A GRINDING AND CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 07/14/09 *BF UPDATED 07/16/09.*JB

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE A SHARP RIGHT TURN WHEN I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COME FROM MY CAR IT WAS THEN I NOTICED THE TRACTION ACTIVITY LIGHT COME ON . I GOT READY TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE TURNING LEFT AND NOISE HAPPENED AGAIN BUT IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A DELAY IN MY STOPPING AND ALSO TURNING. AFTER WORK I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT WITH NO PROBLEMS SO I JUST PAY IT NO ATTENTION. UNTIL I TURNED IN TO MY MOM'S TO PICK UP MY KIDS AND IT DID IT AGAIN BUT THIS TIME AN 18 WHEELER WAS BEHIND ME AND ACTUALLY HAD TO BRAKE AND GO AROUND ME BECAUSE OF THE DELAY IN MY TURNING. I ACTUALLY HAD TO FIGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO PROCEED WITH MY TURN. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY TIME I MAKE A SHARP TURN LEFT OR RIGHT , WHETHER I'M TURNING SLOWLY OR NOT , AND I BELIEVE SOME ONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT BY THIS PROBLEM IF ITS NOT CORRECTED. IT WASN'T UNTIL 2MONTHS AGO I FOUND OUT THAT IF YOU TURN THE TRACTION OFF THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENS BUT NOT AS BAD AND THAT IT HAD SOME THING TO DO WITH PART#10340313 AND PART#10340314 WHICH IS THE ABS HARNESS WHICH CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED THROUGH THE DEALER OR ON GMPARTSDIRECT.COM. WHICH I THINK WE AS OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR BUT WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR TO INSURE OUR FAMILY AND OUR OWN SAFETY. ANOTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS THAT THE TURN SINGLE ALSO STOPS WORKING I HAVE TO PUSH DOWN ON THE HAZARD BUTTON TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN AND SOME TIMES HIT THE DASH TO GET IT TO WORK. *TR

THIS PROBLEM STARTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. AT RANDOM ENGINE WILL NOT START. THIS SEEMS TO AFFECT MANY DIFFERENT MODELS OF CARS. I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA. I USED TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE BATTERY BC IT WOULD HAPPEN EVERY YR. NOW I HAVE TO TURN KEY TO ON AND WAIT TEN MINUTES TO CRANK IT. I AM A SINGLE FEMALE AND THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY INCONVENIENT BUT UNSAFE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT IT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MY DEALER AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM BUT SAY NOTHING WORKS FOR IT AND NOT TO SPEND THE MONEY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HERE AND ON THE INTERNET. *TR

2001 IMPALA WON'T START AT DIFFERENT TIMES HAVE TO WAIT 20-30 MINUTES, DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK ANYMORE, INSIDE LIGHTS DON'T WON'T WHEN THIS HAPPENS THEY COME ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES, WHEN SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES THE AC DOESN'T WORK. I HAD THE IGNITION LOCK CHANGED BUT STILL SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AT NIGHT SINCE I AM A SINGLE PARENT WITH GRANDCHILDREN AND ALSO IN THE HEAT OF SUMMER HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE CAR TO START. *TR

SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM/ABS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I NOTICED THE TRACTION FEATURE ENGAGING WITHOUT CAUSE. IT BEGAN TO GET WORSE AND ENGAGES MOSTLY WHEN YOU TURN (EITHER DIRECTION), BUT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN. TOOK TO DEALER WAS TOLD IT NEEDED NEW WHEEL BEARINGS, HAD BOTH REPLACED (WHICH WAS VERY PRICEY) AND IT WAS OKAY FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND HAS SINCE STARTED AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, WHEN THE TRACTION IS ENGAGED IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP WHEN BRAKING, IT CAUSES A DELAY IN STOPPING. I'VE ASKED OTHER MECHANICS, NOBODY IS SURE WHAT TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT ALL HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM IN HOPES OF FINDING A SOLUTION, TO NO AVAIL, BUT THERE ARE 1000'S OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THE 2001 IMPALA. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL.....THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A TIRE FLATTENED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. SHE OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HERSELF. SHE ARRIVED HOME AND CALLED HER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO COME TO HER RESIDENCE AND INVESTIGATE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GENERAL MOTORS, WHICH STATED "THAT SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING. IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE." THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000. UPDATED 06/27/09 *BF UPDATED 06/23/09.*JB

SAFETY RECALL RECEIVED FROM GM ON 6/5/09 REGARDING RECALL #09047. CONTACTED DEALER ON 6/8/09 FOR NEEDED REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD THAT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ETA FOR AVAILABILITY AND/OR REPAIRS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF HER VEHICLE. SHE LIFTED THE HOOD AND NOTICED A SMALL FIRE BETWEEN THE ALTERNATOR AND SEVERAL WIRES. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AFTER A FEW MINUTES WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE LOCAL GM DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE; HOWEVER, THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND MAY HAVE STARTED THE FIRE. ONE WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT STATED "IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE". NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 WAS REFERENCED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 100,000. UPDATED 8/10/09 *CN UPDATED 08/13/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECEIVING ENOUGH POWER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE STARTER, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. WHILE DRIVING MORE THAN 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 50,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMEDY REFERENCED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WOULD NOT SUFFICIENTLY CORRECT THE FAILURE. HE STATED THAT BY INSTALLING TWO NEW SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS FOR FREE WILL NOT STOP DROPS OF ENGINE OIL FROM BEING DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING. THE DEALER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 158,000.

I HAVE 2001 CHEVY IMPALA AND IT HAS STARTING ISSUES. IT DOESN'T START AT TIMES AND IT'S GETTING TO BE MORE OFTEN AND NOTHING WILL GET IT TO START. I JUST LEAVE IT SIT, SOMETIIMES FOR 2 HOURS AND IT MAY OR MAY NOT START. IT QUIT WHILE GETTING READY TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, AS I COULDN'T STEER MY CAR AND IT SMELLED HOT. ALSO THE BLINKERS WON'T WORK AT TIMES AND I HAVE TO PRESS MY EMERGENCY FLASHER SWITCH TO GET THEM TO WORK. I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE STARTING ISSUE HASN'T IMPROVED AT ALL. IT IS VERY MADDENING AS I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL NOT START WHEN I GO TO LEAVE SOMEWHERE AND IT'S VERY UNDEPENDABLE TO TAKE ANYWHERE. PLEASE CAN YOU HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM? IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST YEAR AND IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN LATELY. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO A STORE MY CAR WAS DRIVING JUST FINE BUT, AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT A CAR THAT WAS AT A STOP SIGN. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS UNTIL NOW.. IT JUST HAPPENED UNEXPECTEDLY. I CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT WAS FINE THE CAR THEN DROVE OFF JUST FINE. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE FAST LANE ON I71 HEADING FROM COLUMBUS, OHIO TO CLEVELAND, OHIO. SHE SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 75 MPH AND WENT TO BRAKE BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING DOWN. WHEN SHE HIT THE BRAKE THEY DID NOTHING! SHE IMMEDIATELY PANICKED AND MOVED OVER 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE BERM NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SHE QUICKLY THREW THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IT STOPPED. I CALLED A CHEVROLET DEALER AFTER SHE CALLED ME FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE THE CAR. THEY ASKED IF THE CAR MATS POSSIBLY BLOCKED THE BRAKE AND MY DAUGHTER SAID NO, SHE REACHED DOWN AND PULLED IT OUT AND THE CAR WOULD STILL NOT SLOW DOWN. SHE EVEN STATED BOTH FEET WERE PUSHING DOWN ON THE BREAK PEDAL AND NOTHING WAS SLOWING DOWN THE CAR. I JUST HAD A FRONT HUB REPLACED AT AUTO PLUS (WHERE I TAKE MY CARS FOR SERVICE) IN ORIENT, OHIO. MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIEND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT. AROUND 38,000 MILES IS WHEN THE PROBLEMS STARTED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WOULD NOT PASS SMOG BECAUSE OF THAT. THE THERMOSTAT GETS STUCK, THE FAN CONTINUES TO RUN AFTER CAR IS SHUT OFF, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT LOW. THE CAR SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING OR RUNNING HOT. THE CAR NOW HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT AND I CANT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. IT HAS EXPIRED TAGS ON IT BECAUSE I CANT GET IT TO PASS SMOG. I AM REALLY UPSET TO FIND OUT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE MAKE OF THE CAR. IT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO BUY THIS CAR AND NOW I CANT DRIVE IT MORE THEN TO WORK AND BACK. I AM HOPING THEY WILL RECALL THIS CAR AND I COULD FINALLY GET IT FIXED. *TR

I HAVE ROTATED MY FRONT ROTORS AND CHANGED BRAKE PADS 2. I ALSO HAVE REPLACED THEM AND 6 MONTHS LATER I HAVE TO TURN THE NEW ONES. THEY HAVE WARPED AND MY CAR VIBRATES VERY BAD. *TR

THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) CAUSED MY 01 IMPALA TO DO SOME CRAZY THINGS. IT STARTED WITH TURN SIGNALS INTERMITTENTLY WORKING. MY WIFE AND I WERE IN SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OTHER DRIVERS COULD NOT TELL WHAT WE WERE DOING. THEN IT PROGRESSED TO EACH TIME THAT I APPLIED THE BREAKS THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLASH FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. IT DISTRACTED THE DRIVERS IN FRONT OF ME WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. ON MANY OCCASIONS IT CAUSED THE ENTIRE DASH INSTRUMENTATION TO FAIL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SPEEDOMETER. THE MESSAGE CENTER WOULD GIVE ME FALSE INDICATIONS OF REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AND LOW TIRE PRESSURE. TWICE IT LOCKED THE CAR OUT ON "SECURITY" THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO INTERMITTENTLY START. AFTER ABOUT 10MINUTES THE VEHICLE TYPICALLY STARTED BACKUP AGAIN. ONCE, THE VEHICLE LEFT THE HEADLIGHTS ON AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO KEEP IT FROMDRAINING THE BATTERY. AGAIN, AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES IT WOULD ALLOW SOMETHING TO RESET AND ALL WOULD BE FINE. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE MAKE AND MODEL I TOOK IT TOA GM DEALER LEADING THEM TOWARDS THE BCM. I DIDN'T WANT TO PAY AN EXUBERANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FORTHEM TO CHASE AN "ELECTRICAL GHOST". AFTER $500 THEY REPLACED THE BCM AND THE VEHICLE RAN PERFECT FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 MONTHS AND NOW THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INTERMITTENT ONCE AGAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD TAKE TEN MINUTES OR THE NEXT DAY TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE INSTALLING NEW PARTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 05/05/09 *BF THE DIMMER SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/07/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE WAS FAULTY AND A MAJOR SAFETY RISK. THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK, THE DOME LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, THE TRUNK OPENS AUTOMATICALLY, THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATES, THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH OFF AND ON, AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS DO NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 205,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA AND WHEN YOU GO TO START THE CAR IT WON'T START. IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME, BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS IT TAKES NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS WITH THE KEY TO GET IT STARTED. *TR

FIRST OCCURRENCE 01-08 IS EXACTLY DEPICTED IN NHTSA #04V090000. REPAIR COST $1,600. SECOND OCCURRENCE 01-09 IS REPEAT OF PRIOR, THIS TIME EXPLOSION CAUSED ENGINE FIRE. CAR AT DEALERSHIP, REPAIRS APPROX. $2,000. GM SAYS VIN IS NOT IN RECALL SERIES. HAVE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME COMPLAINT ON INTERNET. *TR

SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM, ABS LIGHT CONTINUE TO COME ON. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO GET SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IT HAD ONE OF THE BEARINGS REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE OTHER BEARING, AND HUB SENSORS AT MY EXPENSE. THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATES FOR NO REASON AND CREATES A VIBRATION AND INABILITY TO BRAKE ON TIME. THE CAR ALSO HAS A SECURITY LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CAR SOMETIMES DOESN'T START FOR NO APPARENT REASON. USUALLY IF WE WAIT ABOUT 30 MIN. IT WILL TURN BACK ON, BUT I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHEN NOTHING WOULD TURN IT ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND WAS FIRST TOLD IT WAS THE EGR VALVE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT NOW AM BEING TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I'VE TAKEN IT TO A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 5 TIMES A YEAR SINCE 2006 AND THESE PROBLEMS ARE NEVER CORRECTED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ON MOST OCCASIONS, HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FIFTEEN MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO CRANK. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES OR ERROR CODES WITH THE VEHICLE. DURING THE FAILURE, THE ENGINE FAILS TO START, BUT ALL THE OTHER COMPONENTS WORK NORMALLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

DROVE CAR TO WORK, PARKED 3 MIN LATER CUSTOMER COMES TO MY JOB SCREAMING TO CALL 911 BECAUSE A CAR IS ON FIRE, I CAME OUT AND WAS MINE. AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUR, THEY SUSPECTED THAT A FUEL LINE WAS LICKING, I WENT TO A WEBSITE TO FIND 2 RECALLS ON MY CAR THAT I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF, THIS ONE WAS BACK IN 2001, AND I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A CHEVY DEALER ON 2002, AND WAS SERVICE BY THEM SEVERAL TIMES. NOW CHEVROLET ONLY WANTS TO PAY $2,000.00, BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, I CONTACTED THE GENERAL STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE STATE AND HIS OFFICE SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT TRUE. *TR

AFTER A ICE STORM IN 2008 I ATTEMPTED TO USE MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THEY PROCEEDED TO GET STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. THIS PAST WEEK AFTER ANOTHER ICE STORM MY WIPERS WERE STUCK IN THE UP POSITION ONCE AGAIN. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT CLEARED ALL OF THE ICE OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD THIS TIME. AFTER MY DAD FIXED IT ONCE AGAIN, EVERY TIME I TURN THEM ON IN THE INTERMITTENT POSITION WHEN I TURN THEM OFF THEY STOP IN THE UP POSITION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVEN MINUTES, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V136000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE REPRESENTATIVE ADDED THAT BECAUSE THE CONTACT DID NOT PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, SHE WOULD ONLY BE REIMBURSED $2,000 FOR ACCRUED VEHICLE DAMAGE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT YET RECEIVED ANY ASSISTANCE. SHE HAS ACCESS TO OBTAINING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

I OWN A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA. BASICALLY SINCE THE MOMENT I BOUGHT IT, IT WOULD RANDOMLY FLASH THE "SECURITY" LIGHT THEN NOT START. I GOT SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS ABOUT WHY (SECURITY FOB, NEUTRAL SWITCH, BATTERY) AND TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS. BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID, WELL, DON'T WORRY, IT'S JUST AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. I GUESS THAT'S EASY TO SAY WHEN YOU'RE NOT STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH A NON-STARTING CAR... NOW I FIND OUT THAT CHEVY INSTALLED A PASSLOCK SYSTEM WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP YOUR CAR FROM BEING STOLEN, BUT THAT SINCE IT WAS INSTALLED IN THEIR NEW CARS, IT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM. THEY REFUSE TO RECALL THE CARS AND FIX THE SECURITY SYSTEM PROBLEMS, INSTEAD FORCING THEIR CUSTOMERS TO WASTE TIME AND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD FIX. *TR

2001 NO-START SITUATION SIMILAR TO HUNDREDS OF OTHERS THAT ARE POSTED ON THE INTERNET FOR THE 2000-2003 CHEVY IMPALAS & MALIBUS (THERE MAY BE OTHER MODEL YEARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS). THE CAR WILL NOT CRANK WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO THE START POSITION. NO NOISE WHEN THIS HAPPENS BUT SOMETIMES SECURITY LIGHT WILL COME ON. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT WE'VE SPENT OVER $1000 TRYING TO RESOLVE. IT OCCURS WITH NO RHYME OR REASON AND HAS PUT OUR DAUGHTER IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. CAR ALWAYS STARTS EVENTUALLY AND IT SEEMS THAT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WAITING A RANGE OF 10 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS. ALWAYS A PAIN IN THE BUTT BUT SOMETIMES A SAFETY ISSUE WITH BAD WEATHER AND OTHER FACTORS. LOCAL GM DEALER NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT OUR PROBLEM AND GM CORPORATION DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE EITHER. MAYBE NHTSA CAN GET GMS ATTENTION TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUSLY AFFECTS MANY PEOPLE. *TR

THE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. ONE DAY WE WERE DRIVING IN TOWN AT 45 MPH AND THE TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED A HIGH PITCHED SOUND AND TWO SECONDS LATER IT DROPPED TO 25 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST FOR THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR DUE TO A LARGE GAP BETWEEN THE CLUTCH AND THE GEARS. *TR

MY CHEVY IMPALA LS 2001 DON"T START SOMETIMES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE WHEELS FAILED. THE BRAKES ARE CURRENTLY FAILING. THE CONTACT HEARS GRINDING METAL WHEN BRAKING, DRIVING OVER BUMPS, AND WHEN REVERSING. THE DEALER HAS YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE NOISE HAS INTENSIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. IN OCTOBER OF 2006, WHILE STOPPED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE OTHER PASSENGER. SHE INJURED HER HEAD AND HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED. SHE SUSTAINED MEMORY LOSS AND HAD TO UNDERGO THERAPY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ON DECEMBER 8, 2008 ON ICY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SLID INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDERS OF BOTH VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED. THE SEAT BELT FAILURE CAUSED HEAD INJURIES ONCE AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DEPENDED UPON THE TYPE OF CRASH AND HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS MAY OR MAY NOT LOCK UP IN A CRASH TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY SHOP THAT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD HAVE LOCKED IN BOTH CRASHES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

CAR STALLING AT STOPLIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS, AND DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. NUMEROUS MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND NO CONCLUSION HAS BEEN MADE. FINALLY IT STALLED AND NOW ITS STRANDED. IT WILL NOT START. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS AND HEARD A NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES. SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE NOISE PERSISTED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FIVE MONTHS LATER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING AND WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,600.

I OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA AUTOMOBILE. "SECURITY LOCK" LIGHT CAME ON DURING NORMAL DRIVE 2 DAYS BEFORE CAR FAILURE. ON THE MORNING OF FAILURE, CAR DOORS WERE UNRESPONSIVE TO REMOTE KEY. A CONTINUOUS LOW DRONING NOISE EMITS FROM INSIDE OF DASHBOARD. WHEN KEY WAS INSERTED INTO IGNITION CYLINDER AND TURNED, NOTHING HAPPENS. ENGINE DID NOT START, ELECTRONIC SYSTEM CHECKS DID NOT COME ALIVE. NOT EVEN A SPUTTERING SOUND FROM THE CAR HOOD. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM, PROFILE FITS THE RECURRENT PROBLEM OF PASSLOCK SENSOR OF GENERAL MOTOR CARS. CAR TECHNICIANS QUOTED ME $400 - $600 FOR REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH AND CYLINDER; $600 ON AVERAGE FOR CHANGE OF BODY CONTROL MODULE. HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/VBULLETIN/T147983.HTML HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-IMPALA/T30R7CEJ84KTJEL1M/P4 TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS RECURRING PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON VARIOUS SOURCES FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS. TO THIS DAY, IT REMAINS UN-RESOLVED. I IMPLORE THE AUTHORITIES TO TAKE CHARGE AND INVESTIGATE THOROUGHLY THE EXTENT OF THIS "NON-START" PROBLEM THAT AFFLICTS THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CHEVROLET CARS ON THE ROAD. SINCERELY YOURS, DEXTER (KENG HAO) CHUN *TR

THIS IS AN ONGOING REPEATED PROBLEM. MY 2001 IMPALA RANDOMLY WON'T START ABOUT 3 TIMES A WEEK. I WILL TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WAIT 10 MINUTES AND THE SECURITY (PASSLOCK) SYSTEM WILL RESET AND THE CAR WILL CRANK, BUT NO TIME IN BETWEEN...THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS NOW AND I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE BOTH THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH AND THAT I HAVE READ ONLINE.. THIS DOES NOT JUST OCCUR IN CHEVROLETS. ONE PERSON SAID THAT IT OCCURRED IN A PONTIAC. I WOULD ASSUME THIS IS A GM PROBLEM...AND WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED? THIS IS AN EXTREME INCONVENIENCE FROM CHEVROLET AND I HAVE READ INSTANCES WHERE THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED BY REPLACING THE IGNITION, BCM, ETC. AND THIS PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. WHY ARE THERE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NO KNOWN SOLUTION. RECALL? DEFECT? *TR

HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED WIRING. *TR

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, MY 2001 CHEVY IMPALA HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE IGNITION TO START. IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. I HAVE TO KEEP TURNING THE WHEEL AS I TURN THE IGNITION TO GET IT TO START. I AM THINKING THAT ONE DAY I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN IT. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. *TR

2001 CHEVORLET/IMPALA PURCHASED NEW, CURRENT MILES 51,000. INTERMITTANT LOSS OF DIRECTIONALS. **NOW COMPLETE LOSS OF DIRECTIONALS AND EMERGENCY SIGNALS. FAILED RECENT CAR INSPECTION. ADDITIONAL FAILURES INCLUDE: COMPLETE BRAKE LOSS AT 38,000. RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. FIRESTONE TIRE, WEST ROXBURY, MA STATED ON DOCUMENTS THAT "ROTORS WERE THINNED DOWN TO SIZE OF SHEET OF PAPER &/OR COMPLETELY GONE." TWO TIRE BLOWOUTS AT 35,000, ALSO REPLACED BY ABOVE REPAIR SHOP, WITH 4 NEW TIRES. BATTERY LEAK WITH CORROSION TO EXTENT OF NEED OF CONNECTION CABLES TO BE REBUILT FOR ATTACHMENT. BATTERY REPLACED WITH NEW CONNECTIONS AT 40,000 BY SEARS AUTO BODY IN DEDHAM, MA. PASSENGAR SIDE WIPER FIXED AND REPLACED AFTER FAILURE. WORKED FOR 3 MONTHS AND HAS FAILED AGAIN, HAS NOT AT PRESENT BEEN REPLACED/REPAIRED. CARE OF CAR WAS UPDATED AND MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO ALL REQUIREMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS BY MANUFACTURER. NO HISTORY OF ACCIDENTS. THIS INCLUDING, OIL CHANGES, WIPER BLADE CHANGES, TIRE ROTATIONS WITH EVEY OTHER OIL CHANGE, WHICH WAS DONE EVERY 3 MONTS, ETC. BRAKE INSPECTION AND PADS CHANGED ON CAR 1 YEAR BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. BRAKE LOSS WAS THANKFULLY UNEVENTFUL ONLY DUE TO TIME OF NIGHT AND LOW TRAFFIC, ONLY ABLE TO STOP CAR WITH GLIDING TO STOP. THEN TOWED TO SERVICE STATION. ON AVERAGE MY PRESENT YEARLY MILAGE IS PROBABLY LESS THAN 3000. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER/OPERATOR TO THIS CAR AND ALTHOGH MENTIONED #1 OWNER, MY FATHER ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE CAR, (HOWARD CHEV

MAJOR ELECTRICAL FAILURES ON OUR 2001 CHEVY IMPALA. TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, POWER WINDOWS FAILING, ALARM SOUNDS IF THE REMOTE KEY IS USED TO OPEN CAR. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND EXPERIENCED A COUPLE FROM ACQUAINTANCES AS WELL. *TR

MY CAR RANDOMLY DOESN'T LIKE TO START. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN MANY PLACES BECAUSE OF IT. I DO NOT THINK IT IS FAIR TO ME TO HAVE TO BE LATE TO WORK JUST BECAUSE MY CAR DOESN'T FEEL LIKE STARTING FOR 10 MINUTES. IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I AM GOING TO HAVE TO START IT LIKE A HALF HOUR EARLY JUST SO I KNOW THAT I WON'T BE LATE TO WORK. I HAVE ALSO BEEN STRANDED AT A STORE AT NIGHT. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE CAME UP TO ME...LET ME SEE A YOUNG GIRL SITTING IN A CAR LATE AT NIGHT ALL BY HERSELF...THAT'S NOT A GOOD WAY TO GET ROBBED OR ANYTHING ELSE...THANK YOU GM FOR A WONDERFUL CAR. *TR

PASSLOCK SYSTEM IN CHEVY IMPALA PREVENTS CAR FROM STARTING INTERMITTENTLY. DEPENDING ON CIRCUMSTANCES, LOCATION, AND PERSONS ON BOARD, THIS COULD LEAD TO ILLNESS OR INJURY. *TR

THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING IN MY 2001 CHEVY IMPALA. AFTER SEARCHING ON LINE TO SEE HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM I AM FINDING THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO IS HAVING OR HAS HAD THIS ISSUE HAPPEN TO THEM. I AM ALSO FINDING OUT THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF A BAD TURN SIGNAL SWITCH LOCATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA ABS / TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM ENGAGES BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY WITHOUT WARNING. EXCESS HEAT BUILDS UP AND CAUSES BRAKE FLUID LOSS. POTENTIAL FOR BRAKE FAILURE EXISTS. PERHAPS THE GOVERNMENT COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. YEAH, RIGHT. I PREDICT THAT YOU GUYS WILL FAIL THE CONSUMER YET AGAIN. *TR

I WAS PASSING ANOTHER CAR, MY CAR BACKFIRED, I THEN LOST POWER. RETURNING HOME AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, THE EXHAUST WAS RED HOT. THE PROBLEM WAS A BURN HOLE IN THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH MELTED SOME ELECTRICAL WIRING. *TR

AT AROUND 75,000 MILES, MY 2001 IMPALA BEGAN TO LOSE POWER,PARTICULARLY WHEN ACCELERATING. I TRIED FUEL SYSTEM CLEANERS, REPLACED FUEL FILTER, AIR FILTER, ETC. NO HELP. THEN ONE DAY A HOLE WAS BLOWN THROUGH MY INTAKE MANIFOLD. THAT'S RIGHT, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, BECAUSE I KNEW I COULDN'T AFFORD THE GM DEALERSHIP SHOP PRICE, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE EGR VALVE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE TOTALLY STOPPED UP CONSEQUENTLY TRAPPING HOT ENGINE EXHAUST IN THE INTAKE AREA WITH NOWHERE TO GO. THE COST OF PARTS AND REPAIRS COST ME OVER $800. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS OVER THE YEARS AND NEVER HAD A CATALYTIC CONVERTER COMPLETELY STOP UP. ACCORDING TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR MODEL. I THINK GM SHOULD REIMBURSE FOR THIS EXPENSE. *TR