2002 Chevrolet Impala complaints

KEY START DELAY START ISSUE, DUMMY LIGHTS, NO CRANK. *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

MY IGNITION COIL (?) BECAME STUCK/FROZEN AND WOULD NOT TURN - THUS THE CAR WOULD NOT START. $700 LATER, I GOT A NEW IGNITION, BUT NOW MY LIGHTER DOESN'T WORK, HALF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH NO LONGER WORK, EQUIPMENT WAS NOT BOLTED DOWN UNDER THE HOOD AND FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR, AT LEAST THE WORKMANSHIP COULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BETTER. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON MANY CHEVY PRODUCTS THAT I HAVE FOUND ON LINE AND STILL NO RECALL ... I GUESS IT WILL TAKE A FEW PEOPLE DYING BEFORE THIS TURNS INTO ANYTHING LIKE THAT. *TR

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

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC PASS LOCK SYSTEM PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A YEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MUST BE PRESENT TO RECEIVE A COMPUTER GENERATED CODE IN ORDER TO INSTANTLY RECTIFY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH ALSO PREVENTED IT FROM STARTING. VARIOUS COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 4-6 TIMES, INCLUDING TWICE THIS WEEK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH, ALARM, AND SECURITY LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE IS DISABLED AND FAILS TO START. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE NEEDED AN IGNITION SWITCH AND THE MODULE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER OFFERED 10% OFF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE TRUNK AND DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO WORK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. SHE HAS REPROGRAMMED THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE WINDSHIELD ON A CLEAR DAY CAUSED BLURRED VISION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD, THE FAILURE DID NOT CONTINUE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO BLINK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED, THE HEAD LIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO TURN HEADLIGHTS FROM HIGH TO LOW, TO GET THEM TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

FAILURE OF DIMMER CONTROL ON 2002 IMPALA. SWITCH BEGAN FEELING HEAVIER TO ACTIVATE, THEN HEADLIGHTS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES, INITIALLY ON HIGH BEAM AND THEN ON LOW BEAM. HEADLIGHTS WOULD SUDDENLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. TOGGLING THE DIMMER SWITCH WOULD REACTIVATE THE LIGHTS. FORTUNATELY I WAS DRIVING ON A FAIRLY STRAIGHT ROAD. DEALER INDICATED THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. REVIEW OF INTERNET COMPLAINTS, THIS ISSUE APPEARS COMMON. REPAIR WITH DEALER COST $479. *TR

SEVERAL TIMES I WOULD GO TO START MY CAR AND THE SECURITY LIGHT WOULD BE ON IN THE MESSAGE CENTER. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT DID NOTHING LIKE A DEAD BATTERY. I WOULD WAIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND TRY AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT WOULD START SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T. IT WAS DOING THIS 2 OR 3 TIMES A WEEK. ON SEPT. 9, 2006 I CAME OUT FROM SHOPPING AND IT WOULDN'T START. I WAITED FOR 15 MINUTES AND STILL NOTHING. I DID THIS FOR AN HOUR. THEN I CALLED A FRIEND TO COME AND GET ME. I WENT BACK TO MY CAR WHICH IS A 2002 IMPALA, THE NEXT DAY, STILL NOTHING. THE NEXT DAY, STILL NOTHING. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO THE DEALER TO GET IT FIXED. ALSO MY POWER DOOR LOCKS HAD QUIT AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO GIVE THEM $100.00 JUST TO LOOK AT IT. 3 HOURS LATER THEY CALLED AND SAID THAT I COULD PICK UP MY CAR. TOTAL COST TOWING $59.00, DEALER $496.95. I AM DISABLED AND ONLY GET $600.00 A MONTH FROM DISABILITY. NOW I HAVE NO MONEY FOR MY LIVING EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH BUT THE CAR IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. ON THE 1ST OF OCT. I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND GUESS WHAT IT WON'T START. SINCE THIS WAS A SUNDAY I CALLED THE DEALER ON MONDAY MORNING TO TELL THEM THAT IT WAS NOT FIXED . IT WAS STILL DOING THE EXACT SAME THING THAT IT WAS BEFORE THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT. BY THE WAY WHEN THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIX IT THEY REPLACED THE BMC. NOW THEY WANT ANOTHER $100.00 TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN. THE PART WAS GUARANTEED BUT NOT LABOR, I COULD NOT AFFORD ANOTHER BILL LIKE THE LAST ONE, I JUST HOPE IT STARTS WHEN I GO TO TH

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

SECURITY ISSUE WHEN TRYING TO START THE ENGINE. SECURITY ERROR WILL FLASH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START UP THE ENGINE WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER TO ALL SYSTEMS. THE ONLY FIX APPEARED TO BE TO WAIT 20-30 MINUTES AND THEN TRY TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN. AREA SHOPS ADMIT KNOWLEDGE OF DEFECT,. SOME BLAME THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED AT PERSONAL COST AND THE PROBLEM REMAINED. SOME TECHNICIANS CLAIMED THAT GM HAS NOT YET FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. AM WA S AWARE OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SILVERADO TRUCKS AS WELL. AM A LIFETIME OWNER OF GM VEHICLES, BUT THIS WILL PROBABLY BE MY LAST UNLESS AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION WAS FOUND. *AK FOUND.

HEADLAMPS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING APPEARED TO HAVE A SHORT IN THEM. HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT NIGHT AT 55 MPH AND DIMMED THE LIGHTS FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN ALL LIGHTS EXCEPT THE FOG LIGHTS COMPLETELY WENT OUT. CONTINUOUS FIDDLING WITH SWITCHES FINALLY MADE THEM COME BACK ON. ALSO, LIGHTS WILL NOT ALWAYS COME ON AT NIGHT WITHOUT CONTINUOUS FIDDLING WITH SWITCHES. OCCURS 5 DAYS OUT OF 7 IN EVERY WEEK.*AK

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

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS LEAKING. IT POSES A FIRE HAZARD IF THE CAR IS OVERHEATED WHICH COULD POSE HEALTH THREATS TO THOSE IN THE CAR AND OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA WITH 71,000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND IS GOOD CONDITION. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL THINGS FIXED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. WE HAVE SPENT OVER $3,000 FIXING EVERYTHING. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX YET ANOTHER PROBLEM. THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE FACING THESE PROBLEMS AT SUCH AN EARLY STAGE. *TR

NOTICED BROWNISH COLOR OF COOLANT ON THE 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, SOME SLUDGE BUILT-UP IN RADIATOR. THIS CAR HAS 59000 MILES ON IT. DEALER REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO BE A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. COST OF REPAIRS TO BE $500 PLUS. IT APPEARED THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT WAS RELATED TO THE TYPE OF COOLANT GM USED.*AK

LOUD CLANKING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN. DEALERSHIP STATED THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN IN THE STEERING SHAFT. HOWEVER, GM HAS NOT RECALLED IT. SISTER-IN-LAW PURCHASED AN IMPALA SHORTLY AFTER I DID. SHE HAS SINCE HAD TO PAY $350.+ TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER ONLY WORKED ON FIRST SETTING. MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE DOOR THAT CONTROLS WHERE THE AIR WENT WAS NOT WORKING AND WOULD COST $500 TO $600 FOR REPAIRS. SEEMED TO WORK FINE WITH HEAT, BUT NOT WITH AIR. MECHANIC STATED THE DOOR WAS A SMALL PLASTIC PIECE, BUT HE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD TO GET TO IT. NO DISCERNIBLE REASON FOR THIS MALFUNCTION.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNAL ILLUMINATES SPORADICALLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS A SHORT IN THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHER UNIT AND MENTIONED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT A RECALL DOES NOT EXIST FOR THIS FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

PASS LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. THIS WAS THE 3RD TIME IN FIVE YEARS , THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS. WHILE THIS DID NOT POSE AN IMMEDIATE DANGER IT COULD BECOME A PROBLEM IF SOMEONE NEEDED TO USE THEIR CAR FOR AN EMERGENCY , AND BECAUSE OF THE PASS LOCK FAILURE ENABLED TO RECEIVE THE HELP THEY NEEDED.*AK

WHILE I LOVE MY 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA IT HAS TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS WHICH AFFECT ITS SAFETY. FIRST, I HD REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLY TWICE IN 1.5 YEARS AND THE LINKAGE HAD BEEN RESET TWO SEPARATE TIMES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STAYED IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION, BLOCKING THE VIEW FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS THE REAR BRAKES, WHICH DETERIORATED AND CRUSTED , REQUIRING FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, ETC. THIS COULD CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE IF NO ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE OWNER AND A RESPONSIBLE MECHANIC. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE DATE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERSWAS LISTED BELOW. THE BRAKES WERE FULLY REPLACED IN MARCH 2007.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER DEFECT. STAYS IN UP POSITION WHEN TURNED OFF. I HAVE SEVERAL OTHER IMPALAS SIINCE THIS HAS STARTED ON MY VEHICLE.*AK

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE THAT INVOLVES THE PASSLOCK IGNITION SECURITY SYSTEM FAILURE WITH NO-START. I PURCHASED THE 2002 CHEVY IMPALA FROM A DEALER USED WITH 80,000 MILES ON IT. A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE I STARTED HAVING THE PROBLEM AND THE DEALER KEPT PUTTING IT ON DIAGNOSTICS AND CHARGING ME FOR ITEMS THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I NOW, THROUGH RESEARCH, HAVE DISCOVERED THE GM DIRTY LITTLE SECRET OF THE DEFECTIVE SYSTEM THEY WILL NOT RECALL AND I AM A SINGLE WOMAN IN HER LATE 50'S THAT LIVES ON A FIXED INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET A NEW VEHICLE. I AM GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM DEALERS AND THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME A HONEST SOLUTION THAT WILL NOT REQUIRE ALMOST $1,000 REPLACEMENT ON THE IGNITION AND PASSLOCK SENSOR. I AM VERY ANGRY AND SITTING WITH A VEHICLE THAT I CANNOT GO ANYWHERE WITH THAT I PAID TOO MUCH FOR BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT AND NO ONE WILL HELP. I AM HAVING HEALTH PROBLEMS DUE TO THIS AND I WANT HELP TO MAKE THE MANUFACTURER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM AND RECALL THE DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

AT AROUND 40,000 MILES OUR 2002 IMPALA HAD BROWN STUFF SIMILAR TO PUDDING IN THE RADIATOR. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE THAT GENERAL MOTORS PUTS IN THEIR VEHICLES. AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES THE CAR OVERHEATED. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED NEW HEAD GASKETS AT A COST $1300.00 POSSIBLY HIGHER IF THE HEADS ARE DAMAGED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES YET GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT A DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT. WE HAVE PURCHASED A FORD CAR AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE A GM PRODUCT AGAIN. I HAD BEEN A GM MAN FOR 30 YEARS BUT NOT ANYMORE. *JB

CAR DOES NOT TURN OVER. EVERY SIX MONTHS OR SO THE CAR DOES NOT TURN OVER. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THAT IT WOULD NOT START. AAA WAS CALLED AND STATED IT WAS THE STARTER. NEXT MORNING, CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATES THAT IT IS ELECTRONIC .AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. DIAGNOSTIC CODES P1626, 1064. *AK

I HAVE TWICE HAD TO TAKE MY 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA TO THE SHOP (RESULTING IN LOST TIME FROM WORK AND UNNECESSARY REPAIR BILLS) BECAUSE THE LOW ENGINE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON EVEN THOUGH THE COOLANT LEVEL IS FULL. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS TWICE FOUND OIL IN THE COOLANT, DESPITE HAVING FLUSHED THE COOLING SYSTEM AND INSTALLING A NEW LOW COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR AT A COST OF $165. NOW I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THAT IT WILL COST AROUND $900 TO FIX IT PROPERLY. THIS CAR HAD ONLY 20,580 MILES ON IT WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST ATTENDED TO AND NOW STILL HAS ONLY 21,557 MILES. *JB

TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT WORK ALL THE TIME MAKING FOR DANGEROUS DRIVING. *JB

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK, BUT WHEN YOU CUT THEM OFF THEY STAND STRAIGHT UP INSTEAD OF LAYING DOWN.*AK

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. IF THE DIMMER SWITCH IS PRESSED THE LIGHTS WILL TURN ON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A REPAIR SHOP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000 MILES.

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA'S PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE LINE RUSTED. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY ON 3/15/07 HE NOTICED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY FELT SOFT AND DRIFTED TO THE FLOOR. HE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED THE GARAGE FLOOR AND NOTICED SPOTS OF BRAKE FLUID. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE A DETERIORATING BRAKE FLUID LINE TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO KEEP ALL OF THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,995, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 >AK CONSUMER PROVIDED COPY OF PICTURES AND INVOICE. UPDATE *4/23/07 **TR

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS. HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THEY COME BACK ON WHEN YOU ACTIVATE THE HIGH/LOW BEAM LEVER. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURY HAVE OCCURRED. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS QUOTED $400-$600 TO FIX IT. I HAVE ORDERED A BODY CONTROL MODULE TO TRY TO FIX IT MYSELF. *JB

PASSLOCK FAILURE NO START. HAS HAPPENED TOTAL OF 8 TIMES IN A LITTLE LESS THAN 5 YEARS. FORTUNATELY IT HAS NOT HAPPENED WHEN I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NEEDED THE CAR TO START, ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN INCONVENIENT WITH A SMALL CHILD WITH ME SEVERAL OF THE TIMES. I DREAD THE OCCASION WHEN IT HAPPENS AND I NEED THE CAR TO START BECAUSE OF SOME EMERGENCY. FROM REVIEW OF WEB FORUMS, GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS MUCH MORE EXTENSIVE THAN WOULD BE INDICATED FROM REVIEWING COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2002 CHEVROLET WITH IMPALA 48000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 60 MPH THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CONFIRMED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55000. *AK

STARTED EXPERIENCING ENGINE PULLING/HESITATION, THEN MY ENGINE WOULD IDLE AT 2,000 RPMS AND INCREASE TO 3,000. COME TO FIND THAT THERE IS A HOLE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NOT KNOWING WHY. I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 4 MONTHS AND PUT A LITTLE OVER 7,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

HAD INTAKE GASKET REPLACED IN FEB. OF 2006 FOR COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE OIL, BECAUSE OF SAID GASKET FAILING (77,000 APPROX. MI.) NOTICED COOLANT LEVEL DROPPING AGAIN IN JAN. 2007 (85,000 MI.) FOUND WHITE/BROWN SLUDGE IN OIL AGAIN!APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM IS BACK AND I AM TOLD IT WILL KEEP COMING BACK UNTIL GM CORP. COMES UP WITH A PERMANENT FIX. WHY ARE THEY NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THIS? I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP ON FIXING THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS NO END IN SIGHT. I LIKE MY CAR BUT IF GM WON'T ADDRESS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAWS I'LL HAVE TO BUY FROM SOMEBODY ELSE. *JB

DEAR GM CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO MR. DOUGLASS J HERBERGER, VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF SERVICE AND PARTS OPERATION. DEAR MR. HERBERGER, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE CODES FOR THE PASS LOCK THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM ON MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA LS AND THE DEALERS AROUND MEMPHIS, TN REFUSE TO GIVE IT TO ME. THEY ALSO REFUSE TO REPROGRAM IT FOR FREE. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY A DEALER TO UNLOCK THAT SYSTEM. I'M PAYING FOR AND OWN MY CAR, NOT THE DEALER. IN ADDITION, I WENT IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF CHUCK HUTTON CHEVROLET TO AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $47.00 FOR THEM TO ENTER AND REPROGRAM THE THEFT LOCK SYSTEM, THAT THEY CANNOT DO IT BY HAND. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER $47.00 EVERYTIME I CHANGE OUT MY BATTERY - TO REPROGRAM MY THEFT LOCK SYSTEM? I THOUGHT THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR TO BECOME THE OWNER OF IT. I PAY TAXES ON IT, I PAY MY INSURANCE AND MAINTENANCE FEES. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY A DEALER TO CODES THAT I SHOULD HAVE FREE ACCESS TO. WHY WAS MY CAR DESIGNED TO LOCK ME (THE OWNER) OUT WITHOUT FREE GENERAL ACCESS TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE? I HAVE EXHAUSTED MY ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER OUT OF COURT, HOWEVER, UNLESS THIS MATTER GETS FIXED AT NO EXPENSE TO ME, I WILL TAKE IT TO THE LAWFUL LIMIT. I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU MR. HERBERGER, NOT THESE NO THINKING THAT UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OWNER AND DEALER. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN CLOSING THE HOOD IT PRESSED THE RUBBER ABOVE THE HEADLIGHTS INTO THE TOP OF THE HEADLIGHTS, AND CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE HEADLIGHTS. THERE WAS ALWAYS WATER IN THE HEADLIGHTS WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE DIM AND NOT TO PERFORM AT HIGHEST POTENTIAL. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT WAS COMING OFF OF THE TURN SIGNAL DUE TO THE WATER. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BECOMING DIMMER AND DIMMER. *AK UPDATE 4/9 *TR

MY CHEVY'S PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM IS STUCK ON AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I MUST TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. *JB

HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS VERY MOMENTARY (JUST A FEW SECONDS AND THEY AGAIN CAME ON AND FUNCTIONED OK). NONE-THE-LESS IT CAUSED A RAPID APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. SECOND TIME, APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS OR SO LATER, SAME HAPPENING AND RAPID STOP CAUSED AND PULLED OFF TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY. AGAIN THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO A MINUTE OF TIME PASSED. THIRD TIME, APPROXIMATELY 2 DAYS LATER, SAME HAPPENING ONLY LIGHTS REMAINED OUT. WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE DIMMER SWITCH AND THE COST TO REPAIR WAS $345. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 55 MPH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE WERE TURNING ON AND OFF. BOTH THE WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS WERE GOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE TOOK FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON BOTH THE DRIVER 'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE HORN STARTED SOUNDING. THE HORN HAD TO BE DISENGAGED MANUALLY. THEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD NOT COVER THE EXPENSE OF THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE CONTACT DIDN'T STRIKE ANYTHING. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE REPAIR WILL COST $3,000. *AK UPDATED 02/27/07. *JB

DASH INDICATOR FOR AIRBAG STAYS ON. DEALER SAYS COMPUTER MODULE CONTROLLING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT DEFECTIVE AND WILL NOT RESPOND TO DIAGNOSTICS. DEALER SAYS THAT CONTROL UNIT MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $557 PARTS AND LABOR. GM WILL ONLY PAY FOR PART, LEAVING CONSUMER WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR $225. *JB

IN JANUARY 2006 MY 2002 IMPALA LOSS POWER. I WAS GOING UP A VERY SMALL HILL AND I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT UP. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL MOM AND POP'S GARAGE AND THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER. IT SHOWED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD EVENTHOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. I HAD THEM REPLACE NOT KNOWING THAT THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR EMISSIONS AND THEY DIDN'T USE A GM PART. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID COME ON. AGAIN IT SHOWED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AS THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID HE HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH PUTTING A NON-DEALER PART ON A CAR BEFORE BUT DID REPLACE THE CONVERTER ONCE AGAIN WITH A NON-GM PART IN CASE THE FIRST ONE HAPPENED TO BE A BAD PART. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHOWS AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION. OF COURSE, THEY WOULDN'T MAKE GOOD ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BY THIS TIME BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT WASN'T THE ORIGINAL GM PART. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $775 JUST FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS AND JUST BROUGHT THE CAR HOME. I'M STILL DRIVING IT BUT IT'S WORSE AND WORSE EVERY DAY. I WOULDN'T TRUST DRIVING THIS CAR VERY FAR. I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER & THE TRANSMISSION THAT YOU WOULD THINK GM WOULD HAVE TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING. AT THIS POINT I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GM VEHICLE AND MY HUSBAND IS DIEHARD GM. I'VE TAKEN VERY

2002 IMPALA WIPERS WILL NOT RETURN TO PARK POSITION WHEN TURNED OFF. NORMAL OPERATION IS OK. WHEN WIPERS ARE TURNED OFF THEY STAY IN THE FULL UPPER MOST POSITION, CAUSING AN OBSTRUCTED VIEW THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *NM

THE FOLLOWING MATTER IS A POTENTIAL DISASTER WAITING TO OCCUR. I HAVE INFORMED GM BY MAIL AND TELEPHONE. I HAVE WENT TO THE CHEVY DEALER ONLY TO COME OUT WITH MY KEY FIVE HAND HELD TRANSMITTER TO STOP WORKING. I HAVE SENT LETTERS TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE CAR. T THE SECURITY SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN THE VEHICLE AT RANDOM TIMES AUTOMATICALLY. CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS: SECURITY LIGHT ON MESSAGE CENTER CONTINUES TO FLASH SECURITY SERVICE VEHICLE SOON, - BATTERY THE SECURITY SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY, CONTINUOUSLY ATTEMPTS TO SHUT DOWN MY CAR THIS SECURITY SYSTEM ALSO UNLOCKS MY TRUNK THE HANDHELD TRANSMITTER DOES NOT WORK AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY AFTER THE CHEVY DEALER CHECKED THE PROBLEM I HAVE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS MANUALLY THE LIGHTS FLASH AND THE MESSAGE ON THE RADIO PANEL SAYS LOCKED I CANNOT USE MY CAR, IT WILL NOT START - ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON - ALL LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING , THIS FAULTY "PASS LOCK THEFT DETERRENT" SYSTEM, AUTOMATICALLY COMES ON AND SHUTS MY CAR DOWN WHEN I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF. IT WILL NOT TURN ON AGAIN, ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAD THE CAR INSPECTED TODAY AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THE RESULTS WAS," REPLACE THE CONTROL MODULE AT $325.00, FIRST, THEN I CAN PROGRAM THE KEY FIVE TRANSMITTER." REPLACED TRANSMITTER BATTERY AND CAR BATTERY I CONCLUDE THAT GM HAS THE MONOPOLY ON VEHICLE PARTS AND SERVICE ALL IN THE NAME OF TECHNOLOGY AND COST THE CONSUMER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REPAIRS ON TOP OF THE COST FOR THE V

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN HIGH BEAMS TURNED ON! *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CAB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL LINE AND THE CONNECTOR FROM THE GAS TANK WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL HOSE AT THE RAIL WOULD NOT SEAL AT THE FITTING FORM WHICH CAUSED RAW FUEL TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB