2002 Chevrolet Impala complaints

COOLING SYSTEM LEAK LOW COOLANT WARNING--INTAKE GASKET REPLACED AT 25,461 MILES (AUGUST 2002) LOW COOLANT WARNING--WATER PUMP AND INTAKE GASKET REPLACED AT 60,045 MILES AGAIN. *JB

AT 89,000 MILES I NOTICED THAT MY ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT WAS ON. I FILLED THE COOLANT. THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AND I FILLED IT A FEW MORE TIMES, BUT COULD NOT PINPOINT THE LEAK. THEN ONE NIGHT THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE NOISES AND I PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO CHECK THE COOLANT. I FILLED IT AND WAITED UNTIL THE CAR COOLED. I STARTED THE ENGINE AND DROVE ABOUT A QUARTER MILE AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. WHEN I TOWED IT TO A GARAGE I LEARNED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING WATER INTO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED I PAID THE GARAGE TO PUT IN A USED MOTOR. IT COST ME OVER $1300. I NEVER THOUGHT TO CONTACT CHEVY SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NOW, BECAUSE OF MY INTERNET RESEARCH, I KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME I ALSO BOUGHT A SECOND CHEVY IN 2002. WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT - MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS AT 62,000 MILES. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET BY WITH REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET. THE SAME GARAGE GAVE ME A PRICE BREAK AND FIXED IT FOR $252.00. BOO TO CHEVY. *NM

2002 CHEVY IMPALA HEADLIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. TAIL LIGHTS ARE OK. MANUAL SWITCH DOES NOTHING. BOTH TIMES THE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK, A COUPLE DAYS LATER EVERYTHING WAS OK. *NM

HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. FLICKING THE HIGH-BEAM SWITCH RESTORED THE LIGHTS. I JUST LOOKED IN THE ODI DATABASE & DISCOVERED A CLOSED INVESTIGATION (PE06017). IT WAS PITCH DARK & RAINING OUTSIDE, LUCKILY I WAS IN A RURAL AREA & NO OTHER CARS AROUND. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I'M GLAD TO KNOW YOU CAN RESTORE LIGHTS BY MANIPULATING THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH BUT WHAT IF THE DRIVER DOESN'T KNOW TO DO THIS! A RECALL IS REALLY IN ORDER, IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN TO ALERT PEOPLE TO THE POTENTIAL RISK SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO IF IT HAPPENS. *NM

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA. WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, THERE ARE CLUNKING NOISES COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SHARPER THE TURN, THE WORSE THE PROBLEM IS. I ALSO HEAR AN INTERMITTENT WHIRRING NOISE WHEN I MAKE TURNS (THE SOUND IS LIKE WHEN YOU WEAR A NYLON COAT, AND YOUR SLEEVES RUB AGAINST THE BODY OF THE COAT). IT IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM, AND I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THAT I WILL LOOSING STEERING CONTROL. I MADE THE MISTAKE OF LOOKING AT THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE, AND I HAVE FOUND 17 OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT ISSUE WITH 2002 CHEVY IMPALA VEHICLES. NOW I AM REALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I AM PLANNING ON GETTING THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY CAN RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT, OF COURSE, SINCE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. BUT I FEEL THAT MY LIFE IS WORTH THE MONEY. HOWEVER, DON'T YOU THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE BY NOW? HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DO YOU NEED BEFORE YOU REALIZE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED? I HOPE THAT SOMEONE DOESN'T NEED TO BE INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE ANY ACTION IS TAKEN. I HOPE THAT MY ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT WILL HELP OTHER IMPALA OWNERS GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED THROUGH A RECALL NOTICE. I'M SURE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE NUMEROUS MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE (AND OTHERS) IF MORE PEOPLE REALIZED THAT THIS COMPLAINT PROCEDURE WAS AVAILABLE. MAYBE THE ROADS WOULD BE SAFER. PLEASE TRY TO HAVE THIS ISS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, A CLANKING NOISE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED A LACK OF LUBRICATION, HOWEVER THE NOISE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE LOW STEERING SHAFT, BUSHES AND LINKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE NOISE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY CREATED BY THE NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED.

IT HAS BECOME DIFFICULT, AND IT TAKES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO SWITCH FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM. THERE IS NO PROBLEM GOING FROM HIGH TO LOW. *NM

STEERING COLUMN SHAFT RATTLES. PROBLEMS WITH THIS SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING. NOW AFTER 100,000+ MILES, THEY HAVE SAID THIS IS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND THAT OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THIS HAVE BEEN REPORTED. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. *NM

DRIVING WHEN ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THEN THE BATTERY LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A SHORT PERIOD. IT DID NOT EFFECT THE CAR PERFORMANCE BUT IT DID RESET THE CLOCK ON THE RADIO AS IF THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED. ANOTHER TIME THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS BRAKE LIGHTS FLASHED AND THE RADIO PULSED. THE SECURITY LIGHT REMAINED ON AS I WAS MOVING FORWARD OUT OF A DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE STALLED BUT IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED AND ALL THE LIGHTS CLEARED. *NM

PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA USED AT A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER. THE COOLANT LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A MONTH, BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS, THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET AND THE COST IS ($1000). HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THAT THE GASKET IS NOW PLASTIC, WHEREAS PREVIOUSLY WAS MADE OF METAL. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS ALSO PLASTIC AND INDICATED THAT THIS WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE REPLACED IN THE FUTURE. THERE IS NO BETTER PROOF OF PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE. AS I AM DOING MY RESEARCH, I FIND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON. THE SERVICE MANAGER EVEN SAID THEY HE IS SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. THX, GEK. *NM

MOISTURE IN DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT. IT NEVER DRIES OUT. MAKES DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THAT SIDE HARD TO SEE. TALKED TO DEALER, WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. COULD NOT AFFORD $450.00 TO REPAIR. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HITTING A BUMP, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OIL IN THE GEAR BOX. THE PROBLEM RETURNED TWO YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

I HAVE A 2002 IMPALA. I EXPERIENCED A COOLANT LEAK FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS CAN RESULT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ENGINE SEIZURE, BLOWING A ROD, ETC. I BELIEVE THIS IS REFERRED TO IN SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 070803 AND NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10003814 PER RECORDS FOUND ON THIS SITE. AFTER CALLING CHEVROLET'S 800 NUMBER, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FOR MY VIN, BUT THEY ONLY OFFERED IT FOR 2 YEARS, FROM 07/03 - 07/05. SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED, I WAS NOT SENT A RECALL NOTICE AND NOW IT APPEARS I HAVE TO PAY THE RATHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILL.

A STATE INSPECTION @30,000 MILES REVEALED A BAD UPPER CONTROL ARM, LEFT AND RIGHT INNER TIE ROD ENDS AND BOTH MOTOR MOUNTS. MY MECHANIC FEELS AS THOUGH THESE PART FAILURES ARE VERY PREMATURE AND WERE CAUSED BY A VERY LOOSE STEERING RACK . HE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD CONTACT SOMEONE TO SEE IF THERE IS A REPAIR BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK A CAR SHOULD NEED THAT KIND OF FRONT END WORK A 30,000 MILES . I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT MY WIFE ,WHO DRIVES THE CAR ON A DAILY BASIS, IS AT RISK WHILE DRIVING HERSELF AND OUR 2 KIDS TO AND FROM THEIR DAILY ROUTINES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!! THANK YOU!! *NM

DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. MOISTURE CONDENSES ON FRONT OF ASSEMBLY OBSCURING LIGHT SOMEWHAT. *JB

2002 IMPALA LS WITH SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE FIRST PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE TURN SIGNALS GOING OUT. THEN THE RADIO WOULD NOT GO OFF EVEN WHEN THE KEYS WERE OUT AND DOORS LOCKED, AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK NO LONGER WORKS. WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR, I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN WAIT FOR IT TO FINALLY START. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER. THE HEADLIGHTS DON'T ALWAYS WORK - I TRY NOT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY'LL GO OUT. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WORKS ABOUT HALF THE TIME, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE OR HOW FAST I AM GOING. THE MESSAGE DISPLAY GOES BETWEEN "SECURITY", "HIGH BEAM OUT", "SERVICE ENGINE SOON", WHEN IT'S WORKING. THERE SEEMS TO BE A NEW ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT GOES OUT EACH DAY. *JB

WHILE ENGAGING IN A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN, A KNOCKING NOISE IS DETECTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL BOX. *JB

COMPLETE HEADLIGHT FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. COULD NOT GET HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. *NM

FRONT HEADLIGHT SEALED UNITS LEAK AND ALLOW MOISTURE TO COLLECT INSIDE WHICH REDUCES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LIGHT EMANATING FROM THE LAMPS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE FROM LOW TO HIGH BEAMS, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF, INTERMITTENTLY. THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON AFTER CHANGING FROM HIGH TO LOW A FEW TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DIMMER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - *NM

CAR WOULD NOT START. THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY OR POSSIBLY THE ALTERNATOR, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FAILED BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM). OUR CAR HAD ONLY 46,000 MILES WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE SHOULD BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL ON THE BCM GIVEN THE NUMEROUS BULLETINS AND COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE BCM BEFORE SOMEONE'S LOSES HIS OR HER LIFE AS A DIRECT OR INDIRECT RESULT OF ITS FAILURE. *JB

BRAKES. *NM

SEVERAL ELECTRICAL / SECURITY PROBLEMS - LIGHTS GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALSO AT TIMES WHEN APPROACHING CAR, IT WON'T START DUE TO SECURITY SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN STARTER CIRCUIT. ALTHOUGH THESE THINGS CORRECT THE PROBLEM AFTER WAITING, THE DEALER DOESN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT I PAY FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT MIGHT FIX THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE. *JB

PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA USED AT A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, IN LESS THAN 8 MONTHS I HAVE COME ACROSS TWO PROBLEMS. ONE, THE TURN SIGNAL STARTS ACTING UP AND AFFECTS THE SYSTEM AND THEY TELL ME IT IS THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ($400.00) AND THE SECOND, I NOTICED I HAD TO CONSTANTLY ADD COOLANT/WATER TO THE RADIATOR BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS, THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET AND THE COST IS ($1000). AS I AM DOING MY RESEARCH TO FIND A MORE REASONABLE COST TO WHICH I CAN ACCOMMODATE, I FIND THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE TOO COMMON IN THE VERSION OF THE MOTORS/STYLE OF VEHICLES. SO FAR, THAT EVEN TWO OF THE SHOPS I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR AN ESTIMATE HAVE SAID THEY ARE SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL, ESPECIALLY IN THE LOWER INTAKE PROBLEM. WHERE CAN I TURN TO, TO TRY TO GET HELP AND MAKE SURE THESE MANUFACTURERS TAKE CARE OF THESE ISSUES THAT ARE VERY COSTLY AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IN LESS THAN 3 TO 4 YEARS, THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY FOR THEM. THANK YOU!! *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE ROTORS PULSATED AT 11,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REFACED THE ROTORS AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED AT 33,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO INSTALL NEW ROTORS BUT REFACED THE ROTORS A SECOND TIME. THE ROTORS BEGAN PULSATING A THIRD TIME. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE 2005 MODEL OF THE SAME VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED SIMILAR BRAKE PROBLEMS.

TURN SIGNALS WON'T WORK UNLESS YOU MESS WITH THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH. *JB

THE HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2002 IMPALA WILL GO OUT ON THEIR OWN. YOU CAN GET THEM BACK ON BY QUICKLY OPERATING THE HIGH/LOW BEAM ARM. WHEN OPERATING AT NIGHT YOU DON'T DARE TRY TO SWITCH TO HIGH BEAM OR THE LIGHTS SHUT OFF. THIS IS A VERY,VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION NOT ONLY FOR IMPALA OWNERS BUT ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THE REPAIR WILL LIKELY BE EXTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAG .WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL?ALSO THE TURNING SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ALL THE TIME. TO GET THIS WORKING ONCE IT HAS STOPPED YOU MUST TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT CONTINUALLY UNTIL IT WORKS AGAIN. *JB

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR. FORD RANGER IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO AVOID HEAD ON COLLISION. I HAD PLENTY OF TIME FOR CAR TO STOP BUT ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP AND I REAR ENDED THE TRUCK. THEN AFTER HITTING THE TRUCK HARD ENOUGH TO HAVE CAR TOWED THE BATTERY BURST AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *JB

WHEN GETTING INTO MY CAR I GO TO START MY CAR AND NOTHING HAPPENS. I HAVE TO WAIT FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START. THE SECURITY LIGHTS COMES ON WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THE CAR WILL NOT START AND THE SECURITY LIGHT IS ON. IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THIS. SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT 30 MINUTES BEFORE THEIR CAR WILL START. THIS COULD PUT A WOMAN IN A SERIOUS SITUATION. WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND I HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP. *JB

DEFECTIVE EXTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH) ON 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THIS LIGHT SWITCH BECOMES DEFECTIVE WITHOUT WARNING AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. CURRENT MODELS COME EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS WHICH COME ON AT DUSK (OR IN DARKENED CONDITIONS) HOWEVER THIS DEFECT DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY WARNING THAT THIS AUTOMATIC FUNCTION HAS FAILED AND THE MANUAL LIGHT SWITCH IS ALSO DISABLED BY THE SAME DEFECT. *JB

(1) AT FIRST, THE TURN SIGNAL DID NOT WORK SOMETIMES. AND IT WOULD BE OKAY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED. BUT AFTER THAT, THE PROBLEM WAS MORE SERIOUS. 2)TURN SIGNAL FAILURE WHEN DRIVING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT I CAN NOT WARN OTHER DRIVERS THAT I WILL BE TURNING WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. (3) NOT YET DONE. THE REPLACEMENT OF HAZARD SWITCH SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. *JB

DT:CALLER STATES THAT HIS SPOUSE WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH WHILE CROSSING INTERSECTION A CAR CAME AN HIT THE VEHICLE THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR.VEHICLES AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CAR HEAD ON. NEITHER THE SIDE AIRBAGS AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.INSURANCE DETERMINED THAT THE CAR WAS TOTALED NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.NO LOSE OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE WARNING LIGHT DID NOT SIGNAL DURING OR AFTER ACCIDENT. NO INJURIES.DID NOT CONTACT MANUFACTURER.NO PRE-IMPACT BRAKING OCCURRED. DRIVER WAS WEARING THEIR SEATBELT.NO PICTURES WERE TAKEN MY OCCUPANT POSSIBLE PICTURES TAKEN BY INSURANCE COMPANY.

MY 2002 IMPALA HAS JUST 70K MILES. THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND OVER HEATED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT IS A INTAKE GASKET THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNUSUAL WITH THE DEXTRON COOLANT THAT GM USES. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM FROM MANY MECHANICS AND IT SEEMS THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO FIX THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. MY FAILURE HAPPENED WHEN MY FAMILY WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF NO COOLANT IN THE ENGINE. *JB

IS THERE A WAY TO LOOK INTO THE CHEVROLET IMPALA 2002, 2001, AND 2000 MODELS FOR FAILURE OF THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THE LIGHT COMES ON AT TIMES AND WHEN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE YOU ARE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM CAN'T BE FOUND. AFTER THE LIGHT COMES ON, YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN OR IF THE CAR WILL START AND YOU HAVE IT TOWED AND NO PROBLEMS ARE FOUND. I THINK THIS CAN LEAD TO SOME TYPE OF SAFETY PROBLEM IF YOU NEED TO MOVE YOUR CAR IN A HURRY AND IT DON'T START. I'VE TALKED WITH MANY OWNERS OF THE TYPE OF CARS AND THEY ALL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *NM

1-28-06, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA WENT OUT. WE FLASHED THE DIMMER/BRIGHT SWITCH AND THEY CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES OVER THE NEXT 3 MONTHS. WE THOUGHT WE HAD A WIRING PROBLEM. THEN IN LATE APRIL, MY CAR JUST QUITE RUNNING, WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IT STARTED BACK UP, BUT IT THEN WAS OUR CUE TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY TO WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK A SECOND TIME BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WASN'T FIXED, THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. AT THIS POINT, MAY, 2006, SINCE IT IS DAYLIGHT FOR MORE HOURS OF THE DAY, WE DON'T DRIVE A LOT AT NIGHT SO I HAVEN'T NOTICED IT HAPPENING AGAIN. ON 5-30-06 I HEARD ON A NEWS REPORT THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED 15 COMPLAINTS OF HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT ON CHEVY IMPALAS, I WANTED TO ADD ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO THAT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 6/16/2006 - WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE USED THE DASH LIGHTS WENT DARK. *NM

ENGINE COOLANT LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, OR AT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD TO LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A LOW ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL OR COOLANT POOLING ON MANIFOLD. SAME PROBLEM AS NOTED IN TSB#03034(NHTSA ID#10003430, JULY 01, 2003) THIS PROBLEM IS PRESENT IN MY IMPALA THAT HAS BEEN WELL SERVICED EVERY 5K MILES AND SUDDENLY PRESENTED AT 96K MILES. *JB

HEAD LIGHT POPPED OUT OF PLACE AS I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD ONE EVENING. ONE WORKED BUT ONE DID NOT. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION IN MY HOMETOWN. THE OWNER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID HE COULD SEE WHY IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE THE SEAL LOOKED AS IF IT HAD BEEN BROKEN FROM AROUND THE LIGHT. HE SAID THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE CAUSED FROM THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT A PROPER SEAL AND SEEMED TO SHRINK BECAUSE OF EXPOSURE TO THE SUN. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT HAD NOT BEEN RECALLED. I CHOSE TO GET IT FIXED TO KEEP FROM GETTING A TICKET FOR A DAMAGED HEADLIGHT. *JB

ONLY 78000 MILES ON MY 2002 IMPALA WHEN THE COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON. NEARLY $1000.00 LATER THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW WATER PUMP, INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, BELT, RADIATOR CAP, THERMOSTAT AND OF COURSE AN OIL CHANGE. ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THE COOLANT GM REQUIRES IS CORROSIVE AND CAUSES THE ABOVE ITEMS TO DETERIORATE. HOW LONG WILL THE REPLACEMENTS LAST? NOT SURE I WANT TO FIND OUT. *NM

I OWN A CHEVROLET, IMPALA - 2002. IN THE BEGINNING OF APRIL I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT INTO A BUSY FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY AS I HIT THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE THE CAR FELT SLUGGISH AS THOUGH IT WERE NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS OR NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THAT EVENING I STOOPED TO FILL UP THE GAS TANK AND UPON LEAVING I WAS CLIMBING A HILL AND THE CAR ACTED UP AGAIN AND MADE A DIFFERENT SOUND AND AGAIN ACTED AS THOUGH IT WERE NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR OR NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL AND THE SECURITY LIGHT (NOT SERVICE ENGINE) CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I IMMEDIATELY PHONED MY HUSBAND AND HE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (JOHN SERRETTI). WE HAVE MAINTAINED THIS VEHICLE FAITHFULLY SINCE WE PURCHASED IT OIL CHANGES, TIRES ROTATED ETC. ALL PERFORMED AT JOHN SERETTI'S EVERY 3/4 MONTHS. AFTER REVIEWING ALL PAPERWORK RECEIVED AT HOME FOR THE IMPALA MY HUSBAND CAME ACROSS A LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS MAILED IN OCTOBER 2005 STATING THAT SOME VEHICLES WERE EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IF WE DID INDEED HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS TO TAKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT, BUT IF NOT, NOTHING NEEDED TO BE DONE AND THIS LETTER WAS NOT A RECALL. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ($90) AND FOUND THAT INDEED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTED WAS CLOGGED AND SUPPOSEDLY CAUSED THE SPARK PLUGS WIRE TO ARC AND MELT WHICH ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE (ALMOST $600). MY HUSBAND HAS TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS IN REFERENCE TO THIS AND T

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE PULSATES UNTIL STOPPED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PADS AND ROTORS TWICE BUT THIS HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MATERIAL PADDING HOOKS WERE BROKEN OFF OF THE SIDE OF THE SEAT AND PLACED IN THE MOUTH BY THE TODDLER. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RISK OF CHOKING, THE CHILD DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE SEAT WAS INSPECTED BY A CHILD SAFETY SEAT TECHNICIAN WHO SUGGESTED DISCARDING THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL GAUGE READS FULL UNTIL THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GASOLINE. THE CONTACT VERBALLY SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHICH STATED, THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.

LOW ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT WENT ON. HAD IT CHECKED OUT. LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THAT OIL WAS GETTING INTO THE RADIATOR, POSSIBLE INTAKE MANIFOLD OR HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. WENT TO CHEVY DEALER EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND HE STATED IT WAS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 IMPALA. HE DIAGNOSTIC THE PROBLEM AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, COST TO REPAIR $1000. I PHONE ANOTHER CHEVY DEALER COST $800, LOCAL MECHANIC $600. COST OF THE PARTS AT AUTOZONE LESS THAN $75 AMOUNT OF LABOR TIME SHOULD BE 3-5 HOURS. CHEVY DEALERS 8 + HOURS. ALL THIS BECAUSE GM USES BAD ANTIFREEZE. GM CAUSED THE PROBLEM THEY NEED TO STEP UP AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO IMPALA OWNERS. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS WILL BE MY LAST GM PRODUCT. *JB

WATER LEAKING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH ROOF THROUGH TRIP COMPUTER. LEFT REAR DRAIN HOSE PINCHED CLOSED DURING ASSEMBLY. YEARS OF DIRT ACCUMULATION CLOGGED THE RESTRICTED HOSE CAUSING WATER OVERFLOW TO ENTER VEHICLE CABIN DURING HEAVY RAIN STORMS. *JB

NOTICEABLE LOOSENESS AND "CLUNK" IN STEERING WHEN TURNING AND/OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR AT LOW SPEED. CAR HAD NEARLY 50,000 MILES. HOW MUCH LONGER BEFORE A LOSS OF STEERING COULD OCCUR? *NM

HEATED SEAT BURNED A SMALL HOLE IN SEAT AND BURNED THE BACK OF MY LEG A LITTLE. I HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTURE AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TRIED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURE AND HAS LEFT VOICE MAIL AND HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURE. THE SEAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED. *NM

CLUNCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. *NM

2002 IMPALA BREAKING SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION ARE DEFECTIVE. THE BRAKING CALIPERS ON THE BACK DISC ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HOLDS LESS THAN ONE INCH OF THE DISC. *TS THE OTHER THREE CALIPERS GO ALL THE WAY NORMALLY. THIS HAS RESULTED IN LESS BRAKING CAPACITY ON ONE SIDE. THE TRANSMISSION ROLLS WHEN ON A HILL. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. *NM

2002 IMPALA BRAKING CALIPERS ON THE BACK DISC ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HOLDS LESS THAN ONE INCH OF THE DISC. TRANSMISSION ROLLS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SLOPE OF THE ROAD. *TS THE CALIPERS ON THE REAR DISC ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HOLDS LESS THAN ONE INCH OF THE DISC. THE OTHER THREE CALIPERS GO ALL THE WAY NORMALLY. THIS HAS RESULTED IN LESS BRAKING CAPACITY ONE ONE SIDE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *NM