2002 Chevrolet Impala complaints

MY VEHICLE HAS 62,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS ALREADY HAD BRAKES REPLACED AND A FUEL PUMP WHICH COSTED $789 DOLLARS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP; THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NOR HAS THE MANUFACTURER BEEN ALERTED.

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AROUND 7:30 PM ON TUESDAY ON JANUARY 24, 2006, DARK OUTSIDE. I HAD MY LIGHTS ON BRIGHT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WERE NO LIGHTS. I DID HAVE FOG LIGHTS ON AND I COULD STILL SEE THEM, BUT THERE WEREN'T ANY HEADLIGHTS. I QUICK FLICKED THE DIMMER SWITCH AND THEY CAME BACK ON. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT BEFORE. HOWEVER, WHEN I TALKED TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY HE SAID SOMEONE THE WEEK BEFORE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING TWICE IN ONE DRIVE. THE PIECE TO REPLACE THIS IS QUITE EXPENSIVE. I HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED YET, BUT I FELT IT SHOULD BE REPORTED. THIS HAPPENED ONCE. ANOTHER ITEM OF CONCERN IS THAT MY SECURITY LIGHT INSIDE MY CAR HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE MY CAR WON'T START ON THE FIRST TURN. ONLY ONCE DID I HAVE TO HAVE IT JUMPED. THERE IS PLENTY OF POWER AS THE LIGHTS AND RADIO STILL WORK. MY MECHANIC HAS TRIED REPLACING AN IGNITION SWITCH (I THINK), BUT THE FIRST TIME I STARTED IT DIDN'T TURN OVER AND THEN IT DID, BUT THE SECURITY LIGHT WAS STILL ON. IT'S BACK IN THE SHOP TODAY. THE OTHER PERSON MENTIONED ABOVE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS SAME DEFECT. THEY ALSO OWN AN IMPALA. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON MY CAR. MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES KEEP FAILING IN THE WINTER MONTHS. DEALER KEEPS SAYING NEED TO CLEAN BETTER, BUT THAT HAS NOT WORKED, AND THEY HAVE FAILED WHILE IN USE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN MY MIND. KEEP PUTTING NEW PARTS INTO THE WIPER TRAIN. AT MY EXPENCE AND IT STILL IS A PROBLEM EVERY WINTER.*AK

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA, AND THE CAR HAS 89000 MILES ON IT. THE GAS LINE THAT GOES TO THE ENGINE HAS A HOLE IN IT AND GAS IS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. THE LEAK IS FROM A STEEL LINE THAT WAS RUBBED THROUGH BY THE HOLDER. *NM

ON 01/09/06 WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA AT DARK WITH THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ON, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD VERY CAREFULLY. AS I COULD NOT SEE AT ALL. I THEN HIT THE DIMMER, HIGH BEAM SWITCH A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I REPORTED IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP (MARQUARDT) WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW. THEY STATED THEY HAD ONE OTHER INCIDENT OF THE SAME NATURE. THEY HAD ME BRING THE CAR IN AND THEY REPLACED A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THEY STATED THEY WERE NOT SURE IF THIS WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM OR NOT BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY HAD DID IN THE OTHER CAR THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS STILL UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY STILL MADE ME PAY $50.00 DEDUCTIBLE ON IT. I FELT THAT WAS VERY UNFAIR, SINCE THIS WAS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO ISSUE A COMPLAINT WITH GM ABOUT IT. *JB

I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR-END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY (EXPECTED) AND THE SHOULDER RESTRAINT DID NOT PREVENT MY HEAD AND BODY FROM GOING FORWARD AND STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL (UNEXPECTED.) I RECEIVED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF MY FOREHEAD STRIKING (I ASSUME) THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM

MIS-DIAGNOSIS AND WILLFUL NEGLIGENCE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS OF ENGINE KNOCKING AND LOSS OF POWER UPON ACCELERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED A CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER, HOWEVER, THE SYMPTOMS RETURNED WITHIN 15 DAYS. NOW THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE ENGINE IS DAMAGED AND MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,000. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY PURCHASED 6 WEEKS AGO AT A COST OF $12,000. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS MADE UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, NOW THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND WARRANTY. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE. WHEN HE PRESSED THE HIGH BEAM/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER. *AK

2002 IMPALA BRAKES PULSATE WHILE ON A HILL. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND RUSTY. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON THERE WAS A LOSS OF LIGHTING. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE. MANEUVERING THE HIGH BEAM/LOW BEAM SWITCH QUICKLY ACTIVATED THE HEADLIGHTS. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS FAULTY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO EXCESSIVE COST. *AK UPDATED 01/19/06. *JB

BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) FAILED AFTER 57,000 MILES. THE OTHER COMPUTER THAT RESIDES IN THE SAME HOUSING IS COVERED BY A 80,000 MILE WARRANTY, WHERE AS THE BCM IS NOT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS TSB'S THAT ARE POSTED CONCERNING FAILURE OF THE BCM. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND MANY SOURCES ARE AVAILABLE BY RESEARCHING THE INTERNET. THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP EVEN SAID THAT "IMPALAS ARE NOTORIOUS" FOR PROBLEM WITH THE BCM. GENERAL MOTORS SAYS THAT IT IS NOT COVERED AND THEREFORE WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT COSTS OF THE BCM. IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR MODEL (2002 IMPALA LS) THEN WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE BY THEM. I AM THANKFUL THAT MY CAR DID NOT SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY AND DID SO IN MY PARKING LOT. *NM

1. LOW COOLANT LIGHT WAS CONTINUALLY ON, AND IT DID REQUIRE COOLANT AT THE TIME, BUT THERE WAS NO INDICATION WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE COOLANT - AFTER 2 WEEKS OF SMELLING ANTIFREEZE WITHIN THE VEHICLE, IT WAS THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING AROUND THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEAR THE BOLTS AND THEN THIS LED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE GASKET ITSELF..IT TOOK 8.5 HOURS OF LABOR AND THE COST OF THE NEW GASKET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. 2. THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE AT SLOW SPEEDS...APPARENTLY IT IS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE CHEVROLET DEALER BUT WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM FOR US...THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND THAT THEY HAVE TRIED TO GET CHEVROLET TO RECALL THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE COMPLAINTS FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS. BOTH PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE LISTED ARE A CONTINUAL PROBLEM FOR MANY IMPALA OWNERS AND I FEEL AS THOUGH SINCE THEY HAVE ISSUED NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS TO THEIR DEALERS ABOUT BOTH OF MY COMPLAINTS, THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS BUT STILL REFUSE TO CORRECT THEM FOR THE CONSUMER. AS A CONSUMER I FEEL AS THOUGH GM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND MADE TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS FOR ALL OF US 2002 IMPALA OWNERS. *NM

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, 72K MILES, POOR ACCELERATION, OVER-HEATING OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER. FIRE IS POSSIBLE. NO ANNOUNCED RECALL, HOWEVER A SERVICE RECALL WAS ISSUED AND WARRANTY EXTENDED DUE TO FAULTY CONVERTER. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ANNOUNCE RECALL, UNLESS A PROBLEM OCCURS. *NM

THE AC DELCO BATTERY POST CAME OFF OF THE BATTERY. THE CLAMP AND CABLE WERE TIGHT, THE POST WAS EATEN IN TWO FROM THE INSIDE. *NM

I PURCHASED MY '02 IMPALA THROUGH THE CORPORATE LEASING COMPANY OF MY FATHER'S EMPLOYER. HE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR OTHER THAN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TURNING BLACK BY 85,000 MILES. WHEN I GOT THE CAR IN JUNE OF '05, IT WAS AT 121,000 MILES, I DROVE THE CAR AROUND ALL DAY, PARKED THE CAR FOR 5 MINUTES, AND WHEN I WENT TO START IT, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE DASH LIT UP, THE RADIO CAME ON, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T TURN OVER, NOT EVEN A CLICKING SOUND, INDICATIVE OF A DEAD BATTERY. I WAITED 10 MINUTES, TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I WENT FOR ANOTHER MONTH WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, HOWEVER IN LATE JULY, THE CAR FAILED TO START. AGAIN I WAITED 10-15 MINUTES, AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. THIS CONTINUED SPORADICALLY UNTIL OCTOBER 20, WHEN IT TOOK 30 MINUTES OF WAITING TO GET IT TO CRANK. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL GM DEALER, WHO PUT IT ON THE MACHINE AND ADVISED ME THAT THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) HAD FAILED AND WAS SENDING A SIGNAL TO THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM TELLING IT THAT MY KEYS WERE INCORRECT. THE SERVICE WRITER INFORMED ME THAT A NEW BCM INSTALLED WOULD RUN ABOUT $500.00, AND THE SERVICE TECH ADVISED THAT THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON FAILURE IN BOTH THE IMPALA AND THE MALIBU, WHICH GM HAS YET TO RECALL. THE TECHNICIAN DID SUGGEST THAT A MORE COST EFFECTIVE OPTION EXISTED WITH SEVERAL OF THE AFTER-MARKET SHOPS, IN WHICH A BYPASS-RELAY WAS INSTALLED UNDER THE DASH, TO BLOCK THE ERRONEOUS SIGNALS FROM THE BCM, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE COST FOR THIS BYPASS IS ABOUT

CONSUMER BRAKES BEGAN TO VIBRATE, BRAKES WERE CLEANED AND LATER REPLACED. *TS THE DEALER HAS RESURFACED THE REAR ROTORS, REPLACED THE FRONT DISC PADS, REPLACED BOTH REAR ROTORS TWICE, CLEANED RUST OFF THE REAR ROTORS, CLEANED THE BRAKING SURFACE AND CLEANED THE FRONT ROTOR SURFACES. THE TRUNK HANDLE CAME OFF IN THE TRUNK. *NM

TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION OCCASIONALLY AND THIS PROBLEM WAS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY. NO ACCIDENTS,BUT I HAD TO ROLL DOWN WINDOW TO GIVE TURN INDICATIONS. MY CHEVY DEALER REPLACED A PART OR PARTS AND I SEEM TO BE OK. AT A COST OF OVER 100 DOLLARS. *NM

REPEATED INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF TURN SIGNALS. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO THE FAILURE TO SIGNAL INTENT OF TURN OR LANE CHANGE. THE FAILURE CAN SOMETIMES BE OVER COME BY BRIEFLY ACTIVATING THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH. MY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS FAILURE IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE 03V327000 RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE 2001 MALIBU. WHICH MAKES ME WONDER IF IT IS THE SAME PART. *JB

2002 CHEVY IMPALA LS CAR STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OFTEN AFTER HITTING LARGE BUMP, RESULTING LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING IS DANGEROUS. FULL TEXT OF CORRESPONDENCE WITH GM, POSTINGS ON LINE AND SEARCH OF TSB IS AVAILABLE. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA IS HAVING A PROBLEM ON THE SECURITY FEATURE ON THE BCM. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS UP AND THE CAR WILL START, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED BECAUSE SHE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT. THE CAR IS STILL STARTING INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER CALLED GM, AND THEY REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. GM MADE A FILE OF HER COMPLAINT. THE CONSUMER STATED SPECIFICALLY THAT SHE HAD BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS AND SHE CONSIDERED THAT A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SHE HAS FIVE KIDS. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT SHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SECURITY FEATURE FOR THE PAST YEAR.*AK

DT: WITHIN 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE NEW VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO NOTICE AT STOP LIGHT. AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR SEVERAL HOURS IT WILL THEN START. SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT START EVEN AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW PRESSURE SENSOR SEVERAL TIMES.*AK

AROUND 58K MILES THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A SLIGHT LEAK AROUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO THE DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE THAT IS USED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME, AND THE COST WOULD BE AROUND $700 TO REPAIR. I'VE BEEN NURSING THIS ISSUE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AS THE LEAK WAS SLIGHT, HOWEVER NOW IT IS GREATER AND MUST BE DEALT WITH. I HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH THE DEALERS AND WILL HAVE TO REPAIR IT AND BEAR THE COST. *NM

2002 IMPALA DEVELOPED A PROBLEM DUE TO IMPROPER AND UNSAFE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS.****NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT EH DEALER TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER HAD ANOTHER REPAIR FACILITY LOOK AT THE BRAKES AND THEY BELIEVED THAT THE PADS WERE TO SMALL AND THAT THE ROTORS WERE NOT HEAVY ENOUGH FOR THE WEIGHT AND SIZE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SECONDS SET OF PADS AND ROTORS ALSO FAILED AND AT THAT TIME THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE ROTORS AND PADS. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRST BRAKE JOB. *NM

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH STALLING AND MISFIRING.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. A HOLE BURNT THROUGH THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF AIR TO ENTER THE SYSTEM. THE CLOGGED CONVERTER WAS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM WHICH ALLOWED EXCESSIVE BACK PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE SYSTEM AND GASES THAT WERE MUCH HOTTER THAN NORMAL ENTERED THE MANIFOLD. *SC

STARTING 2/05 I HAVE HAD THE "SECURITY" WARNING LIGHT AND MY ENGINE FAIL TO START ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. I HAD TO REPLACE THE BCM THE FIRST TIME BUT HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS A TSB ON THIS ISSUE AND THAT, PER GM, I NEED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED PARTS TO PREVENT MY VEHICLE FROM SHUTTING DOWN ON THE ROAD. IF THAT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT WILL NOT STAND BEHIND IT'S DEFECT UNTIL A MAJOR ACCIDENT HAPPENS. THEY SHOULD DO A RECALL AND HAVE THESE ALL REPAIRED BEFORE A MAJOR ACCIDENT DOES TAKE PLACE. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST BECAUSE OF A WELL KNOWN DOCUMENTED FLAW. *NM

ITERMEADIATE STERRING SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED, COST $400.

HEADLITES GO DIM AND THEN GET BRIGHTER, THIS HAPPENS OFF AND ON, BY THEMSELVES.

PROBLEM WITH MESSAGE CENTER, SECURITY LITE COMES ON THEN BATTERY LITE, THEN SERVICE VEHICLE SOON, THEN AIR CONDITIONING WOULD NOT TURN ON, STARTED FUNNY, DID NOT START TURNING OVER WHEN I FIRST TURNED THE KEY IT STARTED TO TURN OVER ABOUT 1 SEC AFTER TURNING THE KEY AND STARTED OK THEN. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED A THE SAME TIME FOR THE FIRST TIME. PRIOR TO THIS I REPORTED A POPPING/SNAPPING NOISE WHEN YOU TURNED THE KEY. THE CHEV DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL (3 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM).

DT: THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ENGINE WAS NOT DESTROYED, BUT THE SEATS WERE DOWN TO THE WIRES. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED A SPARK COME FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED, BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATES THEY ARE GOING TO INSPECT IT. THE BACK WINDSHIELD SHATTERED BEFORE THIS, APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS PRIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING ERRATICALLY BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTEED BUT ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY HAVE TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID RESPOND. THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL WIRING. THE POLICE DID RESPOND, BUT DID NOT FILE A REPORT. THIS HAPPENED JULY 3, 2005. *NM

DT: 2002, CHEVROLET, IMPALA LS, WHILE CONSUMER WAS BACKING THE VEHICLE UP THE AIR BAGS ON BOTH FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DEPLOYED, THIS WAS WITHOUT IMPACT , AND NOT WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP. CONSUMER HAD ONLY BACKED UP ABOUT ONE FOOT WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER CONTACTED GM TWICE, UPON CALLING THE SECOND TIME, GM INSTRUCTED THE CONSUMER TO TAKE IT TO A LOCAL DEALER, WHO DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, AND COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. GM WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER'S INSURANCE AGENCY SAID THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. CONSUMER REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE POLICE , AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT FILE A REPORT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *AK

DT: CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS HIMSELF. FIRST, THE BRAKES WERE GRABBING AND THEN THEY STARTED MAKING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND AFTER THEY HEARD THE NOISE, THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS THE BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE HIMSELF AND CHANGED THE BRAKE PADS, HE KEPT THE OLD ONES AND THEY WERE UNBOUNDED. CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED BECAUSE CONSUMER DIDN'T HAVE HIS SERVICE WORK DONE WITH THEM. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF WHERE HE LIVES THE BRAKE PADS MALFUNCTIONED FASTER. CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES ON THE BRAKE PADS.*AK

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, COOLANT LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR 2 YEARS. TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP WHEN IT FIRST CAME ON, ONLY TO BE INFORMED THAT IT WAS A "CORROSION PROBLEM" WHICH WAS NOT COVERED BY MY BUMPER TO BUMPER WARANTEE. NOW I DISCOVERED THAT GM'S CHOICE OF DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE IS VERY WELL KNOWN TO CAUSE CORROSION PROBLEMS, AND THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT DEX-COOL DESTROYING HEAD AND INTAKE GASKETS AS WELL! I EXPECT GM TO MAKE GOOD ON A PROBLEM THAT THEY THEMSELVES CAUSED, INSTEAD OF THEIR TO-DATE SNIVELY POLICY OF PASSING THE BUCK BACK TO THE CONSUMER. (IN SHORT, IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED TO MY SATISFACTION IN A TIMELY MANNER, I WILL NEVER BUY A GM PRODUCT EVER AGAIN!)

2002 CHEVY IMPALA THE SECURITY LIGHT GOES ON WHEN DRIVING. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WHEN DRIVING THIS WAY THE CAR WILL NOT START AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. A FRIEND WHO HAS A NEWER IMPALA HAS HAD SECUIRTY LIGHT GO ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN . VERY SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS COULD ARRIVE IF ON HIGHWAY OR BRIDGE AND CAR DIES.

DT: ENGINE STARTED TO SPIT AND SPUTTER. IT GOT WORSE. CALLER CHANGED FUEL FILTER BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID IT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CAR RAN FAST AND TRIED TO TAKE OFF, AND SHE HAD TO SLAM THE BRAKES HARD, AND HOLD THEM TO T STOP CAR. DEALER SAID A HOLE WAS BURNED INTO THE MANIFOLD, AND WHEN THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THEY SAID A MISFIRE CODE CAME UP. PROBLEM WAS WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEING PLUGGED. DEALER FIXED THE BURNED INTAKE MANIFOLD BEFORE THEY FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THAT WAS THE ONLY THING WRONG WITH IT. *AK

OUR 2002 CHEV IMPALA IS A VACATION AND LONG TRIP VEHICLE, VERY LITTLE CITY DRIVING. AT FIRST WE DROVE IT VERY LITTLE, THEN THE FIRST WINTER WE DROVE IT AND PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE TILL SPRING. THE VEHICLE THEN GAVE US PROBLEMS WITH SHIMMY AND SHAKING ALONG WITH NOISY GRINDING WHEN STOPPING. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID IT HAD WARPED ROTORS AND THEN TURNED ALL 4 ROTORS DOWN AT 19755 MILES. THEN IN JUNE OF 2005 I TOOK IT BACK IN BECAUSE OF A CONSTANT GRINDING SOUND WHEN BACKING UP AND THE SHIMMY WHEN BRAKING WAS RETURNING MORE EVERYDAY. THE DEALER THEN TELLS ME THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT IT NEEDS 4 NEW ROTORS BECAUSE THEY ARE WARPED AND PITTED. THIS IS A PEP CAR FROM THE COMPANY AND I MISTAKENLY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY TILL END OF JULY. I WAS INFORMED THIS IS NOT TRUE AND THAT THE REPAIR WILL BE $732. THIS VEHICLE HAS 30,335 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD BAD ROTORS AND STOPPING SINCE WE STARTED TO DRIVE IT IN 2002/03 WINTER AND THEN PARKED IT TILL SPRING OF 2004. THIS I BELIEVE IS A DEFINITE SAFTEY HAZARD AND ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM ON THE IMPALAS AND THE MALIBUS ALOT. ACCORDING TO THE ADVISOR GM WILL NOT LET THEM REPLACE THE ROTORS ONLY TURN THEM TO SPECS. THIS I EQUATE TO GETTING OPEN HEART SURGERY AND ONLY USING BANDAIDS AND TAPE TO CLOSE THE ARTERIES AND INCISIONS. I AM TOTALLY DISGUSTED WITH THE QUALITY AND SERVICE WORK DONE BY GENERAL MOTORS. INFERIOR PARTS AND SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS SEEM TO BE THE WA

DT: CONTACT STATES THE REAR DEFROSTER TERMINAL FELL OFF. THIS HAS BEEN THE 5TH TIME THIS OCCURRED. THE REAR WINDOW HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE, WAITING TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK

EXPERIENCED A PULSING IN THE BRAKING OF THE CAR. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS, SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTEE. I RETURNED TO MY SHOP (WHERE I WORK) AND THEY TURNED THE ROTORS FOR ME. THIS WAS LAST YEAR. NOW THE PULSING IS BACK. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AND INFORM THEM OF THE RETURNING PULSATION. SEE WHAT THEY SAY, HAS ANYONE GOTTEN THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM???

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. IT HAS AROUND 53,000 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR AND IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN SLOWLY. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO SHE TOLD ME THE CAR SHIFTED HARD AND I DROVE IT AND FOUND THAT PROBLEM ALSO. THAT WENT AWAY FOR 2 WEEKS AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WE WERE REFERRED TO A INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN THE IMPALA HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS AND WE WERE TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY IS SOME PROBLEMS BUT JUST WOULDNT GET SPECIFIC WITH ME. I THEN WENT TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING AS THE FIRST SHOP TOLD ME AND THAT WAS I NEEDED THIS REBUILT. THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS A BAD DESIGN AND WANT $2400. TO $2600. TO FIX IT. THIS IS THE SAME PRICE AS THE FIRST PLACE GAVE ME. I THINK IF THIS IS SO COMMON OF A PROBLEM G.M. SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I AM GOING BACK TO THE CHEVY DEALER AND AM GOING TO ASK THEM JUST WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR ME. I'M NOT A HAPPY PERSON, THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN HARD AND INFACT IT'S BEEN TREATED NICELY. I CAN'T FIND A RECALL ON IT BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE SHOULD BE ONE IN EFFECT FOR IT. I ALSO THINK THIS PROBLEM COULD BE A SERIOUS ROAD HASSARD IF THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT WHILE BEING DRIVEN.

DT: ON 4/20/05 WHILE DRIVING,GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN UNINTENTIONALLY ,AND UPON PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL, CAR WOULD NOT SPEED UP. THIS OCCURRED ON DRY PAVEMENT ON HIGHWAY. CAR WAS REGULARLY SERVICED WITH RECORDS AVAILABLE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS. *AK

DT: CONSUMER STATES: BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. WHEN TRYING TO START IT'S LIKE A DEAD BATTERY, NO NOISE LIKE SOMEONE TOOK THE STARTER OFF. HAVE SOME LIGHTS COME ON BUT NOT ALL.*AK

DT: WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE ROAD AT 2000 RPMS AND ABOUT 65 MPH, USING CRUISE CONTROL FOR ABOUT 50 MILES, THE ROAD STARTED CHANGED TO ONE LANE AND CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM STOPPED ELECTRICALLY, BUT THE MECHANICAL PORTION CONTINUED TO ENGAGE. BRAKES HAD TO BE DEPRESSED HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND PUT INTO NEUTRAL TACHOMETER JUMPED TO 4000 RPMS. *AK

DT: ABOUT 12,000 MILES WHEN THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES THE CAR WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE BRAKES WERE FIXED. AT 29,000 MILES THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN, THE CAR WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE WHEN BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THE CONSUMER WASN'T SATISFIED WITH THE DEALER SO THE CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO HIS OWN MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ROTORS AND THE PADS. THE FRICTION MATERIAL ON THE PAD SEPARATED FROM THE METAL BACKING. THE MECHANIC HAD NEVER SEEN THIS IN A VEHICLE BEFORE. THE MILEAGE IS LOW AND THE CAR HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN OF. THERE IS ONLY AN ADULT DRIVER THAT USES THE VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 11/16/2005. *NM

AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT MY CAR HAD A MINOR ANTIFREEZE LEAK AT THE LOWER INTAKE. NOW AT 130,000 MILES IT HAS TURNED INTO A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT WILL REQUIRE AT LEAST 600 DOLLARS IN REPAIR COSTS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ALOT OF IMPALAS DO THIS. HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE YET, NOR RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE.

TWO MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS FOGGED OVER. THEY COST $250 A PIECE TO REPLACE (HAVE NOT YET REPLACED). ABOUT A MONTH LATER A COMPUTER CHIP THAT CONTROLLED MY LIGHTS, LOCKS, WINDOWS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND STEREO WENT BAD AND THAT COST $353 TO REPLACE. SOON AFTER THAT I NOTICED THAT MY CAR FELT LIKE IT MOVED BACK AND FORTH WHEN I DROVE IT, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE WHEN I TURNED. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A VERY BIG DEAL BUT TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I TOOK IT IN AND FOUND OUT THAT I WAS MISSING 2 BEARINGS ON MY SUSPENSION WHICH PUT PRESSURE ON MY DRIVE SHAFT(NOT SURE ABOUT ACTUAL TERMINOLOGY HERE NOT SURE IF IT WAS DRIVE SHAFT OR STEERING COLUMN) CAUSING MY RACK AND PINION TO GO BAD. THAT COST $1100 TO FIX. SO NOW I AM $1453 INTO HAVING MY CAR REPAIRED FOR THINGS THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE GONE BAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. TODAY (MAY 9TH 2005) I FOUND OUT THAT MY INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS GONE BAD AND I CAN SMELL BURNING ANTIFREEZE WHEN I DRIVE, AND MY COOLANT SENSOR IS BAD. TO FIX THOSE TWO THINGS IS GOING TO COST ME $840. I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT I HAVE CHECKED THIS CAR OUT ON CARFAX.COM THERE WAS ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER AND NOTHING SIGNIFIGANT AS HOW IT WAS TREATED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT 34,000 MILES AND IT NOW HAS 53,000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT ALMOST 2YRS AGO. I HAVE CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE 3 TIMES NOW, AND EACH TIME I AM GIVEN THE SAME ANSWER "I AM SORRY MS.... THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU

2002 IMPALA LS HAS A DISC BRAKE PROBLEM . DISCS REQUIRED RESURFACING AFTER 15000 MILES. THE PROBLEM RETURNED AFTER 5000 MILES. THE FIRST RESURFACING WAS DONE UNDER NEW CAR WARRANTY. UPON RETURNING THE SECOND TIME I ASKED THAT THE DISCS BE REPLACED. DEALER REFUSED, AND SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOW MINE SINCE EVEN THOUGH HE FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM THE WARRANTY PERIOD WAS OVER. SINCE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED UNDER WARRANTY, AND HE FAILED TO FIX IT, I REFUSED TO HAVE THE DISC RESURFACED AGAIN. THIS IS A PROBLEM UNDER NHTSA 10012633 CALLED BRAKE ROTOR ALLOWABLE THICKNESS AFTER RESURFACING. DEALER DOESN'T KNOW OR DOESN'T CARE. I COMPLAINED TO CHEVROLET, THEY SIDED WITH THE DEALER, AND GAVE ME A NUMBER 1-328237740, BUT NO SATISFACTION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT WHICH CHEVROLET IS IGNORING.*AK

P102 MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILURE, CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO REMAIN IN A STEADY ON CONDITION. VEHICLE WOULD FAIL EMISSIONS TEST WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, BUT DEALER SAYS THIS CONDITION NOT COVERED BY EMISSIONS WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE OWNER'S MANUAL CLEARLY STATES THIS CONDITION IS A EMISSIONS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.*AK

TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT CAME ON . ALSO THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON.I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. A SHORT WHILE LATER THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO MATTHEW HARGREAVES CHEVROLET. 2000 E. 12 MILE RD. P. O. 278, ROYAL OAK, MI 48068 PHONE 248-398-8800 FAX 248-398-0867. THEY TOLD ME THE LEFT REAR ABS SPEED SENSOR HAD AN OPEN CIRCUIT. SO THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 39,020 MILES, AND WAS PURCHASED ON JANUARY 14, 2002.*AK

THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED, AND THE ISSUES WERE STILL THERE. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNS ON THE HEAT OR AIR A SOUR ODOR CAME IN FROM THE VENT AREA. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER WAS PREGNANT AT THE TIME. THE ODOR MADE THE CONSUMER SICK. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT A SOLUTION HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK *SC *JB

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL DURING A SLOW MANEUVER, YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL CLUNKING COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IT FEELS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS BECOMING LOOSE. I HAVEN'T GONE TO THE DEALER YET BECAUSE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND SEEING SOO MANY COMPLAINS ABOUT IT IT SHOULD BE RECALLED.