2005 Chevrolet Impala complaints

THE BACK WINDSHIELD MADE A BIG LOUD EXPLOISION NOISE , WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND LOOKED IT HAD ALL SPIDER CRACKED THE WHOLE WINDSHILD. IT SCARED THE [XXX] RIGHT OUT OF ME. THANK GOD NO CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND JERKS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,456.

THIS REPORT IS ABOUT SUDDEN AND REPEATED HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE IN A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA SEDAN, AND A REQUEST FOR A NATIONWIDE SAFETY RECALL AND REPAIR AT GM EXPENSE FOR THIS ISSUE. AFTER GETTING IN MY 2005 IMPALA SEDAN AT APPROXIMATELY 4:55 PM ON 16 FEBRUARY 2012, I STARTED UP AND DROVE OUT ON THE ROAD THEN I SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC AND NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM) WERE OUT. I TRIED THE HIGH BEAMS AND THEY WORKED AS DID THE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROLS AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONED. AS DARKNESS INCREASED I HAD TO HOLD THE SWITCH IN THE HIGH BEAM POSITION SO I COULD SEE TO DRIVE SO I COULD GET HOME. FROM WHAT I COULD DETERMINE THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE IN THE WIRING TO/FROM THE MULTIFUNCTION LIGHT CONTROL SWITCH OR MAYBE IT IS THE SWITCH ITSELF ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FUSES AND RELAYS AND THE ALL SEEMED TO BE IN WORKING ORDER BUT THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS STILL DID NOT WORK. THIS FAILURE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME NOW. WITH DEALER PARTS COST FOR A REPLACEMENT MULTIFUNCTION LIGHT SWITCH AT $350.00 ALONE, NOT TO MENTION LABOR COSTS AND THE CRITICALITY OF LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING MEANS THIS SHOULD BE A REQUIRED SAFETY RECALL ITEM. I HAVE SEARCHED MECHANICAL FORUMS ON THIS SUBJECT AND THERE ARE MANY SUCH OCCURRENCES DOCUMENTED, BUT GM DOES NOT SEEM TO THINK THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM OR A REASON TO INVESTIGATE AND FIX THE MALFUNCTION. THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON KNOWLE

TONIGHT, MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. I EVENTUALLY FLICKED THE LOW/HIGH BEAM SWITCH AND THEY CAME ON. ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, I WAS DRIVING HOME AT ABOUT 55 MPH IN THE DARK ON A SINGLE LANE COUNTRY ROAD. THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, THEY CAME BACK ON FOR A MOMENT, AND THEN THEY WENT COMPLETELY OUT. I DROVE HOME SLOWLY WITH THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON. IF I HAD NOT BEEN ALERT, I COULD HAVE EASILY CRASHED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

SEVERAL TYPES OF GM VEHICLES (APPROX 2000-2008) HAVE SEVERE LEAKING AND DECAY PROBLEMS LIKE MY CHEVY IMPALA SHOWS CURRENTLY. I NOTICED EARLY FEBRUARY 2012 WHEN MY FACTORY SPEAKERS STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. THE RADIO SOUND DIDN'T GET THROUGH, DOOR CHIMES DIDN'T WORK, SAFETY AND WARNING CHIMES DIDN'T MAKE NOISE, ETC. A WARNING CHIME DIDN'T SIGNAL FOR ME TO TURN OFF MY LIGHTS ON A RAINY DAY AT A GROCERY STORE SO THAT WHEN I CAME BACK, I WAS STRANDED! THIS HOWEVER ISN'T THE BIG PROBLEM. THIS LEAK UNDER THE COWL SEEMS TO BE PROMINENT IN MANY OTHER VEHICLES AND ALLOWED GALLONS TO ENTER IN UNDER MY RUGS, FLOOR MATS ETC., AND TRAVEL ALL OVER THE PASSENGER CABIN SO THAT WIRES WERE SUBMERGED, CORRODED, MOLD GREW, AND AIRBAG SENSOR HUBS BECAME ISLANDS. YES MY AIRBAG SENSORS AND WIRING ARE SUBMERGED WITH WATER! PLEASE HAVE GM RECALL THIS COMMON PROBLEM TO FIX THIS! MY CAR SMELLS TERRIBLE INSIDE FROM THIS (ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER) AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, I AM WORRIED THAT MY AIRBAGS WILL MALFUNCTION. THANK YOU. *TR

THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, FUEL GAUGE, AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE GONE COMPLETELY HAYWIRE! THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO HOT AND BUZZES BUT MY CAR IS NO WHERE NEAR HOT. I DON'T KNOW IF MY TANK IS FULL OR EMPTY BECAUSE THE GAUGE IS ALWAYS ON THE BOTTOM. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I'M GOING BECAUSE MY SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK ON 120. THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT THEY INSIST ON CHARGING $500 OR MORE TO FIX IT...JUST OWN UP AND DO THE RECALL!! *TR

DRIVER SEAT HEATER STOPPED WORKING. HEAT ON DRIVER SIDE BLOWS COOL AIR AND PASSENGER SIDE BLOWS WARM. ROUGH SHIFTING OF SPEED BETWEEN 20-30 MPH SINCE FIRST MONTH OF PURCHASE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER READING WOULD NOT DECREASE WHEN DECELERATING. THE SPEEDOMETER READING FLUCTUATED ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON. HAS THERE BEEN ANY TYPE OF RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS THAT I'M JUST NOT FINDING? IF NOT, CAN YOU GIVE ME SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT I SHOULD CHECK TO MAKE THE LIGHT GO OFF? I HAVEN'T BEEN IN A WRECK THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LIGHT TO GO OFF & MY AIR BAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED.

STARTED SMELLING GAS WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM CHURCH ON JANUARY 8, 2012. SMELL OF FUMES INTENSIFIED. MUST ROLL DOWN WINDOWS WHENEVER DRIVING. MY EYES BEGAN TO BURN. I PARKED THE CAR WHEN I GOT HOME, AND I COULD SMELL A LOT OF GAS WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. CAR SAT UNTIL MONDAY JANUARY 9, 2012. I STILL SMELLED GAS. MY CAR BEGAN BURNING EXTREME AMOUNT OF GAS. CAR SAT UNTIL THE 13TH. I FILLED UP TO A FULL TANK OF GAS. I DROVE 7 MILES TO THE STORE AND 7 MILES BACK. THE CAR BURNED 1/8 TANK OF GAS. LEARNED OF 2005 CHEVY IMPALA RECALL DUE TO FUEL SYSTEM/ FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. RECALL ID# 64377. I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. I DROVE HOME WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN IN 19 DEGREE WEATHER. NOW IT IS SITTING AGAIN DUE TO MECHANIC RECOMMENDATION. *TR

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE SPEEDOMETER ADVANCED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE GAUGE, THEN STUCK THERE. THE ONLY WAY I CAN RESET IT IS TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND ON, AND SOMETIMES THAT DOES NOT WORK. *TR

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS CHANGE HARD, MAKES SHUDDER NOISE, WILL SPEED UP AND SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. SPEEDOMETER GOES UP AND DOWN. *TR

THE HEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR WILL NOT COME ON BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE BLOWS LIKE A CHAMP. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE DOOR THAT FLOWS COLD AND HOT AIR IS STUCK ON COOL AIR AND SINCE ITS A DUAL AIR VEHICLE ONE SIDE IS BLOWING HOT THE OTHER COLD. I AM VERY SURPRISED THIS IS NOT A RECALL SINCE THERE ARE OVER 1,000 COMPLAINTS ON THIS ONE PART PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS; I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME CHEVY OWNER AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS HAPPEN AFTER DRIVING BUT THIS IS REALLY NOT A DRIVER INDUCED PROBLEM. THANK YOU FROM A VALUED CUSTOMER. *TR

2005 CHEVY IMPALA. FIRST HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE WOULD ENGAGE WHENEVER THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THIS OCCURRED AT 30,000 MILES. DEALER WARRANTED THIS. AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES THE DISPLAY PANEL INDICATED ERRONEOUS PROBLEMS, IE. TRUCK OPEN WHEN NOT. THE LIGHTS WOULD FLASH OFF AND ON INDICATING ALL KINDS OF ISSUES WHEN NONE EXISTED. ALSO THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO WORK ERRATICALLY. THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD INDICATE SPEEDS OF 30-60 MPH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL DRIVING SPEED. TURNING THE CAR OFF/ON WOULD GRADUALLY LOWER AND RESET THE SPEEDOMETER. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY WITH NO REAL PATTERN. SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. ALSO COULD PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE. *KB

THE SPEEDOMETER HAS GONE HAYWIRE. YOU CANNOT TELL HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. THE RPM GAUGE IS GOING HAYWIRE AS WELL. IT JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED WITH NO WRITTEN NOTICE FROM WARRANTY COMPANY. THE CLUSTERS ARE THE ROOT OF ALL THE PROBLEMS AND CHEVROLET NEEDS TO RECALL TO REPAIR THE ISSUES DESCRIBED. ANOTHER ALARMING PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 CHEVY IMPALA I OWN IS WHAT IS CALLED THE PASSLOCK PROTECTION. IT ALSO DOES NOT WORK AT TIMES AND I HAD TO FIND OUT WAYS TO BYPASS THE PASSLOCK ON YOUTUBE. THIS COULD TURN INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF YOU NEED TO START YOU CAR IN AN EMERGENCY AND YOU CANT BECAUSE THE PASSLOCK WILL NOT LET YOU TURN ON THE CAR. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO WAIT TEN MINUTES WITH THE KEY IN A CERTAIN POSITION. THAT IS TOTALLY NOT ACCEPTABLE. *KB

THE SPEEDOMETER JUST STOPPED WORKING, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT HARD BUT WHEN YOU SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND START IT BACK UP IT STOPS SHIFTING HARD, AND THE CAR STALLS. *KB

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, THE SMELL OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000. KMJ

MY SPEEDOMETER GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT WILL GET STUCK ON 20 MPH CONSTANTLY IT NEVER READS THE CORRECT SPEED BUT MY OTHER GAUGES WORK FINE. MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS/SLIPS HARDER THAN IT SHOULD FROM 1ST INTO 2ED AND 2ND INTO 3RD. MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN I PUSH ON MY WINDOW CONTROLS TO ROLL MY WINDOWS UP OR DOWN. THE HEAT ONLY BLOWS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR INCLUDING ON THE DEFROST FOR THE FRONT WINDOWS AND THE REAR WINDOW. *TR

MY CHEVY IMPALA BEGAN SHAKING WHEN I ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN ON THE FREEWAY FROM SPEEDS OF 55-65 MILES AN HOUR. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES, BRAKES, AND BALANCED, ALIGNED, ROTATED AND THE SHAKING HAS NOT STOPPED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU NEED TO COME TO A QUICK STOP BECAUSE WHEN YOUR CAR SHAKES LIKE IT'S FALLING APART YOUR FIRST INSTINCT IS TO LET GO OF THE BRAKE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE COME TO DISCOVER THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET IMPALA'S. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP DUMPING MONEY INTO A TEMPORARY SOLUTION. *TR

STEERING KNUCKLE MAKES A POPPING NOISE SPEEDODOMETER DOES NOT WORK TEMP GAUGE DOES NOT WORK CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGES WHEN EVER IT WANTS TO IF THE SWITCH IS IN THE ON POSITION A HERD THAT A LOT OF CHEVROLETS HAD RECALLS FOR THESE CONDITIONS! ARE THERE ANY RECALLS FOR THESE CONDITIONS ON MY CAR? *KB

I AM TRYING TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT A KNOWN DEFECT WITH ALL YEARS OF CHEVY IMPALAS TRANSMISSION'S FAULTY FIRST GEAR OR PRESSURE CONTROL SOLINOID ISSUES. FOR THE LAST YEAR I HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH MY CAR FAILING TO ADEQUATELY SHIFT FROM STARTING OFF TO THE 30 MILE PER HOUR MARK...YOU COULD FEEL MY CAR JERK WHEN IT FINALLY SHIFTS. SO I DID WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD HELP AND HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND FILTER CHANGE WHICH ONLY SOLVED THIS ISSUE FOR NOT EVEN A WEEK. I WENT ONTO GM'S WEBSITE AND WAS READING THE FORUMS SPECIFICALLY FOR CHEVY IMPALA TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND THERE WAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE BUT NO OFFER FROM GM TO EVEN LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. MY CAR STARTED TO NOTICEABLY HAVE THIS ISSUE BEFORE EVEN HAVING 100K MILES ON IT AND RIGHT NOW I HAVE 131K MILES. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE WITH MY CAR SINCE I TOOK OWNERSHIP IN 2006. I POSTED MY SAID ISSUE ON FACEBOOK AND ONE OF MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES COMMENTED THAT HE WORKS AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP (HAS FOR 13 YEARS) AND ONLY KNOWS OF THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLINOID ISSUE, SO APPARENTLY GM JUST DOESN'T WANT TO DO THEIR CUSTOMERS RIGHT BY FIXING EVEN THE KNOWN DEFECT OR FOLLOWUP WITH THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS STATED ON THEIR FORUM. I JUST PAID OFF MY CAR AND I FEEL THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY SUCH A LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO FIX A DEFECT ON THEIR PART. I ALSO ASKED A FRIEND OF MINE, THAT OWNS A CHEVY IMPALA, AND THEY TOO HAVE STARTED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUS AS I. PLEASE ASSIST US CON

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 08/01/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE STARTING PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE READ ONLINE WHERE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN IN THE SECURITY SYSTEM. UPDATED 08/02/12

16 YR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WHEN HEADLIGHTS JUST QUIT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORTUNATELY THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AFTER DRIVING WITH FOGLIGHTS ONLY. 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. VEHICLE IN GREAT SHAPE OTHERWISE AND MAINTAINED APPROPRIATELY. *TR

I HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN CHEVY, LOVE THEM. HOWEVER, IN EACH I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY DOORS. I OWN A 2005 IMPALA,, AND ALL OF MY DOORS ARE NOT WORKING, TWO DO NOT WORK AT ALL 1 HAS TO BE HELD CLOSED WITH A ROPE AND THE LAST IS STARTING TO SHOW SIGNS OF BREAKING. I HAVE TAKEN TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM PERIOD. UM, THIS COST ME MONEY TO DO SO. PLEASE DIRECT ME TO ANY RECALLS OR HOW ON EARTH TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, CHEAPLY OR FREE SINCE IT HAS GOT TO BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM.. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

SINCE I BROUGHT MY 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA IN 2006, I HAVE ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY PASSLOCK SYSTEM. ONE MINUTE MY CAR IS DRIVING FINE. I PARK IT GO WHERE I NEED TO GO AND THEN COME BACK TO MY CAR TO LEAVE AND IT WON'T START. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2006 AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND CLAIMED THAT THEY FIXED IT. HOWEVER SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPEN TO ME REPEATEDLY. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER MANUAL IT SAYS " LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AT THE ON POSITION AND WAIT UNTIL THE SECURITY LIGHT IS NO LONGER FLASHING. ONCE IT STOPS, TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND START THE CAR." THIS NEVER WORKS FOR ME. SOMETIMES THE FLASHING LIGHT CONTINUE FOR THE WHOLE DAY, AND MY CAR IS JUST STUCK WHERE EVER THE INCIDENT (SECURITY LIGHT FLASHING) OCCURS. *TR

SPEEDOMETER GETS STUCK AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. CAN'T DETERMINE REAL SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WAS TOLD THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SPEEDOMETER STARTED WORKING AGAIN BY ITSELF SO I DID NOT REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. CHECKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT AND MY CAR SAID I WAS DOING 120 MPH. WHEN I WAS AT A COMPLETE IT STILL READ 75 MPH. WE REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR TWICE THINKING THIS MAY BE THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS NOT. I CAN GET IT BACK TO 0 BY TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF UNTIL IT HITS 0. THIS KEPT DOING THIS SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY STATED IT WAS A CLUSTER IN THE DASH GOING OUT. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN WHO ARE IN THIS CAR WITH ME ALOT AND DO ALOT OF NIGHT TIME DRIVING AND WHEN THIS GOES OUT IS NOT THE BEST FEELING OF SAFETY. I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY IMPALA. *TR

THE ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE MALFUNCTIONS, WITH WILD SWINGS IN INDICATED TEMPERATURE, INDICATION OF OVERHEATED TEMPERATURE (WHEN COOLANT IS NOT HOT), OR SOMETIMES EVEN NO READING AT ALL. *TR

2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. UNIT #1 WAS WESTBOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING THE UNIT TO LOOSE CONTROL. UNIT #1 VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK THE MEDIAN WALL. *LN (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0390-90)*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD READ INACCURATELY, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY TIME, AND SMOKE COULD BE SEEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL, BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

CAR: 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA, V6 3100 ENGINE THE HORN IN THE CAR BEGAN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH FUNCTIONALITY. IT IS UNKNOWN HOW THIS BEGAN EXCEPT THAT THE SOUND OF THE HORN BECAME SOMEWHAT STRANGE TO START. OVER TIME THE HORN FAILED COMPLETELY. THE RESULT OF THIS FAILURE IS A RATHER BIG SAFETY ISSUE GIVEN THE NEED OF THE HORN TO WARN OTHER DRIVES AND PEDESTRIANS OF YOUR PRESENCE WHEN THEY ARE UNAWARE. WE NEARLY GOT INTO THREE ACCIDENTS (TWO IN PARKING LOTS, ONE ON ROAD) AS A RESULT OF OUR INABILITY TO HONK AT DRIVERS TO LET THEM KNOW WE WERE THERE. I AM A HANDYMAN/MECHANIC TYPE AND REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE HORN AND ADDED A CUSTOM WATER SHIELD TO PREVENT WATER FROM CORRODING THE HORN. THERE IS A TSB ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS NECESSARY. SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER : 4043 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER : 10020089 *TT

NO EVENTS APPEAR TO LEAD UP TO THE PROBLEM. IT OCCURS RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING, ESPECIALLY DURING BACKUP OPERATIONS. THE ABS SEEMS TO COME ON WHENEVER IT LIKES DURING BRAKING, CAUSING HEAVY LOSS IN STOPPING POWER. THIS CAN OCCUR REGARDLESS OF ROAD CONDITIONS OR SPEED. SIMILAR TO THIS, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM APPEARS TO COME ON DURING ACCELERATION AT RANDOM TIMES, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS OR IN REVERSE. THIS OCCURS ON DRY ROADS FREQUENTLY AND OCCASIONALLY CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO PULL HEAVILY TO ONE SIDE AS NEITHER SIDE IS ACTUALLY SLIPPING. AN ACCIDENT HAS NOT YET OCCURRED BUT CERTAINLY CAN GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE FAILURES. A TSB IS AVAILABLE CONCERNING THE ABS. THIS VEHICLE HAS A WHOPPING 75 TSBS! SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER : 4615 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER : 10023171 *TT

THE ONLY EVENT LEADING TO THE FAILURE WAS A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE INVOLVED A PULL TO THE LEFT AND EXCESSIVE HEAT BEING GENERATED FROM THE BACK LEFT TIRE. THE COMPONENT THAT FAILED ENDED UP BEING THE WHEEL BEARING. I HAD A MECHANIC REPLACE IT AND ALSO KEPT THE OLD PART. THE OLD BEARING WAS SCORCHED (THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME) AND WARPED. THE BEARING COULD HAVE LOCKED UP HAD IT NOT BEEN REPLACED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *TT

I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY IMPALA IN 2008. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HWY, A VERY TWISTY ROAD . I HAD MY HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRST CURVE MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, I JUMPED THE BRAKE AND FLIPPED THE LEVER BACK AND FORTH AND THEY FINALLY CAME BACK ON LOW BEAM, I ALMOST WREAKED. THE SECOND TIME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY JUST COMING INTO THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN, HEAVY TRAFFIC, I FLIPPED THE LEVER BACK AND FORTH AND THE LOW BEAMS CAME BACK ON. I SPOKE WITH A DEALER WHO SAID THEY HAD NO COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL. IT HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES AND CAN'T BE PINNED TO ANY PARTICULAR TIMES, NOW I DRIVE WITH MY LIGHTS ON LOW ALL THE TIME. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME HAD TO REPLACE THEIR WHOLE STEERING COLUMN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THIS, BUT THE CAR ISN'T SAFE. IT KEEPS DOING IT AND ONE OF THESE TIMES I WILL FORGET AND IT WILL CATCH ME UNAWARE AND I WILL WRECK. *TR

WELD ON FRONT RIGHT STABILIZER BAR FAILED AND IS CRACKED. CAR IS VIBRATING ON RIGHT FRONT SIDE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED. THE ENGINE GAUGE ROSE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TH VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

MY CAR OVERHEATS AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. MY CAR IS NOT OLD ENOUGH FOR THIS TO BE A PROBLEM. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED WITH 59,000 MILES. DROVE IT HOME, PARKED IT FOR 2 DAYS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. RETURNED TO DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY AND INDICATED THE DRAIN WHILE OFF WAS WITH SPECS. TOOK CAR HOME AND WORKED WELL FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. ON THE FOURTH DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. *TR

2005 CHEVY IMPALA: ROUGH SHIFTING, LOST SOME HP, SPEEDOMETER ISN'T WORKING, ENGINE LEAKING OIL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER WOULD DISPLAY IMPROPER READINGS. THE FAILURE WAS FREQUENT, RECURRING MORE THAN THREE TIMES A WEEK. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 156,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 156,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DEFECTIVE, NONE OF THE GAUGES WERE DISPLAYING THE CORRECT READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ UPDATED 06/13/11.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS PROVIDING AN INACCURATE READING OF 90 MPH. WITHIN SECONDS, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 0 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL FAILS OFF AND ON FOR AWHILE AND THEN COMPLETELY QUITS, CAUSING YOU NOT TO KNOW YOUR SPEED OR THE HEALTH OF YOUR VEHICLE. I HAVE SEEN ONLINE WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM FOR THERE NOT TO BE A RECALL. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL NEEDS REPLACED. *TR

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY 2011. CAR HAS OPERATED FINE AND OPERATED FINE EARLIER TODAY. THIS EVENING, AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A QUICK RUN TO THE STORE, I STARTED MY CAR, PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PROCEEDED TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO REVERSE. I COULD NOT GET THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER TO MOVE OUT OF PARK. IT WAS STUCK. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION TO THIS ISSUE. NOW I'M STRANDED AT HOME WITH NO VEHICLE. *TR

3.4LTR 6CYL BASE MODEL HAS HAD MULTIPLE DEFECTIVE SENSATIONS FOR SOME TIME NOW; AMONG THOSE ARE STEERING, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM A STANDING STOP, BRAKING AND ODD NOISES. THIS VEHICLE'S 5 Y/O WITH ONLY 20K MI, OWNED BY ELDERS & USED LOCALLY, I'VE BEEN DRIVING THEM, & NOW I HAVE THIS CAR. THE LEFT OUTTER TIE ROD END HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 20K MI. THE STEERING STILL HAS AN UNSTABLE FEEL WHEN TURNING AND MAKE A METAL TO METAL CLINKING NOISE FROM A DEFECTIVE (& AS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC & NHTSA REPORTS, REPEATEDLY REPORTED) INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THERE SHOULD BE A TOTAL RECALL BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE GM ENGINEERING PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO A CLINKING NOISE OCCASIONALLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STANDING STOP; CAN NOT TELL IF THIS DEFECT IS FROM THE STEERING OR SOMETHING ELSE LIKE THE ENGINE MOUNTS. HAVE NOT YET DISCOVERED THIS SOURCE. FROM A STANDING STOP, THE TRANSMISSION WILL OCCASIONALLY SHIFT ABRUPTLY, EITHER FROM A NEUTRAL DISPOSITION INTO 1ST GEAR OR FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR; THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD & THE OCCUPANTS HEADS ARE WHIPPED BACK. THIS IS SIMILAR TO OTHER REPORTS OF DEFECTIVE POWER TRAIN FUNCTIONALITY I'VE READ ABOUT WITH THIS MODEL. BRAKING, WHEN JUST STARTING A TRIP, HAS AN IMPROPER FEEL AND SOMETIMES SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GRINDING, AS IF THE BRAKE PADS OR ROTORS ARE CRACKED/WORN; THIS IS A SENSATION I'VE HAD WITH VEHICLES HAVING 100,000 MILES, NOT ON A CAR LIKE THIS WITH ONLY 20K MILES. THE CENTER ARM REST'S PAD SUPPORT IS FLIMSY/CHEAP PLASTIC & HAS BROKEN

CAR TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING,ALSO LOOKS LIKE ITS NOT GETTING GAS,CLUSTER ALSO WENT BAD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ALSO BAT, BRAKE FLU ,IT BLINKS FAST AND TURNS OFF HIGH DANGER WHEN IT TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES HAVE NO CONTROL WHAT SHOULD I DO. *TR

2005 CHEVY IMPALA WITH A STICKING SPEEDOMETER. STAYS AT 85 WHEN PARKED, AND IS VERY ERRATIC. HAVE READ MANY, MANY OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM AND DEALERSHIPS UNWILLING TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITHOUT FULLY CHARGING FOR REPAIR. CANNOT AFFORD CAR PAYMENT AND OVER EXPENSE FOR SHOP REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

MY SPEEDOMETER WENT OUT ON MY 2005 CHEVY IMPALA. IT HAPPENED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. I JUST HAD THE INSPECTION DONE AND HAD TO HAVE A NEW CLUSTER PUT IN. MY TOTAL COST WAS $500. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR COMPLAINTS, I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE ALOT OF THEM REGARDING THE CLUSTER TO STOP WORKING IN THE 2005 IMPALA. FOR BEING ONLY 6 YEARS OLD, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. *TR

SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SPORADICALLY CHANGES TO 100MPH+ WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED. SAFETY ISSUE. GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE GAVE A BIG RUN-AROUND. I HAD THEM AND A DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER ON THE PHONE TOGETHER. GM CUST. ASST. SAID THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY WOULD SAY IF THEY WOULD COVER REPAIRS. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THERE ARE ONLY TWO POSSIBLE PROBLEMS. CUST ASST STILL WOULD NOT SAY IF THEY WOULD REPAIR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I GUESS SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO PLOW THROUGH SOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS SINCE I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST THEY ARE GOING IN A SCHOOL ZONE BEFORE THEY ISSUE A RECALL. *TR