2009 Chevrolet Impala complaints

I PURCHASED A 2009 CHEVY IMPALA FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP ON 05/12/10 THE CAR WAS SOLD AS NEW 32 MI. ON 05/20/10 CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS, A REAR SWAY BAR WAS INSTALLED AT FIRST OIL CHANGE I WAS ALERTED BY SERVICE ATTENDANT THAT CAR HAD SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION PROBLEMS ON UNDERSIDE OF CAR I HAD ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECT CAR, HE SAID BRAKE LINES AND OTHER PARTS WERE SO EATEN AWAY BY CORROSION THAT HE CONSIDERED THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE I RETURNED CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO INSPECT PROBLEM, WAS TOLD CAR HAS LOTS OF WARRANTY LEFT AND IF BRAKE FAILURE OCCURS THEY WILL LOOK AT IT THEN I THEN TOOK CAR TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WE MADE VIDEO ---DVD--- OF UNDERSIDE OF CAR AND GOT A STATEMENT FROM MECHANIC TO VERIFY PROBLEM I AM TAKING CAR TO ANOTHER CAR DEALERSHIP IN ROCKINGHAM NC TO GET ANOTHER OPINION AND VERIFY I CAN FURNISH YOU WITH A COPY OF DVD AND STATEMENTS FROM MECHANICS TO VERIFY PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE TO MAIL SUMMARY--- I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GETTING A GOOD CAR FROM A REPUTABLE MANUFACTURE AND DEALERSHIP---WHAT I GOT WAS A BUCKET OF RUST AND CORROSION AND POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS TO WORRY ABOUT----THIS IS A NEW CAR 3611 MI. ON ODOMETER NOW---HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON NEW 2009 CHEVY IMPALAS?---RUST AND CORROSION IN ALL ON UNDER CARRIAGE FROM BUMPER TO BUMPER------------------THANK YOU *TR

2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES EXTREME VIBRATION, SEVERE STEERING DIFFICULTIES AND BRAKE UNRESPONSIVENESS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE FROZEN IN ONE POSITION . THE DEALER MACHINED THE FRONT ROTORS AND SANDED THE PADS. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE IN 3RD GEAR. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER HAD HER HAND OUT THE WINDOW WHEN THE WINDOW BEGAN TO INDEPENDENTLY CLOSE. THE WINDOW CLOSED WITH THE PASSENGERS RING FINGER CAUGHT IN THE WINDOW AND SEVERED THE END JOINT OF HER FINGER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NOT A SENSOR THAT WOULD STOP THE WINDOW FROM CLOSING WHEN OBSTRUCTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

WE WERE DRIVING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS IN OUR 2009 CHEVY IMPALA WHEN WE CAME UPON A STEEP GRADE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO PREVENT FROM ACCELERATING TOO FAST DOWNHILL. ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHOOK AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE LONGER I APPLIED THEM, THE WORSE THE VIBRATION. IF I WERE IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION, I KNOW THAT MY STOPPING DISTANCE WOULD BE SEVERELY AFFECTED. LUCKILY, I WASN'T PUT IN THAT SITUATION THIS TIME, BUT NEXT TIME I MIGHT NOT BE THAT FORTUNATE. THIS PROBLEM IS NOTHING NEW FOR CHEVY - I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH A 1995 CHEVY CAVALIER I OWNED SOME YEARS AGO. IT APPEARS CHEVY HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON ITS VEHICLES. WHY DID MY TAX DOLLARS GO TO THIS CAR COMPANY?!? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL WOULD PULSATE ABNORMALLY. THE BRAKES WOULD ALSO MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE SIMILAR TO SCRAPING METAL WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS THREE TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT ALSO STATED WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN PARK; THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO DRIFT FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,143 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,009.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 50 TO 60 MPH DOWN A MOUNTAIN, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. HE ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE MOUNTAINS. HE STATED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE ROTORS. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000. UPDATED 08/24/10.*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WOULD HEAT UP ON LONG DOWNHILL GRADES. UPDATED 08/25/10*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT TIRES HAVE WORN VERY RAPIDLY. UPON RESEARCHING THE FAILURE THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECOMMENDED PSI IS 44 BUT THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED 30 PSI. DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE SHOULD PURCHASE NEW TIRES AND HAVE THE ALIGNMENT DONE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,886.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE DEALER PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE WHEELS REALIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE WHEELS ALIGNED AGAIN, ADJUST THE TOW AND CENTER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER LATER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED ANOTHER WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,981. UPDATED 08/27/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS UNEVEN TREAD WEAR. UPDATED 08/3010*JB UPDATED 08/31/10*JB

I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY IMPALA LT. RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR, I FOUND THAT THERE IS A VISION DISTORTION WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER REPLACED IT RELUCTANTLY, AFTER I DISCUSSED WITH THEM. HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL VISION DISTORTION WITH THE NEW ONE, JUST AT DIFFERENT SPOTS. IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE VISION DISTORTION IF I LOOK FAR AHEAD. IT CAUSE DIZZINESS AND TIREDNESS VERY EASILY AND IT IS DANGEROUS TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER ROAD USERS. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. *TR

MY CAR PREMATURELY WEARS FRONT TIRES OUT. BY 4200 MILES, MY FRONT TIRES WERE SHOWING THE CORDS. I HAD OWN A 2008 IMPALA (SAME MODEL) AND AT 4000 MILES THE FRONT TIRES WERE BALD. THIS HAS BEEN CONSTANT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE PREVIOUS VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS ALIGNED THIS VEHICLE AND STATES THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM!! IF I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS, MY TIRES WOULD BLOW OUT!!!!! *TR

2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA *GR THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STEEP HILL, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TOOK THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH THE VEHICLE'S ROTORS AND THEY SUGGESTED THE CONSUMER SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN 3RD GEAR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WERE TOO SMALL FOR THE VEHICLE.

I RENTED A GM IMPALA FROM ENTERPRISE RENTAL CAR IN FLORENCE, KY ON MARCH 28TH. THE GAS PEDAL BECAME DETACHED FROM THE BRACKET DURING NORMAL DRIVING. ON MARCH 28 OR MARCH 29TH. IT WAS REPORTED TO ENTERPRISE THE EVENING OF MARCH 29TH WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED. ENTERPRISE RENTAL FAILED TO TAKE ANY ACTION IN A TIMELY MANNER UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED. THIS IS A SAFETY COMPLAINT AGAINST GM FOR THE GAS PEDAL BEING ABLE TO FALL OFF AND ENTERPRISE RENTAL FOR FAILURE TO REACT TO A SAFETY HAZARD CONDITION. LUCKILY THERE WAS NOT ACCIDENT RELATED TO THIS PRODUCT FAILURE. *TR

BAD VIBRATION IN CAR AT 75 MPH. *TR

BOUGHT CERTIFIED IMPALA WITH 38000 MILES. HAS 12MONTH/12000 MILE WARRANTY. NOTICED PULSATING IN BRAKES AND THEY SAID IT WAS ROTORS NEEDED TURNING, BUT CERTIFICATION PAPERS STATE CAR IS SOLD AS IF NEW. SO ROTORS SHOULD BE COVERED. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT THE CERTIFIED WARRANTY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. HE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE FIVE TIMES. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 65 MPH ON ITS OWN. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO CHECK IT. REPORT 71-807159815 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO AGREED TO CONTACT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

A DEAD BATTERY AT THE AIRPORT PARKING LOT IN A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A PROBLEM, HOWEVER THERE IS NO MECHANICAL TRUNK RELEASE FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND MY BACK SEAT DOESN'T FOLD DOWN, SO I COULDN'T CRAWL INTO THE TRUNK TO TRIP THE EMERGENCY RELEASE, I WAS UNABLE TO GET TO MY JUMPER CABLES. THEN WHEN I TRIED TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION TO LOCK THE CAR TO GO MAKE A CALL. GUESS WHAT WITH THE BATTERY DEAD I COULDN'T GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION EITHER. A HUGE CONCERN OF MINE IS THIS; IF THAT CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHERE THE BATTERY WAS DESTROYED, THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY MEANS TO ACCESS THE TRUNK WHERE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT IS STORED, SUCH AS FIRST AID KITS, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY IMPALA AND MY CAR JUST CUTS OFF WHILE IM DRIVING AND THE KEY GETS LOCKED IN THE IGNITION AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE AFTERMARKET STEREO SO I TOOK IT OUT IT HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES SINCE I HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO $700 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND NO RESULTS WHAT IF MY CAR WOULD HAVE WENT OUT ON ME ON THE FREEWAY OR SOMETHING BECAUSE IT WENT OUT LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF TURNED THE WHOLE CAR JUST LOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURNED OFF. *TR

LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE ON WET ROADS. BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 12,000, 22,000 & 33,000 MILES. TIRES ALSO REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR ON INSIDE OF BACK TIRES. CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING REAREND TO "PUSH" CAR IN WET WEATHER. DEALER CAN'T GET CAR ALIGNED PROPERLY. VEHICLE SITS AT DEALER BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO DRIVE DEALER CUT ROTORS 1ST TIME REPLACED 2ND AND CUT 3RD TIME. EACH TIME THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS. AT 12,000 DEALER REPLACED TIRES AFTER COMPLAINTS THAT VEHICLE ALMOST KILLED OUR ENTIRE FAMILY GOING 35 MPH ON INTERSTATE 80 IN RAIN. GM RECALLED POLICE IMPALAS FOR SAME ISSUE BUT REFUSE TO RECALL CONSUMER IMPALAS PLEASE HELP BEFORE MORE INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE KILLED. *TR

2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA VEHICLES IN CAR POOL WHERE I WORK HAVE FRONT SEAT HEADRESTS THAT ARE HARD AS A BRICK WITHOUT ANY PADDING OVER THE STEEL CENTER FRAME. THESE HARD HEADRESTS OFFER NO PROTECTION IN A REAR END COLLISION AND WILL KILL THE FRONT OCCUPANTS. SIDES OF FRONT OF THE HEADREST ARE PADDED BUT NOT CENTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER, AFTER A FEW MINUTES A STRONG ODOR CAME OUT OF THE AIR VENTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS A BUILD UP OF MOLD IN THE AIR DUCTS; HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 5712. UPDATED 10/21/09.*LJ UPDATED 10/22/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN HER VEHICLE WENT HAYWIRE. THE LIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY, THE HEATING UNIT WAS INOPERABLE, AND THE DOORS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE SEVERAL REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE FAILURES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE AFTERMARKET ALARM SYSTEM WAS WIRED INCORRECTLY AND CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE DEALER REFUSED TO MAKE REPAIRS AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL GENERAL MOTORS TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. GENERAL MOTORS ALLOWED THE DEALER TO MAKE THE REPAIRS, BUT THE NECESSARY PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THERE WERE 82 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 472.

WE PURCHASED A 2009 CHEVY IMPALA IN APRIL . MY WIFE HAS A TAIL BONE MEDICAL ISSUE THAT NECESSITATES THAT SHE SIT ON A SPECIAL PILLOW WHILE RIDING IN A VEHICLE. THE SEAT DISPLACES HER WEIGHT EVENLY ACROSS THE SEAT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE HER WEIGHT SITTING ON THE SEAT, SO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DOESN'T SHOW IT IS OPERATIVE. WE RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD US TO SET A MAGAZINE UNDERNEATH HER TO MAKE THE SENSOR WORK. IT DOES ACTIVATE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON" BUTTON SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME IT WILL NOT ACTIVATE AND MY WIFE IS NOT PROTECTED. I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY SOLUTION TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE, EXCEPT TO TELL ME THAT MY WIFE SHOULD RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT! THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO FURTHER ANSWERS FOR US. WE ARE EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED THAT MY WIFE IS RIDING IN A BRAND NEW VEHICLE UNPROTECTED BY HER AIRBAG NEARLY ALL THE TIME. CAN YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE? THANK YOU! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AT LEAST THREE TIMES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND FLAMES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CHEVROLET MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO INVESTIGATE THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

GM'S USE OF REVERSE LIGHTS AS "PERIMETER LIGHTING" IS EXTREMELY POORLY THOUGHT OUT. REVERSE LIGHTS INDICATE THAT A VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE MOTION. THEY SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. USING THEM AS PERIMETER LIGHTING IS EXTREMELY CONFUSING TO OTHER MOTORISTS. PICTURE THIS. A VEHICLE PULLS INTO A PARKING SPACE. ONE PERSON EXISTS THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS COME ON. APPROACHING DRIVERS ARE GOING TO EXPECT THAT THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, NOT THAT THE DRIVER HAS TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND IS WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO RETURN. THAT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE BUT IT ILLUSTRATES THE POINT. USAGE OF REVERSE LIGHTS FOR ANY OTHER USE IS CONFUSING AND MAY POTENTIALLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AS OTHER MOTORISTS AND EVEN PEDESTRIANS ARE CONFUSED. REMEMBER THAT REVERSE LIGHTS ARE ALSO A WARNING SIGNAL TO PEDESTRIANS THAT A VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE MOTION. I URGE NHTSA TO REVIEW THIS MATTER AND FORMALLY REQUEST THAT GM NOT ONLY CEASE INSTALLING THIS FEATURE IN NEW MODELS, BUT ALSO RECALL AND DISABLE IT FOR ALL PAST MODEL YEARS. *TR