I had drove my car about 10 miles, park my car and went inside the waterpark. They call for the person driving the Chevy Impala to come up top, . I was the told my car was smoking, I proceeding out the door and their were flames coming out from under my hood. I went back in and told them to call the fire department.. my whole motor was in flames by the time they got there. My car was then total out and we still don't know what cause the fire.

- Aberdeen, OH, USA

I was driving one night to my friends house about 10 - 15 miles away from my house. As I was driving my car just shut off and my steering wheel locked up, so I drifted to the side of the road and tried to start my car up. I started it about 3 more times then it finally came back on, as I kept driving down the road it happened yet again. Lately it's just been happening every now and then but I'm constantly on fast busy roads and if this happens I can't always get over and it could end up getting me and anyone with me hurt. I've tried taking it to people but nobody knows what going on and I've even called Chevy and they can't tell me anything. I've taken it to them before and $483 wasted because they "couldn't find anything wrong with it" this starting to become a problem because I need reliable transportation.

- Pickerington, OH, USA

Car stall while driving down freeway. At red light or any other place or time. When I say it stalls, I mean it dies & you have to restart it. It hasn't caused a crash or damage yet, but it could at any time. I looked on the internet and other people have replaced several different components at great expense and hasn't helped.

- Spring, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. While the vehicle was in the shop for repairs (unrelated to the engine) the engine failed. The errors did not appear when the diagnostics were performed. The contact was initially called to come and retrieve the vehicle, but in the same conversation, she was informed that something failed in the engine. The contact was also informed that she should probably get rid of the vehicle. The engine was replaced. NHTSA campaign id number 04V090000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery) was referenced. The contact spent $1,000 to have the engine replaced. The current and failure mileages were 78,000. Updated 08/27/08. The consumer stated the crankshaft position sensor, ignition switch and fuel regulator was replaced. Updated 08/27/08

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

2000 Chevrolet Impala 4 door with 3.8 V6 engine caught fire while driving and I was stuck inside due to all electrical going down. Police arrived within minutes of me calling 911 from car. I was just exiting the car 3 minutes after calling them. Doors were locked and car was a blaze and also smoke filled interior. People were all around vehicle as I was trying to exit. I now have a severe cough and lung pains due to plastics burning and now I am taking advair inhaler. The car gave no warning at all as it just burst into flames. The doors and all windows locked. A city employee came running with an extinguisher to try break windows as I was inside, I exited as the police came to car and he blocked the road to traffic with his cruiser. The fire dept arrived shortly after he did. I was all black with an oily substance and soot as well as coughing lots. I am awaiting an appointment with lung specialist as this cough will not subside and it is awful as I can't talk or exhale without gasping for air and coughing all the time.

- Keswick, Ontario, Canada, 00, USA

The lower intake manifold gasket leaked twice within 45,000 miles, had to have vehicle serviced twice for this intake issue, which involved missing work. Bad enough I can't afford the repairs, but then I have to miss work as well. Low coolant light comes on constantly and vehicle over heats. I have had the transmission replaced, radiator replaced, water pump replaced and haven't only owned the care for 3 years. I am rebuilding the entire car! I've owned 7 Chevy cars but none as bad as this. I will never, ever, ever buy another Chevy.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Our 2000 Chevrolet Impala was left in an apartment behind my children's' apartment in omaha, Nebraska. When they returned from christmas break, the battery was down and it was cold outside. They tried to jump start the car using jumper cables from another vehicle next to it. My daughter was in front of the car to remove the jumper cables after it started. When my son tried to crank the engine, it exploded all over the parking lot, showering my daughter with bits and pieces of the plastic top of the engine. My daughter was shaken up but not hospitalized and her confidence in starting GM autos is "gone." GM claims that they are not responsible because there is 120,000 miles on the vehicle at the time of the explosion and will not provide any safety advice on starting the vehicle in the future. They also contend that the children were responsible for blowing up the car by starting it with jumper cables, although the dealer acknowledges that it was started in accordance with the owners manual. There seem to be unresolved safety issues here that GM does not want to acknowledge or admit to.

- Glasgow, MT, USA

Car went out of control after driver put the car into gear to move it from a parked, idling position, after noticing a burning like odor. It was noted by the driver at that time that the temperature gauge was in the red zone. When the driver attempted to move the car to a safer parking area only a few feet in distance, she heard a sharp snapping sound and also felt a vibration in the steering wheel/column area. The car suddenly lurched forward, the head lights and dash lighting went completely out as the car began accelerating out of control. In addition, there was no steering or brake control. No work has been done yet to correct these problems because an insurance company is involved.

- Frederick, MD, USA

One day it just got warm. We turned it off and the radiator bubbled. I let it cooled down. I checked the oil and water. It was probably a quart low and the oil looked a touch milky. Oil was not over full. I assumed it was fine. The next trip to town and back(about 20 miles round trip)it ran warm on the way home. When we got home the radiator was boiling a little bit again. After it cooled off I checked the water is half to three quarters gallon low on water. Oil was registering a little more than a quart over full and real milky looking. That is when I noticed there was a problem. I change oil and filter. Topped off water. I added some aluminum seal and topped off the water. After I did that it seemed like it was fixed for about 8 days then it did it again. I haven't started it or driven it since. It is going to cost about 500-800 dollars to get it fixed. My complaint is that General Motors knows about the intake manifold gasket problem but they won't recall any of these vehicles. There is even a petition online to get them to. My car is a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. I didn't feel like I should have to pay for their mistake. I can't afford to get it fixed and I am still making payments on it. I didn't want it to go to waste it is a very nice car. I really like my car. I wish I could drive it.

- North Bend, OR, USA

Passlock system failure 3 times in 100,000 miles $300 repair each time. Stranded in parking lots till the car resets then will start. My wife is scared to death when she is in the parking lot just sitting there waiting for the car to reset. Intake gasket failure 2 times in 100,000 miles $600 each time. Sub frame failure intermediate shaft failure 3 times.

- Camarillo, CA, USA

: the contact stated while driving 30 mph on normal road conditions, the engine stalled. There were no warnings prior to the incident. The vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who could not determine the cause of the problem.

- Greencastle, PA, USA

: the contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle stalled during startup and cruising. The engine stalled 35 times. The vehicle would usually restarted after 5 to 11 attempts. On 08/24/06, the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop who was unable to locate the cause of the problem. The manufacturer was contacted and a complaint was taken.

- Allen Park, MI, USA

The consumer stated while stopping at a red light a strange odor entered the vehicle followed by a loss of power steering. He managed to drive the vehicle to the dealer, where the dealer determined that vehicle was leaking power steering fluid. The dealer replaced the power steering fluid hose at the consumer expense. The consumer was told the serpentine needed to be replaced. There was damage to the suspension. Updated 01/11/06.

- Littleton, CO, USA

My 2000 Chevy Impala hesitates when it starts, it seems to get worst when it is about 90 degrees outside. Dealer replaced a couple of parts, but now the said they can't do anything else about it. I said that the should replace the engine for a new one. I am just a consumer.

- Rochester, MN, USA

Engine shuts down for no apparent reason. Almost like someone turned the ignition switch off. I purchased this 2000 chev. Impala ls in May 2005. On May 30, the engine coughed once but continued running smoothly, so I didn't consider it a problem. Then June 29 it coughed again but continued running smoothly. That evening on the way home from work with no warning, the engine just quit running. After it sat on the side of the road for a few minutes, I was able to start it and continue on my drive home. Since then, between July 5 and August 10, the engine shut down 7 times. 3 of those were on August 10. Each time, after a few minutes, I was able to restart it. I took it to a dealer for repair(power Chevrolet, irvine, ca),on August 12, after a short diagnosis, the complaint was signed off as" road test 5 miles unable to duplicate customer concern. Throttle body dirty, cleaned throttle body" since there had been a recall on a fuel pressure regulator the service rep. Had it replaced. I didn't receive the old regulator, but it didn't cure the problem of the engine shutting down for no apparent reason, because on August 22 it did it again (twice). Someone at GM needs to determine the cause of this problem and inform the service personnel of the fix. An inexperienced driver could be in real trouble if this happened.

- Irvine, CA, USA

While driving 20 mph consumer heard a knocing noise coming from the engine compartment. Dealrship was notifed, but did not resolve the problem.

- Temple, TX, USA

Consume stated vehicle was parked for one week, and upon getting back from vacation, consumer started the vehicle, and it blew up. Everything under the hood was broken in little pieces. Contacted the dealer. The vehicle was supposedly fixed.

- Warminster, PA, USA

Leak of coolant, low coolant light.

- The Woodlands, TX, USA

I filed this same complaint last year at the same time. The car operated fine for exactly one whole year after dealership replaced the fuel regulator. The failure is that the vehicle stalls while driving. When this occurs there is a total loss of power and control of the car. I am unable to steer, stop, everything locks up. The consequences of driving a car like this is me losing my life. On 11/29/04 is when the problem recurred. Then on 11/30 as I was driving to work it stalled with a public transportation bus on my tail, the car loss power. The bus driver was honking his horn and flashing his lights but showed little signs of slowing down for a car that was stalled out. I feel these vehicles with this problem should be totally recalled until the manufacturer can determine what is causing the problem. I am willing to allow them to troubleshoot my car to every extent. It has been at the dealership for almost 2 weeks and all they can say is to continue driving the car until it gets worse. That is definitely not an option as I did last year and they still were not able to fix the car. These cars are going to cause someone to lose their life if they haven't already and something needs to be done about it a.S.a.P. I refuse to pick up my car from the dealer until they have a fix, I also refuse to make another payment on the car until it is in working condition. I feel that either this car will explode on me the next time I attempt to crank it or I am going to be killed when it stalls while I am driving. My life is way more valuable than this car will ever be worth to anyone. I didn't get much assistance from you last year when I filed this complaint so I am hoping you have a new insight on the seriousness this car poses.

- Dania, FL, USA

While driving, the vehicle stalled. The consumer restarted vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. However, the mechanic could not duplicate the problem. The consumer informed the mechanic this problem occurred more than once, and the problem still had not been resolved.

- Anaheim, CA, USA