10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
45,751 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #15

Apr 032011

Impala 6-cyl

  • 123,000 miles
I fell asleep at the wheel and was heading straight for a telephone pole. I awoke at last second and managed to swerve to avoid hitting pole head on, in which case I would probably be dead. Doctors said I was lucky to be alive even though I wore my seatbelt B/C the car hit the pole and then flipped over 2 or 3 times before landing on its hood with me trapped inside. The jaws of life were used to help pull my passenger door off enough to get me out of car onto a flatboard, once they had me in a neckbrace, that is. The reason I am making a complaint is because I leased this car at a very high percentage rate and was more than 75% done paying it off and now I have nothing. The '02 Chevrolet Impala had front airbags, (at least that's what they said when they sold me the car), however, neither deployed in the accident and I sustained a serious injury to my whole left side. My head and shoulder went right through the drivers side window, hitting the pavement, and I have nerve damage now B/C of this. My left arm is now tingling and going numb, which comes down from a pinched nerve in my neck. I will need to go to physical therapy once I am able. I am on high dose pain meds. Right now and can barely walk. I now wonder if the airbags had been deployed already sometime B/F I bought the car, put back in used, and that is why neither came out when they should have. I am thinking about contacting a lawyer regarding this situation. Do your have any suggestions on this? thank you and please get back to me as soon as possible. As time is of the essence in this situation.

- Chepachet, RI, USA

problem #14

Jan 012009

Impala

  • 20,000 miles
Chevrolet customer service states that the NHTSA campaign notices - 07E021000 & 02V222000 - do not apply to my 2002 Chevy Impala ls. Chevrolet does not recognize or cross reference your campaign numbers. They stated to me that the information provided by NHTSA is "false". I think Chevrolet customer service is lying. Help needed. Please don't send me some legal jargon answer.

- Kirkland, WA, USA

problem #13

Mar 162009

Impala

  • 77,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Impala. When the vehicle was started, the driver and passenger side air bags deployed without an impact or crash occurring. The contact was slightly injured during the deployment. The insurance company took the vehicle to the dealer to be inspected by a GM engineer. The cause of the failure has not been determined and the vehicle is waiting to be repaired. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that a field technician would come out to inspect the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were 77,000.

- Beaver Falls , PA, USA

problem #12

Oct 312008

Impala

  • 189,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Impala. While approaching a stop light at 5 mph, the air bags deployed. The windshield was damaged, but the vehicle was still able to be driven. General Motors inspected the vehicle, but would not provide an explanation of what caused the failure. The vehicle has not yet been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 189,000.

- San Louis, MO, USA

problem #11

Jul 302008

Impala

  • miles
Car would not start changed passlock and still will not start. Security light is on, radio is locked and the Chevy dealership does not know what is wrong with it, they are guessing that is the BCM and the SDM but they cannot promise that it will work.

- Moncks Corner, SC, USA

problem #10

Jul 292006

Impala 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 14,000 miles
- the contact stated that while driving at speed of 55 mph the air bags deployed unexpectedly. The contact noticed that air bag indicator lights, headlights, speedometer and gas gauge were turning on and off. Both the weather and road conditions were good. The contact stated that when she took foot off the accelerator the airbags deployed on both the driver 's side and passenger side of vehicle. The contact was able to get the vehicle to the side of the road when the horn started sounding. The horn had to be disengaged manually. Then the vehicle was towed. The contact stated that the insurance company would not cover the expense of the repairs because the contact didn't strike anything. The dealership said that the repair will cost $3,000. Updated 02/27/07.

- Kerman, CA, USA

problem #9

Jul 182004

Impala 6-cyl

  • 53,000 miles
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.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #8

Jun 172005

Impala 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles
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.

- Frankfort, IL, USA

problem #7

Mar 082004

Impala 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles
After a 45 mph frontal collision front air bags did not deploy. Two people were injured. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

- La Vergne, TN, USA

problem #6

Nov 222003

Impala 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles
While driving across an intersection, going 5 mph the consumers vehicle T-boned and the air bags did not deploy. Consumer had the vehicle towed.

- Southport, NC, USA

problem #5

Jul 302003

Impala

  • miles
While driving at normal speed consumer lost control, and had a front and center collision. Upon impact, neither air bag deployed. Dealer notified.

- Needham, MA, USA

problem #4

Jun 252002

Impala 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,261 miles
While driving, the vehicle was involved in a front/center collision and none of the air bags deployed upon impact. The windshield shattered upon impact injuring the consumer. Safety devices didn't perform as advertised.

- Needham, MA, USA

problem #3

Jun 012003

Impala 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,000 miles
Air bag warning light comes on when turning to the right and stays on. Driver's side air bag, and related wiring and computer components have to be replaced.

- Babylon, NY, USA

problem #2

Jan 162003

(reported on)

Impala 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The consumer states that the driver front air bag(s) are defective. Recall #C020325. NHTSA#02V222000 scc

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #1

Oct 072002

Impala

  • miles
The air bags failied to deploy during an accident.

- Concord, OH, USA