8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$440
Average Mileage:
107,000 miles
Total Complaints:
2 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (1 reports)
  2. replaced master brake cylinder (1 reports)
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problem #2

May 222009

Impala 3.4L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,300 miles

so i got my 100K service done 10 days ago *(5.12.9), had Transmission fluid flushed, brake fluid flushed, coolant flushed. transmission diagnosed *(have issues but they didnt find anything, read about it in my next complaint). brake rotors inspected *(when cruising and applying brakes, steering wheel/car shakes, im assuming rotors are warped but dealer didnt find anything wrong.)

back to brake issue: 100K service was done on 5.12.9.

i called the dealer back few days later because my brake pedal/brakes started feeling like something's wrong. normally when you apply brakes you can push on the pedal and it drops a little or a lot depending on how hard you push, and therefore stops the car faster or slower. but for me the pedal would either drop under my foot at very little pressure, or whats even weirder it wouldn't drop at all *(im talking like 1/8 of an inch maybe and that would cause car to stop completely). so dealer told me to bring car in next week, but surprise surprise. on my drive home from work *(9 miles, mostly downhill/ lots of lights/traffic) brakes started failing completely, basically only initial pump on the brakes would work causing car to slow down, and then with in a second or two, brake pedal would completely give out under my foot and since initial pump doesnt stop the car *( when u going 45 - 55 mph on major 3 lane street, its not like i would basically slam the brakes to stop) pedal would drop out and car would keep going, causing me to keep pumping the brakes *(scary stuff, seriosly freaked out) on a 15 min drive it felt like brakes kept getting worst every time i had to use brakes. the only thing that i got lucky with, was that the dealler location was on my drive home about a mile before my place, so i pulled in, explained what happened, left the car there. got a call back about 5 hours later and $500 estimate for failed brake cylinder? i think thats what he said its called.

my biggest complaint: car was running well *(considering it has 100K) and right after the service my brakes failed. possible dealer did something in the process??

- Roman L., Carlsbad, CA, US

problem #1

Aug 082007

Impala LS 3.4L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 113,629 miles

There is no way to tell what caused the brake fluid to change color but it was dissolving the rubber components of the master brake cylinder. Works well now.

- David C., Campbell River, BC, Canada