I bought a chevy impala 3.8 year 2000 and I am surprised my family is not dead yet this is the scariest car I have ever owned car just shuts off going down the highway then maybe it will start maybe not check engine light stays on changed the crank shaft sensor mass air flow sensor fuel pump filters/all filters had it checked on the computer speed odometer wacked out rpms wacked out security light on I am about to just trash this car I cant afford the false repairs I am beginning to HATE CHEVY please FIX this problem if I die driving this car then I hope Chevy pays my family for their lose cause it will happen soon if I don't get the problem fixed.....I cant take it.....My kids don't want to ride in the car cause they might end up walking this car is ruining my life.....

My car wouldn't turn on but all the lights and car radio worked. Security light kept blinking. Removed car battery, got it checked out, wasnt it. read about everyone else's issues with passlock and theft deterrent issues. Tried resetting all that too. None of it worked. Had mechanic look at it and it turns out that the car was never fully shifted into Park (although the gear stick was in park), preventing the car to turn on. He said that the gears in Impalas stick easily so next time make sure that it is FULLY shifted into Park! Hope this helps!

I bought the Chevy Impala new in 1999, always had problem with having to wait 30 minutes or so before car would start when the security light came on, car left me stranded time and time again. My car has 165,000 on odometer, and it is a crying shame that I just recently figured out how to get the security light off and avoid 30 minute waits before car would start. When security light comes on when I am driving, I will push all electrical windows, door locks, lights, etc., repeatedly, especially power door locks. Security light stays on while ignition is on, but when I stop the car, turn the key off, and turn it back on, the security light goes off and car starts right up!

If security light comes on after turning car off, I do the same thing, just keep working power door locks, windows, open and close doors, push power buttons repeatedly, turning key off and on again, until it starts. Love my car!

I inherited a 2000 Impala with less than 5K miles on it in 2006. Since then, I have added that mileage to 16K. My problem comes when I am driving and the SECURITY light comes on and then the car shuts down. It is very scary. I had it towed so many times to the dealership and my mechanic and no one can pinpoint anything specific, so that means lots of diagnostics and changing out of parts.....very expensive. I cannot keep spending but I am getting to my breaking point....esp after the reading the blogs and that has been a long-standing problem.Last week while I was sitting and waiting at my mechanic, a couple came in with the same problem! Trouble is...the car runs great until it shuts down out of the blue. After reading so many entries on this problem....I am wondering if it is connected to that Pass-Lock system, I read where one fellow found a way to bypass it.I just don't know and neither does the dealership or the mechanics I use. Really feel that after reading all these blogs that GM was being a turkey about admitting the problem. If anyone has a solution or suggestion please let me know.

Don't get me wrong, I really love my 2000 chevy impala. It has taken me everywhere, and is comfortable and dependable. I bought it used, so I knew it was going to have its little quirks. But the one that drives me crazy the most is that damn so called security system that leaves you stranded at the worst times. I found out by trial and error that turning the ignition to "on" and letting it sit there until the stupid security light quits blinking, turn it off, take the key out, wait a minute and then crank it. 90% of the time it works. I don't know why the hell chevy would put such a piece of crap "security" system in otherwise great cars. I would love to just have it removed.

This was sent to GM today: I drove my 2000 Impala LS to work this week to save gas. I had not driven it in over a half year. The security light stayed on all the way for 1.5 hours. Looking on the web I see where many, many others have the same issue. Before this the car would not crank sometimes. From the comments on the web the security light and cranking and all related. I put another alternator on thinking that was the issue. This did not fix the cranking problem and the Security light issue has started. Could you please tell me what GM plans to do to correct this issue?

Update from Feb 16, 2015: I now have 103,000 miles on my 2000 Chey Impala. Previously I could play with the ignition and it started. Now it just makes a clicking sound and none of the electrical features works. Door lock, radio, windows, nothing at all. I bought another car because of this repeat issue and will never buy another American car again. GM has never responded to me or other owners with the same issues. I sent a compliant to the BBB and got no help there either. Something has to give for all of these owners sake.

GM needs to take care of this problem. This will be the last Chevy/GM vehicle I will ever own!!! First there were steering problems that were never fixed, they just did a band aid repair to make it last until it was out of warranty. Now I'm having problems with the passlock system that everyone else is having issues with, power seats malfunctions and seat heater not working anymore, power window problems, dash instrument problem that had to be fixed. This car has been nothing but a major Lemon!!! I got 2 more years until my Toyota truck is paid off, then I will be replacing my wife's Chevy Impala with a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord....Pluck Yew GM!!

Update from Jul 28, 2014: Just updating that I no longer own this POS and my wife and I purchased a toyota certified used 2011 camry that has been wonderful to own. I will never own another GM vehicle again! I finally see that they are starting to take some action for the sh*t they have been sweeping under the rug for years.

I'm sick of being stranded bc of an electrical problem that seems to occur with ALL 2000 Impalas!!! Passlock system is completely outta whack. The security light is almost always flashing and my car never ever starts when I need to be somewhere important. I get stranded EVERYWHERE... at least 5 times a month, my kids are almost always late to school as I am to work. You'd think that after thousands of complaints that Chevy would step up and do something about it! I've been dealing with this for years and I am really tired of it. I love my Impala, but its the most unreliable car and its not even paid off yet. I could list for days the problems with this car. All Id really like is for this piece of junk to get me from point A to point B. Sounds reasonable to me. Come on GM and do something about it! I'll never buy another chevy.

Went to the dealership ask if they know what the problem was, and they don't know sh*t. all they wanted to do is fix every and any problem I had in my car. I've been dealing with this for over seven years and I am really tied of it, I love my impala and hate to have to get rid of it. No one seems to know what the problem is. The dealership charged me over ten dollars to replace the key. Did not have a problem with the security for about six months. Well the problem is back and I don't want to keep buying a key. I personally think that GM should man up and take care of the problem, But as always it won't be profitable for them. It is sad that the GM owners have to deal with this problem on there own. I am really F*CKEN MAD ABOUT THIS..............

1) I had same problem with my 00 Impala. I disassembled the ignition switch assembly and removed the lock cylinder. Inside the lock cylinder is a electronic device that has three pins in it. I opted to remove mine and clean the contact's myself. I removed the ignition switch from the cylinder and opened it up, as I did this some of the contacts and springs fell out, don't panic, if you can remove the ignition from the car you can figure out how to put it back together. I used my rotary tool's brass brush to clean them up, I've heard of others using emery cloth, what ever works, you really can't damage them. I haven't had any problems since. I sprayed some deoxit (tradename) on the pins, reassembled and no more problemo. I knew it was not the BCM in my case because the remote start on my car would work flawlessly, injecting the passlock code into the obd bus, bypassing the intermittent lock cylinder passlock device.

2) in more cases than not it is the lock cylinder i am a gm technician so i have dealt with these issues on a regular basis

3) INTERMITANT STARTING PROBLEM- "wait ten minutes thing" "reset computer thing" problem is in the ignition switch. Not the lock cylinder, but the switch attached to it. Inside the switch there are six metals contacts that resemble fingers, they make contact in a set pattern when you turn the key, the problem is these contacts are metal and when they open and close they are prone to arching which in turn creates carbon build up. Your passlock system reads the resistance from these contacts to determine if the vehicle is being stolen, the more build up, the more resistance and your computer thinks you are jacking the car. You can buy a new switch from any parts house for around $120.00,

GM claims they don't know what the problem is, SHAME on them. DO NOT SPEND ANYMORE MONEY on computers or sensors, and ask yourself how much, do you trust your mechanic?

About 3 yrs ago, after a break-in where my ignition switch on steering column was slightly damaged, I noticed problems with security light/starting problem and went to my local dealer. They replaced a few parts under warranty 3years ago. They also wanted to replace my battery which was brand new, I refused. I always got it started with in 15 mins. Then next time I pressed lock/unlock switch on inside driver door, this worked immediately. I have been doing this for about 3 years now without being stranded, only acting up for 15 seconds. I don't have other issues with car, works great. Sounds like I am one of lucky ones. Try this, I hope it works for you.

Hey guys I have had the same problem for about a year and I have tried changing starters ,key cylinders batteries I have done the wait 1o min key in the on position thing and it worked for a bit but wasn’t 100%

I was sick of the dealerships dicking me around and mechanics…. So I did some research my self and found a Permanent fix for this Security problem, I haven’t had this problem happen since no more unreliable car :D:D

If you need help please email me at jonotucker@hotmail.com

I have been reading complaints on here about my car. I was really surprised at the amount of people having the same problem! I am having the same problem as everyone else with the BCM and then the Passlock sensor and then the Ignition switch. Please take the time to read this as this is one of the worst examples of customer service I have ever heard of in my entire life! I called the dealership about having the bcm reprogrammed in my Impala. They stated we need the car and the new part and the cost is $90.00! No problem right? Guess again! First off, they try and tell me my battery is dead (as I have read many of you have been told) so I had the battery tested it was fine and they made me come up to the dealership and take it out myself and go get it tested and reinstall it. I then received a call from the dealership asking me where the old BCM is! I informed them that Autozone required the old one for a core before giving me the new one! The dealership said they needed the old one to get the codes out of! I asked them if the old one was bad and not working how they planned on getting the codes out. For this they had no answer and informed me that the price for programing now goes up to $278.00 when they are the ones that have the codes in there Tech 2 programmer!. I said fine just fix my car. Problem solved right, guess again. The dealership then calls me back and says it is programed but now your car will still not start and the lights just keep flickering. As any normal human would, I asked what is the problem now and their response was " We don't know. You didn't tell us to fix it"! If I knew the problem it would not be at the dealership! I also said well it did nothing before and now it flickers and won't start maybe its something wrong with the programing. Again there only response was I don't know! So they said we can run tests to see and I said fine! Problem solved again right? Again guess again!!!! The next morning I get another call saying the Passlock sensor and the Ignition switch is bad and now the cost goes up to $1251.00!!!!!!!!!! SO from $90 to $1251.00 in two days!!!! That is when I did some research and found this website and others slam full of the exact same problems and complaints about the same problem! So as many of you I called GM! Problem solved right? Once again guess again! I called GM and spoke to customer service and told them of the problems and all the information and complaints I have found about this same problem. I also said they should help me since this seems to be a problem across the board with this model! She informed me she has heard this same problem many times before! She called the dealership who told them I misused this car and I did not have that part serviced as I should! OK first how do you miss use the car by simply driving it back and fourth to work? I then asked how do you service a part that is under the dash and you need a $4000.00 dollar computer to service that only the dealership has codes for? Her response was" Well even though we are aware of this problem that at this time we are not going to do anything for you"! So I asked her that if this was her car that she worked hard for and she had a problem that everyone else was having the exact same problem would she have a hard time paying $1251.00 of her hard earned money to fix especially when Gm was aware of the problem? Her response was I am not allowed to answer that! So I then asked to speak to her boss! She put a lady on the phone and I had to start all over again! I explained to her that I know parts wear out on cars! Starters go bad, alternators wear out! Yet this is a problem that GM is aware of that they have and as a good faith in talking care of a customer complaint and problem that they are fully aware of that they should pay for this repair and that I would even pay half the labor for! I even made her aware of this website and a few others that all state the same problems word for word! Her response to me was" We do not listen to customer complaints to determine if we have a problem with a particular model or system"! My jaw hit the floor! I asked her who in the heck are the ones buying these cars and having these problems so who should you listen to? She said we have a customer website for that! Now here is my challenge to you! Go to the customer service website and type in the word complaint and see what you get! I will save you the time! All you get is owners manuals!!! I have filled a complaint with the NTSB as many of you have as well! I have contacted the local news who have segment for consumer affairs! I have also found a class action lawsuit against GM for this Passlock system that I am joining! I urge all of you to do the same and not be taken for a dealership or company who will not stand behind there products! I can not believe my hard earned tax dollars are going to bail out these companies and this is how they treat the very customers who are paying for it and sticking by them! Well no more! I will never own another Chevy as long as I live!