Hello I am very concerned about my problem because my Chevy Impala 2000 hasn't working properly I went to the store and I was in the parking lot for a couple hours trying to start my car I call a mechanic I know and told him what was my car doing and he told me that was the passlock theft- deterrent system the mechanic told me to go to the Chevy dealer to have them check it out and so I call the dealer and they told me I have to pay for them to just check it and it was alot of money plus to fix it I was so upset why I have to pay from my pocket if its not my fault I think its a defect on the manufacture car I live in Chicago and winter its around the corner and I don't want this happened to me again when im in the middle of snow storm and below zero and my car wont start again this is not a safe situation I was searching on the web and alot of people have the same problem and all cars are from General Motors corporation please please I need help!!

- Mundelein, IL, USA

Upon attempting to start the car, nothing happens when turning the key. Eventually the car will start after a long delay. This occurred intermittently over time, always requiring a long wait (and nothing else) before the car would start - resulting me being late for work or missing important meetings. On reading extensive reports of the very problem on the internet (on many GM years/models), I learned that it is a "safety" feature to prevent the car from being stolen a necessary computer reading of a chip in the key! further reading indicated that (1) this is a very common problem (2) GM charges over $1000 to "fix" the problem (verified by my GM dealer), and (3) the "fix" doesn't work (the problem continues)! eventually the problem disappeared, but has just recently reappeared with a vengeance! I have just learned that a company makes a wiring harness passcode bypass (at $250) that will stop this situation of the car not starting when the key is properly engaged. I can think of few design flaws that are potentially more dangerous (not to mention inconvenient) than having your car randomly refusing to start - for instance late at night in a parking lot or garage when stores are closing or closed - or when attempting to escape from a dangerous situation. This potentially dangerous circumstance far exceeds any benefit from protecting your car from being stolen by using a faulty passcode system. The remedy would be simple and inexpensive for GM to fix by either supplying new firmware to bypass the computer passcode system or even cheaper - the wiring harness passcode bypass currently for sale by an independent vendor.

- Chapel Hill, NC, USA

I have been experiencing this issue for over 1 year, but my Impala engine will just stop running while in travel up to 65 mph causing problems with inability to steer, or brake while in traffic. Numerous reports in online searches have indicated that there are many Impala owners that are experiencing the exact same issues, but according to them GM is not doing anything about the issue and those same owners are only paying high service fees at GM dealerships with the problem never being fixed. I suspect that in the future my Impala will be involved in a collision due to this problem, but I have no choice but to drive it as it is.

- Stevenson, AL, USA

I was pulling out of a parking lot and my vehicle suddenly shut off making me loose steering control and almost causing a bad accident. I managed to get the car to a stop and I restarted the ignition. I pulled off and sat in a lot for a few minutes. The next day I had the same problem while merging onto a main highway.

- Elmont, NY, USA

My wife went to start the car to move it out of the way and the engine exploded burst into flames, intake manifold was blown into pieces.

- Coolidge, AZ, USA

The blinkers quit working on you, you have to hit the 4 way switch and let it them blink 3 times before your blinkers will work again and there is times it don't work when you do that. Also the driver side seat belt gets jammed.

- Bettendorf, IA, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, the vehicle stalled and was unable to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the ignition switch was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 36,473 and the current mileage was 42,000. Updated 06/10/14 MA the consumer managed to jiggle the key, and she was able to re-start the vehicle. Updated 07/01/14

- Aurora, CO, USA

I have a 2000 Chevy Impala that I just bought, when I'm driving it has a burning smell to it and it dropping oilfrom some where. And it runs hot, I have to turn the heat on so the temperature gauge will go down.

- Pontiac , MI, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning while the contact was driving 70 mph. The contact attempted to start the vehicle however, the anti-theft security light illuminated and prevented the vehicle from being started. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was unable to be diagnosed. The current mileage was 100,000 and the failure mileage was 130,000.

- Anderson, IN, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving 15 mph, dark grey smoke started to emit from the engine compartment. The contact mentioned that the ABS warning illuminated and seconds after noticing the smoke, flames started to emit from under the hood. The fire department was contacted who verified that the failure was due to an electrical failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure and current mileage was 108,000.

- Rochester, NY, USA

I have had this car since it was new. In 2008 it died on my wife, luckily she was able to pull over to the side of the road. To make a long story short she has never drove it since. I have spent about a $1000 bucks trying to find out what is going on. It will start up after you get stopped and put it in park. I have took it to the Chevy dealer and left it with them and it never acts up so they are not any help. You never know when it is going to die on you so you must always drive in the right lane so you can pull over. You loose power steering and power brakes. I have called GM and ask them about it but they just say there is not a recall on my car.after watching tv about all the GM cars that are dyeing I think my car is doing the same thing. I think it is the key switch. I like the old car and would like to keep it but I'm about scared to drive it.I am 68 years old now and don't have so much get up and go as I once had.

- Alexander, AR, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle suddenly decelerated and became unresponsive. The failure recurred sporadically. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the ignition switch was replaced. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 82,897.

- Brewster, MA, USA

Saw recent GM recall for Chevy cobalt, Saturn, etc. Regarding engine dying unexpectedly while driving on the road (bad ignition switch). My Impala has the same symptom and if you search the internet for "why does Impala die while driving" it is a common problem for this model. My Impala will be running smooth, speed from 30 to 60, but slowing down for any reason, sometimes the engine just dies. This is especially dangerous when slowing down for a turn. All of a sudden no power steering and limited brakes. This is a very dangerous situation, I don't want to drive the car. There is no indication like rough engine or the car stumbling from lack of gas, it just quietly dies. If this ignition switch is the cause, this recall should be expanded to include Impala's at least. I called the local Chevrolet dealer and they basically said, well it's a 14 year old car. Not the point! my older cars don't do this. Search the internet, people have tried many things but the problem seems to persist. Chevrolet has to know what the problem is.

- Kirkland, WA, USA

Driving freeway speeds around 60 car shuts of very dangers. Then car started back after 10min.

- Fridley, MN, USA

The car has a problem with the passlock/BCM system. I have tried numerous times to fix the problem with the car. The BCM needs replacement it is a very known and common problem that GM is well aware of. The passlock system in the ignition cylinder will either go bad or short out and then the BCM will see it as the car is being stolen and then shut down the fuel injections and the starter preventing the car from being started. I am so sick and tired of doing the relearn of the BCM/ignition so that I can start my [xxx] car. The needs to be a major recall on the Chevy line with the pass lock II system installed in it!!!!!! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Springfield, MO, USA

My battery was dead, so I put a battery charger on the battery, then went to start the car. I turned the key for about three revolutions and then the car exploded! I wasn't sure what happened because I was sitting inside the car and there was snow on the windshield. I got out and there was plastic parts all around the car, and there were flames coming from the motor!

- North Pole, AK, USA

I purchased my brother-in-law's car in March. In August, while I was parked outside a friend's home, the car caught fire. No one was in the car and the keys were with me. After online investigation, we found that the car had a recall on it in 2009. My brother-in-law was never notified so neither were we. Our first step was to contact GM who said there was nothing they planned on doing about this. We contacted the BBB who also contacted GM. GM then called us and again said there was nothing they could do. I feel there is plenty they can do. What about if my daughter and I had been in the car" how about if I had needed time off from work" I had to purchase another vehicle I was not prepared to purchase. We have the recall information, pictures from the fire, and a letter from GM if you are interested. I feel there must be some sort of compensation for this. The recall was because of their mess up in the factory and they failed to notify my brother-in-law. If GM had done what they were supposed to do, the fire would never have happened.

- Auburn, ME, USA

Driving along and security light came on and car died. Waited some time after pulling over and car started sometimes car will not start right away because of security light this is random and very annoying as you do not know when the car is going to die. Dealer wants to replace parts that are very expensive and I did this once before (out of warranty) and can't see doing it again if this is not a fix.

- Hhazlet, NJ, USA

As I was pulling into traffic on a major highway....the car stalled and I was almost taken out by a semi......twice!!!!!!!! this car should be fixed by GM due to the passlock problem which was my original problem...the BCM was replaced and reprogrammed now this stalling and the air not working is not only unfair but unsafe. Paid alot of money for my car to come back unsafe.....and I have talked to numerous owners of these cars....don't matter how much or who U pay to reprogram...still same problem.

- Merritt Island , FL, USA

My 2000 Chevy Impala decides not to start on some days. At first, it was very infrequent and now its happening more and more often. When I turn the key to start my car, the only thing that happens is the security light turns on. After about 10 minutes the my car suddently starts up again. From what I read online and on youtube, this problem is notorious with a lot of GM vehicles. Not a lot of mechanics know what the problem is and I dont have the time or money to have it serviced multiple times. I do not understand why there has not been a recall for this obvious malfunction. I know that my next car will not be a GM.

- Lombard, IL, USA