1.7
hardly worth mentioning- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 97,200 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.
Starting with the 2000 Chevy Impala they have a windshield wiper problem, where if heavy snows slides off the roof onto the windshield, or if the wipers are frozen to the windshield when you operate the wipers, it bends a tab under the wiper mechanism and causes the wipers to park in the outwipe condition when turned off instead of out of the way of the drivers vision just under the front hood. They park straight up causing a dangerous obstruction in the drivers view. There have been hundreds of postings on the internet where Impala owners have had this problem specifically in the states that experience freezing weather and snow. Some have stated after paying from $75 to $300 to have it repaired the problem would return. Perhaps a very poor design on gms part but to this date GM has not instituted a recall. GM has acknowledged the problem and designed replacement kit for the bent tab at great expense for the owner to have it repaired.
- Antioch, IL, USA
I purchased the vehicle used from another dealer in 2003. I started experiencing problems with the security system in November 2005, it would not start sometimes light would flash and after 20 minutes it starts. The problem went away until last November, and then it would do it about 2-3X a week. In February 2009 I had to replace my lower intake manifold gasket, water pump and battery. The summer 09 I had to replace the radiator due to a hairline crack in it. The security system starts to intermittently not start the vehicle again in late Sep. 09 about 2-3X per week. In Jan.2010 the vehicle doesn't start for me one day after coming out of the grocery store for 25 minutes. Since then it does it every morning when I go to take my child to school and I have to wait 10-20 minutes. I took the vehicle to the GM dealer and was told they weren't familiar with this problem and I needed $950 for parts and labor to replace the ignition switch and the BCM. I had the ignition switch replaced by another mechanic and that was not the problem and the vehicle is still doing the same thing. It's frustrating for me and my child. It's scary and dangerous. I'm so afraid that one day or night it may not start and I'm stranded in the streets and may be subjected to a crime or death. I don't drive it at night unless it's an extreme emergency now and this is such an inconvenience. I have to pay for rides at times to get my child to and from school when this car decides not to start so my child won't be late for school or getting picked up from school. I've also had to replace my windshield wiper motor and my driver's side door window regulator.
- Southfield, MI, USA
Bought the car from a relative. Has had the problem the entire time I owned it. I was told to just never use the high beams. They don't stay on anyway. I recently spoke to a Chevrolet mechanic that stated that almost all Impala that come in on trade have a defective headlight dimmer switch. $300-400 repair. I have no high beams. Switch has been bad entire time. But if every Impala that comes into the dealership has this issue why is there no recall. I ask every Impala owner to file a complaint. Especially since sometimes the lights just go out, which may cause an accident. Lets get this taken care of. Especially since GM knows of the problem and is doing nothing to address it. Also have the problem with the wipers going to the full up position when turning them off. Heard this is also a common problem.
- Susquehanna, PA, USA
My 2002 Chevrolet imapla's windshield wiper transmission has failed. I believe this happens when freezing rain or even a small amount of ice or snow accumulates on the windshield and isn't completely cleared before turning the wipers on. Now the windshield wipers do not function and obviously this is very dangerous when it begins to rain or snow as one cannot see clearly when driving. I have heard that this is a very common problem especially for Impala in recent years, so I feel that the part should be recalled. This has happened to me at least two other times, and now a third time where I believe the part is damaged to the point where it must be replaced. The previous two times the mechanic was able to re-set the wipers for cheap, but the most recent visit he said it would need to be replaced. I have not replaced the part yet as I do not travel far or in poor weather, but I will be doing so in the very near future.
- Duluth, MN, USA
- Cincinnati, OH, USA