8.0
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $330
- Average Mileage:
- 123,500 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 2 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace entire wiring harness for headlights (2 reports)
After I bought this car, I wasn't aware of the problem untill I drove at night, at which time I noticed that the low beam headlights didn't work. The high beams worked fine. I bought new lamps for it, and when I removed the headlight assembly, I noticed that the plastic connectors that plug into the lamps were burnt and melted. I took the car to a reputable wiring mechanic who said he would have to order the connectors. He called a Chevy dealer and found out that they do not sell the connectors by themselves. You have to buy the whole wiring harness for the lights, which cost $45 apiece, plus installation. They also told my mechanic that this happens a lot with this model car. They said that the halogen bulb gets so hot, it actually melts the plastic connector. If this is so, why haven't they fixed this problem?
This is a very dangerous malfunction, as it could cause a serious accident resulting in injury or death. I can't believe they haven't recalled these cars to be fixed. And evidently, they don't know how to fix it if all they are going to do is sell you the same part that malfunctioned in the first place. It's going to cost me about $150 to replace 2 little plastic connectors that would otherwise cost about $2.00 apiece. If the dealer knew about this problem, then it stands to reason that General Motors knows about it. And if they do, they are acting very irresponsible by not doing anything about it. Do they think the problem will just go away if they ignore it?
Something very bad is going to happen because of this problem, and people are going to be killed. How do you go about reporting something like this? Does anybody else have this problem?
- Larry P., Cross Plains, TX, US
I think this is a manufacturer's defect not only with the Impala but all Chevy vehicles. Pay attention all. The one light cars you meet on the road, at least half will be Chevy. They first start burning out the headlight, then it get internally where you have to change the whole thing out, and even after that the problem comes back. They last a while, but eventually ruin something new each time. There is always money to be spent to maintain a Chevy.
- An A., Ville Platte, LA, US