2002 Chevrolet IMPALA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
795 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 571 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 247 of 795 complaints (31.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 119 | 15.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 116 | 14.6% |
| Steering behavior | 76 | 9.6% |
| Engine operation | 45 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 27 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 247 |
| Engine | 75 |
| Exterior Lighting | 48 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 45 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 38 |
| Steering | 37 |
| Air Bags | 28 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 26 |
Electrical System: 247; Engine: 75; Exterior Lighting: 48; Engine And Engine Cooling: 45; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 38; Steering: 37; Air Bags: 28; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 26
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 59 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 97 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 109 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 107 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 130 |
| 150,000 and above | 69 |
Under 25,000: 59; 25,000 to 49,999: 97; 50,000 to 74,999: 109; 75,000 to 99,999: 107; 100,000 to 149,999: 130; 150,000 and above: 69
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (130). 224 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 43 |
| 2003 | 47 |
| 2004 | 37 |
| 2005 | 59 |
| 2006 | 62 |
| 2007 | 55 |
| 2008 | 75 |
| 2009 | 80 |
| 2010 | 57 |
| 2011 | 37 |
| 2012 | 25 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 79 |
| 2015 | 35 |
| 2016 | 48 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2001: 2; 2002: 43; 2003: 47; 2004: 37; 2005: 59; 2006: 62; 2007: 55; 2008: 75; 2009: 80; 2010: 57; 2011: 37; 2012: 25; 2013: 18; 2014: 79; 2015: 35; 2016: 48; 2017: 10; 2018: 7; 2019: 6; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 119 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 116 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 76 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001276 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
AN UNCONNECTED WIRE RENDERED THE VEHICLE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM INOPERABLE WHICH IN TURN RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003705 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
WHEN TRYING TO APPLY ANTI LOCK BRAKES BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID, RESULTING IN A COLLISION/INJURIES. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS...*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018535 · 2003-05-12 (May 12, 2003)
I WANTED HIM TO CHECK MY DRIVER SIDE BACK DOOR BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T OPEN VERY EASILY AT TIMES, AND THE WINDOW TO THAT SAME DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AT TIMES. ALSO, MY TRUNK WOULDN'T OPEN WHEN ONE WOULD USE THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON AT TIMES. I ALSO HAD HIM CHECK MY DIMMING HEADLIGHTS, MY STEERING WHICH HAD A JERK IN IT WHEN I WENT AROUND CURVES, CLICKING SOUND IN ENGINE AND AN OVER ALL CHECK SINCE MY WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO RUN OUT IN 1,000 MILES. TURN OUT-AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS HUMMING LIKE A HELICOPTER, MY BRAKES WERE HORR…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,860 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023264 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND STAYS ON. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG, AND RELATED WIRING AND COMPUTER COMPONENTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018052 · 2003-05-02 (May 2, 2003)
THE VEHICLES STEERING COLUMN WAS VERY LOOSE AND PRODUCED A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 8,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010549 · 2003-03-16 (March 16, 2003)
THE CAR STALLS ON THE FREEWAYS OR SIDE STREETS WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS, AND I LOSE CONTROL THE POWER OF THE CAR AND THE BRAKES. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE DEALERS ARE NOT ABLE TO REPAIR IT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 4,092 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010549 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015267 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
THE VEHICLE'S GAS TANK WOULD NOT FILL BECAUSE AIR HAD GOTTEN IN THE TANK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM ONE MUST HOLD THE GAS NOZZLE AWAY FROM THE FILLER TUBE AND RESTRICT THE FLOW. THE TIRE AND FUEL SYSTEM/TANK/INJECTORS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RATTLE SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE DUE TO THE INJECTORS THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. AFTER THE ENGINE IS HOT, THE NEXT TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN OVER BUT NO START AND RUN ROUGH. THE FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATED(NOT GIVING ACTUAL AMOUNT). THE SOLENOID WAS REPLACED DUE TO HANGING BY THE HOSE RETA…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051216 · 2003-12-28 (December 28, 2003)
CAR ROLLS BACKWARD ON AN INCLINE. I.E. AT A STOP LIGHT. MUST USE BOTH FEET (1 ON THE GAS AND 1 ON THE BRAKE) TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING INTO THE CAR BEHIND WHEN I AM ON A STEEP INCLINE. I HAVE DOCUMENTS FROM THE DEALER STATING THIS IS "NORMAL". THIS IS THE FIRST AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION I HAVE EVER OWNED THAT ROLLED BACKWARD WITHOUT STOPPING AFTER A FEW INCHES. THIS IS AN UNRESOLVED PROBLEM AND NOT JUST AN INCIDENT. FEBRUARY 1 2002 IS JUST A START DATE YOU CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY THAT I HAVE SEVERAL INCIDENTS EVERY DAY BECAUSE THIS TRANSMISION WILL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051216 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062035 · 2004-03-12 (March 12, 2004)
CODE P1811 CAME UP ON THE INFO SCREEN. THE PRESSURE CONTROL MODULE WENT OUT AND FRIED MY TRANSMISSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 45,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000847 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
MY 2002 CHEVEROLET IMPALA (8000 MILES) HAS DEVELOPED A THUDING LIKE TYPE NOISE IN THE GAS TANK OF THIS CAR... THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THIS IS A NORMAL SOUND... HAVE YOU HEARD OF ANY OTHER PROBLEMS REPORTED BY OHTER OWNERS OF 2002 IMPALAS??
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000847 at NHTSA ↗