2000 Chevrolet IMPALA: complaints, problems and recalls

VEHICLE STARTS ONE TIME DAILY AS OWNERS MANUAL STATES ON STARTING VEHICLE. THERE AFTER IT REQUIRES TWO TO FOUR EFFORTS TO START THE CAR WITH MULTIPLE CRANKS OF THE ENGINE. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL START THE FIRST TIME, AFTER THE CAR HAS FIRST BEEN STARTED, BUT MORE OFTEN IT WILL NOT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND ANY ENGINE CODES BUT ADVISED ME THAT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS LOOSE AND THEREFORE NOT COMMUNICATING TO THE COMPUTER PROPERLY. VEHICLE DRIVEN FROM DEALERSHIP, STOPPED, AND THIRTY MINUTES LATER IN TRYING TO STA…

Owner-reported narrative. 44,438 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000289 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL GO FORWARD AND CAUSE A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001309 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES AS ENGINE WAS STARTING THE VEHICLE BACK FIRED, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS REFERENCED IN EA02-030

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002016 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL MOVES MAKING NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002174 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED THAT SOME WIRES SHORTED OUT IN THE AIR BAG MODULE CAUSING AIR BAG TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002326 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES EACH TIME SHE DRIVES HER AUTO SHE HEARS A KNOCKING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK AUTO TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, TWICE SHE WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE, AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE AUTO. THE THIRD TIME THEY HEARD THE KNOCKING AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS HER STEERING SHAFT. SHE STATES THAT THIS NOISE STARTS WHILE SHE IS TURNING HER AUTO RIGHT OR LEFT, OR EVEN PARKING.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002574 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE AIR BAG COULD BE INOPERATIVE IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003903 at NHTSA ↗

PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK (SUPPOSEDLY NOT INTO ENGINE). I BELIEVE A RECALL EXISTS FOR THE 3.8 LITER "GENERATION II" ENGINE IN OTHER APPLICATIONS, BUT NOT IN THE 2000 (AND LATER) CHEVROLET IMPALA. REPAIR WAS MADE AT MY EXPENSE (OUTSIDE WARRANTY PERIOD), BUT I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN GM'S RECALL.

Owner-reported narrative. 47,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004891 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-08-07 (August 7, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 2000-11-13 (November 13, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE DRIVER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG INFLATOR SEPARATES FROM THE AIR BAG MODULE DURING DEPLOYMENT.

Consequence: IF THE INFLATOR SEPARATES, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY DURING A CRASH AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION WOULD BE REDUCED. IF IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT A SEPARATED INFLATOR COULD BE PROPELLED DOWNWARD AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO A REAR SEAT PASSENGER WHOSE FOOT IS POSITIONED APPROXIMATELY UNDER THE INFLATOR MODULE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG MODULE.

Reported: 2001-04-24 (April 24, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.4L ENGINE AND NON-ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." A FUEL RETURN LINE CAN BECOME SEVERED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, RESULTING IN FUEL SPILLAGE.

Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BRACKET THAT WILL MAINTAIN POSITIONING OF THE FUEL LINE IN A FRONTAL CRASH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020.

Reported: 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.

Consequence: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Reported: 2009-04-08 (April 8, 2009)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

Consequence: IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2014-07-03 (July 3, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

Reported: 2015-10-26 (October 26, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.