2002 Chevrolet IMPALA: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

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 ↗

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER FRONT AIR BAG(S) ARE DEFECTIVE. RECALL #C020325. NHTSA#02V222000 SCC PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001976 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

AFTER SLOWING TO ENTER A DRIVEWAY THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO GAS PEDDLE. IT WOULD GO VERY SLOWLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PUSHED. IT WOULD NOT CORRECT ITSELF AFTER BEING STOPED AND TURNED OFF. HOWEVER AFTER BEING OFF SOMETIME IT WENT AWAY AND RESPONDED AS USUAL. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEPT. IT DID IT AGAIN BUT LATER THE SERVICE MAN SAID HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT, ALTHOUGH HE KNEW THAT IT DID IT ORIGINALLY.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005727 at NHTSA ↗

OWNER OF THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT. IT CONSISTED OF THE DRIVER HITTING AN 8 FOOT GATE AND KNOCKING IT DOWN. HITTING THE TRUCK PARKED IN THAT GATE WITH THE FORCE OF PUSHING IT INTO THE BUILDING, WHERE THE BUILDING WAS CRACKED ON THE INSIDE. ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL ITS NO REASON WHY THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED AT THIS TIME. I DAMAGED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE HAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. WHICH AS STATED THE OWNERS MANUAL ARE REASONS THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION . I KN…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,982 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007836 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

WE PURCHASED THIS IMPALA LS WITH 90 MILES ON IT (AS IT WAS DRIVEN UP FROM A DEALER IN NEW JERSEY). SINCE THE FIRST DAY WE HAD THE VEHICLE THERE HAS BEEN A CLEARANCE PROBLEM - WHEN GOING UP OR DOWN A NORMAL GARAGE OR DRIVEWAY INCLINE AT THE SLOWEST SPEED (EVEN BELOW 5 MPH), THE CAR BOTTOMS OUT. WE HAVE ADVISED BOTH PAUL CONTE AND THE GM CHEVY DIVISION OF THIS IMMEDIATELY AND REPEATEDLY. THEIR RESPONSE WAS, THE VEHICLE HAD A DESIGN FLAW. WE DO NOT FEEL CHEVROLET'S DESIGN FLAW SHOULD BE THE CONSUMER'S ISSUE. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *J…

Owner-reported narrative. 92 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010711 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-08-09 (August 9, 2002)

CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

Consequence: PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. 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 BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

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.