2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA Complaints

A STATE INSPECTION @30,000 MILES REVEALED A BAD UPPER CONTROL ARM, LEFT AND RIGHT INNER TIE ROD ENDS AND BOTH MOTOR MOUNTS. MY MECHANIC FEELS AS THOUGH THESE PART FAILURES ARE VERY PREMATURE AND WERE CAUSED BY A VERY LOOSE STEERING RACK . HE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD CONTACT SOMEONE TO SEE IF THERE IS A REPAIR BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK A CAR SHOULD NEED THAT KIND OF FRONT END WORK A 30,000 MILES . I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT MY WIFE ,WHO DRIVES THE CAR ON A DAILY BASIS, IS AT RISK WHILE DRIVING HERSELF AND OUR 2 KIDS TO AND FROM THEIR DAILY ROUTINES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!! THANK YOU!! *NM

DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. MOISTURE CONDENSES ON FRONT OF ASSEMBLY OBSCURING LIGHT SOMEWHAT. *JB

2002 IMPALA LS WITH SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE FIRST PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE TURN SIGNALS GOING OUT. THEN THE RADIO WOULD NOT GO OFF EVEN WHEN THE KEYS WERE OUT AND DOORS LOCKED, AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK NO LONGER WORKS. WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR, I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN WAIT FOR IT TO FINALLY START. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER. THE HEADLIGHTS DON'T ALWAYS WORK - I TRY NOT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY'LL GO OUT. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WORKS ABOUT HALF THE TIME, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE OR HOW FAST I AM GOING. THE MESSAGE DISPLAY GOES BETWEEN "SECURITY", "HIGH BEAM OUT", "SERVICE ENGINE SOON", WHEN IT'S WORKING. THERE SEEMS TO BE A NEW ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT GOES OUT EACH DAY. *JB

WHILE ENGAGING IN A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN, A KNOCKING NOISE IS DETECTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL BOX. *JB

COMPLETE HEADLIGHT FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. COULD NOT GET HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. *NM

FRONT HEADLIGHT SEALED UNITS LEAK AND ALLOW MOISTURE TO COLLECT INSIDE WHICH REDUCES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LIGHT EMANATING FROM THE LAMPS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE FROM LOW TO HIGH BEAMS, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF, INTERMITTENTLY. THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON AFTER CHANGING FROM HIGH TO LOW A FEW TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DIMMER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - *NM

CAR WOULD NOT START. THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY OR POSSIBLY THE ALTERNATOR, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FAILED BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM). OUR CAR HAD ONLY 46,000 MILES WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE SHOULD BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL ON THE BCM GIVEN THE NUMEROUS BULLETINS AND COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE BCM BEFORE SOMEONE'S LOSES HIS OR HER LIFE AS A DIRECT OR INDIRECT RESULT OF ITS FAILURE. *JB

SEVERAL ELECTRICAL / SECURITY PROBLEMS - LIGHTS GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALSO AT TIMES WHEN APPROACHING CAR, IT WON'T START DUE TO SECURITY SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN STARTER CIRCUIT. ALTHOUGH THESE THINGS CORRECT THE PROBLEM AFTER WAITING, THE DEALER DOESN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT I PAY FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT MIGHT FIX THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE. *JB

PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA USED AT A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, IN LESS THAN 8 MONTHS I HAVE COME ACROSS TWO PROBLEMS. ONE, THE TURN SIGNAL STARTS ACTING UP AND AFFECTS THE SYSTEM AND THEY TELL ME IT IS THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ($400.00) AND THE SECOND, I NOTICED I HAD TO CONSTANTLY ADD COOLANT/WATER TO THE RADIATOR BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS, THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET AND THE COST IS ($1000). AS I AM DOING MY RESEARCH TO FIND A MORE REASONABLE COST TO WHICH I CAN ACCOMMODATE, I FIND THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE TOO COMMON IN THE VERSION OF THE MOTORS/STYLE OF VEHICLES. SO FAR, THAT EVEN TWO OF THE SHOPS I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR AN ESTIMATE HAVE SAID THEY ARE SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL, ESPECIALLY IN THE LOWER INTAKE PROBLEM. WHERE CAN I TURN TO, TO TRY TO GET HELP AND MAKE SURE THESE MANUFACTURERS TAKE CARE OF THESE ISSUES THAT ARE VERY COSTLY AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IN LESS THAN 3 TO 4 YEARS, THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY FOR THEM. THANK YOU!! *NM