2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AT LEAST THREE TIMES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND FLAMES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CHEVROLET MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO INVESTIGATE THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

WE PURCHASED A 2009 CHEVY IMPALA IN APRIL . MY WIFE HAS A TAIL BONE MEDICAL ISSUE THAT NECESSITATES THAT SHE SIT ON A SPECIAL PILLOW WHILE RIDING IN A VEHICLE. THE SEAT DISPLACES HER WEIGHT EVENLY ACROSS THE SEAT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE HER WEIGHT SITTING ON THE SEAT, SO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DOESN'T SHOW IT IS OPERATIVE. WE RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD US TO SET A MAGAZINE UNDERNEATH HER TO MAKE THE SENSOR WORK. IT DOES ACTIVATE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON" BUTTON SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME IT WILL NOT ACTIVATE AND MY WIFE IS NOT PROTECTED. I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY SOLUTION TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE, EXCEPT TO TELL ME THAT MY WIFE SHOULD RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT! THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO FURTHER ANSWERS FOR US. WE ARE EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED THAT MY WIFE IS RIDING IN A BRAND NEW VEHICLE UNPROTECTED BY HER AIRBAG NEARLY ALL THE TIME. CAN YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE? THANK YOU! *TR

GM'S USE OF REVERSE LIGHTS AS "PERIMETER LIGHTING" IS EXTREMELY POORLY THOUGHT OUT. REVERSE LIGHTS INDICATE THAT A VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE MOTION. THEY SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. USING THEM AS PERIMETER LIGHTING IS EXTREMELY CONFUSING TO OTHER MOTORISTS. PICTURE THIS. A VEHICLE PULLS INTO A PARKING SPACE. ONE PERSON EXISTS THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS COME ON. APPROACHING DRIVERS ARE GOING TO EXPECT THAT THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, NOT THAT THE DRIVER HAS TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND IS WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO RETURN. THAT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE BUT IT ILLUSTRATES THE POINT. USAGE OF REVERSE LIGHTS FOR ANY OTHER USE IS CONFUSING AND MAY POTENTIALLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AS OTHER MOTORISTS AND EVEN PEDESTRIANS ARE CONFUSED. REMEMBER THAT REVERSE LIGHTS ARE ALSO A WARNING SIGNAL TO PEDESTRIANS THAT A VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE MOTION. I URGE NHTSA TO REVIEW THIS MATTER AND FORMALLY REQUEST THAT GM NOT ONLY CEASE INSTALLING THIS FEATURE IN NEW MODELS, BUT ALSO RECALL AND DISABLE IT FOR ALL PAST MODEL YEARS. *TR