2001 Chevrolet Impala Fuel System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD BACK FIRE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, FOLLOWED BY SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,711. ...UPDATED 03/27/13 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD DISPLAY THE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEVEL WAS MORE THAN THE CAPACITY IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 10/4/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER FILLING THE TANK TO CAPACITY, THE GAUGE WOULD ONLY READ 1/4 TANK TO 3/4 FULL. UPDATED 10/24/11

PROBLEM: THE GAS METER IS NOT ACCURATE, IT GIVES ME FALSE READINGS WHICH RESULT IN ME RUNNING OUT OF GAS OR OVER FILL MY GAS TANK. I NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE! THE GAS METER USUALLY READS FULL BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. WHILE DRIVING THE GAS METER WANDERS BACK AND FORTH FROM FULL TO EMPTY. I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR FAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. PLEASE HELP ME!

CHEVROLET IMPALA LS 2001 HAVE A DEFECT WHERE THE GAS GAUGE MOVES UP AND DOWN CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I DRIVE! YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE BECAUSE THE GAS GAUGE IS NOT ACCURATE. WHICH LEADS TO RUNNING OUT OF GAS OR OVER FILLING. I DON'T THINK IT CAN BE FIX. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT ITS JUST A DEFECT. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA WITH A 3.8L V6. TODAY AROUND 3:30 CENTRAL TIME I WENT OUTSIDE TO START MY VEHICLE AND I SAW THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD SO I GOT ANOTHER VEHICLE OF MINE AND PUT ON MY JUMPER CABLES AND ALLOWED THE BATTERY TO CHARGE, AFTER WAITING FOR IT TO CHARGE, I TURNED THE KEY. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, AND THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS SO LARGE I HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT IT OUT, THEY WROTE A REPORT ON THE INCIDENT. I HAD PLASTIC PIECES ALL OVER. I WOULD TO KNOW WHY I HAVEN'T RECIEVED A RECALL ON THIS IF THERE HAS BEEN REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE.

2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES. HE HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL RAIL HAD RUPTURED AND SPRAYED GASOLINE THROUGH THE HOT ENGINE. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE FILLED THE FUEL TANK AND RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD REGISTER THAT THE TANK WAS EMPTY. AFTER A FEW DAYS, THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD REGISTER EMPTY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. SHE HAD TO REFILL THE TANK TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY BE THE FUEL PUMP OR FUEL FILTER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 114,000

01 CHEVY IMPALA FUEL PUMP ISSUES HAS CORRECTED PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES IN WHICH IS A KNOWN DEFECT, OTHER NITE CAR SHUT DOWN ON SPEEDING HIGHWAY WITHOUT REASON OR WARNING. *TR

MY VEHICLE WAS A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA, ( CITY POLICE VEHICLE) 02/17/10 I WENT OUT IN THE MORNING TO START THE CAR PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. UPON TURNING THE IGNITION TO THE ON POSITION THERE WAS A SONIC BOOM. (SO MUCH THAT IT SHOOK OUR HOUSE)THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BEGAN SMOKING MY HUSBAND ( A FIREMAN) RETURNED TO THE CAR AND SLIGHTLY LIFTED THE HOOD AND FOUND IT HAD FLASHED OVER AND WAS TOTALLY INVOLVED. 911 WAS CALLED AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMES. THIS IS CITY POLICE VEHICLE SO NOT SURE WHAT IF ANYTHING WILL BE DONE BUT I WANTED TO REPORT THE INCIDENT IN HOPES THAT IT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT OF KEEPING OTHERS FROM BEING INJURED. THIS EXPLOSION WAS POWERFUL AND FAMES ERUPTED IMMEDIATELY. SEARCHING THE WEB A ODI RESUME WAS FOUND WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF MY EXPERIENCE. INV: EA 02-030 PROMPTED BY :PE02-050 THIS WAS A COLD START , IN THE WINTER MONTHS AND THE VEHICLE HAS A PLASTIC MANIFOLD. ALSO THE 8TH VIN DIGIT IS AN 8. OUR DEPARTMENT HAD SEVERAL OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A RECALL OR IF WE SHOULD HAVE FURTHER CONCERN ABOUT THE OTHER 2001 CHEVY IMPALAS ON THE ROAD THANK YOU *TR

FIRST OCCURRENCE 01-08 IS EXACTLY DEPICTED IN NHTSA #04V090000. REPAIR COST $1,600. SECOND OCCURRENCE 01-09 IS REPEAT OF PRIOR, THIS TIME EXPLOSION CAUSED ENGINE FIRE. CAR AT DEALERSHIP, REPAIRS APPROX. $2,000. GM SAYS VIN IS NOT IN RECALL SERIES. HAVE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME COMPLAINT ON INTERNET. *TR

DROVE CAR TO WORK, PARKED 3 MIN LATER CUSTOMER COMES TO MY JOB SCREAMING TO CALL 911 BECAUSE A CAR IS ON FIRE, I CAME OUT AND WAS MINE. AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUR, THEY SUSPECTED THAT A FUEL LINE WAS LICKING, I WENT TO A WEBSITE TO FIND 2 RECALLS ON MY CAR THAT I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF, THIS ONE WAS BACK IN 2001, AND I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A CHEVY DEALER ON 2002, AND WAS SERVICE BY THEM SEVERAL TIMES. NOW CHEVROLET ONLY WANTS TO PAY $2,000.00, BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, I CONTACTED THE GENERAL STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE STATE AND HIS OFFICE SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT TRUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVEN MINUTES, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V136000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE REPRESENTATIVE ADDED THAT BECAUSE THE CONTACT DID NOT PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, SHE WOULD ONLY BE REIMBURSED $2,000 FOR ACCRUED VEHICLE DAMAGE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT YET RECEIVED ANY ASSISTANCE. SHE HAS ACCESS TO OBTAINING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

I WAS PASSING ANOTHER CAR, MY CAR BACKFIRED, I THEN LOST POWER. RETURNING HOME AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, THE EXHAUST WAS RED HOT. THE PROBLEM WAS A BURN HOLE IN THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH MELTED SOME ELECTRICAL WIRING. *TR

2001 CHEVY IMPALA I WENT OUTSIDE TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, IT HAD ENOUGH POWER TO POWER UP THE LIGHTS ETC. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO START THE ENGINE. I THAN MOVED ANOTHER VEHICLE UP NEXT TO IT AND CONNECTED JUMPER CABLES. I WAITED FOR IT TO CHARGE AND TURNED THE KEY. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY OVER, THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD VIOLENTLY EXPLODED. I HAD A HUGE FIRE UNDER MY HOOD. THE EXPLOSION SHOT PARTS ACROSS MY YARD. I HAD TO USE THE WATER HOSE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, THE CAR WAS LESS THAN 10 FEET FROM MY HOME. I LEFT IT ALONE AND CONTACTED A DEALERSHIP MECHANIC THE VERY NEXT DAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD RECENTLY HAD 2 OF THE SAME VEHICLES COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THAT IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND THE FACT THAT THE MANIFOLD IS MADE OF PLASTIC. THIS EXPLOSION COULD HAVE VERY WELL KILLED SOMEONE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE, AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL DONE ON OVER 900,000 OF THESE VEHICLES, HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS, MY VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL LIST ACCORDING TO GENERAL MOTORS!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE CONTACT'S WIFE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BEFORE JUMPING THE DEAD BATTERY, THE FUEL SYSTEM BYPASSED THROUGH A REGULATOR AND CREATED AN EXPLOSION. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, IT WAS NOT DESTROYED AND WAS CAPABLE OF BEING REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE PURCHASE DATE AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 131,000.

THE BATTERY ON MY 2001 CHEVY IMPALA WAS DEAD, SO I PUT A BATTERY CHARGER ON THE BATTERY AND WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENED. I WAITED 2-4 MINUTES FOR THE BATTERY TO CHARGE AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. AS SOON AS I TURNED THE KEY, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED INTO ABOUT 10 PIECES THROUGHOUT MY GARAGE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP TODAY AND AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM. *NM

2001 IMPALA - FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILURE; CONTINUED INTERMITTENT GASOLINE ODORS: INCREASINGLY STRONG GASOLINE ODORS OVER SEVERAL WEEKS SENT ME TO DEALER 7/6/05 WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR DIAPHRAM HAD FAILED - REPLACED; RETURNED TO DEALER 7/22 BECAUSE OF CONTINUED GASOLINE ODORS - A TEST PORT CAP HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED ON 7/6; 7/23-26 - CAR NOT DRIVEN (OUT OF TOWN); 7/29 - SLIGHT ODOR 3 TIMES; 7/30 - STRONG ODOR; 8/1 - DEALER FOUND NO LEAKS OR ODOR; 8/1 - FIVE MINUTES AFTER LEAVING DEALER, SLIGHT ODOR; 8/2-5 - CAR AT DEALER BEING CHECKED AND DOUBLE CHECKED; FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR POSSIBLY REPLACED AGAIN; 8/10-11 - ODOR CHECKED AGAIN; DRIVEN 104 MILES BY 'SENSITIVE NOSE' TECHNICIAN; NO ODOR DETECTED OR LEAKS FOUND; 8/18-21 - CAR NOT DRIVEN (OUT OF TOWN); 8/23 - STRONG ODOR; 8/25 - SLIGHT ODOR; 8/27 - SLIGHT ODOR TWICE; 8/30 - STRONG ODOR; 9/1 - SLIGHT ODOR; 9/4 - SLIGHT ODOR; 9/7 - ?SLIGHT ODOR?; 9/9 - STRONG ODOR THAT LASTED 2-3 MINUTES; 9/9 - CAR BACK AT DEALER FOR WORK ON 9/12-?*JB

YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL THE GASOLINE SLOSHING AROUND IN THE TANK. WHEN TAKING OFF, IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING SHIFTING OR ROLLING AROUND IN THE TRUNK. WHEN COMING TO STOP, IT FEELS LIKE BEING BUMPED IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STALLING. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 70 MPH THE VEHICLE COMPLETLY SHOT OFF PUTTING THE CONSUMER ON A REAL RISK. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. CONSUMER NARROWLY AVOIDED A COLLISION. TS

WHEN BRAKING OR PULLING OFF CAN HEAR GAS MOVING AROUND IN TANK. CONSUMER IT WAS SHAKING THE CAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.AK

THERE ARE NO BAFFLES IN THE GAS TANK, SO THE GAS SLOSHES BACK AND FORTH IN THE TANK. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS AS THE SHIFTING GAS COULD AFFECT THE STEERING CHARATERISTICS OF THE CAR.*AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL #01V136000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 01035 REPAIRS. CONSUMER WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE REMEDY OF RECALL. CALLED DEALER, AND TALKED TO SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE.*AK THE TECHNICIAN WAS ADVISED THAT THIS REMEDY WAS THE ONLY ONE SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS PROPERLY COMPLETED BY THE DEALER, THE DEALER DID NOT INSTALL A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BRACKET THAT WILL MAINTAIN POSITIONING OF THE FUEL LINE IN A FRONTAL CRASH AS PROMISED IN THE RECALL. NLM

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, GAS IN FUEL TANK CAN BE HEARD THROUGHT CAR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC FOR CHEVROLET IMPALA'S. CONSUMER WAS UNHAPPY WITH DEALER'S EXPLANATION. *AK *JB