2002 Chevrolet Impala Equipment Problems

ON OCTOBER 11, 2010, WAS STOPPED FOR A LEFT TURN, IN MY 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. I WAS HIT FROM THE BACK BY A PICKUP TRUCK. UPON IMPACT, MY ONSTAR MIRROR CAME LOOSE FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CABLE BECAME A WEAPON IN THE CAR WITH THE MIRROR STILL ATTACHED. A WITNESS SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A BASEBALL BAT FLYING AROUND ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE CABLE WAS HANGING AND APPROXIMATELY 2FT LONG WHEN THE WRECKER PULLED IT AWAY. I RECEIVED MULTIPLE INJURIES TO MY HEAD/NECK AND RIGHT EYE DUE TO THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT. THERE WERE ALSO OTHER INJURIES THAT I FEEL PROBABLY DO NOT PERTAIN TO THIS. THE CAR WAS LATER TOTALED AND SO NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. I WILL REMAIN LEARY TO HAVE OR INSTALL ONSTAR EQUIPMENT IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE FOR THIS REASON. *TR

MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA 3.8L V-6 HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGING WHEN BRAKING IN TURNS TO THE LEFT. THIS CAUSES THE BRAKES TO SLIP AND GRIND. A HUMMING SOUND CAN BE HEARD WHEN THIS OCCURS. THE TRACTION CONTROL AND SOMETIMES THE "CHECK ABS " LIGHT BECOMES ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER FOR REPAIR. BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED. I REQUESTED A CHECK OF WIRING HARNESSES TO SEE IF THERE WAS DETERIORATION. NONE WAS APPARENTLY FOUND BY THE SHOP. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR OR ALLOW OTHERS IN MY FAMILY TO DRIVE IT INCASE THE BRAKES CAN'T ENGAGE PROPERLY. FROM READING ONLINE ACCOUNTS OF OTHER DRIVERS, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH A CHEVROLET OF THIS MODEL. AFTER HAVING THE RIGHT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED, I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. THEN AFTER HAVING THE LEFT FRONT REPLACED AS WELL TO THE TUNE OF AROUND $500.00 A PIECE, I THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. NOT SO. WHERE DOES THIS END. I URGE YOU TO LOOK INTO A RECALL OF THIS MODEL AND HAVE GM ULTIMATELY FIX THIS PROBLEM AND AVOID ALLOWING FOR A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES OR DEATH. *TR

TRACTION FREQUENTLY ACTIVATES. "SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM" AND "ABS" LIGHTS COME ON FREQUENTLY. LAST SPRING AND SUMMER, MY MECHANIC REPLACED A COUPLE OF PARTS BUT IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CAN NOT TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT THOSE PARTS WERE WITHOUT FINDING MY RECEIPTS FOR THE WORK. LAST SPRING AND SUMMER, THE TRACTION DID NOT ACTUALLY ACTIVATE BUT THE LIGHT DID COME ON. DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO RESULTS EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE OF TIMES. I HAD THE BODY MODULE REPLACE LAST FALL. I HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT A MONTH BUT PROBLEMS STARTED PERIODICALLY AND ARE GRADUALLY INCREASING. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. WITH THE TIRES SPINNING LIKE THAT, IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR MAKING A TURN, MY TRACTION SOMETIMES ACTIVATES. *TR

WE HAVE A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA. THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL COME ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF. IT WILL NOT RESTART FOR ABOUT 10 TO 20 MINUTES. THIS USED TO HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY BUT NOW IT'S HAPPENING ATLEAST 3 TO 5 TIMES A MONTH. HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICE BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY SAY IT HAS TO ACTUALLY BE DOING IT WHILE THEY ARE CHECKING IT. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT'S DOING THIS. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING NOW FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE WOULD TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO RESTART. INITIALLY, THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT IT NOW OCCURS EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE SECURITY SYSTEM WOULD LOCK UP THE INJECTORS AND HE WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE KEY ON FOR 10-15 MINUTES TO REPROGRAM THE MODULE. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SECURITY SYSTEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PAID APPROXIMATELY $700 FOR THE REPAIR, BUT IT DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE DEVICE DRAINS THE BATTERY, MAKES THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FLICKER, AND DISABLES THE RADIO. IN ADDITION, THE RELAYS IN THE VEHICLE CLICK ON AND OFF AS SOON AS THE KEY IS PLACED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT HAS NOT YET TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

ABS LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, IT FEELS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. BRAKES EITHER DO NOT RESPOND OR SKID WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE. HAD MECHANICS CHECK VEHICLE AND ISSUE CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED FROM FAILURE CODES. APPEARS WIRING MAY BE DAMAGED AND WILL COST QUITE A BIT TO REPAIR. MECHANICS UNSURE THIS WILL SOLVE IT. DON'T WANT TO SELL VEHICLE AS IT WILL MAKE IT SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, THE SECURITY LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY REMAINS ILLUMINATED. ON ONE OCCASION, THIS PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM RESTARTING. AFTER TEN MINUTES OF TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF AND SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO NEUTRAL, IT FINALLY STARTED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WILL RECUR. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

MY PASSLOCK SYSTEM HAS FAILED. SHUTS THE FUEL OFF. 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. *TR

AIR CONDITIONER ONLY WORKED ON FIRST SETTING. MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE DOOR THAT CONTROLS WHERE THE AIR WENT WAS NOT WORKING AND WOULD COST $500 TO $600 FOR REPAIRS. SEEMED TO WORK FINE WITH HEAT, BUT NOT WITH AIR. MECHANIC STATED THE DOOR WAS A SMALL PLASTIC PIECE, BUT HE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD TO GET TO IT. NO DISCERNIBLE REASON FOR THIS MALFUNCTION.*AK