2005 Chevrolet Impala Wipers & Visibility Problems
13 owner-reported wipers & visibility complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (13)
While driving at highway speeds (55-60 MPH), your sunroof suddenly detached from the vehicle, creating abnormal wind noise inside the cabin. No warning light appeared before this happened. Your mechanic indicated there was a recall available for this issue, though the vehicle was not repaired at that time.
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A SUDDEN LOUD NOISE BEGAN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 65-70. THE NOISE LASTED A FEW SECONDS FOLLOWED BY A LOUDER LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. I ACTIVATED MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED INTO THE MEDIAN TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. AFTER OPENING THE SLIDING COVER FOR MY VEHICLE'S SUNROOF, I DISCOVERED THE SUNROOF WAS MISSING AND HAD FLOWN OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. I DO NOT BELIEVE ANY VEHICLES WERE DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. I AM NOT SURE IF ANY VEHICLES HIT THE SUNROOF AFTER IT FLEW OFF MY VEHICLE. I DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE WEBASTO HOLLANDIA 700 SUNROOF DUE TO THE SUNROOF FLYING OFF VEHICLES. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS RECALL. I WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS RECALL AND TO HAVE THE SUNROOF REPAIRED. *TR
I HAVE SPUN THE MOTOR IN MY WIPERS 3 TIMES NOW. THE SNOW OR ICE BUILD UP UNDER THE HOOD WHERE THE WIPERS REST. I HAVE HAD IT FIXED 2 TIMES NOW. THIS TIME WIPERS WERE DOING FINE, MADE SURE THAT I HAD NO ICE OR SNOW ON THE WIPERS AS THEY TURN ON (WAKE UP). THEN WHEN I WENT TO SHUT THEM OFF AFTER OUR LAST ICE STORM, THE ICE BUILD UP UNDER THE HOOD STOPPED THEM FROM GOING DOWN UNDER THE HOOD, AND MADE THEM SPIN AGAIN. NOW ITS A VISUAL DISTRACTION AS I AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITH THE WIPERS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION ON MY WINDSHIELD. IT MAKES FOR BLIND SPOTS. I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME I CHECKED OUT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND WAS ABLE TO FIND A DIAGRAM ON HOW TO FIX IT FROM SOMEONE ELSE. BUT NOW ITS SPUN SO MANY TIMES I WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC AND ORDER PARTS AND SPEND UNNECESSARY MONEY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. *TR
WIPERS QUICK WORKING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF COULD NOT BE OPENED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TRYING TO OPEN THE SUNROOF THE DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HEADLINER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN TRIED TO OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS HOWEVER THEY WERE ALSO INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE SMOKE CEASED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER IN REGARD TO THE FAILURE AND A REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED THAT IF HE DID NOT SEE ANY FLAMES, THEN THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
THE BACK WINDSHIELD MADE A BIG LOUD EXPLOISION NOISE , WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND LOOKED IT HAD ALL SPIDER CRACKED THE WHOLE WINDSHILD. IT SCARED THE [XXX] RIGHT OUT OF ME. THANK GOD NO CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
THE HEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR WILL NOT COME ON BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE BLOWS LIKE A CHAMP. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE DOOR THAT FLOWS COLD AND HOT AIR IS STUCK ON COOL AIR AND SINCE ITS A DUAL AIR VEHICLE ONE SIDE IS BLOWING HOT THE OTHER COLD. I AM VERY SURPRISED THIS IS NOT A RECALL SINCE THERE ARE OVER 1,000 COMPLAINTS ON THIS ONE PART PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS; I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME CHEVY OWNER AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS HAPPEN AFTER DRIVING BUT THIS IS REALLY NOT A DRIVER INDUCED PROBLEM. THANK YOU FROM A VALUED CUSTOMER. *TR
AFTER CLEARING SNOW OFF THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE WIPERS, THEY NO LONGER GO TO THE PARK POSITION. THE WIPERS STOP IN AN UPWARD POSITION BLOCKING YOUR VIEW OF THE ROAD. FOUND BENT STOP TAB ON WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY DUE TO MANY WRITE UPS ON THE WEB. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE GM HAS A FIX FOR IT. I WAS QUOTED $500+ FOR A REPLACEMENT MOTOR ASSEMBLY. THE MOTOR STILL WORKS. *TR
THE WIPERS STICK IN UP POSITION 2005 CHEVY IMPALA CAUSED BY THE WIPERS TRYING TO RUN IF HEAVY SNOW. THE INTERNET SAYS IT IS A LINK BENDING IN THE WIPER MOTOR AREA. GM HAS AN UPDATED PART FOR THE 2005 BUT NOT A RECALL. WHY SHOULD CONSUMERS PAY FOR SAFETY ISSUE? *TR
I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AFTER A SNOW STORM, I HAD TURNED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON TO GET THE SNOW OFF SO I COULD SO. AS I TRIED TO TURN THE WIPERS TO THE OFF POSITION THEY WOULD NOT GO DOWN. THEY STILL WORK IF I NEED THEM BUT DO NOT GO TO THE PARK POSITION, INSTEAD THEY STICK RIGHT UP IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 3 DIFFERENT PLACES AND HAVE RECEIVED 3 DIFFERENT ANSWERS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT GO DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF OR WHEN THE WIPERS ARE DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE WIPER MOTOR WAS BAD. THE CONTACT DISAGREES BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STILL WORK. SHE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,845.
WINSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT GO DOWN IN THE PARK POSITION. FIXED ONCE AT DEALER AND WITHIN A WEEK BROKE AGAIN. CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE. HARD TO DRIVE WITH WINSHIELD WIPERS IN UP POSITION BLOCKING VIEW.*AK
DT: THE WAY THAT THE WINDOW SWITCH IS DESIGNED IT CAN EASILY SHUT ON A CHILD'S BODY OR BODY PART. THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SIX MONTHS AGO ON TV. THIS WAS A RENTAL VEHICLE FOR A TRIP FOR VACATION.*AK WHEN THE CONSUMERS SON LEANED HIS HEAD OUT THE WINDOW, HIS ELBOW HIT THE SWITCH, AND THE WINDOW BEGAN TO GO UP. THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SWITCH BE INSTALLED, THE TYPE THAT ONE WOULD HAVE TO PULL IN ORDER TO CLOSE THE WINDOW. *JB