2012 Chevrolet Impala Transmission Problems

Your stability control light comes on and puts the engine into a restricted power mode. At the same time, your ABS and brake lights turn on, and your front driver-side brake appears to continuously engage even when you're trying to accelerate. This could be caused by a faulty brake sensor or caliper issue that's triggering the stability control system.

WHEN ACCELERATING FORWARD FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON BY ITSELF CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP & CAUSES HESITATION. THE GROUND IS NOT WET AT ALL ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKS ON CAUSING THE SAME REACTION ON DRY PAVEMENT. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR HESITATES & JERKS/JOLTS THEN THE TRACTION LIGHT KICKS ON. THERE ARE NO CODES ON THE DASHBOARD & NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.

MY VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM LOSS OF POWER WHEN MAKING A SQUARE TURN AKA A VERY SHARP TURN. IT ONLY HAPPENS WITH LEFT TURNS. THE PROBLEM IS WEAR OF A CABLE NEAR THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WHICH CONTROLS THE ANTILOCK BRAKES AND/OR THE TRACTION CONTROL / STABILITRAK FEATURE. THE WEARING IS SUCH THAT WHEN TURNING SHARPLY TO THE LEFT, THE WORN CABLE SUFFERS INTERMITTENT CONNECTIVITY LOSS. THAT LOSS OF CONNECTIVITY TRIGGERS TRACTION CONTROL TO BRIEFLY SEVER POWER TO THE FRONT TIRES. I HAVE FOUND THAT MANUALLY TURNING OFF TRACTION CONTROL PREVENTS THIS PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING. I COULD REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM RELIABLY. IT NEARLY ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN MOVING FROM A PARKED POSITION INTO THE ROADWAY, AND WHEN LEAVING A PARKING LOT AFTER REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE PROBLEM IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS WHEN I AM MAKING LEFT TURNS ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC - I HAVE LOST POWER ONCE IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC BUT THANKFULLY THE OTHERS DRIVERS WERE AWARE ENOUGH TO STOP BEFORE COLLISION. BECAUSE OF THIS I ALWAYS TURNED OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL FOR ALL DRIVING TRIPS. I FOUND ONLINE SIMILAR REPORTS OF OTHER 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA OWNERS.

WHEN USING E85 FUEL IN MY FLEX FUEL VEHICLE THE CHECK STABILITY CONTROL/REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING IS ACTIVATED. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER AND GM THEY WERE UNABLE TO HELP ME. THERE IS A GM TECHNICAL BULLETIN (PIP5385C) ON THIS PROBLEM.

TAKATA RECALL WHEN ACCELERATING FORWARD FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON BY ITSELF CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP & CAUSES HESITATION. THE GROUND IS NOT WET AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS & HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET REAR ENDED. EVEN WHEN TURNING THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKS ON CAUSING THE SAME REACTION ON DRY PAVEMENT. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR HESITATES & JERKS/JOLTS THEN THE TRACTION LIGHT KICKS ON. THERE ARE NO CODES ON THE DASHBOARD & NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY AREN'T ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND DRIVING WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. IT RISKING MY LIFE, MY CHILDREN'S LIVES & THE LIFES OF OTHERS.AND HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY HAVING THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT WITH NO SOLUTIONS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE, THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE REB WAVE PLATE WAS FRACTURED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE RE-BUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND THE SPECIALIST STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PART WERE JOINT TOGETHER WITH THE FORD AND CHEVROLET, THE SPECIALIST ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FORD PART WAS GOOD BUT THE CHEVROLET PART FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SPEAKING TO THE MANUFACTURER A CASE NUMBER WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,973.

CAR HAS 68,000 MILES. A FEW DAYS AGO THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH DISABLED REMOTE START. I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS UNTIL I WENT TO GET INTO THE CAR. I'M IN MI AND THIS PAST WEEK HAS BEEN VERY COLD. I JUMPED IN AND DROVE IT TO WORK (LESS THAN 3 MILES). ON THE WAY, THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. NO SURPRISE, AS IT WAS A LITTLE SLIPPERY. NO OTHER PROBLEMS. ON WAY HOME FROM WORK: CAR STARTS UP FINE, NO WARNING LIGHTS AT ALL AT START. ITS ABOUT 13* OUT. ALMOST HOME: ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON, THEN RIGHT BEFORE TURNING ON MY ROAD THE STABILIZER LIGHT COMES ON AND REDUCE POWER LIGHT, CAR JERKS AND LOSES POWER LIKE ITS GOING TO STALL OUT. IT MADE IT HOME. NEXT MORNING, ENGINE LIGHT ON BUT NOTHING ELSE HAPPENS. I CALL AROUND AND DEALERSHIP SUGGESTS I BRING IT IN AND HOOK IT UP TO RUN A DIAGNOSTICS FOR $98. I GO OVER TO PARTS STORE AND HAVE THEM RUN IT FIRST. ERROR CODES SHOW UP THAT "DON'T REALLY MEAN ANYTHING" AND THEY RESET THE ENGINE LIGHT. RUNS A COUPLE OF DAYS FINE WITH NO PROBLEMS, LIGHTS COMING ON ETC. TEMP DROPS AGAIN AND REPEAT THE WHOLE PROCESS ALL OVER. I BRING TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME IT NEEDS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND NEW LINES, AFTER THEY ASKED ME IF I RAN E85 IN IT, WHICH I DO BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY SUGGESTED WHEN I BOUGHT IT! I CAN'T AFFORD THE $900 RIGHT NOW AND I PICKED IT UP. I CALLED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO GET ANOTHER ESTIMATE AND I'M TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM (WE'RE SEEING THIS ALL THE TIME. IT'S A PROBLEM WITH RUNNING E85 IN COLD TEMPS). THAT PERSON SUGGESTS I RUN MAO44 AND PREM UNLEADED IN IT AND IT SHOULD RUN FINE FOR A WHILE. I"M ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL, EVEN THOUGH "WE'RE SEEING THIS ALL THE TIME".

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND SWITCHING THE SHIFTER TO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT IN REVERSE AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AFTER TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,500. UPDATED 12/13/16*LJ UPDATED 12/15/16.*JB

GRINDING NOISE FROM FRONT AND MOMENTARY LOSS OF ACCELERATION UPON ACCELERATION FROM STOP. MOST PREVALENT ON LEFT TURN FROM STOP BUT PROGRESSIVELY GETTING MORE FREQUENT ON STRAIGHT OR RIGHT TURNS. DASH TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATES MOMENTARILY. ORIGINAL DEALER INSPECTION FOUND NO ISSUE. ON STAR DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED NOTHING. ABOVE 5MPH NO SYMPTOMS AT ALL. DEALER WILL REINSPECT NEXT WEEK.

WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE TURNING RIGHT AND THEN TURNING LEFT, IT SOUNDS LIKE GRINDING METAL AND THE CAR STARTS JERKING UNTIL THE WHEELS ARE TURNED STRAIGHT AND THEN IT'S OK AGAIN IT IS REALLY LOUD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER BUT IT WOULDN'T DO IT FOR THEM.

CLUNKING SOUND FROM TRANSMISSION DIFFERENTIAL...WHEN YOU PULL OUT FROM A STOP YOU GET A CLUCKING NOISE AND THE CAR CANNOT GO...SOMETHING IS GRABBED..PULLING ONTO A CITY STREET OR GOING IN REVERSE FROM DRIVEWAY..MECHANIC HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM AFTER 5 ATTEMPTS.

GM SERVICE BULLETIN ID: 3650687. *TR

CAR CUT OFFS WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE CAR CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. RPM ODOMETER STOPS WORKING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON REDUCE ENGINE POWER. STABILITY TRACK AND ABS STOP CAR FROM TURNING. GM DEALER SAID ITS BATTERY TERMINAL WIRES AND A NEW BATTERY CHANGED BOTH AND SAME ISSUE. FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR KEEPS GOING BAD REPLACED TWICE. CAR IS CHOKING ON TO MUCH FUEL ROTTEN EGGS SMELL COMING FROM EXHAUST. CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE HAS CUT OFF ON ME IN TRAFFIC TO MANY TIMES NOW. ONCE AND IF PROBLEMS ARE EVER FOUND THEIR NEEDS TO BE A RECALL TO PREVENT INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

FAILED TORQUE CONVERTER. THE TORQUE CONVERTER WOULD SLIP WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD (DRIVE). IT WOULD SLAM INTO DRIVE, GRIN THE GEARS AND CAUSE THE TIRES TO SQUEAK (SPIN). ON APRIL 28, HEDRICK'S CHEVROLET 961 W SHAW, CLOVIS, CA, REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TORQUE CONVERTER, WITH A REMANUFACTURED CONVERTOR, PART NUMBER 17804457 (1), PLUS THE FOLLOWING PARTS:17804457(1)-CORE RETURN, 24264377 (1)- SEAL KIT, 25886620(2)- GASKET,10333578(1) - GASKET, 12609163(1) - GASKET. IT IS A WARRANTY CLOVERED PART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION REMAINED IN 4TH GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH OR 6TH GEAR AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE "TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE ENGINE" WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AND THE SL-N MODULE WAS REPLACED BUT THE DEFECT WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AND THE "TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE ENGINE" WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE DISABLING LINK SENSOR BEFORE THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,206.

AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE JERKS WHILE SHIFTING. I HAVE EXPERIENCED HEAVY JOLTING, ROUGH SHIFTING, ESPECIALLY DURING LOW SPEEDS. WHILE ON HIGHWAY OR DURING STRONG ACCELERATION, CAR SHIFTS GREAT. MOSTLY THE ISSUES ARE DURING DOWNSHIFTS OR LOW SPEED SHIFTS. TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD A FACTORY RESET MAY HELP ADJUST TO DRIVING STYLES. WE BOUGHT CAR USED WITH 35000 MILES. THIS DID NOT HELP. NOT EVEN SURE IF THIS IS AN OPTION. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR ANYTHING. DEALERSHIP CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM. SAYS TRANSMISSION TAKES SOME GETTING USED TO. AWESOME CAR, JUST WISH THIS PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. *TR

AT SPEEDS 15 MPH AND ABOVE AFTER DECELERATING THEN ACCELERATING TRANSMISSION WILL MAKE A NOISE RANGING FROM A CLINK, CLANK, CLUNK TO A BANGING JOLT AS IF THE CAR HAS BEEN REAR ENDED. THE MORE PRESSURE ON ACCELERATION AND THE LOWER THE GEAR THE LOUDER THE NOISE AND THE GREATER THE JOLT. DEALERSHIP STATES TRANSMISSION IS OPERATING PROPERLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, SHE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,220. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, ENGINE VIBRATIONS WERE EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNSURE OF WHAT COMPONENT FAILED OR HOW TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000. UPDATED 3/14/13 *CN

CAR WAS IN PARK AT A GAS STATION, IGNITION OFF, CAR NOT RUNNING. GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWED "PARK". DRIVER WAS OUT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR ROLLED AWAY, CRASHING INTO PARKED VEHICLE AND RESULTING IN INJURY TO DRIVER. THIS WAS AN AVIS RENTAL CAR WITH 7,500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *TR