2001 Chevrolet Impala Airbags Problems
36 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Airbags Recalls (2)
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULES (SDM) COULD EXPERIENCE A MEMORY ERROR RESULTING IN THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING IN A CRASH SITUATION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE DRIVER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG INFLATOR SEPARATES FROM THE AIR BAG MODULE DURING DEPLOYMENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG MODULE.
Owner Complaints (36)
Your airbag warning light is illuminated on the dashboard, but the airbags have not deployed. This indicates a problem with the airbag system that needs attention, even though no accident has occurred. A diagnostic scan will be needed to identify the specific fault in the system.
Parts you may need:
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ON FRIDAY JULY 6, 2018 I WAS IN A AUTO ACCIDENT MY CAR ROLLED DOWN HILL AND NEITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOY I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT IN WHICH I FELL OUT OF . MY ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON [XXX] MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR *TT
TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON SPORATICALY AT FIRST BUT IS ON ALL THE TIME NOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE STOPPED TO TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,617. THE CONSUMER STATED ALL OF THE OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED INCLUDING WHIPLASH AND CONCUSSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT THE PART THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; HOWEVER, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL, CRASHED INTO A POLE, AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S HEAD TO STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, AND SHOULDERS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. UPDATED 11/14/14*CN UPDATED 08/28/2017*CT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 09/21/15*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE SENSING DIAGNOSTIC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V371000 (AIR BAGS) AND IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V244000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT'S FRONT END BUMPER SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC AND I SWITCH LANE TO CARPOOL LANE. AS I WAS PICKING UP SPEED WHEN I WAS REAR ENDED FROM BEHIND PUSHED DOWN FORWARD FURTHER AND MY CAR TURNED AND SLAMMED ONTO THE CENTER DIVIDER LANE. AFTER MY CAR STRUCK CENTER DIVIDER LANE SAME CAR WHO HIT ME HAS NOT SLOWED DOWN AND HIT ME AGAIN ON HIGH IMPACT BEHIND DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR AND GAS TANK SMASHING ONTO MY REAR WHEEL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN MY CAR. I AM 5'1 IN HEIGHT AND WEIGHT ABOUT 133LB. WE BOUNCED AROUND AS WELL AS MY BACKSEAT PASSENGER WHO IS MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS SEATING IN A BOOSTER SEAT AND WE WERE BOTH WEARING SEAT-BELTS. WHEN THE CAR HIT US SIDEWAYS AND JERKED US AROUND MY HEAD SLAMMED BY THE DOOR PANEL AND BUSTED MY HEAD OPEN WHICH CAUSED IT TO BLEED BADLY. BELIEVE IT WAS THE INITIAL IMPACT FROM THE REAR MY KEYS FLEW OUT OF THE IGNITION AND ON TO THE FLOOR IN THE BACKSEAT FLOOR FIREFIGHTER HAD TO SEARCH BECAUSE I TOLD THEM AS SOON AS THEY SHOWED UP "MY CAR IS STILL RUNNING I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE KEYS ARE AT!" THE IGNITION WAS STILL IN ON POSITION AS IF THE KEY WAS IN IT. MY DOORS ON DRIVER SIDE AND BEHIND DRIVER SIDE WAS SMASHED AND MY CAR SHIFTED OUT OF ITS ALIGNMENT THAT EVEN MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS IN THE REAR SEAT BEHIND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR HER DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE WERE BOTH REMOVED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND AMBULANCE TRANSPORTED US TO HOSPITAL. MY DAUGHTER WHO IS 10 YEARS OF AGE WAS SHAKEN UP SICK TO HER STOMACH DIZZY WITH MINOR BRUISES. I SUFFER BRUISES ON TOP OF MY FOOT. BRUISES ON MY THIGH MY LEGS BOUNCED UP AND HIT THE STIRRING WHEEL. BRUISES ON BOTH MY ARMS AND MY DAUGHTERS ARMS AND ELBOW! WE ARE BOTH TENDER AND SOAR ALL OVER THE BODIES BUT, PRAISE GOD WE ARE ALIVE! BY THE WAY MY CAR IS TOTALED AND ITS PAID FOR. PLS GIVE ADVICE ON THIS SITUATION. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, HE DRIFTED TO SLEEP AND CRASHED INTO DITCH. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, RIBS AND THE CHEST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOW YARD AND WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. IN OCTOBER OF 2006, WHILE STOPPED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE OTHER PASSENGER. SHE INJURED HER HEAD AND HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED. SHE SUSTAINED MEMORY LOSS AND HAD TO UNDERGO THERAPY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ON DECEMBER 8, 2008 ON ICY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SLID INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDERS OF BOTH VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED. THE SEAT BELT FAILURE CAUSED HEAD INJURIES ONCE AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DEPENDED UPON THE TYPE OF CRASH AND HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS MAY OR MAY NOT LOCK UP IN A CRASH TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY SHOP THAT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD HAVE LOCKED IN BOTH CRASHES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA AIRBAG SENSOR FAILED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. NHTSA HAS A RECALL FOR 580 SUCH VEHICLES UNDER NO 00V244000. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS 88,000 MILES, AND THE FAILURE OF THE SENSOR COULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT INJURIES IN EVENT OF A CRASH. *TR
(1) I WAS DRIVING ON 2 LANE UNDIVIDED STATE HIGHWAY ON A CLEAR DAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING. MY WIFE AND I WERE THE ONLY OCCUPANTS. I WOKE ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MPH. I STARTED BRAKING (ABS BRAKES) I THINK WE SLOWED TO ABOUT 50 MPH BEFORE HITTING THE BLUNT END OF A GUARD RAIL. THE CAR IMPACTED ABOUT 6 INCHES RIGHT(DRIVERS SIDE) OF CENTER ON THE FRONT. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. THE CAR HAD SPUN 170 DEGREES CLOCKWISE AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN I LOOKED AT MY WIFE FOR AN INSTANT WHEN HER AIRBAG WENT OFF CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY MY AIR BAG. (2) THE FAILURE OF THE AIRBAGS RESULTED IN SEAT BELT RELATED STRAINS AND SOFT TISSUE INJURIES FOR MY WIFE. I RECEIVED A BRUISE ON THE CHEST. (3) SO FAR NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SOLD THE CAR TO A USED AUTO PARTS YARD. I WAS ABLE TO TRACK IT DOWN AND I BOUGHT THE COMPUTER MODULE THAT WAS UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. I WITNESSED THE REMOVAL. I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT CONTACTING CHEVROLET. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULES (SDM) EXPERIENCED A MEMORY ERROR. THE SDM WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V244000, REGARDING THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER SCANNED FOR CODES-- FOUND 3 CODES CURRENT, B0026-FRONTAL DEPLOYMENT LOOP STAGE 1, B0043 L/F FRONTAL DEPLOYMENT LOOP STAGE 2 VOLTAGE OUT OT RANGE, B0044 L/F FRONTAL DEPLOYMENT LOOP STAGE OPEN DEALER DID SIR DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM CHECK FOUND SIR COIL MODULE HAD OPEN CIRCUIT. THEY REPLACED SIR COIL MODULE. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. AIR BAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. OLD PART IS UNAVAILABLE (DEALER KEPT IT).*JB
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED LIT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
ON MY 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA, AN AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. THE GM DEALERSHIP IN NEW RICHMOND WI, REPLACED AN AIRBAG MODULE IN OCTOBER. A FEW WEEKS LATER I NOTICED ONLINE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY CAR, THAT BEING THE AIRBAG MODULE THAT WAS CHANGED. SO I BROUGHT IN THE RECALL INFORMATION TO THE GM DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID MY VIN DOESN'T SHOW UP AS BEING PART OF THE RECALL, SO THEY COULDN'T HELP. BUT THEY SAID I COULD CALL UP GM. SO I CALLED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-1020. THEY ALSO SAID THAT MY CAR WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL. *AK WITH HAVING THE RIGHT YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, AND REPLACING THE EXACT PART THAT WAS RECALLED, I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN APART OF THE RECALL. CAN YOU HELP? JOEL HETZEL
WHEN PARKING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 00V244000. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INADVERTENTLY ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES RANDOMLY.*AK
DRIVER SEAT AIR BAG COMING OUT OF COMPARTMENT.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE. POTENTIALLY A PROBLEM WITH DEPLOYMENT IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS I THOUGHT I SHOULD SUBMIT MINE. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR! *JB
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THREE TIME AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. TURN SIGNALS STOP WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP REPLACED BODY CONTROL MODULE (COSTING ME OVER $300) DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB
2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA INVOLVED IN FRONTAL COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLE. 11,000 PLUS DAMAGE TO ENTIRE FRONT END. VEHICLE TOTAL LOSS, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, GM EXPERT SAYS COLLISION WAS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH. *AK
FRONT COLLISION WITH A TREE. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. DRIVERS FRONT FENDER DENTED. BUMPER PARTIALLY TORN OFF AND HEADLIGHTS FELL OUT. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS STRUCK IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS RAN INTO A TREE HEAD ON. IT IS NOW 5-28-2003 AND MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED.
CONSUMER STATES WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, HIT A POT HOLE AND LOST CONTROL, HAVING A FRONT COLLISION AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE 8 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH AIR LIGHT SENSOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY, GIVING OFF FALSE CODES WHEN PUTTING ON THE MACHINE AT DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP CONTINUED TO PUT IN A CODE TO CORRECT AIR BAG LIGHT, BUT LIGHT WOULD COME ON AGAIN BETWEEN 45 - 50 MPH. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT CAME ON TRAVELING APPROX. 45MPH. STOPPED CAR SHUT OFF ENGINE THEN RESTARTED LIGHT FLASHED THEN REMAINED ON. 2 DEALERS STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 40-45 MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *TT
FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT 5 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AIRBAG LIGHT WAS BLINKING, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM. ALSO, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG; BUT MANUFACTURER WAS UNAWARE OF THE RECALL. *AK
The owner submitted an invention idea to a company 2 years ago that they believe could prevent accidents, but states that car manufacturers are unwilling to adopt it. They claim manufacturers said they prefer to sell replacement parts instead. The owner is requesting NHTSA research department contact them to discuss their idea further.
Parts you may need:
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