2002 Chevrolet Impala Engine Problems

After your car had the recall service done in April 2017 to fix an engine oil leak issue, the valve cover gasket failed within months. You noticed smoke coming from the engine after oil changes in summer 2017 and 2018, and in March 2019 oil began seeping onto the hot exhaust manifold creating smoke and a fire hazard. When inspected, the gasket was found torn and damaged—it appears the bolt caught and tore the gasket during installation, causing it to fail well before the one-year warranty expired. The repair will likely involve reinstalling the valve cover gasket correctly or replacing it with a properly installed gasket.

Your 2002 Chevy Impala has an open safety recall (NHTSA 15V-701) related to the engine and forward collision avoidance system. You're concerned about driving the car until this recall is addressed. You'll need to contact a Chevrolet dealer to have the recall repair completed.

You're noticing a burning oil smell while driving at various speeds, and you can see oil pooling in your engine compartment. Your check engine light hasn't come on, but this indicates your engine is leaking oil somewhere. The repair will likely involve identifying the source of the leak—which could be a valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket, or oil filter housing—and replacing the damaged seal or gasket.

Your engine runs hotter than normal, and the check engine coolant light used to come on frequently. You replaced the radiator hose and clamps, which turned off the warning light, but your engine still runs hot. You're concerned this could be a larger cooling system problem that might cause a fire, and you're hesitant to drive the car until it's repaired.

CHEVROLET IMPALA ENGINE COLD PARKED IN DRIVEWAY STARTED THE CAR AND THE ENGINE EXPLODED: FIRE STARTED UNDER HOOD. THE MANIFOLD EXPLODED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE BEGAN USING APPROXIMATELY A QUART OF WATER PER DAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN AND REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,505.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAP SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 350,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/02/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TURN SIGNAL, AC, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND SECURITY SYSTEM WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. UPDATED 08/08/16.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS CRUISING DOWN A HILL AND LOST POWER. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMEDY WAS NOT SUFFICIENT. THE REAR VALVE COVERS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIR AND THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO SMELL FUMES OF BURNING OIL. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE REAR VALVE COVERS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INSTRUCTED THE DEALERS NOT TO SUPPLY A REPLACEMENT PART UNTIL IT WAS IN PRODUCTION AND SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WOULD SUPPLY THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE BEAUTY COVER. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING LEAKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VALVES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 182,212.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

"TAKATA RECALL" MY 2002 IMPALA IS OVERHEATING I DID A PRESSURE CHECK IT HELD PRESSURE CHANGED THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT ALSO THE FANS AND RADIATOR AND IT STILL IS OVERHEATING WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE WHEN I'M AT A RED LIGHT IT GETS TO THE MAXIMUM BUT WHEN I'M DRIVING IT STAYS AROUND NORMAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR ENGINE VALVE COVER AND GASKET LEAKED OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. A STRONG BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE CABIN. THERE WERE NO FLAMES VISIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A LOUD BANGING SOUND AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE SPACE BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE ENGINE BLOCK BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING OIL WAS NOTICED WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLANT) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

VALVE COVER LEAKS OIL ONTO MANIFOLD . WHEN ENGINE IS HOT YOU CAN SMELL THE OIL BURNING ON THE MANIFOLD. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE #15757 NOTIFYING US OF THIS PROBLEM IN DECEMBER 2015. THE DEALER TELLS US GM DOESN'T HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE DEFECT BUT THEY DEALER WOULD REPAIR DEFECT AND BILL US AND GM WOULD REIMBURSE US FOR REPAIR. IF THE DEALER HAS THE PARTS TO REPAIR DEFECT WHY NOT JUST DO IT? RECALL NOTICE WARNS US NOT TO PARK VEHICLE IN GARAGE BECAUSE OF FIRE DANGER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE, ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY OR PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE HOOD. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VALVE COVERS LEAKED OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. VIN TOOLS CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE RADIATOR AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE ENGINE HAD CAUGHT FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 201,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL LEAK AROUND THE EXTENSION PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD FAILED TO START AND THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 02/10/16*LJ *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHILE STOPPED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE NOTICE WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMED PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, BUT THE ISSUE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION KEY RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE INTAKE GASKETS LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE. *JB

MY DAUGHTER OWNED A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA. ON MONDAY 3/16/15, SHE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE. SHE CALLED ME AND I ASKED WHAT COLOR THE SMOKE WAS. SHE SAID IT WAS BLACK SMOKE. I TOLD HER TO IMMEDIATELY GET HERSELF AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR. SHE AND HER SISTER REMOVED THE CHILDREN AND WALKED AWAY WHILE CALLING 911. A FEW SECONDS LATER, SHE HEARD A LOUD POP. THE WINDSHIELD BUSTED FROM THE APPARENT HEAT FROM THE FLAME THAT WERE RISING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENGINE WAS IN FLAMES. I'VE RESEARCHED ONLINE, AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE TWO RECALLS IN 2007 AND 2009 STATING THAT THE ENGINE COULD IGNITE. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. SHE HAD FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE ON THE CAR, BUT IT'S BARELY ENOUGH TO REPLACE IT. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING THE GEAR LEVER INTO VARIOUS POSITIONS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING. CAR MUST BE PUT IN NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AND RESTARTED WHILE MOVING TO AVOID ACCIDENT. *TR

I NOTICED THE CAR WAS RUNNING HOTTER THAN NORMAL SO I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING, HAD IT REPAIRED AND I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AGAIN @106,954 MILES BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING AGAIN IN THE SAME PLACE. *TR

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE KEY SWITCH BROKE ALONG WITH THE ICM MODULE AND THE CRANK AND CAM SHAFT CENSORS AND THE COMPUTER. *TA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE MOTOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW COOLANT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REFILLED THE COOLANT, BUT IT HAD LEAKED OUT BY THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, SMOKE WAS SEEN FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 229,000.

MODEL YEARS AFFECTED: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 ENGINES AFFECTED: 3.4L V6, 3.8L V6 AVERAGE MILEAGE: 108,315 MI (13,756 MI - 198,000 MI) VERIFIED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAN DEVELOP EXTERNAL ENGINE OIL OR COOLANT LEAKS. IN SOME CASES THE FAILED GASKET WILL LEAK COOLANT INTERNALLY. THE MANIFOLD GASKET WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. THOUSANDS OF CARS ARE AFFECTED. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SEVERAL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE PASS LOCK ASSEMBLY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,400.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE OFF THE ROADWAY AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT STATE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. AFTER THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BY LAW, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR, IT LOST POWER. I PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE PISTON BROKE, AND A PORTION OF THE PISTON FLEW THROUGH THE OIL PAN. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING TURNED OFF FOR ONE WEEK AND THE ENGINE EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A FIRE REPORT WAS PROVIDED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,847.

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHEN STARTED *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE MANAGED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, BUT IT RUINED THE MOTOR. THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, GM DENIED THE CLAIM, STATING DUE TO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS BEING FIVE YEARS, THEY COULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL.

CAR CRANKS WHEN IT WANTS TOO IT CRANKS UP AND SOMETIME IS DOES NOT. *TR

MY IMPALA STOPS RUNNING WHILE IM DRIVING ON OR OFF THE FREEWAY BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN IM DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 55 TO 65MPH WHEN ON FREEWAY WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND POWER STEERING IS LOST. *TR

AFTER STARTING THE CAR BLOWER MOTOR WONT WORK CRUISE LIGHT STAYS ON MIRROR CLUSTER DON'T WORK UNTIL 15 MIN THEN EVERYTHING WILL WORK BUT WHEN USING THE CRUISE IT WILL STOP WORKING BUT LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER TIME GAUGES CUT OUT AND THEN COME BACK ON AND ALL PROBLEMS SLOWLY BECOME WORSE WITH TIME. HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE ITS THE IGNITION SWITCH. *KB

MY WELL-MAINTAINED 2002 CHEVY IMPALA, 3.4L V6, BASE MODEL SHUT OFF A COUPLE DAYS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ACCELERATING, AS THE TRAFFIC WAS FINALLY PICKING UP. THAT'S WHEN I FELT THE CAR JERK AND SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. IT WAS HORRIFYING - THE BRAKE PEDAL & STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, SO I FORCIBLY TURNED THE WHEEL WITH ALL MY STRENGTH, COASTED TO THE SHOULDER, WITH TWO NEAR-COLLISIONS, PRESSED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, THEN SHIFTED TO PARK. THE RED BATTERY SYMBOL WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AS IF THE KEY WAS SET TO "ON", BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE DASH LIGHTS WERE OFF, BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S BECAUSE THE CAR SHUT OFF (WHICH IS WHAT WOULD NORMALLY HAPPEN AFTER SHUTTING OFF A CAR WITH AUTO-OFF LIGHTS). SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START ONLY RESULTED IN SOUNDS OF A CAR STRUGGLING TO TURN OVER, BUT NEVER ACTUALLY TURNING. EVENTUALLY THE CAR STUTTERED, BUT STARTED. I WAS BACK IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING, IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. SAME DRILL - COASTED OFF THE ROAD, AND SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO START BEFORE FINALLY STARTING. BACK ON THE ROAD, A FEW MINUTES LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER 2 MORE EPISODES OF THIS, INSTEAD OF STRUGGLING TO START, THE WASN'T EVEN COMING CLOSE. THE CAR RADIO AND HAZARD LIGHTS WERE STILL WORKING. WHICH LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT CONSTANT STARTING ATTEMPTS MAY HAVE EXHAUSTED THE BATTERY. AFTER A SUCCESSFUL START, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME, USING LOCAL ROADS FOR FEAR OF A HIGHWAY CRASH. 25 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING JUST FINE. IT DIDN'T SHUT OFF AGAIN UNTIL I WAS PARKED AT HOME AND IDLING FOR A FEW MINUTES. EVERYTIME IT SHUT OFF, I'D SEE *NO* CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, *NO* WARNINGS FROM THE MIL, THOUGH IT'S FULLY FUNCTIONAL. THE NEXT DAY I MOVED THE CAR FOR ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING AND IT STARTED UP JUST FINE, NO HESITATION. SEVERAL MORE STARTS SINCE MONDAY - NO HESITATION OR PROBLEM. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT LONG FOR NOW, FOR FEAR OF AN IMMINENT CRASH. THIS COULD BE FATAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE IT WOULD HESITATE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE EGR VALVE WAS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. HEAD GASKETS ARE DEFECTIVE ON THE 3400 SERIES ENGINES. THE COOLANT USED IN THESE VEHICLES CAUSES PREMATURE EROSION IN THE HEAD GASKET. *TR

LEAKING UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS,CAR OVERHEATING AND RUNNING POORLY.OCCURED AT 55,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 110,000 MI.. GASKETS REPLACED FOR 900.00 EACH TIME,OLD GASKETS AERE AVAILABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT APPROACHED THE PARKED VEHICLE AND SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE HOOD WAS RELEASED AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. THERE WERE NO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND REPAIR DUE TO THE FIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

AT TIMES THE CAB OF THE 2002 CHEVY IMPALA SEEMS TO OVERHEAT AND WHEN YOU TRY TO START IT ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS FLASH, INCLUDING HEADLIGHTS, THEN IT WON'T START. *TR

2002 IMPALA IN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BOX THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT AND THE SECURITY LIGHTS ALSO SHOWS AND THE BATTERY LIGHT THEN THE ENGINE DIES IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC I HAVE SEEN SO MANY AND MORE PEOPLE WITH IMPALAS IN DANGEROUS MOMENTS TALKING OF IT ONLINE COULD YOU PLEASE HAVE CHEVY CORRECT THIS DEADLY MESS GOT THE PROBLEM FIXED THEN IT STARTED BACK I DO HAVE KIDS ACTIVE IN SCHOOL SPORTS NEEDING TRANSPORTATION I CAN NOT DESCRIBE HOW BEING STRANDED IN TRAFFIC MAKES ME FEEL. *TR

2002 CHEVY IMPALA LS V6 ENGINE, REQUIRED TO HAVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED. THE GASKET HAD DISSOLVED AND WAS ALLOWING OIL AND COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK, AND MIX WITHIN THE ENGINE. MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE DEX COOLANT THAT GM USES, AND DETERIORATES THE GASKET. *TR

BOUGHT CHEV IMPALA 2002 BRAND NEW, NO MILES. 2005 BEGAN EXPERIENCING COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS-RUNNING HOT ETC. REPLACED RADIATOR, FLUSHED SYSTEM, REPLACED THERMOSTAT, ETC. ETC. SEVERAL TIMES, BODY CONTROL UNITS- LIGHTS AND LOCKS GOING CRAZY, HUB ASSEMBLY/TRACKING SYSTEM PROBLEMS- SOUNDS AND PULSATING WHEN TRY TO BRAKE OR TURN, HIGH BEAM LIGHT WON'T STAY ON TO THIS DATE. EXPERIENCING SMOKE FROM HOOD-MAY BE A LEAK WHICH SEEMS TO BE ACOMMON COMPLAINT BUT DEALER PUT DYE IN AND SAID THEY DON'T DETECT A LEAK. NO AIR-FREON REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *CN

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED FROM ANOTHER DEALER IN 2003. I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM IN NOVEMBER 2005, IT WOULD NOT START SOMETIMES LIGHT WOULD FLASH AND AFTER 20 MINUTES IT STARTS. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY UNTIL LAST NOVEMBER, AND THEN IT WOULD DO IT ABOUT 2-3X A WEEK. IN FEBRUARY 2009 I HAD TO REPLACE MY LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WATER PUMP AND BATTERY. THE SUMMER 09 I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR DUE TO A HAIRLINE CRACK IN IT. THE SECURITY SYSTEM STARTS TO INTERMITTENTLY NOT START THE VEHICLE AGAIN IN LATE SEP. 09 ABOUT 2-3X PER WEEK. IN JAN.2010 THE VEHICLE DOESN'T START FOR ME ONE DAY AFTER COMING OUT OF THE GROCERY STORE FOR 25 MINUTES. SINCE THEN IT DOES IT EVERY MORNING WHEN I GO TO TAKE MY CHILD TO SCHOOL AND I HAVE TO WAIT 10-20 MINUTES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GM DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY WEREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM AND I NEEDED $950 FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE BCM. I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC AND THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR ME AND MY CHILD. IT'S SCARY AND DANGEROUS. I'M SO AFRAID THAT ONE DAY OR NIGHT IT MAY NOT START AND I'M STRANDED IN THE STREETS AND MAY BE SUBJECTED TO A CRIME OR DEATH. I DON'T DRIVE IT AT NIGHT UNLESS IT'S AN EXTREME EMERGENCY NOW AND THIS IS SUCH AN INCONVENIENCE. I HAVE TO PAY FOR RIDES AT TIMES TO GET MY CHILD TO AND FROM SCHOOL WHEN THIS CAR DECIDES NOT TO START SO MY CHILD WON'T BE LATE FOR SCHOOL OR GETTING PICKED UP FROM SCHOOL. I'VE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR. *TR

IN 2002 I PURCHASED A IMPALA LS WITH 3.8 ENGINE. CASS # CHV0350387 ---08/15/03---AS STATED PRIOR--CONSUMER WANTS THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE CORRECTLY. I FEEL THAT THE REPAIR THAT IS BEEN DONE ON THE VEHICLE IS NOT CORRECT AND IN A MATTER OF TIME THE PROBLEM WILL RECUR AGAIN. REFERRING TO THE ABOVE STATED PARAGRAPH THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 60K. THE VEHICLE IS LOOSING ANTIFREEZE AT A CONSISTENT RATE AND IS NEEDING REPAIRS IMMEDIATELY. IF REPAIRS ARE NOT DONE THEN THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME A DRIVING HAZARD TO BOTH PASSENGER AND FELLOW USERS OF THE HIGHWAY. THE RECALL WAS A DEFECT MANAGEMENT REPAIR AND WASN'T COMPLETED IN A QUALITY AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS IMMEDIATELY ATTENTION TO RESOLVE THE INJURY LIABILITY OF ALL CONCERNED. IT WAS AND IS STILL THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GM TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. IT SHOULD NOT FALL TO THE CUSTOMER TO MAKE THE COSTLY NEEDED REPAIRS NOW. WHEN IT WAS ASSEMBLED AND SOLD TO THE CUSTOMER. THIS MATTER SHOULD DEFINITELY BE RESEARCHED TO CONFIRM THE PROBLEMS WHICH COULD BE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT BUT ORIGINATED FROM THE SAME RECALL. *TR

THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT OCCURS FREQUENTLY. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. *TR

IT STARTED BACK IN 2002 A FEW MONTHS I PURCHASED MY 2002 IMPALA. IT WAS A USED CAR WITH 15,000 MILES. THE CHECK ENGINE AND LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE WATER PUMP AND LOW COOLANT SENSOR REPLACED. A WEEK LATER, LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. AGAIN TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO REPLACE ANOTHER SENSOR. THAT HAPPEN 10 TIMES DURING THE SAME YEAR. AS OF NOW, JULY 2009, THE LIGHT IS STILL ON. IN 2007, MY VEHICLE STARTED TO RUN HOT. WAS TOLD I NEEDED THE MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET, THERMOSTAT AND HOSES REPLACED WHICH WOULD OF COST ME OVER $1000.00. I COULDN'T AFFORD IT. I GOT A LOCAL MECHANIC TO REPLACE EVERYTHING WHICH HE CHARGED ME $300.00. JUST RECENTLY, I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR ESPECIALLY AFTER I DRIVE IT FOR A WHILE. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER WHO GOES TO SCHOOL AND WORK AND THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. THIS CAR HAS BEEN GIVING ME THE BLUES THE PAST FEW YEARS AND I'M SICK OF IT. ALL THIS STARTED WITH ABOUT 150,000 MILES AND CURRENTLY I HAVE ABOUT 168,000 MILES. I WILL GET A BETTER, DEPENDABLE VEHICLE LATER THIS YEAR AND I WON'T BUY ANOTHER GM VEHICLE AGAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY OVERHEAT AND THE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO START AND WOULD OFTEN STALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD COULD POSSIBLY BE LEAKING WATER. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 126,000.

MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA DOES NOT START ON MANY OCCASIONS. THE ENGINE DOES NOT EVEN CRANK. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO 2 REPAIR SHOPS THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FOUND AND BOTH PLACES HAVE NO IDEAS. I HAVE DONE MY OWN RESEARCH AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM A 23 YEAR OLD FEMALE AND FOUND MYSELF STUCK OVER AN HOUR FROM HOME EARLIER THIS WEEK WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT START. HOW CAN I FIX IT OR IS THERE A RECALL THAT I AND ALL THE OTHERS DO NOT KNOW ABOUT? *TR

SAFETY RECALL # 09047: OIL DRIP FROM 2002 IMPALA 3.8L ENGINE MAY CAUSE FIRE WHEN DEPOSITED ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND MAY SPREAD TO SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND. DATE OF DEFECT RECALL IS CONSPICUOUSLY MISSING BUT I RECEIVED THIS NOTICE THE WEEK OF JUNE 8, 2009, I CALLED DEALER ON JUNE 10, 2009. DEALER IS STATING THAT THEY ARE BACKED UP IN DOING THE REPAIR DUE TO LACK OF PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE ARE DRIVING CARS THAT ARE JUST WAITING TO GO ON FIRE AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME THIS TYPE OF POTENTIAL FIRE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED ON THESE SPECIFIC ENGINES.*TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. ON MARCH 10, 2009, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. GM ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL HIS INSURANCE COMPANY BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR GM RECALL NUMBER 90047, WHICH STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD CATCH FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

2002 CHEVY IMPALA LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON AS MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF AND THERE'S NO CHANGE OR VERY LITTLE CHANGE IN LEVEL OF THE ANTI-FREEZE. AS MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE INTAKE GASKETS ARE PLASTIC AND END UP LEAKING. THE 3.4 IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN GM PRODUCTS AND I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER NOT TO BUY 1. PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL. I DON'T HAVE $1000 TO FIX THIS CAR I ALREADY PAID $4400 FOR IT. *TR

8-10-2005 I BOUGHT IT USED MILEAGE WAS 91186 7-5-2006 TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP THEY REPLACED INTAKE/VC/HEAD/GASKETSFLUSHED RADIATOR REPLACED H2O PUMP/THERMOSTAT COOLANT OIL CHANGE RESURFACE HEADS COVERED BY GUARDIAN WARRANTY OVER $1700.00 DOLLARS 2/2008 IT STARTED ALL OVER LOW COOLANT LIGHT IT WOULD GET HOT BROWNISH LOOKING WATER REPLACED RADIATOR/HOSES/WATERPUMP/COOLANTSENSER /THERMOTSTAT/FLUSHED COOLANT SYSTEM BUT IT STILLWOULD GET HOT/BUT IF YOU TURN ON THE HEATER ON HOT BUT IT WOULD NEVER BLOW OUT HOT AIR IT WAS COLD ONLY IT SMELL AS IF THEIRS COOLANT SEEPING INTO THE MOTOR OIL MY MILEAGE AT THE FIRST REPAIR WAS 102100 MY MILEAGE AS OF TO DAY139297 AS IT SIT IN DRIVE WAY I STILL HAVE PAYMENTS OF 300.00AMONTH IM PAYING FOR 11MORE MONTHS AND CANT EVEN DRIVE IT NOT EVEN A1/2MILE TO WORK I BEEN TOLD ITS AFFECT IN THE CLOSED COOLINGSYSTEM AND DEX COOL IT INTERNAL AND I CANT AFFORD THE REPAIR OR THE PAYMENT BUT IM STUCK WITH THEM. *TR

MY 2002 CHEVORLET IMPALA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE GASKETS LEAKING. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME IT WOULD OVER $750.00 TO REPAIR THIS. THE SAME THING HAPPEN WITH MY WIFE'S 2001 MALIBU. THE DEALER SAID THAT GM KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

BROWN MILKY FILM IN THE RADIATOR WAS DIAGNOSED AS BEING CAUSED BY A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. REPLACEMENT OF THE GASKET DID FIX THE PROBLEM. BASED ON INTERNET SEARCHES AND DEALER INFORMATION, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO START MY VEHICLE THAT MORNING I HEARD A LOUD BOOM AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE HOOD WAS RAISED, THE ENGINE WAS IN FLAMES. WE HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST ACCELERATION. MY CAR FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER. SO WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS, I HAVE TO HAVE THE PEDAL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR TO GET MY CAR TO GO. MY HUSBAND IS A MECHANIC AND HE CHECKED OUT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER AND HOOKED THE CAR TO THE COMPUTER AT WORK TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND NOTHING CAME BACK. SO WE GOT ONLINE AND STARTED LOOKING UP DEFECTS IN IMPALA'S AND FOR THE 2002 IMPALA, THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS BECAUSE OF THEM BEING DEFECTIVE. MY CAR HAS 96,000 MILES ON IT SO ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET INFORMATION I HAVE GATHERED, MY CAR SHOULD BE FIXED FOR FREE AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. *TR

2002 CHEVY IMPALA - DID FINE THE FIRST YEAR OR SO. ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON. LONG STORY SHORT - BEEN HAVING TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ALWAYS ANTIFREEZE FOR YEARS NOW AND HOPING AND PRAYING I DON'T END UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NOW I'M NOTICING HAVING TO ADD 1/2 TO 3/4 GALLON OF ANTIFREEZE EVERYDAY. TEMP LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON. ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF WHICH WORRIES ME MORE THAN WHEN IT'S ON. NOW NOTICING ANTIFREEZE BURNING AFTER I HAVE DROVE IT A LITTLE WHILE. LEAVES ME A LITTLE PUDDLE NOW EACH NIGHT. SEEMS TO LOSE ANTIFREEZE MORE IN THE WINTER WHILE RUNNING THE HEATER THAN IT DOES IN THE SUMMER. TIRED OF STRESSING ABOUT THE POS!!!!!!!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER. SUDDENLY, THE SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURES OCCURRED SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE PASSLOCK SENSOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO, MY SON INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE IS LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT, ABOUT A 1/2 GALLON A WEEK. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE DEX COOLANT LAWSUIT AFTER THE FILING DATE. I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE SALESMAN REFERRED ME TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY REFERRED ME TO THE LAWSUIT WEBSITE. (THIS IS WHERE I FOUND OUT THAT OCTOBER 27, 2008 WAS THE CUTOFF DATE FOR BEING INCLUDED IN THE LAWSUIT.) CHEVROLET SO FOR IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

THE FIRST THING IS THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET TWO TIME NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN INTO THE WATER RESERVOIR THEN I HAD TWO REPLACE THE MAIN CONTROL ( BCM ) AND ( PCM ) BY THE DEALERSHIP HA TO REPLACE THE STARTER AND THE WATER PUMP HAD TO RE PLACE TWO WINDOW MOTOR AND TWO WINDOW ELECTRONIC SWITCH THAT CONTROL EACH WINDOW THERE A LOT MORE BUT THIS ARE THE MORE IMPORTANCE ONES IT WOULD BE OKAY IF I GOT THIS CAR USED BUT I PAID FOR A NEW CAR SO I WOULD NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF BREAKDOWNS DOES GM STAND BEHIND THERE CAR OR WHAT !!!!!!!! *TR

2002 CHEVY IMPALA INTAKE GASKET ON MOTOR LETS WATER INTO MOTOR COST $740 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. HAD SAME TROUBLE ON A 95 BUICK WHICH RUINED THE ENGINE. MY SON HAD SAME TROUBLE ON A 97 BUICK. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE GM HAS HAD THIS TROUBLE FOR YEARS I KNOW OF A FEW OTHER WHO HAVE HAD SAME TROUBLE. *TR

VALVE BROKE OFF IN ENGINE CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. 60,400 MILES ON ENGINE AT TIME. OIL RESERVOIR WAS FULL, OIL PUMP WAS OPERATIONAL AND FILTER HAD NOT COLLAPSED. ENGINE COOLANT WAS FULL. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA WITH 80,000 THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2001. APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AS THE ANTIFREEZE LEAKED OUT INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKETS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO THEY FOUND THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE BAD AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITH REGARD TO THE LEAK I WAS TOLD I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE MOST TIMES THE FAILED GASKETS CAUSES THE ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE MOTOR AND SEIZE IT. I HAD THE REPAIRS DONE AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1,500.00. THIS PAST WEEKEND WHILE ON THE BELTWAY MY CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER THE MOTOR DIED. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN, THAT THEY KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE PISTON WAS IN MY OIL PAN. NOW I NEED TO HAVE THE MOTOR REPLACED. WHICH I HAVE GOTTEN PRICES FROM $4,500 - $6,500.00. ALSO, THEY TOLD ME MY BRAKES ARE BAD AGAIN, ONLY AFTER 4 MONTHS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES RESTART AND SOMETIMES NOT. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. DURING THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, BUT THE STARTER DID NOT MAKE A NOISE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

CAR WOULD NOT START CHANGED PASSLOCK AND STILL WILL NOT START. SECURITY LIGHT IS ON, RADIO IS LOCKED AND THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT, THEY ARE GUESSING THAT IS THE BCM AND THE SDM BUT THEY CANNOT PROMISE THAT IT WILL WORK. *TR

2002 IMPALA - SOMETIMES FAILS TO START, SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON. INTERMITTENT AS TO HOW OFTEN..SOMETIMES ONCE EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS SOMETIMES 1 EVERY WEEK. MULTIPLE DEALERS WANT TO CHARGE $300-$1000 TO REPLACE BCM WHICH AFTER RESEARCHING DOES NOT GUARANTEE TO FIX PROBLEM. *TR

INTAKE/HEAD GASKET FAILURE. LEAKING COOLANT IS DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECTIVE GASKET. IN FACT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED BUT IS INSUFFICIENT TO REPAY COST OF REPAIR. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL ITEM. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED AMONG WEB-BASED AUTOMOTIVE COMPLAINT FORUMS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM MOST IF NOT ALL OWNERS EXPERIENCE....2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA..... *TR

VARIOUS ENGINE FAILURES DUE TO DEX COOL COOLANT SYSTEM. ENGINE REBUILT. GASKETS. ETC NEW PARTS INSTALLED IN EACH INSTANCE. *TR

ENGINE FIRE WHEN CAR WAS STARTED, A POP OR BACK FIRE SOUND WAS HEARD THEN FLAMES WERE SEEN, FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED FIRE. CAR IS SITTING WAITING GM TO RESPOND ON INVESTIGATED EVENT. THIS IS A POLICE CAR AND WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 59 IMPALAS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT. *TR

I TOO AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLANT SYSTEM AND THE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE MANIFOLD GASKET ISSUE HAS TURNED INTO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST GM. RECENTLY A DECISION WAS MADE IN FAVOR OF CAR OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. DETAILS SHOULD BE RELEASED IN FEB 08 ABOUT THIS BUT I'VE HEARD THAT GM WILL HAVE TO PAY CAR OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED A PORTION OR ALL OF THE REPAIR COST. FOR MORE INFO GOOGLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, GM, AND GIBBS(THIS IS THE ATTORNEY). *TR

2002 CHEVY IMPALA 3.4L 84,000+ MILES LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON. LEAKING ANTIFREEZE BUT NOT SURE WHERE. CONTINUALLY HAVING TO ADD ANTIFREEZE TO OVERFLOW TO MAINTAIN LEVEL. CAR SMELLS LIKE BURNING ANTIFREEZE AFTER BEING DRIVEN. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOUND ONLINE AT CAR FORUMS WITH OTHER CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE. CONTENTS IN RADIATOR AND OVERFLOW IS THICK, OILY-LIKE SUBSTANCE. SO FAR, WHILE CHECKING OIL, IT IS OK. NOT MILKY OR CLOUDY. NUMEROUS REASONS WHY VEHICLE HAS COOLANT PROBLEMS. ONE THEORY IS DEXCOOL CAUSES THE SLUDGE. ANOTHER THEORY IS FAULTY INTAKE VALVE & GASKET. MAIN THEORY IS PROBLEM ORIGINATES FROM INTAKE VALVE (GASKET) AND DOMINOS. *TR

OWNER OF 2002 CHEVY IMPALA THAT HAS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK. FAMILY MEMBER ALSO HAD AN IMPALA, 2003, AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE. WHY IS THIS SUCH A PROBLEM? WHEN I SEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE I FOUND MANY OWNERS THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE PROPER GASKETS INSTALLED IN THEIR CARS. THIS CAR IS NOT A CHEAP CAR, AND TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS IS A SIGN OF A POOR QUALITY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WORK SPORADICALLY AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS LEAKING. IT POSES A FIRE HAZARD IF THE CAR IS OVERHEATED WHICH COULD POSE HEALTH THREATS TO THOSE IN THE CAR AND OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA WITH 71,000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND IS GOOD CONDITION. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL THINGS FIXED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. WE HAVE SPENT OVER $3,000 FIXING EVERYTHING. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX YET ANOTHER PROBLEM. THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE FACING THESE PROBLEMS AT SUCH AN EARLY STAGE. *TR

NOTICED BROWNISH COLOR OF COOLANT ON THE 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, SOME SLUDGE BUILT-UP IN RADIATOR. THIS CAR HAS 59000 MILES ON IT. DEALER REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO BE A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. COST OF REPAIRS TO BE $500 PLUS. IT APPEARED THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT WAS RELATED TO THE TYPE OF COOLANT GM USED.*AK

AT AROUND 40,000 MILES OUR 2002 IMPALA HAD BROWN STUFF SIMILAR TO PUDDING IN THE RADIATOR. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE THAT GENERAL MOTORS PUTS IN THEIR VEHICLES. AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES THE CAR OVERHEATED. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED NEW HEAD GASKETS AT A COST $1300.00 POSSIBLY HIGHER IF THE HEADS ARE DAMAGED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES YET GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT A DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT. WE HAVE PURCHASED A FORD CAR AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE A GM PRODUCT AGAIN. I HAD BEEN A GM MAN FOR 30 YEARS BUT NOT ANYMORE. *JB

I HAVE TWICE HAD TO TAKE MY 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA TO THE SHOP (RESULTING IN LOST TIME FROM WORK AND UNNECESSARY REPAIR BILLS) BECAUSE THE LOW ENGINE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON EVEN THOUGH THE COOLANT LEVEL IS FULL. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS TWICE FOUND OIL IN THE COOLANT, DESPITE HAVING FLUSHED THE COOLING SYSTEM AND INSTALLING A NEW LOW COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR AT A COST OF $165. NOW I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THAT IT WILL COST AROUND $900 TO FIX IT PROPERLY. THIS CAR HAD ONLY 20,580 MILES ON IT WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST ATTENDED TO AND NOW STILL HAS ONLY 21,557 MILES. *JB

STARTED EXPERIENCING ENGINE PULLING/HESITATION, THEN MY ENGINE WOULD IDLE AT 2,000 RPMS AND INCREASE TO 3,000. COME TO FIND THAT THERE IS A HOLE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NOT KNOWING WHY. I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 4 MONTHS AND PUT A LITTLE OVER 7,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

HAD INTAKE GASKET REPLACED IN FEB. OF 2006 FOR COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE OIL, BECAUSE OF SAID GASKET FAILING (77,000 APPROX. MI.) NOTICED COOLANT LEVEL DROPPING AGAIN IN JAN. 2007 (85,000 MI.) FOUND WHITE/BROWN SLUDGE IN OIL AGAIN!APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM IS BACK AND I AM TOLD IT WILL KEEP COMING BACK UNTIL GM CORP. COMES UP WITH A PERMANENT FIX. WHY ARE THEY NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THIS? I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP ON FIXING THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS NO END IN SIGHT. I LIKE MY CAR BUT IF GM WON'T ADDRESS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAWS I'LL HAVE TO BUY FROM SOMEBODY ELSE. *JB

IN JANUARY 2006 MY 2002 IMPALA LOSS POWER. I WAS GOING UP A VERY SMALL HILL AND I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT UP. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL MOM AND POP'S GARAGE AND THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER. IT SHOWED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD EVENTHOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. I HAD THEM REPLACE NOT KNOWING THAT THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR EMISSIONS AND THEY DIDN'T USE A GM PART. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID COME ON. AGAIN IT SHOWED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AS THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID HE HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH PUTTING A NON-DEALER PART ON A CAR BEFORE BUT DID REPLACE THE CONVERTER ONCE AGAIN WITH A NON-GM PART IN CASE THE FIRST ONE HAPPENED TO BE A BAD PART. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHOWS AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION. OF COURSE, THEY WOULDN'T MAKE GOOD ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BY THIS TIME BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT WASN'T THE ORIGINAL GM PART. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $775 JUST FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS AND JUST BROUGHT THE CAR HOME. I'M STILL DRIVING IT BUT IT'S WORSE AND WORSE EVERY DAY. I WOULDN'T TRUST DRIVING THIS CAR VERY FAR. I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER & THE TRANSMISSION THAT YOU WOULD THINK GM WOULD HAVE TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING. AT THIS POINT I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GM VEHICLE AND MY HUSBAND IS DIEHARD GM. I'VE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR HOPING THAT IT WOULD LAST UNTIL MY DAUGHTER STARTS DRIVING AND I COULD HAND IT TRUSTINGLY DOWN TO HER BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE CASE. MY HUSBAND DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF HIS TRUCKS LIKE I WOULD AND HE STILL HAS A 1995 THAT RUNS GOOD.

COOLING SYSTEM LEAK LOW COOLANT WARNING--INTAKE GASKET REPLACED AT 25,461 MILES (AUGUST 2002) LOW COOLANT WARNING--WATER PUMP AND INTAKE GASKET REPLACED AT 60,045 MILES AGAIN. *JB

AT 89,000 MILES I NOTICED THAT MY ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT WAS ON. I FILLED THE COOLANT. THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AND I FILLED IT A FEW MORE TIMES, BUT COULD NOT PINPOINT THE LEAK. THEN ONE NIGHT THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE NOISES AND I PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO CHECK THE COOLANT. I FILLED IT AND WAITED UNTIL THE CAR COOLED. I STARTED THE ENGINE AND DROVE ABOUT A QUARTER MILE AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. WHEN I TOWED IT TO A GARAGE I LEARNED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING WATER INTO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED I PAID THE GARAGE TO PUT IN A USED MOTOR. IT COST ME OVER $1300. I NEVER THOUGHT TO CONTACT CHEVY SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NOW, BECAUSE OF MY INTERNET RESEARCH, I KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME I ALSO BOUGHT A SECOND CHEVY IN 2002. WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT - MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS AT 62,000 MILES. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET BY WITH REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET. THE SAME GARAGE GAVE ME A PRICE BREAK AND FIXED IT FOR $252.00. BOO TO CHEVY. *NM

PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA USED AT A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER. THE COOLANT LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A MONTH, BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS, THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET AND THE COST IS ($1000). HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THAT THE GASKET IS NOW PLASTIC, WHEREAS PREVIOUSLY WAS MADE OF METAL. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS ALSO PLASTIC AND INDICATED THAT THIS WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE REPLACED IN THE FUTURE. THERE IS NO BETTER PROOF OF PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE. AS I AM DOING MY RESEARCH, I FIND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON. THE SERVICE MANAGER EVEN SAID THEY HE IS SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. THX, GEK. *NM

I HAVE A 2002 IMPALA. I EXPERIENCED A COOLANT LEAK FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS CAN RESULT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ENGINE SEIZURE, BLOWING A ROD, ETC. I BELIEVE THIS IS REFERRED TO IN SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 070803 AND NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10003814 PER RECORDS FOUND ON THIS SITE. AFTER CALLING CHEVROLET'S 800 NUMBER, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FOR MY VIN, BUT THEY ONLY OFFERED IT FOR 2 YEARS, FROM 07/03 - 07/05. SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED, I WAS NOT SENT A RECALL NOTICE AND NOW IT APPEARS I HAVE TO PAY THE RATHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILL.

PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA USED AT A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, IN LESS THAN 8 MONTHS I HAVE COME ACROSS TWO PROBLEMS. ONE, THE TURN SIGNAL STARTS ACTING UP AND AFFECTS THE SYSTEM AND THEY TELL ME IT IS THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ($400.00) AND THE SECOND, I NOTICED I HAD TO CONSTANTLY ADD COOLANT/WATER TO THE RADIATOR BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS, THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET AND THE COST IS ($1000). AS I AM DOING MY RESEARCH TO FIND A MORE REASONABLE COST TO WHICH I CAN ACCOMMODATE, I FIND THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE TOO COMMON IN THE VERSION OF THE MOTORS/STYLE OF VEHICLES. SO FAR, THAT EVEN TWO OF THE SHOPS I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR AN ESTIMATE HAVE SAID THEY ARE SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL, ESPECIALLY IN THE LOWER INTAKE PROBLEM. WHERE CAN I TURN TO, TO TRY TO GET HELP AND MAKE SURE THESE MANUFACTURERS TAKE CARE OF THESE ISSUES THAT ARE VERY COSTLY AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IN LESS THAN 3 TO 4 YEARS, THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY FOR THEM. THANK YOU!! *NM

MY 2002 IMPALA HAS JUST 70K MILES. THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND OVER HEATED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT IS A INTAKE GASKET THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNUSUAL WITH THE DEXTRON COOLANT THAT GM USES. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM FROM MANY MECHANICS AND IT SEEMS THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO FIX THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. MY FAILURE HAPPENED WHEN MY FAMILY WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF NO COOLANT IN THE ENGINE. *JB

ENGINE COOLANT LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, OR AT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD TO LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A LOW ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL OR COOLANT POOLING ON MANIFOLD. SAME PROBLEM AS NOTED IN TSB#03034(NHTSA ID#10003430, JULY 01, 2003) THIS PROBLEM IS PRESENT IN MY IMPALA THAT HAS BEEN WELL SERVICED EVERY 5K MILES AND SUDDENLY PRESENTED AT 96K MILES. *JB

ONLY 78000 MILES ON MY 2002 IMPALA WHEN THE COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON. NEARLY $1000.00 LATER THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW WATER PUMP, INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, BELT, RADIATOR CAP, THERMOSTAT AND OF COURSE AN OIL CHANGE. ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THE COOLANT GM REQUIRES IS CORROSIVE AND CAUSES THE ABOVE ITEMS TO DETERIORATE. HOW LONG WILL THE REPLACEMENTS LAST? NOT SURE I WANT TO FIND OUT. *NM

I OWN A CHEVROLET, IMPALA - 2002. IN THE BEGINNING OF APRIL I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT INTO A BUSY FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY AS I HIT THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE THE CAR FELT SLUGGISH AS THOUGH IT WERE NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS OR NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THAT EVENING I STOOPED TO FILL UP THE GAS TANK AND UPON LEAVING I WAS CLIMBING A HILL AND THE CAR ACTED UP AGAIN AND MADE A DIFFERENT SOUND AND AGAIN ACTED AS THOUGH IT WERE NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR OR NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL AND THE SECURITY LIGHT (NOT SERVICE ENGINE) CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I IMMEDIATELY PHONED MY HUSBAND AND HE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (JOHN SERRETTI). WE HAVE MAINTAINED THIS VEHICLE FAITHFULLY SINCE WE PURCHASED IT OIL CHANGES, TIRES ROTATED ETC. ALL PERFORMED AT JOHN SERETTI'S EVERY 3/4 MONTHS. AFTER REVIEWING ALL PAPERWORK RECEIVED AT HOME FOR THE IMPALA MY HUSBAND CAME ACROSS A LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS MAILED IN OCTOBER 2005 STATING THAT SOME VEHICLES WERE EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IF WE DID INDEED HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS TO TAKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT, BUT IF NOT, NOTHING NEEDED TO BE DONE AND THIS LETTER WAS NOT A RECALL. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ($90) AND FOUND THAT INDEED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTED WAS CLOGGED AND SUPPOSEDLY CAUSED THE SPARK PLUGS WIRE TO ARC AND MELT WHICH ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE (ALMOST $600). MY HUSBAND HAS TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS IN REFERENCE TO THIS AND THEY ALL AGREE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION POSSIBLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. GM DID COVER PART OF THE REPAIRS BUT IN MY OPINION THEY SHOULD HAVE COVERED THEM ALL BECAUSE THE CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND IF CARBON HAD BUILT UP TO THAT EXTENT TO CAUSE ALL OF THIS DAMAGE AND LEADING ME AND OTHER MECHANICS TO BELIEVE IT COULD VERY WELL HAVE STARTED A FIRE, WHY WASN'T IT DISCOVERED AT THE PREVIOUS INSPECTION-OIL CHANGE? *JB

LOW ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT WENT ON. HAD IT CHECKED OUT. LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THAT OIL WAS GETTING INTO THE RADIATOR, POSSIBLE INTAKE MANIFOLD OR HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. WENT TO CHEVY DEALER EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND HE STATED IT WAS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 IMPALA. HE DIAGNOSTIC THE PROBLEM AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, COST TO REPAIR $1000. I PHONE ANOTHER CHEVY DEALER COST $800, LOCAL MECHANIC $600. COST OF THE PARTS AT AUTOZONE LESS THAN $75 AMOUNT OF LABOR TIME SHOULD BE 3-5 HOURS. CHEVY DEALERS 8 + HOURS. ALL THIS BECAUSE GM USES BAD ANTIFREEZE. GM CAUSED THE PROBLEM THEY NEED TO STEP UP AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO IMPALA OWNERS. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS WILL BE MY LAST GM PRODUCT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP; THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NOR HAS THE MANUFACTURER BEEN ALERTED.

LOW COOLANT LIGHT ON MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU HAS BEEN COMING ON. THE CHEVY DEALER CHECKED THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON, CHECKED FOR LOW COOLANT. FOUND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING INTERNALLY. COOLANT MIXING WITH OIL. *NM

MIS-DIAGNOSIS AND WILLFUL NEGLIGENCE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS OF ENGINE KNOCKING AND LOSS OF POWER UPON ACCELERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED A CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER, HOWEVER, THE SYMPTOMS RETURNED WITHIN 15 DAYS. NOW THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE ENGINE IS DAMAGED AND MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,000. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY PURCHASED 6 WEEKS AGO AT A COST OF $12,000. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS MADE UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, NOW THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND WARRANTY. *JB

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, 72K MILES, POOR ACCELERATION, OVER-HEATING OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER. FIRE IS POSSIBLE. NO ANNOUNCED RECALL, HOWEVER A SERVICE RECALL WAS ISSUED AND WARRANTY EXTENDED DUE TO FAULTY CONVERTER. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ANNOUNCE RECALL, UNLESS A PROBLEM OCCURS. *NM

2002 CHEVY IMPALA LS CAR STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OFTEN AFTER HITTING LARGE BUMP, RESULTING LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING IS DANGEROUS. FULL TEXT OF CORRESPONDENCE WITH GM, POSTINGS ON LINE AND SEARCH OF TSB IS AVAILABLE. *NM

DT: WITHIN 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE NEW VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO NOTICE AT STOP LIGHT. AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR SEVERAL HOURS IT WILL THEN START. SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT START EVEN AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW PRESSURE SENSOR SEVERAL TIMES.*AK

AROUND 58K MILES THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A SLIGHT LEAK AROUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO THE DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE THAT IS USED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME, AND THE COST WOULD BE AROUND $700 TO REPAIR. I'VE BEEN NURSING THIS ISSUE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AS THE LEAK WAS SLIGHT, HOWEVER NOW IT IS GREATER AND MUST BE DEALT WITH. I HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH THE DEALERS AND WILL HAVE TO REPAIR IT AND BEAR THE COST. *NM

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH STALLING AND MISFIRING.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. A HOLE BURNT THROUGH THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF AIR TO ENTER THE SYSTEM. THE CLOGGED CONVERTER WAS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM WHICH ALLOWED EXCESSIVE BACK PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE SYSTEM AND GASES THAT WERE MUCH HOTTER THAN NORMAL ENTERED THE MANIFOLD. *SC

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA, COOLANT LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR 2 YEARS. TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP WHEN IT FIRST CAME ON, ONLY TO BE INFORMED THAT IT WAS A "CORROSION PROBLEM" WHICH WAS NOT COVERED BY MY BUMPER TO BUMPER WARANTEE. NOW I DISCOVERED THAT GM'S CHOICE OF DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE IS VERY WELL KNOWN TO CAUSE CORROSION PROBLEMS, AND THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT DEX-COOL DESTROYING HEAD AND INTAKE GASKETS AS WELL! I EXPECT GM TO MAKE GOOD ON A PROBLEM THAT THEY THEMSELVES CAUSED, INSTEAD OF THEIR TO-DATE SNIVELY POLICY OF PASSING THE BUCK BACK TO THE CONSUMER. (IN SHORT, IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED TO MY SATISFACTION IN A TIMELY MANNER, I WILL NEVER BUY A GM PRODUCT EVER AGAIN!)

DT: ENGINE STARTED TO SPIT AND SPUTTER. IT GOT WORSE. CALLER CHANGED FUEL FILTER BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID IT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CAR RAN FAST AND TRIED TO TAKE OFF, AND SHE HAD TO SLAM THE BRAKES HARD, AND HOLD THEM TO T STOP CAR. DEALER SAID A HOLE WAS BURNED INTO THE MANIFOLD, AND WHEN THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THEY SAID A MISFIRE CODE CAME UP. PROBLEM WAS WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEING PLUGGED. DEALER FIXED THE BURNED INTAKE MANIFOLD BEFORE THEY FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THAT WAS THE ONLY THING WRONG WITH IT. *AK

AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT MY CAR HAD A MINOR ANTIFREEZE LEAK AT THE LOWER INTAKE. NOW AT 130,000 MILES IT HAS TURNED INTO A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT WILL REQUIRE AT LEAST 600 DOLLARS IN REPAIR COSTS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ALOT OF IMPALAS DO THIS. HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE YET, NOR RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE.

TWO MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS FOGGED OVER. THEY COST $250 A PIECE TO REPLACE (HAVE NOT YET REPLACED). ABOUT A MONTH LATER A COMPUTER CHIP THAT CONTROLLED MY LIGHTS, LOCKS, WINDOWS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND STEREO WENT BAD AND THAT COST $353 TO REPLACE. SOON AFTER THAT I NOTICED THAT MY CAR FELT LIKE IT MOVED BACK AND FORTH WHEN I DROVE IT, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE WHEN I TURNED. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A VERY BIG DEAL BUT TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I TOOK IT IN AND FOUND OUT THAT I WAS MISSING 2 BEARINGS ON MY SUSPENSION WHICH PUT PRESSURE ON MY DRIVE SHAFT(NOT SURE ABOUT ACTUAL TERMINOLOGY HERE NOT SURE IF IT WAS DRIVE SHAFT OR STEERING COLUMN) CAUSING MY RACK AND PINION TO GO BAD. THAT COST $1100 TO FIX. SO NOW I AM $1453 INTO HAVING MY CAR REPAIRED FOR THINGS THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE GONE BAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. TODAY (MAY 9TH 2005) I FOUND OUT THAT MY INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS GONE BAD AND I CAN SMELL BURNING ANTIFREEZE WHEN I DRIVE, AND MY COOLANT SENSOR IS BAD. TO FIX THOSE TWO THINGS IS GOING TO COST ME $840. I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT I HAVE CHECKED THIS CAR OUT ON CARFAX.COM THERE WAS ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER AND NOTHING SIGNIFIGANT AS HOW IT WAS TREATED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT 34,000 MILES AND IT NOW HAS 53,000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT ALMOST 2YRS AGO. I HAVE CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE 3 TIMES NOW, AND EACH TIME I AM GIVEN THE SAME ANSWER "I AM SORRY MS.... THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU AT THIS TIME...". GM NEEDS TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND START MAKING CARS THAT ARE WORTH WHAT THEY SELL THEM FOR. HAD I KNOWN HOW GM MADE VEHICLES WITH BAD PARTS AND REFUSE TO BACK THEM UP, I WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THAT NOW SITS IN MY GARAGE.

P102 MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILURE, CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO REMAIN IN A STEADY ON CONDITION. VEHICLE WOULD FAIL EMISSIONS TEST WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, BUT DEALER SAYS THIS CONDITION NOT COVERED BY EMISSIONS WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE OWNER'S MANUAL CLEARLY STATES THIS CONDITION IS A EMISSIONS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.*AK

MY 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA SUFFERED A BREAKDOWN OF THE ANTIFREEZE THAT TURNED INTO A THICK BROWN SUBSTANCE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND GM DID HAVE THE COOLANT FLUSHED. TWO WEEKS LATER THE LIFTER BEGAN TO RATTLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT A SEAL WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE OIL. I WAS ASSURRED THAT THIS WAS NOT RELATED TO THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM AND WAS NOT COVERED. THE REPAIRS WILL COST OVER 760.00. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AFTER WAITING ALL DAY, THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS NOT THERE, BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE FIRST PROBLEM. THE COOLANT TURNED INTO A THICK BROWN GRITTY SUBSTANCE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE SANDPAPER GOING THROUGH THE ENGINE AND THEY CLAIM THAT IT COULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE SEAL TO FAIL. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO STAND UP FOR OBVIOUS FAILURE AND DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. THEY REFUSE TO STAND UP FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS COOLANT ACCORDING TO GM IS SUPPOSED TO LAST AT LEAST 100,000 MILES AND IT DOES HOLD UP AS THEY STATE. THEY SHOULD ADMIT THE PROBLEM AND MAKE THE PROPER REPAIRS TO CUSTOMERS VEHICLES.

AT JUST UNDER 60,000 MILES, LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER SAYS IT'S LEAKING COOLANT AT 2 PLACES: AT LOWER INTAKE AND AT WATER PUMP. COST TO REPAIR: $600 TO $850, DEPENDING ON REPAIR FACILITY. IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS, I DID NOT RECEIVE.*AK

ENGINE COOLANT HAS TURNED BROWN AND CLOGGED UP THE COOLING SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TYPE OF COOLANT BEING USED IN NEW VEHICLES. I HAVE BEEN REFERED TO HAVE MY ENGINE FLUSHED AND THAT GM WILL NOT STAND UP FOR THE REPAIRS.

ENGINE STALLS, REMOTELESS KEY ENTRY DOESN'T WORK, COOLANT LEAKING. *AK

LOUD "THUMPING" NOISE COMING FROM LOWER ENGINE AREA. ECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM. FLY WHEEL DISINEGRATED. POORLY MANUFACTURED PART. *AK ONE MONTH LATER "LOW COOLANT" ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS BAD INTAKE VALVE SEAL. POOR QUALITY GM PART. BOTH PARTS REPLACED AND REPAIRED AS RECOMMENDED.

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINEDTHAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKTE HAD FAILED. *AK *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT EVERY WEEK, HE HAD TO FILL THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND COOLANT SPILLED INSIDE THE ENGINE. *AK *JB

CATALYTIC CONVERTER CLOGGED ON 2002 VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WAS CALIBRATED TO RUN TOO LEAN MAKING THE EXHAUST GASES TOO HOT, LEADING TO PREMATURE FAILURE. NOTICED GRADUAL POWER LOSS SINCE 50,000 MILES BUT THOUGHT IT WAS AIR FILTER. ENGINE LIGHT STILL DID TURN ON. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS OK FOR WARRANTY. *NM

INTAKE MANAFOLD LEAK

INTAKE MANAFOLD LEAK

CONSUMER SMELLED ANTI FREEZE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE WEATHER BECAME COLD. THIS WAS DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING ANTI FREEZE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BE REPLACED.*AK

CATALYTIC CONVERTER CLOGGED ON 2002 VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WAS CALIBRATED TO RUN TOO LEAN MAKING THE EXHAUST GASES TOO HOT, LEADING TO PREMATURE FAILURE. NOTICED GRADUAL POWER LOSS SINCE 60,000 MILES BUT THOUGHT IT WAS AIR FILTER. FINALLY, I COULD NOT GET UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT 85,000 MILES, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT STILL DID NOT TURN ON. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *LA

THE RECALL REMEDY FOR THE UPPER/LOWER INTAKE CO303-4 MANUFACTURER # IS A SHORT TERM FIX, AND IS NOT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. *AK IF A SEALANT WAS USED TO STOP THE LEAKAGE INTO THE COOLANT SYSTEM TO THE VEHICLES MOTOR IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ALSO IT COULD MOVE AROUND AND FLOW TO OTHER PLACES AT ANYTIME THERE WAS A TEMPERATURE CHANGE. *SCC *JB

THE VEHICLE'S GAS TANK WOULD NOT FILL BECAUSE AIR HAD GOTTEN IN THE TANK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM ONE MUST HOLD THE GAS NOZZLE AWAY FROM THE FILLER TUBE AND RESTRICT THE FLOW. THE TIRE AND FUEL SYSTEM/TANK/INJECTORS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RATTLE SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE DUE TO THE INJECTORS THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. AFTER THE ENGINE IS HOT, THE NEXT TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN OVER BUT NO START AND RUN ROUGH. THE FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATED(NOT GIVING ACTUAL AMOUNT). THE SOLENOID WAS REPLACED DUE TO HANGING BY THE HOSE RETAINER. SCC

02' CHEVROLET IMPALA. USING THREE DIFFERENT CONFINED SPACE MONITORS I HAVE FOUND CONTINUING PRESENCE OF CARBON MONOXIDE AND METHANE EMISSIONS IN THE INTERIOR/CAB OF MY VEHICLE. GM HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND HAS ALSO FOUND THE PRESENCE OF VEHICLE EMISSIONS INSIDE THE VEHICLE BUT, THEY CONTEND THE AMOUNTS ARE WITHIN EPA STANDARDS. THE PROBLEM IS ON GOING AND CONTINUES TO BE A HEALTH RISK FOR MY FAMILY. FREQUENT HEADACHES AND FATIGUE ARE OFTEN AFFECTS AFTER OPERATING THE VEHICLE. NAUSEA HAS OCCURRED AFTER LENGTHY TRIPS IN THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE RESULTED TO DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN TO HELP ALEVE THE EFFECTS ON THE CARBON MONOXIDE, BUT THIS ISN'T THE SOLUTION. THE EMISSIONS ALSO CREATES AN ODOR THAT CLINGS TO YOUR BODY. WHAT CAN I DO? *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 3052 MILES ON IT AND HAS STALLED ON TWO OCCASIONS, BOTH WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. *SLC

WHILE CHECKING COOLING SYSTEM NOTICED A BUILD UP OF BROWN STUFF ON RADIATOR CAP, AND BROWN WATER AT RADIATOR TOP. COOLING LIQUID BREAKS DOWN AND CLOGS UP RADIATOR/ HEATER CORE AND ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A STRONG SMELL THAT GOES INSIDE THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE AND AT TIMES THE CONSUMER HAS TO PULL OVER BECAUSE THE CONSUMER CANNOT STAND THE SMELL. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.