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2002 Chevrolet Impala Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 795 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Impala, most often about the electrical (38% of complaints, typically around 82,000 miles). It is 5th of 21 Impala model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2002 Chevrolet Impala problems
Electrical
305 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, instrument cluster/panel, horn.
Dear gm customer service representative, please forward this message to mr. Douglass j herberger, vice president and general manager of service and parts operation. Dear mr. Herberger, I have been trying to get the codes for the pass lock theft deterrent system on my 2002 chevy Impala ls and the dealers around…
I recently(3-7-05) purchased a used 2002 chevy Impala from my uncle. He told me that based on info received from a former gm mech.; there was a starter problem that he had yet to experience. I have had the car a little over 3 weeks now and have experienced the problem 4 times in the last 5 days. I replaced the starter…
Engine
180 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, exhaust system, engine.
Tl 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.…
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…
Lights
125 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 77,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, turn signal, hazard flashing warning lights, brake lights.
Turn signals failed to function occasionally and this problem was increasing in frequency. No accidents,but I had to roll down window to give turn indications. My chevy dealer replaced a part or parts and I seem to be ok. At a cost of over 100 dollars.
While driving at night on several occasions myself and my wife have experienced headlight failure. It appears that there may be something wrong with the dimmer switch because when the lights do go out, manipulation of the switch usually causes the lights to come back on.
Brakes
74 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the two rear brakes were rusted and worn down to the point that only half of the brake shoes were used. The rotors and brakes were replaced. A few months after the repairs, he heard a noise and noticed that the two front brake shoes had split into two…
At around 10000 miles, after braking at an intersection, heard a loud squealing sound coming from left front tire. Took car to dealership and they said the caliper had seized. They repaired the caliper, replaced the brake pad and turned both front rotors. Now at 47000 miles, again after pulling away from an…
Steering
57 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles. Parts named most often: column, linkages, gear box, gear box (other than rack and pinion).
I recently bought a second hand 2002 Chevrolet Impala with 45,955 miles as part of the deal the dealer was to fix the air bag light -it would not go out- a month after the sale of this car I had to have the intermediate steering column replaced at a cost of $331 because the steering was knocking all the time, no…
My wife bought a 2002 Impala and we both love the car. But recently it has had a clunking in the steering column. I am a mechanic and know that it could be a faulty intermediate shaft. Why is there no recall for this problem? I have researched these archives and have seen many similar complaints. Even some failures.…
Air bags
47 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
Dt: 2002, Chevrolet, Impala ls, while consumer was backing the vehicle up the air bags on both front drivers side and passenger's side deployed, this was without impact , and not while making a sudden stop. Consumer had only backed up about one foot when the air bags deployed. Consumer contacted gm twice, upon calling…
Tl contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Impala. When the vehicle was started, the driver and passenger side air bags deployed without an impact or crash occurring. The contact was slightly injured during the deployment. The insurance company took the vehicle to the dealer to be inspected by a gm engineer. The cause of the…
Transmission
36 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 76,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, driveline, axle hubs.
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Impala. While driving 25 MPH, the battery light illuminated. The contact drove to a stop light and the vehicle shut down completely. The vehicle restarted after approximately 20 minutes. The contact replaced the battery, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an…
Loud "thumping" noise coming from lower engine area. Echanic diagnosed problem. Fly wheel disinegrated. Poorly manufactured part. 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.
Visibility and wipers
34 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, windshield wiper/washer, power window devices and controls, defroster/defogger/hvac system.
While driving, the passenger window fell down into the door frame causing such a loud noise and startling me while driving I nearly crashed my car, leaving my child exposed to the weather and other things.
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Impala. While driving various speeds, there was a faint burning order inside the vehicle while the heat was activated. The failure occurred on several occasions. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v701000 (engine and engine cooling), however, the part to do…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Chevrolet Impala recalls
Engine: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Risk: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Fix: The remedy applied under recalls 08v-118, 09v-116, and 15v-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engineâs front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08v-118, 09v-116, or 15v-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on february 19, 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and pontiac customer s
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 chevrolet lumina and oldsmobile intrigue, 1997-2004 buick regal and pontiac grand prix, 2000-2004 chevrolet impala, and 1998-2004 chevrolet monte carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08v-118, 09v-116, and 15v-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Electrical: ignition
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on september 9, 2014. Gm's number for this recall is 14350.
Full defect summary
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General motors llc (gm) notified the agency on july 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 chevrolet impala and monte carlo, 1997-2003 chevrolet malibu, 2004-2005 malibu classic, 1999-2004 oldsmobile alero, 1998-2002 oldsmobile intrigue, 1999-2005 pontiac grand am and 2004-2008 pontiac grand prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engineâs front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engineâs plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537, and pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 or http://www.pontiac.com or http:www.gmownercenter.com.
Full defect summary
General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 buick regal, my 1998-2003 chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Alleged headlight failure
Summary
A total of 646,038 subject vehicles were sold during my 2001-2003, and the complaint and warranty data tabulated above apply to the total vehicle population.complaint reports alleging headlight outage represent slightly more that one-half of the total number of complaints and the balance are allegations of flickering and dimming.investigation disclosed the root cause of the malfunction to be wear of a contact plunger in the multifunction switch that may result in a temporary open circuit, with the plunger in a neutral position between high- and low-beam contact points.consumers consistently reported that manipulation of the switch handle on the steering column restores either high or low bea
Engine compartment fires
Summary
Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with gm?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm?s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold rupt
Questions about the 2002 Chevrolet Impala
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Chevrolet Impala?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (305 complaints, typically around 82,000 miles); engine (180 complaints, typically around 95,000 miles); lights (125 complaints, typically around 77,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Impala have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 26, 2015 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Chevrolet Impala?
- It is 5th of 21 Impala model years by number of complaints, with 795 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.