Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Chevrolet Impala problems
Owners filed 829 complaints about the 2000 Chevrolet Impala with NHTSA between Sep 1999 and Apr 2021. The most-cited component is electrical system (186).
Complaints
829
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
50
Reported by owners
Fires
74
Reported by owners
Injuries
53
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system186
- Engine and engine cooling156
- Steering124
- Air bags80
- Engine71
- Exterior lighting68
- Fuel system, gasoline52
- Power train51
- Service brakes, hydraulic46
- Suspension33
- Structure31
- Vehicle speed control29
- Equipment22
- Visibility21
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
8
78
81
61
103
76
57
43
25
37
51
19
21
16
9
65
32
23
12
3
5
3
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 8 |
| 2000 | 78 |
| 2001 | 81 |
| 2002 | 61 |
| 2003 | 103 |
| 2004 | 76 |
| 2005 | 57 |
| 2006 | 43 |
| 2007 | 25 |
| 2008 | 37 |
| 2009 | 51 |
| 2010 | 19 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 65 |
| 2015 | 32 |
| 2016 | 23 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
186 reports5 crashes20 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LESTER GLEN CHEVROLET (398 RTE 37 E, TOMS RIVER NJ, 08753, (732-276-1286) FOR RECALL REPAIR OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER OPENED THE KEY PUT A RING INTO THE KEY AND ADVISED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD STOP THE IGNITION FROM ROLLING HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE AT LOCAL SPEED THE KEY ROTATED BACK TO THE OFF POSITION AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT-OFF. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AS 123,000. INVALID VIN”
Engine and engine cooling
156 reports3 crashes18 fires2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, A CLUNKING SOUND WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT A FIRE HAD ERUPTED NEAR THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. ALSO, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY MISFIRED AND PERFORMED SLUGGISHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SCHUKEI CHEVROLET INC (721 S MONROE AVE, MASON CITY, IA 50401, 641-494-5589) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBERS: EA02030 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND PE00005 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO RENT A VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, HE WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,500. *TR”
Steering
124 reports9 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE KEY POSITION MOVED WHILE IT WAS IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE AFFECTED THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED AND DECLARED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN EXTENSIVE LACERATION WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG COMPONENTS PROJECTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER HAD CONTINUOUS HEADACHES AND THE INJURY REQUIRED STITCHES. CHEVROLET OF MORRISTOWN (5320 WEST ANDREW JOHNSON HWY, MORRISTOWN, TN 37814, 423-408-2966) WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT CALL A LAWYER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INITIALLY NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH, BUT WAS LATER CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Air bags
80 reports28 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT'S FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT RAN A STOP SIGN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE CONTACT'S WIFE SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.”
Engine
71 reports2 crashes28 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DENNY MENHOLT RAPID CHEVROLET (2323 E MALL DR, RAPID CITY, SD 57701) AND THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER'S APPROVAL FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.”
Exterior lighting
68 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND THE TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY AND DID NOT OPERATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,200.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.