Problems · by component

2000 Chevrolet Impala engine and engine cooling problems

156 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Chevrolet Impala cite engine and engine cooling, 19% of all 829 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
156
19% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
18
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2019Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineFire reportedODI 11166492
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED FUEL AND RELEASED VAPORS. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED TWO YEARS PRIOR BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED AND CAUSED A FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT'S FAMILY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER, WALTER'S CHEVROLET, WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 31, 2017Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10992447
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SMOKE AND FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/17/16*LJ *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2016Engine and engine cooling, EngineFire reportedODI 10897572
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, SMOKE APPEARED AND THE ENGINE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. 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 FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/13/16*LJ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 26, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10822268
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR, THE BATTERY DEPLETED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VALVE COVER AND INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,200.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 28, 2015Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10816553
“I WENT TO START MY 2000 CHEVY IMPALA AFTER SITTING FOR 2 DAYS IN THE COLD. IT WOULD NOT START. WE OPENED THE ENGINE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. I TRIED TO START THE CAR ONE MORE TIME AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF. PARTS FLEW EVERYWHERE HITTING EVERYONE AROUND THE CAR. WHEN WE CHECKED THE ENGINE WE NOTICED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND WE WERE LUCKY NO ONE WAS HURT BE FLYING INTAKE PARTS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 3, 2015Engine and engine cooling, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10691709

Showing 6 of 156 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Free remedy

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Oct 26, 2015NHTSA 15V701000

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Apr 8, 2009NHTSA 09V116000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.