Problems · by component

2001 Chevrolet Impala air bags problems

48 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Chevrolet Impala cite air bags, 6% of all 747 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
48
6% of all complaints
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
24
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I HAVE AN IDEA THAT I TOOK TO DAVIS INVENTION COMPANY T LIKE IT 2 YEARS AGO THE CAR CO.'S DON'T WANT BECAUSE IT WILL STOP ACCIDENT. CAR MAKER SAID TOO ME THEY SELL PART TOO. SO THAT LEAVES THE INSURANCE CO THAT PAYS FOR -THE PART PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE FROM YOUR RESEARCH DEPT CALL ME AT [XXX] SO I CAN TELL YOU MORE ABOUT IT *CC *DT *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 25, 2019Air bagsODI 11172108
“ON FRIDAY JULY 6, 2018 I WAS IN A AUTO ACCIDENT MY CAR ROLLED DOWN HILL AND NEITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOY I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT IN WHICH I FELL OUT OF . MY ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON [XXX] MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX] *TR *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 11, 2018Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11110790
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE STOPPED TO TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,617. THE CONSUMER STATED ALL OF THE OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED INCLUDING WHIPLASH AND CONCUSSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2017Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 11019307
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AFTER ACTIVATING THE TURN SIGNAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING, THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2015Electrical system, Air bagsODI 10809695
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT THE PART THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 6, 2015Air bagsODI 10692570
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; HOWEVER, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL, CRASHED INTO A POLE, AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S HEAD TO STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, AND SHOULDERS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2015Air bags, Service brakes, EngineCrash reportedFire reportedODI 10670410

Showing 6 of 48 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

Air bags: side

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE DRIVER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG INFLATOR SEPARATES FROM THE AIR BAG MODULE DURING DEPLOYMENT.

Air bagsReported Nov 13, 2000NHTSA 00V371000

Air bags

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULES (SDM) COULD EXPERIENCE A MEMORY ERROR RESULTING IN THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING IN A CRASH SITUATION.

Air bagsReported Aug 29, 2000NHTSA 00V244000
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.