2001 Chevrolet Impala fuel system, gasoline problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD BACK FIRE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, FOLLOWED BY SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,711. ...UPDATED 03/27/13 *BF”

“ON 4/09/12 AT APPROXIMATELY 18:20 I GOT IN THE CAR THAT HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER FEELING THE HOOD I OPENED IT AND DISCOVERED A FIRE ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE AND ALONG THE BACK SIDE OF THE ENGINE CLOSEST TO THE FIREWALL. FORTUNATELY SINCE I WAS HOME I HAD QUICK ACCESS TO AN ABC FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND I RAN INTO THE GARAGE AND GRABBED IT AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT I NOTED THE ENTIRE ENGINE COVER AND THE TOP OF THE ENGINE UNDER THE COVER WAS IN PIECES ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND IT APPEARED THE EXPLOSION WAS INSIDE THE AIR PLENUM/ INTAKE MANIFOLD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL AUTO SERVICE LOCATION VIA AAA AND CONTACTED MY INSURANCE CARRIER THE FOLLOWING DAY. REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACING THE AIR PLENUM, FUEL RAIL, INJECTORS, FUELS LINES, IGNITION WIRES, FUEL REGULATOR, AND VARIOUS GASKET KITS AND SENSORS. BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH I HAVE HEARD OF THE FUEL REGULATOR DRAWING RAW FUEL INTO THE AIR PLENUM / INTAKE MANIFOLD VIA A VACUUM LINE WHICH RESULTS IN THE EXPLOSION WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD DISPLAY THE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEVEL WAS MORE THAN THE CAPACITY IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 10/4/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER FILLING THE TANK TO CAPACITY, THE GAUGE WOULD ONLY READ 1/4 TANK TO 3/4 FULL. UPDATED 10/24/11”

“PROBLEM: THE GAS METER IS NOT ACCURATE, IT GIVES ME FALSE READINGS WHICH RESULT IN ME RUNNING OUT OF GAS OR OVER FILL MY GAS TANK. I NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE! THE GAS METER USUALLY READS FULL BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. WHILE DRIVING THE GAS METER WANDERS BACK AND FORTH FROM FULL TO EMPTY. I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR FAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. PLEASE HELP ME!”

“CHEVROLET IMPALA LS 2001 HAVE A DEFECT WHERE THE GAS GAUGE MOVES UP AND DOWN CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I DRIVE! YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE BECAUSE THE GAS GAUGE IS NOT ACCURATE. WHICH LEADS TO RUNNING OUT OF GAS OR OVER FILLING. I DON'T THINK IT CAN BE FIX. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT ITS JUST A DEFECT. *TR”

“I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA WITH A 3.8L V6. TODAY AROUND 3:30 CENTRAL TIME I WENT OUTSIDE TO START MY VEHICLE AND I SAW THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD SO I GOT ANOTHER VEHICLE OF MINE AND PUT ON MY JUMPER CABLES AND ALLOWED THE BATTERY TO CHARGE, AFTER WAITING FOR IT TO CHARGE, I TURNED THE KEY. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, AND THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS SO LARGE I HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT IT OUT, THEY WROTE A REPORT ON THE INCIDENT. I HAD PLASTIC PIECES ALL OVER. I WOULD TO KNOW WHY I HAVEN'T RECIEVED A RECALL ON THIS IF THERE HAS BEEN REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE.”