Problems · by component

2002 Chevrolet Impala air bags problems

49 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Impala cite air bags, 6% of all 808 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
49
6% of all complaints
Crashes
21
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
24
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact’s son owned a 2002 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the contact was unaware of how the failure occurred; however, the contact’s son was involved in a crash in which the vehicle collided with a wall. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed during the crash. The contact stated that the contact’s son sustained multiple injuries, and medical attention was provided. The contact was unaware if any warning lights were illuminated at the time of the failure. The contact stated that the injuries included a fractured nose, lacerations to the nose and cheek, a broken right femur, a shattered right knee, collapsed lung, broken ribs, and paralysis on the right side. The contact also stated that the right foot required amputation. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed destroyed by an independent mechanic. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 6, 2026Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11736024
“I was driving out of supermarket I was alone and the airbags deployed. I was hit hard and had a panic attack. I was able to drive home 14 miles. Windshield busted and dash board totaled Everyone I try to download a picture I'm sent to the begining. I'm going to have pictures on file incase needed. .”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2024Air bagsODI 11573901
“MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND WAS ONLY LESS THAN TEN FEET FROM MY FRONT DOOR,STILL IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT UNIT. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, SHE HADN'T HIT ANYTHING. THEY BOTH DEPLOYED ,CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD AND DISABLED THE DASHBOARD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2017Air bagsODI 10984583
“TAKATA RECALL I WAS DROPPING MY DAUGHTER OFF AT THE BABYSITTERS HOUSE ON MY WAY TO A FUNERAL AROUND 10:30 ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 1, 2016. I PULLED OUT THE BABYSITTERS DRIVEWAY AND PROCEEDED TOWARDS BERKSHIRE STREET. MY CAR WAS IN MOTION AND BEFORE I MADE IT TO THE CORNER MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG BURST OPEN MY DASHBOARD OPENED ALL THE WAY ACROSS TO DRIVER'S SIDE. MY RADIO BROKE OFF MY BUTTONS FLEW OFF THE DASH AND I COULDN'T TELL WHETHER IT WAS DUST OR SMOKE FROM THE AIRBAG. I WASN'T HURT BUT WHEN I INHALE MY CHEST HURT AND MY ASTHMA FLARED UP AND MY RIGHT EAR IS IRRITATED. ALSO MY WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I DIDN'T HIT A BUMP OR CAR IT'S SMOOTH PAVEMENT I WAS CONFUSED AS TO WHAT CAUSED IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 1, 2016Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc), Visibility/wiperODI 10910958
“I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, WATCHING THE GAUGES ON THE INSTAMENT CLUSTER GOING UP AND DOWN, LIKE THEY WERE LOOSING POWER, THEN BOTH AIR BAGS EXPLODED! ,SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND DASHBOARD! I JUST CANT BELIEVE THAT HAPPENED IF I OR MY LOVED ONES HAD BEEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD!!! WELL I DONT WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT BUT, THE PIONT IS THE SYSTEM FAILLED. AND IF I HAD HIT A WALL OR SOMETHING AND BEEN KILLED IT WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE THE AIR BAGS WORKED PROPERLY. THIS CAR WAS IN MY DRIVE IDELING , IN PARK NO ONE EVEN TOUCHING IT!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2015Air bags, StructureODI 10730949
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND AN INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2014Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10639115

Showing 6 of 49 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

1 recall on this component

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Aug 9, 2002NHTSA 02V222000
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.