Problems · by component

2002 Chevrolet Impala engine and engine cooling problems

107 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Impala cite engine and engine cooling, 13% of all 808 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
107
13% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
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 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAP SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 350,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/02/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TURN SIGNAL, AC, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND SECURITY SYSTEM WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. UPDATED 08/08/16.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 9, 2016Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10873480
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD FAILED TO START AND THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 02/10/16*LJ *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 21, 2015Engine and engine cooling, EngineODI 10811597
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW COOLANT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REFILLED THE COOLANT, BUT IT HAD LEAKED OUT BY THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2014Engine and engine coolingODI 10621730
“2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHEN STARTED *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE MANAGED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, BUT IT RUINED THE MOTOR. THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, GM DENIED THE CLAIM, STATING DUE TO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS BEING FIVE YEARS, THEY COULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2012Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10467464
“MY IMPALA STOPS RUNNING WHILE IM DRIVING ON OR OFF THE FREEWAY BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN IM DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 55 TO 65MPH WHEN ON FREEWAY WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND POWER STEERING IS LOST. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 28, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10441557
“AFTER STARTING THE CAR BLOWER MOTOR WONT WORK CRUISE LIGHT STAYS ON MIRROR CLUSTER DON'T WORK UNTIL 15 MIN THEN EVERYTHING WILL WORK BUT WHEN USING THE CRUISE IT WILL STOP WORKING BUT LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER TIME GAUGES CUT OUT AND THEN COME BACK ON AND ALL PROBLEMS SLOWLY BECOME WORSE WITH TIME. HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE ITS THE IGNITION SWITCH. *KB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 10, 2011Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10429374

Showing 6 of 107 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.