Problems · by component

2002 Chevrolet Impala equipment problems

26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Impala cite equipment, 3% of all 808 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
26
3% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the equipment

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE A/C SYSTEM FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 08/27/14*LJ UPDATED 09/18/2014 *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2014Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Equipment, EngineODI 10614591
“ELECTRONIC - FIRST PROBLEM WAS AIRBAG LIGHT STAYING ON - AFTER AT LEAST 4 TRIPS TO DEALER - PROBLEM FIXED - NOW RADIO IS LOCKED AND SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO DOOR LOCKS AND SECURITY SYSTEM - APPARENTLY THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL AND NEEDS RECALL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2011Electrical system, Air bags, EquipmentODI 10421174
“GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PASSKEY SYSTEM MAY, AND THOUSANDS DO, EXPERIENCE A PASSLOCK SYSTEM LOCKOUT, WHERE THE SECURITY SYSTEM PREVENTS STARTING OF THE VEHICLE, EVEN WHEN USING THE MFR'S SUPPLIED KEY. THE PASSKEY SENSOR PROBLEM IS RECURRING EVEN AFTER SOME CONSUMERS HAD DEALERS REPLACE IT. THIS DEFECT IN THE PASSKEY II AND III AS WELL AS THE PASSLOCK SYSTEMS ON GM VEHICLES HAS PLAGUED MY VEHICLE SINCE 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. THE DEALER SAID I HAVE TO REPLACE THE PASSKEY SENSOR, IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, IGNITION SWITCH, BCM AND EVEN POSSIBLY THE ECM. I HAVE CHECKED WITH OTHER SHOPS AND CONSUMERS VIA ONLINE FORUMS AND PERSONAL INTERACTIONS, AND HAVE COME TO LEARN OF 1000'S IF NOT 10,000'S OF CONSUMERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS ONLY COVER UP THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THIS PROBLEM PREVENTS THE OWNER FROM STARTING THE CAR, AS WELL AS CAUSE IT TO STALL REGARDLESS OF LOCATION OR DRIVING CONDITION. THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLY LEAVING A CONSUMER STRANDED IN UNSURVIVABLE SITUATIONS. THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY AND A HEALTH RISK. EVEN WHEN UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE 'RECOMMENDED'…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2011Electrical system, EquipmentODI 10419576
“ON OCTOBER 11, 2010, WAS STOPPED FOR A LEFT TURN, IN MY 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. I WAS HIT FROM THE BACK BY A PICKUP TRUCK. UPON IMPACT, MY ONSTAR MIRROR CAME LOOSE FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CABLE BECAME A WEAPON IN THE CAR WITH THE MIRROR STILL ATTACHED. A WITNESS SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A BASEBALL BAT FLYING AROUND ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE CABLE WAS HANGING AND APPROXIMATELY 2FT LONG WHEN THE WRECKER PULLED IT AWAY. I RECEIVED MULTIPLE INJURIES TO MY HEAD/NECK AND RIGHT EYE DUE TO THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT. THERE WERE ALSO OTHER INJURIES THAT I FEEL PROBABLY DO NOT PERTAIN TO THIS. THE CAR WAS LATER TOTALED AND SO NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. I WILL REMAIN LEARY TO HAVE OR INSTALL ONSTAR EQUIPMENT IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE FOR THIS REASON. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 6, 2011EquipmentCrash reportedODI 10405327
“BROUGHT CAR AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT TIMED CORRECTLY AND I NEEDED A PART CALLED PLAW - THE COMPANY SAID THEY WERE FIXED BUT, NOT 3 MONTHS LATER WHEN HEAVY RAIN CAME MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ON MY WINDSHIELD STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN RIGHT IN FRONT OF WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE MY VISIBLE AREA. IM 5'3 AND I HAVE A SEVEN YEAR OLD CHILD AND I WOULD HATE TO BE ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN IT STARTS RAINING AND NOT ABLE TO SEE BECAUSE NO ONE TOOK IT SERIOUSLY.. I DO NOT LOOK FORWARD TO RAINY DAYS ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE A NEWER CAR BUT I HAVE TO GET A RIDE OR ON THE BUS WITH MY CHILD......... HELP HELP HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 1, 2010Steering, Visibility, EquipmentODI 10368607
“MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA 3.8L V-6 HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGING WHEN BRAKING IN TURNS TO THE LEFT. THIS CAUSES THE BRAKES TO SLIP AND GRIND. A HUMMING SOUND CAN BE HEARD WHEN THIS OCCURS. THE TRACTION CONTROL AND SOMETIMES THE "CHECK ABS " LIGHT BECOMES ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER FOR REPAIR. BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED. I REQUESTED A CHECK OF WIRING HARNESSES TO SEE IF THERE WAS DETERIORATION. NONE WAS APPARENTLY FOUND BY THE SHOP. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR OR ALLOW OTHERS IN MY FAMILY TO DRIVE IT INCASE THE BRAKES CAN'T ENGAGE PROPERLY. FROM READING ONLINE ACCOUNTS OF OTHER DRIVERS, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH A CHEVROLET OF THIS MODEL. AFTER HAVING THE RIGHT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED, I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. THEN AFTER HAVING THE LEFT FRONT REPLACED AS WELL TO THE TUNE OF AROUND $500.00 A PIECE, I THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. NOT SO. WHERE DOES THIS END. I URGE YOU TO LOOK INTO A RECALL OF THIS MODEL AND HAVE GM ULTIMATELY FIX THIS PROBLEM AND AVOID ALLOWING FOR A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES OR DEATH. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 31, 2010Equipment, Traction control systemODI 10346503

Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

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