Problems · by component

2002 Chevrolet Impala visibility problems

31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Impala cite visibility, 4% of all 808 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
31
4% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the visibility

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A FAINT BURNING ORDER INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE THE HEAT WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2016Visibility, EngineODI 10821055
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS WINDOW FAILED AND WOULD NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDOW REGULATOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,544 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. SM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2011VisibilityODI 10417923
“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
“STARTING WITH THE 2000 CHEVY IMPALA THEY HAVE A WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM, WHERE IF HEAVY SNOWS SLIDES OFF THE ROOF ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, OR IF THE WIPERS ARE FROZEN TO THE WINDSHIELD WHEN YOU OPERATE THE WIPERS, IT BENDS A TAB UNDER THE WIPER MECHANISM AND CAUSES THE WIPERS TO PARK IN THE OUTWIPE CONDITION WHEN TURNED OFF INSTEAD OF OUT OF THE WAY OF THE DRIVERS VISION JUST UNDER THE FRONT HOOD. THEY PARK STRAIGHT UP CAUSING A DANGEROUS OBSTRUCTION IN THE DRIVERS VIEW. THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET WHERE IMPALA OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SPECIFICALLY IN THE STATES THAT EXPERIENCE FREEZING WEATHER AND SNOW. SOME HAVE STATED AFTER PAYING FROM $75 TO $300 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM WOULD RETURN. PERHAPS A VERY POOR DESIGN ON GMS PART BUT TO THIS DATE GM HAS NOT INSTITUTED A RECALL. GM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND DESIGNED REPLACEMENT KIT FOR THE BENT TAB AT GREAT EXPENSE FOR THE OWNER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 24, 2010Visibility, Unknown or otherODI 10321832
“I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED FROM ANOTHER DEALER IN 2003. I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM IN NOVEMBER 2005, IT WOULD NOT START SOMETIMES LIGHT WOULD FLASH AND AFTER 20 MINUTES IT STARTS. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY UNTIL LAST NOVEMBER, AND THEN IT WOULD DO IT ABOUT 2-3X A WEEK. IN FEBRUARY 2009 I HAD TO REPLACE MY LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WATER PUMP AND BATTERY. THE SUMMER 09 I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR DUE TO A HAIRLINE CRACK IN IT. THE SECURITY SYSTEM STARTS TO INTERMITTENTLY NOT START THE VEHICLE AGAIN IN LATE SEP. 09 ABOUT 2-3X PER WEEK. IN JAN.2010 THE VEHICLE DOESN'T START FOR ME ONE DAY AFTER COMING OUT OF THE GROCERY STORE FOR 25 MINUTES. SINCE THEN IT DOES IT EVERY MORNING WHEN I GO TO TAKE MY CHILD TO SCHOOL AND I HAVE TO WAIT 10-20 MINUTES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GM DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY WEREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM AND I NEEDED $950 FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE BCM. I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC AND THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR ME AND MY CHILD. IT'S SCARY AND DANGEROUS. I'M SO AFRAID THAT ONE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2010Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10314387
“BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A RELATIVE. HAS HAD THE PROBLEM THE ENTIRE TIME I OWNED IT. I WAS TOLD TO JUST NEVER USE THE HIGH BEAMS. THEY DON'T STAY ON ANYWAY. I RECENTLY SPOKE TO A CHEVROLET MECHANIC THAT STATED THAT ALMOST ALL IMPALAS THAT COME IN ON TRADE HAVE A DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH. $300-400 REPAIR. I HAVE NO HIGH BEAMS. SWITCH HAS BEEN BAD ENTIRE TIME. BUT IF EVERY IMPALA THAT COMES INTO THE DEALERSHIP HAS THIS ISSUE WHY IS THERE NO RECALL. I ASK EVERY IMPALA OWNER TO FILE A COMPLAINT. ESPECIALLY SINCE SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS JUST GO OUT, WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. LETS GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF. ESPECIALLY SINCE GM KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND IS DOING NOTHING TO ADDRESS IT. ALSO HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE WIPERS GOING TO THE FULL UP POSITION WHEN TURNING THEM OFF. HEARD THIS IS ALSO A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 2, 2009Exterior lighting, VisibilityODI 10260462

Showing 6 of 31 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.