Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Chevrolet Impala submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 70 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 70, in the owner's own words
MY VEHICLE IS HAVING THE ABS KICK ON IN UNECCESSARY CONDITIONS. THEN THE VEHICLES TRACTION CONTROL WILL TURN OFF AND THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND BOTH STAY ON UNTIL I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. FROM RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS LINE OF VEHICLE, BOTH A COSTLY FIX AND A COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT,REPLACED LIGHT SWITCH,BLOWS FUSE IF DASH LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON,HORN WILL COME ON WHEN CAR IS OFF.EARLIER BRAKE PEDDLE WORE WIRES BEHIND IT DOWN, CAUSED SHORT,CAR WOULD DIE WHILE DRIVING.LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ON,TIRES ARE FINE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; HOWEVER, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL, CRASHED INTO A POLE, AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S HEAD TO STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, AND SHOULDERS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
THIS CAR HAS HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM AND WHEN THE CAR HEATS UP MY BRAKES DON'T WORK RITE IT IS VERY SCARY AT TIMES WHEN I DON'T KNOW IF MY BRAKES ARE GOING TO STOP ME FROM GOING INTO TRAFFIC OR NOT. I HAVE REPLACED MANY PARTS AND IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. MY CAR IS ON THE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT I'M NOT SURE IS THIS IS A SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE AROUND ANYMORE. AND MY QUESTION TO U GUYS IS Y DO THESE MANUFACTURING COMPANY KEEP ON GETTING TO MAKE UNSAFE CARS AND CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE MONEY OFF THE CONSUMER. TO ME THAT IS NOT FAIR. I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED WITH NO OUT COME ITS STILL A P.O.S. *TR
WE BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 98,000 MILES - GAS GAUGE HASN'T WORKED FROM BEGINNING. BACK IN MAY HAD WHEEL BEARINGS CHANGED AND EVER SINCE ABS COMES ON CONSTANTLY WHILE APPLYING BRAKE AND SLOWING DOWN. ABS LIGHT COMES ON AT TIMES. ABS WILL KICK IN ABOUT 3 TIMES AFTER APPLYING BRAKES. NEPHEW SCANNED IT TO SEE CODES AND THEY WERE: C1221 LF WHEEL SPEED SENSOR INPUT SIGNAL IS 0 C1222 RF WHEEL SPEED SENSOR INPUT SIGNAL IS 0. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE??? *TR
THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AT ABOUT 89000 MILES. IT APPEARED TO BE A FAULTY WHEEL HUB. AFTER REPLACING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT, IT WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. THEN IT WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT THAT NEEDED REPLACED. (BOTH THREW OUT CODES FOR EXCESSIVE WHEEL SPEED VARIATION, AS WHEEL AS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR OUTPUT 0.) TWO WEEKS TO THE DAY AFTER REPLACING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT, IT "WENT BAD" AGAIN. WE CHANGED IT AGAIN, JUST TO BE SURE, AND AT THIS POINT, IT APPEARS TO BE IN THE WIRING HARNESS. AFTER INSPECTING EVERYTHING WITHIN ABOUT 2 FEET OF THE WHEELS, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S FARTHER UP THE LINE. THE ABS UNIT WILL CYCLE A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE ABS LIGHT KICKS ON TO SAY THERE'S A PROBLEM. UNTIL THIS HAPPENS (ONCE THE LIGHT IS ON, THE ABS SYSTEM STOPS KICKING IN) BRAKING IS ALMOST UNRESPONSIVE, AND AT BEST, INTERMITTENT. FROM EVERYTHING WE CAN TELL, THIS IS A SERIOUS AND ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. AGAIN, I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS EITHER FARTHER UP THE HARNESS, OR WHERE IT SPLICES INTO THE REST OF THE HARNESS. NEITHER OF WHICH CAN BE ACCESSED WITHOUT TAKING OFF PRETTY MUCH THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I SHOULD ALSO AD THAT THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 4 WHEEL ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, NOT THE ADDITIONAL TRACTION CONTROL UNIT. *TR
EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF VEHICLE STEEL BRAKE LINES. *TR
WHEN BRAKING MY CAR ASSUMES I'M SLIDING (LIKE ON ICE) AND I'M NOT--CAR USES ABS UNNECESSARILY. WHEN DRIVING OFF MY CAR ASSUMES MY WHEELS ARE SPINNING AND UNABLE TO GRIP--THEY AREN'T AND CAR USES TRACTION CONTROL UNNECESSARILY. SIMILAR TO A BREAKING THROTTLE CABLE, WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A BUSY STREET, TRACTION CONTROL BEING ACTIVATED COULD BE VERY HAZARDOUS. *TR
I HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT MY IMPALA. MY ABS LIGHTS ON MY DASH KEEP GOING OFF AND MY SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM KEEPS SHOWING UP IN MY MESSAGE BOX. WHEN I AM PULLING OUT FROM ANYWHERE THAT INVOLVES ME TURNING MY WHEEL IS WHEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS GO OFF. YOU HEAR A NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE MY BRAKES GRINDING. ONCE THE LIGHTS GO OFF, MY BRAKES ARE HARD TO SLOW DOWN MY CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW INCIDENTS WHEN MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR AND I THOUGHT WE WEREN'T STOPPING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND EVEN GM TOLD ME IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. PEOPLE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX THEIRS AND STILL HAVEN'T FOUND AN ANSWER. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY CHEVY WON'T FIX IT OR MAKE IT A RECALL. THIS WILL BE THE LAST GM PRODUCT I BUY SINCE THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. IF YOU LOOK ON THE SAFECAR.GOV WEB PAGE THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE FILED ABOUT THE SAME COMPLAINT. IT IS DANGEROUS. I TALKED TO THE MECHANIC AT MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND HE SAID HE HAS HAD MULTIPLE IMPALA'S IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND AFTER REPLACING MANY PARTS, THEY STILL COULDN'T FIND THE ANSWER. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET KILLED FOR CHEVY TO WAKE UP?
ABS SYSTEM MAKE GRINDING NOISE LIGHT COMES ON CAR IS HARD TO STOP AND IS DIGGING INTO NEW ROTORS. *TR
THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE BRAKES FREEZE UP AND GRINDS AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I FIRST STARTED HAVING THESE PROBLEMS IN 2008 AND I'VE REPLACED BOTH HUBS ,ROTORS, HARNESS,AND SENSOR. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT INTERFERES WITH BOTH STOPPING AND ACCERATING BECAUSE IT MAKES THE CAR STALL . I HAVE TO KIDS AND THIS ACTION TERRIFIES THEM WHENEVER IT HAPPENS. I 'VE SEEN ALOT OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS FROM COMSUMERS AND I THINK TIMES TIME FOR GMC TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE IT CAUSES A FATAL ACCIDENT. I'VE COME VERY CLOSE TO BEING IN AN ACCIDENT DO TO THIS PROBLEM AND I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING TO FIX IT AND I'M GETTING THE SAME RESULTS.SOMEONE NEEDS TO CALL A RECALL ON THE 2001 IMPALA ABS SYSTEM AND SOON. *TR
TRAC CONTROL ABS PROBLEMS FRONT WHEELS GRAB PULL WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ABS WOULD FAIL. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HUB WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES, ALONG WITH THE WIRING HARNESS, SENSOR, AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HUB. NONE OF THE REPAIRS REMEDIED THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT UNLESS THE VEHICLE PROVIDED ERROR CODES, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE DIAGNOSTIC PRODUCED ERROR CODES, WHICH INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE SENSOR AND EXCESSIVE SPEED IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OPENER. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE FAST LANE ON I71 HEADING FROM COLUMBUS, OHIO TO CLEVELAND, OHIO. SHE SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 75 MPH AND WENT TO BRAKE BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING DOWN. WHEN SHE HIT THE BRAKE THEY DID NOTHING! SHE IMMEDIATELY PANICKED AND MOVED OVER 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE BERM NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SHE QUICKLY THREW THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IT STOPPED. I CALLED A CHEVROLET DEALER AFTER SHE CALLED ME FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE THE CAR. THEY ASKED IF THE CAR MATS POSSIBLY BLOCKED THE BRAKE AND MY DAUGHTER SAID NO, SHE REACHED DOWN AND PULLED IT OUT AND THE CAR WOULD STILL NOT SLOW DOWN. SHE EVEN STATED BOTH FEET WERE PUSHING DOWN ON THE BREAK PEDAL AND NOTHING WAS SLOWING DOWN THE CAR. I JUST HAD A FRONT HUB REPLACED AT AUTO PLUS (WHERE I TAKE MY CARS FOR SERVICE) IN ORIENT, OHIO. MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIEND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR
I HAVE ROTATED MY FRONT ROTORS AND CHANGED BRAKE PADS 2. I ALSO HAVE REPLACED THEM AND 6 MONTHS LATER I HAVE TO TURN THE NEW ONES. THEY HAVE WARPED AND MY CAR VIBRATES VERY BAD. *TR
SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM, ABS LIGHT CONTINUE TO COME ON. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO GET SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IT HAD ONE OF THE BEARINGS REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE OTHER BEARING, AND HUB SENSORS AT MY EXPENSE. THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATES FOR NO REASON AND CREATES A VIBRATION AND INABILITY TO BRAKE ON TIME. THE CAR ALSO HAS A SECURITY LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CAR SOMETIMES DOESN'T START FOR NO APPARENT REASON. USUALLY IF WE WAIT ABOUT 30 MIN. IT WILL TURN BACK ON, BUT I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHEN NOTHING WOULD TURN IT ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND WAS FIRST TOLD IT WAS THE EGR VALVE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT NOW AM BEING TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I'VE TAKEN IT TO A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 5 TIMES A YEAR SINCE 2006 AND THESE PROBLEMS ARE NEVER CORRECTED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE WHEELS FAILED. THE BRAKES ARE CURRENTLY FAILING. THE CONTACT HEARS GRINDING METAL WHEN BRAKING, DRIVING OVER BUMPS, AND WHEN REVERSING. THE DEALER HAS YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE NOISE HAS INTENSIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
2001 CHEVORLET/IMPALA PURCHASED NEW, CURRENT MILES 51,000. INTERMITTANT LOSS OF DIRECTIONALS. **NOW COMPLETE LOSS OF DIRECTIONALS AND EMERGENCY SIGNALS. FAILED RECENT CAR INSPECTION. ADDITIONAL FAILURES INCLUDE: COMPLETE BRAKE LOSS AT 38,000. RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. FIRESTONE TIRE, WEST ROXBURY, MA STATED ON DOCUMENTS THAT "ROTORS WERE THINNED DOWN TO SIZE OF SHEET OF PAPER &/OR COMPLETELY GONE." TWO TIRE BLOWOUTS AT 35,000, ALSO REPLACED BY ABOVE REPAIR SHOP, WITH 4 NEW TIRES. BATTERY LEAK WITH CORROSION TO EXTENT OF NEED OF CONNECTION CABLES TO BE REBUILT FOR ATTACHMENT. BATTERY REPLACED WITH NEW CONNECTIONS AT 40,000 BY SEARS AUTO BODY IN DEDHAM, MA. PASSENGAR SIDE WIPER FIXED AND REPLACED AFTER FAILURE. WORKED FOR 3 MONTHS AND HAS FAILED AGAIN, HAS NOT AT PRESENT BEEN REPLACED/REPAIRED. CARE OF CAR WAS UPDATED AND MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO ALL REQUIREMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS BY MANUFACTURER. NO HISTORY OF ACCIDENTS. THIS INCLUDING, OIL CHANGES, WIPER BLADE CHANGES, TIRE ROTATIONS WITH EVEY OTHER OIL CHANGE, WHICH WAS DONE EVERY 3 MONTS, ETC. BRAKE INSPECTION AND PADS CHANGED ON CAR 1 YEAR BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. BRAKE LOSS WAS THANKFULLY UNEVENTFUL ONLY DUE TO TIME OF NIGHT AND LOW TRAFFIC, ONLY ABLE TO STOP CAR WITH GLIDING TO STOP. THEN TOWED TO SERVICE STATION. ON AVERAGE MY PRESENT YEARLY MILAGE IS PROBABLY LESS THAN 3000. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER/OPERATOR TO THIS CAR AND ALTHOGH MENTIONED #1 OWNER, MY FATHER ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE CAR, (HOWARD CHEVORLET, WEST ROXBURY, MA) BUT DID NOT DRIVE IT. I CURRENTLY AM THE TITLE HOLDER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ANYTIME IF YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COULD HELP ME. I FEEL THAT THERE IS MAJOR FAILURE THAT BEYOND MY CONTROL AND IS DANGEROUS TO MYSELF, OTHERS AND MOST IMPORTANT TO ME, MY 4 Y/O DAUGHTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU (SOMEONE) SOON. TERESA CORRIGAN *TR
2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA ABS / TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM ENGAGES BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY WITHOUT WARNING. EXCESS HEAT BUILDS UP AND CAUSES BRAKE FLUID LOSS. POTENTIAL FOR BRAKE FAILURE EXISTS. PERHAPS THE GOVERNMENT COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. YEAH, RIGHT. I PREDICT THAT YOU GUYS WILL FAIL THE CONSUMER YET AGAIN. *TR
SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT ON AT 78K MILES; AND MECHANIC CLAIMS IT IS A FAULTY ECM. MANY OTHERS COMPLAIN OF THIS AND ABS LIGHT PROBLEMS WITH AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *TR
2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA..PASSLOCK SECURITY LOCKOUT PROBLEM...ONE WEEK AGO, I CHANGED THE OIL IN MY WIFE'S IMPALA, AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CONNECTIONS, TO CLEAN AND LUBE THEM. CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN, AND ONE WEEK LATER, IT STILL HAS NOT STARTED. I AM CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED, IN A VERY DEPRESSED AREA OF UPSTATE NEW YORK, AND WE ARE TRYING TO HANG ON TO OUR HOME, THOUGH THAT LOOKS IN DOUBT. DID NOT NEED THIS TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW, AND I AM ABSOLUTELY FURIOUS THAT GM WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, AND THAT THEY HAVE YOU PAY FOR IT, WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU. THIS PASSLOCK PROBLEM IS FOUND ON ALL MAKES OF GM CARS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET, AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM, YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE. I CANNOT PAY THE $500.00 TO $1000.00 TO GET THIS JUNK GOING, AND IF YOU READ THE FORUMS ONLINE, YOU WILL SEE THAT IF YOU DO, THE PROBLEM WILL COME BACK ANYWAY! SORRY, BUT THE TERM LEGAL SCAM COMES TO MIND. SO, MY WIFE AND I ARE OUT OF A CAR....TOO BAD WE STILL HAD FAITH IN AMERICA...WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS? BIG BROTHER WINS AGAIN...THIS IS AN OUTRAGE, A SHAME, A DOWNRIGHT CRIME...ACTION TO REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR THEIR PURCHASE PRICE WOULD BE NICE, BECAUSE EVEN IF THIS CAR IS FIXED NOW, I NO LONGER WISH TO HAVE THIS LEMON, WHICH FORCED ME TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON ALL 4 WHEELS AT 24K MILES, DUE TO BAD DESIGN!!! *TR
THE TRACTION SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATING FOR NO REASON. SERVICE ABS LIGHT CAME ON IN VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED LEFT WHEEL HUB, INCLUDING SENSOR. PROBLEM RECURRED THE DAY AFTER AND THE WRONG ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED, THE CORRECT ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED. ONE MONTH LATER PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION ON WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY. SEVEN MONTHS LATER PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER NOW SAYS THE RIGHT HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING, AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID. REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN DONE FOR THE LATTER BECAUSE WE WANT DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE.*AK
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEEDS. THIS OCCURRED ON DRY PAVEMENT AND SEEMED TO EXTEND THE LENGTH OF TIME NEEDED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HUB AND SENSOR. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE HUB AND SENSOR WERE ADJUSTED. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. OLD PARTS WERE NEVER OFFERED IN RETURN. THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *JB
TRACTION CONTROL RUST ON WHEEL SPEED SENSOR GM RECALL NUMBER#05068 WHY WAS MY VEHICLE'S NOT LISTED ON RECALL 2001 IMPALA LS 51000 MILES. *NM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .