2002 Chevrolet Impala Powertrain (other) Problems

Transmission hesitates to pull out in drive from a stop

NHTSA ID

11596624

Incident

Jun 25, 2024

SUPPOSEDLY THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS FIXED IN 2003 BUT IT STILL TELLS ME THAT MY COOLANT IS LOW AND IT LEAKS. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR AND HAVE ONLY HAD IT SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2019. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION HAS A DELAYED SHIFT FROM 1ST TO SECOND.

NHTSA ID

11319827

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO A STOP LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE AIR CONDITIONING FANS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ID

10818506

Incident

Jan 25, 2014

Mileage

79,000 mi

MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR MAF MALFUNCTION IF CORRODED OR DIRTY WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL. ENGINE STALLING CAUSES LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF BRAKES. DISASTEROUS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, INTERSECTIONS, OR IN ANY SITUATION REQUIRING STEERING OR BRAKING. THIS CAR MAF FAILED GOING DOWN A STEEP MOUNTAIN ROAD, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING MANUAL BRAKE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653411

Incident

Jun 27, 2014

Mileage

31,849 mi

TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT RESIDENTIAL STREET AFTER CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT 10 MILES AND WAS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE, I HEARD A SHORT "CHIRP" SOUND FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED SUBSTANTIAL FORCE TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE ENGINE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY WITH NO PROBLEM. I WAS NOT MOVING OR TOUCHING THE KEY AT THE TIME THAT THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW IN NOVEMBER 2001 AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR ABOUT 20 MILES SINCE THIS INCIDENT AND IT HAS NOT RECURRED AS OF YET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10644555

Incident

Oct 12, 2014

Mileage

211,365 mi

THE CAR WAS CONSTANTLY STALLING IN LOW SPEED OR STARTING FROM A STOP IN D DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. CAR HAD STALLED A FEW TIMES IN TRAFFIC, BECOMING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. CAR WAS OVERHEATING. CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED A WEEK AGO AT AAA REPAIR CENTER, EATONTOWN, NJ FOR OIL LEAK FROM GASKET OF THE MANIFOLD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632417

Incident

Sep 5, 2014

Mileage

86,400 mi

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, I PARKED AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 20 MINUTES IT DID START. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR WHICH THEY REPLACED. DID NOT STOP THE PROBLEM, CONTINUES TO DO IT TODAY. NOW AT ABOUT 8500 MILES A MESSAGE COMES UP TO SERVICE TRACT SYSTEM. AM TOLD IT IS A SENSOR IN THE HUB AND THE ENTIRE HUB WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $750 PER HUB FOR THE FRONT AND SLIGHTLY MORE IF IT IS THE REAR HUB. AFTER READING ON THE INTERNET OF THIS SAME PROBLEM PEOPLE ARE HAVING, I REALIZE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS ALL THESE FIXES DO NOT STOP THE PROBLEM. I PURCHASE THE CAR NEW AND LOVE THE RIDE AND PERFORMANCE I GET FROM THIS CAR BUT AM NOT ABLE AT THE TIME TO PAY FOR EXPENSES OF THIS MAGNITUDE. HAVE CONSIDERED TRADING BUT DO NOT WANT TO SADDLE SOMEONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEM. WOULD NOT MIND THE REPAIRS IF IT WAS GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT SEEMS AS IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CANNOT BE FIXED. HELP *TR

NHTSA ID

10605163

Incident

Jun 18, 2002

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I CAME TO A STOP TO PUMP GAS I LEFT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK. I TURNED AROUND TO PLACE THE PUMP INTO THE GAS GAUGE AND MY CAR WAS ROLLING DOWN THE HILL AND I HAD TO CHASE THE CAR OPEN THE DOOR AND STOP THE CAR. WHEN I GOT THE CAR TO A HALT POSITION. I TRIED TO TAKE THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION AND COULDN'T GET THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY, THE KEY SLOT WAS TURNED AT 3:00 POSITION AND NOT A 12:00 POSITION WHEN A KEY IS REMOVED FROM A IGNITION. AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL AGAIN AND I HAD TO PLACE THE "EMERGENCY BRAKE" ON TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING. ONCE I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON AFTER PUMPING THE CAR STARTED UP AND I PLACED IT IN DRIVE PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND CAR STALLED, I PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR STALLED. MY CAR HAS NOT WORKED SINCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10596511

Incident

Apr 11, 2014

Mileage

235,325 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE CONTACT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

NHTSA ID

10594747

Incident

May 22, 2014

Mileage

171,000 mi

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK, REPLACED THE ENGINE. INTERMEDIATE NO STARTS, VEHICLE CUTS OFF IN 5 MINS OF DRIVING, TURN SIGNALS WORKS SOMETIMES.. CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND I HAVE ALMOST HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509021

Incident

Nov 13, 2012

Mileage

152,000 mi

THE CAR WILL NOT CRANK IMMEDIATELY. ONCE STARTED IF YOUR FOOT IS NOT ON THE GAS THE CAR WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. CANNOT TAKE FOOT OFF THE GAS WHEN DRIVING OR SHIFTING GEARS OR IT STALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10505105

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

153,000 mi

2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT HAD TO BE RESET. *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ONLY STAYED OFF FOR 12 MILES THE LAST TIME IT WAS RESET BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED ONLY 2 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE ROTORS CRACKED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. THE BLINKERS WOULD ONLY WORK IF THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS OFF AND THE RADIO WOULD ONLY WORK IF THE BLINKERS WERE OFF AND WHEN GOING UP HILLS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE TO A SPEED OF 10-15 MPH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10313152

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

2002 IMPALA BRAKING CALIPERS ON THE BACK DISC ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HOLDS LESS THAN ONE INCH OF THE DISC. TRANSMISSION ROLLS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SLOPE OF THE ROAD. *TS THE CALIPERS ON THE REAR DISC ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HOLDS LESS THAN ONE INCH OF THE DISC. THE OTHER THREE CALIPERS GO ALL THE WAY NORMALLY. THIS HAS RESULTED IN LESS BRAKING CAPACITY ONE ONE SIDE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152997

Incident

Mar 1, 2006

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AS LOOSE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THAT BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE AN ALIGNMENT COULD BE PERFORMED. JOHN WIGANT OF WALKER CHEVROLET TOLD ME, PRIOR TO A WRITTEN STATEMENT, THAT BOTH SIDES EXHIBIT A WORN OUT DIAGNOSIS, BUT THAT ONLY ONE SIDE SHOULD BE REPLACED NOW AND THAT THE OTHER MIGHT NEVER NEED TO BE REPLACED OR IT COULD GET WORSE. IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM JOHN WIGANT OF WALKER CHEVROLET, I WAS INFORMED THAT ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE BEARING SHOULD BE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH ROTORS THAT LITERALLY SHOOK MY FRONT END AND STEERING COLUMN DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD OF 36,000 MILES. AND THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE LAST TIME IT WAS REPORTED ON NOVEMBER 18, '04 AND NOT REPAIRED UNTIL DECEMBER 30, '04 AT 53,267 MILES. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT REPLACING THESE HUB BEARINGS WILL COST ME ABOUT $1,000.00 TO REPAIR. I HAVE READ ANOTHER COMPLAINT IN NHTSA FILES THAT A SAME YEAR IMPALA FRONT WHEEL OR AXLE FELL OFF AND CAUSED A DRIVER TO VEER OFF THE ROAD. I FEEL THAT THE PAST ROTOR AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT PROBLEMS HAVE EXASPERATED THIS WEAR AND CAUSED IT TO BE A BIGGER PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SPEEDOMETER CABLE, RADIO, AND REAR WINDOW. ALL HAVE BEEN SERVICED, BUT CONTINUE TO EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT EXISTED BEFORE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10109966

Incident

Nov 18, 2004

THE INTERMEDIATE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT STATED MAKING NOISES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. TOOK FOR SERVICE THE PART WAS ORDERED ON NOV 3 2004. PART STILL HAS NOT CAME IN. CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER. SEEMS LIKE ITS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM. AND TAKES ABOUT 2 MONTHS TO GET THE PART. I WAS TOLD ONLY 6,000 ARE MADE A WEEK AND THEY STARTED IN THE HOLE 100,000 AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. IF THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY ARE THEY NOT RECALLING THE PART. I ASKED THE MAN IF MY CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE HE SAID ISN'T IS UNDER WARRANTY. I SAID NO AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. IT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE AND I AM NOT AT ALL CONFIDENT ABOUT DRIVING AND I THINK CHEVY SHOULD ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10102353

Incident

Nov 3, 2004

AFTER SLOWING TO ENTER A DRIVEWAY THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO GAS PEDDLE. IT WOULD GO VERY SLOWLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PUSHED. IT WOULD NOT CORRECT ITSELF AFTER BEING STOPED AND TURNED OFF. HOWEVER AFTER BEING OFF SOMETIME IT WENT AWAY AND RESPONDED AS USUAL. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEPT. IT DID IT AGAIN BUT LATER THE SERVICE MAN SAID HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT, ALTHOUGH HE KNEW THAT IT DID IT ORIGINALLY.

NHTSA ID

10005727

Incident

Jan 11, 2003