2005 Chevrolet Impala Exterior lighting Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BIG BEND CHEVROLET BUICK (LOCATED AT 1424 N YOUNG BLVD, CHIEFLAND, FL 32626, (352) 493-4263) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE CONTACT DID NOT HEED THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. *TT *TR *BF*JB

NHTSA ID

11152911

Incident

Oct 19, 2018

Mileage

89,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH DARK COUNTRY ROAD AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH TIME 10:35PM I HAD ACTIVATED THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS LATER THE HEADLAMPS WENT OFF LEAVING ONLY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON. VISIBILITY WAS INSTANTLY DECREASED TO AN UNSAFE LEVEL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. I HAD IMMEDIATELY REACTIVATED THE LOW BEAMS WITH THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AND THE HEADLAMPS (LOW BEAM) RESUMED OPERATION. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE THE HIGH BEAM HEADLAMPS WERE NOT IN OPERATION FOR ANY LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING COULD LEAD TO THE PROBABILITY OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS ELECTRICAL HEADLAMP PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A VEHICLE SAFETY RECALL. I HAVE CHECKED ON-LINE RESOURCES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUES WITH CHEVROLET IMPALAS FROM THE 2000-2005 MODEL YEARS.

NHTSA ID

10809675

Incident

Dec 10, 2015

Mileage

118,169 mi

THE HI BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED, WHICH MADE THE LO BEAM HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHEN THE HI BEAM WAS ENGAGED. REPAIR SERVICE FOUND A CORRODED "PIN" IN A MULTI-PIN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION.THIS IS A "PROTECTED" CONNECTION, IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IT HAS BEEN CORRODED FOR A VERY LONG TIME ACCORDING TO THE ELECTRIC SERVICEMAN. HE INFORMED ME THE OTHER "PINS" WILL FAIL ALSO EFFECTING THE WIPERS AND OTHER "NECESSARY" SAFETY COMPONENTS, BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OF THIS CONNECTOR.

NHTSA ID

10765234

Incident

Aug 3, 2015

Mileage

169,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING HORN SOUND WEAK AND STOPPED WORKING I HAD TO TAKE OUT FUSE FOR THE HORN BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SOUNDING OFF. ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK. THIS CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS WRECK ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ON THE HIGHWAY AND COULD KILL SOMEONE. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SAME THING WITH THE HORN, SOMEONE CAN PULL OUT IN FRONT OF YOU AND YOU CANNOT BLOW YOUR HORN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10692712

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

DRIVING AT NIGHT, I TURNED ON MY HIGH BEAMS AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT. AFTER DRIVING IN THE DARK FOR A WHILE, I SWITCHED THE HEADLIGHTS BACK TO LOW BEAM AND THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO WORK ON LOW BEAM. THE HIGH BEAMS DO NOT WORK AT ALL AT THIS POINT, AND THE HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN I SWITCH TO HIGH BEAMS, WHICH IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649616

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

WE WERE DRIVING ON A RURAL BLACKTOP AFTER DARK AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THEY WOULD COME BACK ON FOR A MOMENT THAN GO BACK OUT. WE DROVE MOST OF THE 20+ MILES HOME WITH JUST THE FLASHERS ON. WE HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED AND THOUGHT THAT TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HERE IN THE LAST MONTH (AUGUST 2014) IT HAS STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10633475

Incident

Feb 1, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

I WAS MERGING AND EXITING OFF THE EXPRESSWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK AND WENT TO USE MY TURN SIGNAL AND IT QUIT WORKING. UPON ARRIVING AT WORK I TRIED IT AGAIN AND NOTHING...I THEN TRIED MY OTHER TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHT ALSO AND THEY DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I DO ALOT OF EXPRESSWAY DRIVING TO DIFFERENT CITIES DUE TO MY JOB OF WHICH I HAVE TO CHANGE LANES AND MERGE AND TURN QUITE FREQUENTLY SO THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN WITH MY TURN SIGNALS AND FLASHER NOT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10626054

Incident

Aug 11, 2014

Mileage

104,000 mi

RIGHT HAND BLINKER -- HAS STARTED FLICKERING..VERY FAST, WHEN I PUT MY RIGHT HAND BLINKER TO TURN.....IT STARTED EARLY JUNE....BUT THEN SUDDENLY WENT BACK TO NORMAL. JUST LAST WEEK/JULY14---IT STARTED FLICKERING VERY FAST AGAIN. IS THERE A PART THAT I CAN PURCHASE AND REPLACE MYSELF....I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN, WOULD APPRECIATE THE ASSISTANCE....I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON DECEMBER 2004. *TR

NHTSA ID

10615572

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

Mileage

77,990 mi

TL ' THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE LOCK SYSTEM RESET ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. JCC

NHTSA ID

10605187

Incident

Sep 5, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

DRIVING ON GRANDE BLVD TYLER TX, ON MY WAY TO WORK, HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF COMPLETELY, TURNED THE HIGH BEAMS ON AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10576608

Incident

Sep 6, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROADWAY WITH BRIGHTS ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THIS OCCURRED IN THE EARLY MORNING WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK OUT. THE PARKING LIGHTS REMAINED ON. PULLING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THE LEFT SIDE OF DASH TO THE "MANUAL ON" POSITION DID NOT HELP. I TURNED ON THE FOG LIGHTS AND RETURNED HOME USING THE FOG LIGHTS ONLY. UPON ARRIVING HOME, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO WORK AGAIN BY SWITCHING TO HIGH BEAM AND BACK. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE IN THE PAST MONTH. THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FELT LIKE IT WAS FULLY ENGAGED AND GAVE AN AUDIBLE CLICK WHEN PULLED. I HAVE ORDERED A REPLACEMENT MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH TO REPAIR THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573856

Incident

Mar 17, 2014

Mileage

124,800 mi

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AT AT 6:30 AM ON 9-24-13 WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. IT WAS PITCH DARK AND I WAS TOTALLY WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. I WAS ABLE TO TURN ON THE FOG LIGHTS THIS CAR HAS, BUT IT WAS STILL HARD TO SEE. I HAVE NOTICED THE LIGHTS SEEMED DIMMER THAN WHAT I CONSIDER NORMAL. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A LOCAL MECHANIC. HE CANNOT FIND THE REASON FOR THE DIM LIGHTS OR THE LIGHTS GOING OFF BY THEMSELVES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM SURPRISED A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED TO ADDRESS THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I CONDUCTED A GOOGLE SEARCH I NOTICED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH A NUMBER OF GM VEHICLES. IT IS A WONDER I DID NOT CRASH MY VEHICLE AS I NEVER EXPECTED MY LIGHT TO GO OUT AS I TRAVELED DOWN A HIGHWAY. *JS

NHTSA ID

10545564

Incident

Sep 24, 2013

Mileage

47,352 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE REVERSE INDICATOR LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT CASING WAS FULL OF WATER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ID

10511725

Incident

May 6, 2013

Mileage

146,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND AFTER ATTEMPTING TO DIM THE HEADLIGHTS, ALL OF THE LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ID

10472548

Incident

Aug 24, 2012

Mileage

91,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AFTER ATTEMPTING TO DIM THE HEADLIGHTS, ALL OF THE LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT STATED THAT THE DIMMER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10461005

Incident

Apr 4, 2010

Mileage

59,000 mi

THIS REPORT IS ABOUT SUDDEN AND REPEATED HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE IN A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA SEDAN, AND A REQUEST FOR A NATIONWIDE SAFETY RECALL AND REPAIR AT GM EXPENSE FOR THIS ISSUE. AFTER GETTING IN MY 2005 IMPALA SEDAN AT APPROXIMATELY 4:55 PM ON 16 FEBRUARY 2012, I STARTED UP AND DROVE OUT ON THE ROAD THEN I SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC AND NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM) WERE OUT. I TRIED THE HIGH BEAMS AND THEY WORKED AS DID THE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROLS AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONED. AS DARKNESS INCREASED I HAD TO HOLD THE SWITCH IN THE HIGH BEAM POSITION SO I COULD SEE TO DRIVE SO I COULD GET HOME. FROM WHAT I COULD DETERMINE THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE IN THE WIRING TO/FROM THE MULTIFUNCTION LIGHT CONTROL SWITCH OR MAYBE IT IS THE SWITCH ITSELF ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FUSES AND RELAYS AND THE ALL SEEMED TO BE IN WORKING ORDER BUT THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS STILL DID NOT WORK. THIS FAILURE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME NOW. WITH DEALER PARTS COST FOR A REPLACEMENT MULTIFUNCTION LIGHT SWITCH AT $350.00 ALONE, NOT TO MENTION LABOR COSTS AND THE CRITICALITY OF LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING MEANS THIS SHOULD BE A REQUIRED SAFETY RECALL ITEM. I HAVE SEARCHED MECHANICAL FORUMS ON THIS SUBJECT AND THERE ARE MANY SUCH OCCURRENCES DOCUMENTED, BUT GM DOES NOT SEEM TO THINK THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM OR A REASON TO INVESTIGATE AND FIX THE MALFUNCTION. THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE AT GM DEALERSHIPS NATIONWIDE. SMELLING BURNING PLASTIC IS AN INDICATION OF A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ONBOARD FIRE IN THE CAR IN ADDITION TO CAUSING INJURY AND OR DEATH FROM A SUDDEN LIGHT OUTAGE AT NIGHT. AGAIN, I REQUEST A NATIONWIDE SAFETY RECALL AND REPAIR BE INITIATED AS IT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448388

Incident

Feb 16, 2012

Mileage

140,920 mi

TONIGHT, MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. I EVENTUALLY FLICKED THE LOW/HIGH BEAM SWITCH AND THEY CAME ON. ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, I WAS DRIVING HOME AT ABOUT 55 MPH IN THE DARK ON A SINGLE LANE COUNTRY ROAD. THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, THEY CAME BACK ON FOR A MOMENT, AND THEN THEY WENT COMPLETELY OUT. I DROVE HOME SLOWLY WITH THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON. IF I HAD NOT BEEN ALERT, I COULD HAVE EASILY CRASHED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448000

Incident

Feb 14, 2012

Mileage

125,000 mi

16 YR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WHEN HEADLIGHTS JUST QUIT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORTUNATELY THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AFTER DRIVING WITH FOGLIGHTS ONLY. 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. VEHICLE IN GREAT SHAPE OTHERWISE AND MAINTAINED APPROPRIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10435990

Incident

Nov 15, 2011

Mileage

123,402 mi

I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY IMPALA IN 2008. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HWY, A VERY TWISTY ROAD . I HAD MY HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRST CURVE MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, I JUMPED THE BRAKE AND FLIPPED THE LEVER BACK AND FORTH AND THEY FINALLY CAME BACK ON LOW BEAM, I ALMOST WREAKED. THE SECOND TIME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY JUST COMING INTO THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN, HEAVY TRAFFIC, I FLIPPED THE LEVER BACK AND FORTH AND THE LOW BEAMS CAME BACK ON. I SPOKE WITH A DEALER WHO SAID THEY HAD NO COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL. IT HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES AND CAN'T BE PINNED TO ANY PARTICULAR TIMES, NOW I DRIVE WITH MY LIGHTS ON LOW ALL THE TIME. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME HAD TO REPLACE THEIR WHOLE STEERING COLUMN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THIS, BUT THE CAR ISN'T SAFE. IT KEEPS DOING IT AND ONE OF THESE TIMES I WILL FORGET AND IT WILL CATCH ME UNAWARE AND I WILL WRECK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10410786

Incident

Jun 15, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

AT APPROX 100,00KM THE HIGH BEAM IS ACTIVATED WHEN SIGNALING A RIGHT TURN. WHEN KEEPING THE HANDLE IN CERTAIN POSITION THE HIGH BEAM GOES OFF BUT COMES BACK AGAIN WHEN RELEASED. LATELY REMAINS ON WHEN THE SWITCH RETURNS TO MID POSITION. NEVER EXPERIENCED WHEN SIGNALING TO THE LEFT. THIS BEHAVIOR MAY BLIND THE INCOMING CARS' DRIVERS AND ALSO DISTRACTS MY ATTENTION FROM THE ROAD. I DID NOT DO ANYTHING YET FOR FIXING THE DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10378876

Incident

May 1, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING EARLY MORNING IT THE DARK AND MY HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING ON MY 2005 CHEVY IMPALA. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10375458

Incident

Jan 8, 2011

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA . WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL ODOR. THE CONTACT THEN PULLED INTO HER RESIDENCE AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO A MECHANIC BEFORE FOR THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINE IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190000.

NHTSA ID

10354435

Incident

Jan 15, 2010

Mileage

180,000 mi

DRIVING AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITHIN 30-60 SECONDS OF SWITCHING FROM LOW BEAMS TO HIGH BEAMS. HEADLIGHTS STAY OUT UNTIL THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH IS FLIPPED AGAIN. IT STARTED HAPPENING ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE SPRING OF '09. AS TIME HAS PASSED, IT NOW OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME HIGH BEAMS ARE USED. CANNOT FIND A DEALER OR MECHANIC THAT CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IN POSSESSION, OR THAT HAS A SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342824

Incident

May 23, 2010

Mileage

94,235 mi

TAILLIGHTS ON VEHICLE FILL WITH WATER AND TRUNK FILLS WITH WATER WHEN IT RAINS. DEALER HAS REPLACED REAR PANEL SEVERAL TIMES...PROBLEM PERSISTED. DEALER 'FIXED' PROBLEM BY DRILLING HOLES IN TAILLIGHTS TO DRAIN, BUT TRUNK STILL FILLS. DEALER REMOVED PLUG FROM TRUNK. TRUNK IS FULL OF MOLD. CONTACTED GMC SEVERAL TIMES, THEY DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. SMELLS REALLY BAD IN SUMMER MONTHS. CANNOT INSERT KEY IN LOCK, PANEL IS ON CROOKED. IT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR DEALER, SHOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME??? *TR

NHTSA ID

10331649

Incident

Jun 15, 2005

Mileage

100 mi

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ALL OF THE VEHICLE LIGHTS (INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR) FAILED TO TURN ON WHEN THE SUN WENT DOWN AND IT BECAME DARK. HE TRIED TO USE THE HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM LIGHTS TO TURN THEM ON MANUALLY. HE PULLED OVER AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE LIGHTS TURNED ON. IN APRIL 2010, WHILE DRIVING, THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF AGAIN. HE TRIED THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS TURNED BACK ON. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT WAS TOLD UNLESS HE COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEY COULD DO NOTHING TO ASSIST HIM. HE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,947. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

NHTSA ID

10326386

Incident

Jun 14, 2006

Mileage

52,000 mi