2005 Chevrolet Impala Visibility Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55-60 MPH, suddenly there was an abnormal wind sound inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the sunroof had detached from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed of a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11484788

Incident

Jun 16, 2022

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT BOTH FUNCTIONS WERE NOT ABLE TO BE ACTIVATED AT THE SAME TIME. EITHER THE CRUISE CONTROL OR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NEEDED TO BE ACTIVATED AT A SINGLE TIME IN ORDER FOR EITHER FUNCTION TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10809478

Incident

May 27, 2005

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD HEAD WIPERS ON WIPERS QUIT FOR NO REASON COME TO THE STOP SIGN TRIED TURNING IT OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES THEN ONCE YOU TAKE OFF THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AND THEN LUNGED FORWARD AND HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10574402

Incident

Mar 14, 2014

Mileage

159,345 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

A SUDDEN LOUD NOISE BEGAN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 65-70. THE NOISE LASTED A FEW SECONDS FOLLOWED BY A LOUDER LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. I ACTIVATED MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED INTO THE MEDIAN TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. AFTER OPENING THE SLIDING COVER FOR MY VEHICLE'S SUNROOF, I DISCOVERED THE SUNROOF WAS MISSING AND HAD FLOWN OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. I DO NOT BELIEVE ANY VEHICLES WERE DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. I AM NOT SURE IF ANY VEHICLES HIT THE SUNROOF AFTER IT FLEW OFF MY VEHICLE. I DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE WEBASTO HOLLANDIA 700 SUNROOF DUE TO THE SUNROOF FLYING OFF VEHICLES. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS RECALL. I WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS RECALL AND TO HAVE THE SUNROOF REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10569247

Incident

Mar 13, 2014

Mileage

170,000 mi

I NOTICED A STRANGE SMELL LIKE MELTING PLASTIC COMING FROM MY PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER. THEY DISCOVERED MY BACK WINDOW DEFROST SHORTED OUT THE FUSE BOX ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. COMPLETELY MELTED IT AND RUINED THE BOX. IF I HAD WAITED ANY LONGER IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564310

Incident

Feb 13, 2014

Mileage

109,000 mi

I HAVE SPUN THE MOTOR IN MY WIPERS 3 TIMES NOW. THE SNOW OR ICE BUILD UP UNDER THE HOOD WHERE THE WIPERS REST. I HAVE HAD IT FIXED 2 TIMES NOW. THIS TIME WIPERS WERE DOING FINE, MADE SURE THAT I HAD NO ICE OR SNOW ON THE WIPERS AS THEY TURN ON (WAKE UP). THEN WHEN I WENT TO SHUT THEM OFF AFTER OUR LAST ICE STORM, THE ICE BUILD UP UNDER THE HOOD STOPPED THEM FROM GOING DOWN UNDER THE HOOD, AND MADE THEM SPIN AGAIN. NOW ITS A VISUAL DISTRACTION AS I AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITH THE WIPERS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION ON MY WINDSHIELD. IT MAKES FOR BLIND SPOTS. I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME I CHECKED OUT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND WAS ABLE TO FIND A DIAGRAM ON HOW TO FIX IT FROM SOMEONE ELSE. BUT NOW ITS SPUN SO MANY TIMES I WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC AND ORDER PARTS AND SPEND UNNECESSARY MONEY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10559289

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

100,000 mi

WIPERS QUICK WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10555526

Incident

Nov 7, 2012

Mileage

130,000 mi

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 68K MILES 2005 CHEVY IMPALA. THE CAR WAS PARKED AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE 8 HRS. MY WORK HOURS ENDED AND I STARTED THE CAR TO PROCEED HOME. I PRESSED THE SUNROOF SWITCH TO MAKE IT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN. IT DID NOT OPEN. SMOKE STARTED TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND I NOTICED A FLICKER COMING FROM THE HEADLINER. IT WAS A FLAME. I TAPPED THE HEADLINER TO MAKE IT GO OUT AND EXITED THE CAR AND REMOVED MY KEYS FROM THE IGNITION UPON EXITING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10482134

Incident

Oct 3, 2012

Mileage

68,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF COULD NOT BE OPENED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TRYING TO OPEN THE SUNROOF THE DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HEADLINER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN TRIED TO OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS HOWEVER THEY WERE ALSO INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE SMOKE CEASED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER IN REGARD TO THE FAILURE AND A REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED THAT IF HE DID NOT SEE ANY FLAMES, THEN THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

NHTSA ID

10482117

Incident

Oct 10, 2012

Mileage

68,000 mi

THE BACK WINDSHIELD MADE A BIG LOUD EXPLOISION NOISE , WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND LOOKED IT HAD ALL SPIDER CRACKED THE WHOLE WINDSHILD. IT SCARED THE [XXX] RIGHT OUT OF ME. THANK GOD NO CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

NHTSA ID

10450459

Incident

Feb 19, 2012

Mileage

77,000 mi

THE HEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR WILL NOT COME ON BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE BLOWS LIKE A CHAMP. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE DOOR THAT FLOWS COLD AND HOT AIR IS STUCK ON COOL AIR AND SINCE ITS A DUAL AIR VEHICLE ONE SIDE IS BLOWING HOT THE OTHER COLD. I AM VERY SURPRISED THIS IS NOT A RECALL SINCE THERE ARE OVER 1,000 COMPLAINTS ON THIS ONE PART PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS; I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME CHEVY OWNER AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS HAPPEN AFTER DRIVING BUT THIS IS REALLY NOT A DRIVER INDUCED PROBLEM. THANK YOU FROM A VALUED CUSTOMER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442314

Incident

Oct 28, 2011

Mileage

99,542 mi

MY SPEEDOMETER GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT WILL GET STUCK ON 20 MPH CONSTANTLY IT NEVER READS THE CORRECT SPEED BUT MY OTHER GAUGES WORK FINE. MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS/SLIPS HARDER THAN IT SHOULD FROM 1ST INTO 2ED AND 2ND INTO 3RD. MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN I PUSH ON MY WINDOW CONTROLS TO ROLL MY WINDOWS UP OR DOWN. THE HEAT ONLY BLOWS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR INCLUDING ON THE DEFROST FOR THE FRONT WINDOWS AND THE REAR WINDOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10440497

Incident

Dec 27, 2010

AFTER CLEARING SNOW OFF THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE WIPERS, THEY NO LONGER GO TO THE PARK POSITION. THE WIPERS STOP IN AN UPWARD POSITION BLOCKING YOUR VIEW OF THE ROAD. FOUND BENT STOP TAB ON WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY DUE TO MANY WRITE UPS ON THE WEB. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE GM HAS A FIX FOR IT. I WAS QUOTED $500+ FOR A REPLACEMENT MOTOR ASSEMBLY. THE MOTOR STILL WORKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10382854

Incident

Jan 11, 2008

Mileage

58,000 mi

THE WIPERS STICK IN UP POSITION 2005 CHEVY IMPALA CAUSED BY THE WIPERS TRYING TO RUN IF HEAVY SNOW. THE INTERNET SAYS IT IS A LINK BENDING IN THE WIPER MOTOR AREA. GM HAS AN UPDATED PART FOR THE 2005 BUT NOT A RECALL. WHY SHOULD CONSUMERS PAY FOR SAFETY ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10314823

Incident

Dec 19, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WERE INOPERATIVE AND DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED SPORADICALLY, THE REAR PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT WAS POORLY ILLUMINATED, AND THE BATTERY FAILED SPONTANEOUSLY. WHEN THE FAILURES OCCURED, SHE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AS IF THE WIRES WERE BURNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10265877

Incident

Nov 17, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AFTER A SNOW STORM, I HAD TURNED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON TO GET THE SNOW OFF SO I COULD SO. AS I TRIED TO TURN THE WIPERS TO THE OFF POSITION THEY WOULD NOT GO DOWN. THEY STILL WORK IF I NEED THEM BUT DO NOT GO TO THE PARK POSITION, INSTEAD THEY STICK RIGHT UP IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 3 DIFFERENT PLACES AND HAVE RECEIVED 3 DIFFERENT ANSWERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232043

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT GO DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF OR WHEN THE WIPERS ARE DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE WIPER MOTOR WAS BAD. THE CONTACT DISAGREES BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STILL WORK. SHE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,845.

NHTSA ID

10227807

Incident

Mar 13, 2008

Mileage

75,845 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. A CLUSTER WAS REPAIRED AND A NEW STEERING COLUMN WAS INSTALLED AT THE COST OF $465. AFTER THE CLUSTER WAS REPLACED, THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO WORK. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A WHINING SOUND. THE WHINING SOUND COULD ALSO BE HEARD WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35-45 MPH. ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DEFROST AND HEAT UP AT TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 45-59 DEGREES. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. WHILE PARKED AT A GAS STATION AND TWICE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT EVENTUALLY RESTARTED. THE DEALER INITIALLY STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO THE IGNITION OR THE STARTER. THE CONTACT FOUND A NAIL IN A TIRE AND WENT TO A TIRE SHOP. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES HAD CRACKS ON THE EDGE OF THE TREAD AND WERE DRY ROTTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,480 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,480.

NHTSA ID

10224422

Incident

Mar 17, 2008

Mileage

64,480 mi

WINSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT GO DOWN IN THE PARK POSITION. FIXED ONCE AT DEALER AND WITHIN A WEEK BROKE AGAIN. CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE. HARD TO DRIVE WITH WINSHIELD WIPERS IN UP POSITION BLOCKING VIEW.*AK

NHTSA ID

10187282

Incident

Feb 28, 2007

Mileage

24,882 mi

DT: THE WAY THAT THE WINDOW SWITCH IS DESIGNED IT CAN EASILY SHUT ON A CHILD'S BODY OR BODY PART. THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SIX MONTHS AGO ON TV. THIS WAS A RENTAL VEHICLE FOR A TRIP FOR VACATION.*AK WHEN THE CONSUMERS SON LEANED HIS HEAD OUT THE WINDOW, HIS ELBOW HIT THE SWITCH, AND THE WINDOW BEGAN TO GO UP. THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SWITCH BE INSTALLED, THE TYPE THAT ONE WOULD HAVE TO PULL IN ORDER TO CLOSE THE WINDOW. *JB

NHTSA ID

10126665

Incident

Jun 20, 2005

Mileage

3,091 mi