Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Chevrolet Impala submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 125 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 125, in the owner's own words
I got a P2138 code for Accelerator Pedal Sensor error. From what I have seen this is caused by the two sensors not matching. I have repaired this issue previously about 3 years ago, but it has happened again. This seems to be a common issue with GM cars of this era.
5.3l v8 model needs to be added to the PI1384A campaign. recently fried my fuseblock because the relays melted. i am an ase certified technician For Firestone complete auto care, this is the exact problem that all ls4s will face.
FUEL SYSTEM; CODE P0230. CAM/CRANKSHAFT; solenoid circuit in BANK 1 CODE P0010. RADIO WIRING; Radio is smoking all the time BAD GROUND WIRE OR SHORT IN WIRES. MY VEHICAL STOPPED WHILE I WAS IN DRIVE MOTION GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. No injuries, and No fatalities BUT MY IMPALA STOPPED RUNNING AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO START IT SINCE. IN ADDITION NO ONE HAD GOT HURT, I WAS IN OPEN ROAD. I HAVE NOT HAD MY THE VEHICAL SERVICED OR DIAGNOSED BY A SERVICE CENTER. DUE TO A NO CRANK/NO START CONDITION. IT WILL NOT MOVE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, WE HAD THE MIL on the dash say POWER ENGINE REDUCED. THAT'S WHEN AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAYS OR EXTENSIVE DRIVING PATTERNS.
MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THE PROBLEMS OF NOT GIVING ME CORRECT READINGS FROM THE GAUGES WHEN MY CAR WAS RUNNING HOT IT NEVER DISPLAYED ANY INDICATION THAT IT WAS WHICH CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE IN MY CAR THROWING A ROD I ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCE AND STILL DO WHEN I TURN ON MY SIGNALS MY BRIGHT LIGHTS COME ON AS WELL AS SOMETIMES WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR THE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON BUT WHEN I CLOSE THE DOOR THEY DO MY MOTOR MOUNTS ON MY CAR ARE NOT STABLE THIS WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME IT SHIFTED NOW NOT FROM WEAR AND TEAR BECAUSE I HAD AN INSPECTION DONE ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND RECEIVED A CLEAN BILL OF IMMACULATE CARE AND HEALTH OF THE VEHICLE IN LESS THAN 8 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN IN NOTHING BUT ONE DISASTER AFTER THE NEXT I'M FEELING VERY UNSAFE AND UNSURE OF THIS VEHICLE IT SEEMS AS IF IT'S MOVING FASTER THAN WHAT IS ON THE SPEEDOMETER BECAUSE I HAVE OFTEN HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY FASHION JUST TO STOP I KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL I CAN FORWARD THE BILLS OF THE SAID REPAIRS SO THAT IT WAS SUPPORT MY CLAIM I DO NOT HAVE THEM WITH ME AT THIS TIME BUT MY EMAIL IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED ON WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS MAKING CAR FALL DEAD WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A TICKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FAN BOX LOCATED INSIDE THE DASHBOARD, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE TICKING NOISE WAS PRESENT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEYS WERE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED TICKING NOISE IS DRAINING THE BATTERY AND CAUSING ALOT OF PROBLEMS. 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB
IT JUST BEEN A LIKE A REAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEM LIKE IF I PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC IS STALLED IT HESITATE IT HAS BEEN HIT A FEW TIMES LIKE THAT AND LIKE IT JUST HAVE TO GET A JUMP OFF EVERY MORNING AND EVERY EVENING JUST TO GO ANYWHERE AND I TRULY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO I'M TAKING BACK TO THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM ME AT LIKE I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT AND I'M TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY SAY IT'S ELECTRICAL DEFECT IT IT'S GOING TO KILL THE WHOLE CAR AND IT'S GOING TO EVENTUALLY KILL ME
THE CHECK BATTERY SYSTEM LIGHT WAS ON FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS ,WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT TO THE GROUND, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND STATE.POLICE SAID THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. IWAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND BARELY GOT OUT OF THE CAR BEFORE THE WHOLE CAR WAS UP IN FLAMES.
KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO PARK AND POWERED OFF. I AM TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS DUE TO POOR WIRING.
TRYING TO PUT CAR IN GEAR ITS STUCK IN PARK ALL BECAUSE OF WIRING NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE GEAR SHUT THE WIRING IS WEAK AND BREAKS REAL EASY WHITCH IS A SAFETY HAZZARD BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN BE STUCK SOMEWHERE. THIS HAS HAPPEND ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS TO ME AND OTHERS I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND THICKER WIRES.
REAR DEFROSTER WIRING UNDER FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HAD SMOKED AND SMALL FIRE. CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. WAS JUST PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY SO I PULLED OF FUSE BOX COVER TO DISCOVER IT. WIRES MELTED. HAD NO FUSE IN THERE. BURNED OUT QUICKLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MOTORS IN THE DOORS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WIRE HARNESS CONNECTION BEHIND PASSENGERS SIDE KICKPLATE MELTING DUE TO REAR DEFROSTER WINDOW NOT HAVING A TIMER TO SHUT OFF. IT STAYS ON THE WHOLE DURATION OF HAVING THE DEFROSTERS ON WHICH IN TURN MELTS THE CONNECTION DUE TO NOT HAVING A INLINE FUSE. THE MELTING CONNECTION CAN CAUSE FIRE DUE TO ARCING CONNECTION.
THE CHEVROLET IMPALA I OWN HAS HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR.... THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL AREA IN THE FRONT HAS WENT HAYWIRE ON ME.... I CANNOT SIGNAL, OR TURN MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON AT ANY TIME.... PLUS, IT WILL NOT START FOR ME WHEN I NEED IT TO, I ALWAYS HAVE TO GET A JUMP FROM SOMEONE, & THAT EVEN TAKES BETWEEN 10-20 MINUTES.... THE PLACE THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM, THE REPAIRMEN CANNOT FIX IT RIGHT FOR ME, IT IS NOT FAIR TO PAY ALL THIS MONEY FOR MY CAR, WHICH WILL NOT WORK RIGHT... I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE MY SIGNALS FOR A VERY LONG TIME NOW, IT IS VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME.... I HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON THE STREETS, THE HIGHWAY, EVEN AT WORK AFTER MY SHIFT, IT HAS EVEN STOPPED ON ME WHILE TAKING MY KIDS TO & FROM SCHOOL....
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR EARLIER TODAY IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS MAKING NOISE. SO I CHECK IT IT WAS EMPTY I FILLED IT UP WITH POWER STEERING FOULED.COME TO FIND OUT ITS A LEAK AGAIN. FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THAT THE LIGHTS BEEN FLICKERING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS THE CHECK BATTERY SYSTEM LIGHT WAS ON. THEN ONE DAY IT CUT OFF ON ME IN TRAFFIC. WHILE DRIVING .THEN AFTER A WHILE I GOT A JUMP BUT THE CAR DIDN'T STAY RUNNING ON ITS ON AFTER THE FIFTH TRY IT STAYED RUNNING.I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME NOW EVERY OTHER WEEK SO. I HAVE TO MESSING WITH CABLE CORD ON THE BATTERY TO GET THE CAR TO START. JUST SO HAPPENED TODAY MY ALTERNATOR. WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO CUT ALL THE WIRING OFF THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY JUST TO STOP THE FIRE FROM BURNING .
NEITHER OF THE TWO HORN BUTTONS ON THE STEARING WHEEL ACTIVATE THE HORN. EITHER THE BUTTONS DO NOT WORK OR THE HORN DOES NOT WORK.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE JUST COMPLETELY LOSSED POWER... THE CAR WOULDNT START UP UNLESS I UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. THE DASHBOARD READ ENGINE REDUCED POWER.. VERY SCARY SITUATION..I DONT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE.
TAKATA RECALL MY WINDOWS STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER MY CAR SOME TIME DONT GO WHEN I PUSH THE GAS IT WILL JERK REAL HARD AND THEN SOME TIMES IT TAKES ALONG TIME TO BRAKE AND THIS BEEN A ON GOING THING BUT WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY GAVE ME A HARD TIME ABOUT IF THERE WHERE ANY RECALLS ABOUT IT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE SAME DAY THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,446.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION, THE KEY FAILED TO EJECT FROM THE IGNITION. AS A RESULT, THE BATTERY DIED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. UPDATED 06/14/16*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY, AFTER FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS FROM THE INTERNET. UPDATED 06/20/16.*JB
ONGOING ISSUE WITH ERROR MESSAGE RELATING TO "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" APPEARED 4/10/2016. ONGOING HISTORY AND SERVICE RELATED TO THROTTLE POSITION AND SENSOR (ALSO SERVICED) CODES P2176; P 2135. 8/1/15 I HAVE ADDRESSED THROUGH REPLACING OF THROTTLE POSITION AND SENSOR; BATTERY CABLE (DEALERSHIP SVC DEPT SUGGESTED LOW VOLTAGE RELATED TO THIS ISSUE - RETESTED, ISSUE CONTINUES) PARTS STORE HAS SUGGESTED "THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL MODULE P 1516' CODES ALSO INCLUDE P0121, PO2135, P2119 FOUND PMC TO BE FAULTY -- "REPAIR AND REPLACED" 12/30/2014; THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY REPLACED ON APRIL 5, 2014. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR TWO YEARS. ENGINE POWER DROPS AND CAR WILL ONLY DRIVE AT A LOW SPEED < 40MPH. THIS IS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION. VARIOUS ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THIS ISSUE BEGAN AT APX 140K MILES AND HAS REOCCURRED AT 166L, 167K, 180K, 193K. SPEEDS THAT IT HAS OCCURRED HAS BEEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 60-65MPG TO RESIDENTIAL 25-35MPH. RECORDS HAVE SERVICES DATES ARE AVAILABLE; TOO MANY TO UPLOAD ALL.
MY CAR WON'T SHIFT FROM THE PARK POSITION, I HAD TO LIFT UP CONSOLE COVER AND PUSH RELEASE BUTTON IN ORDER TO AVOID PAYING FOR A TOW. FOUND OUT IT WAS THE WIRED CONNECTOR OR MODULE OR POSSIBLY WIRES THAT MOVE WHEN YOU SHIFT GEARS.
REAR DEFROST STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I LOOKED INTO WHY, I FOUND THE LARGE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR THATS BEHIND THE FRONT PASSENGER KICK PANEL TO BE COMPLETELY BURNT. THE CONNECTIONS ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT RATED HIGH ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE AMPS NEEDED. WHEN I LOOKED ON LINE THERE IS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. THIS CIRCUIT IS ALSO NOT PROTECTED BY A FUSE. IT'S A MIRACLE THAT THIS DIDN'T BURN MY CAR TO THE GROUND. THIS IS A VERY LARGE PROBLEM WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF EFFECTED CARS. MINE WAS JUST A SMALL ELECTRICAL FIRE, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,838. UPDATED 04/08/16*LJ; UPDATED 05/09/18*JB *CN
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
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