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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
96,534 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Chevrolet Impala drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2002 Chevrolet Impala Owner Comments

problem #13

Feb 012020

Impala

  • 135,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #12

Jan 252014

Impala

  • 79,000 miles
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.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #11

Jun 272014

Impala

  • 31,849 miles
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.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #10

Oct 122014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 211,365 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Cartersville, GA, USA

problem #9

Sep 052014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 86,400 miles
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.

- Neptune, NJ, USA

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problem #8

Jun 182002

Impala 6-cyl

  • miles
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

- Cumming, GA, USA

problem #7

Apr 112014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 235,325 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Indiianapolis , IN, USA

problem #6

May 222014

Impala

  • 171,000 miles
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.

- Elizabethtown, NC, USA

problem #5

Nov 132012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 152,000 miles
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.

- Lilburn, GA, USA

problem #4

Mar 012013

Impala

  • 153,000 miles
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.

- Longs, SC, USA

problem #3

Feb 262010

(reported on)

Impala 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2002 Chevrolet Impala. The tire pressure light and engine light had to be reset. 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.

- Benton, KY, USA

problem #2

Mar 012006

Impala 6-cyl

  • miles
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. 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.

- Yonkers, NY, USA

problem #1

Jan 112003

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Silver City, NM, USA

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