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.
Headlights went out while driving at night. Flicking the high-beam switch restored the lights. I just looked in the ODI database & discovered a closed investigation (PE06017). It was pitch dark & raining outside, luckily I was in a rural area & no other cars around. I could have been killed. I'm glad to know you can restore lights by manipulating the multi-function switch but what if the driver doesn't know to do this! a recall is really in order, if for no other reason than to alert people to the potential risk so they know what to do if it happens.
Moisture in drivers side headlight. It never dries out. Makes driving at night on that side hard to see. Talked to dealer, was not covered under warranty. Could not afford $450 to repair.
: the contact stated the headlights failed without warning. The dealership was unable to duplicate the problem. The manufacturer has been alerted. Updated 6/16/2006 - when the high beams were used the dash lights went dark.
- York, PA, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
1-28-06, while driving at night, the headlights on my 2002 Chevy Impala went out. We flashed the dimmer/bright switch and they came on. This happened 3-4 times over the next 3 months. We thought we had a wiring problem. Then in late April, my car just quite running, while going down the road. It started back up, but it then was our cue to have it fixed. The car was still under warranty to we took it back to the dealership for repair. I had to take it back a second time because the problem wasn't fixed, the lights went out again. At this point, may, 2006, since it is daylight for more hours of the day, we don't drive a lot at night so I haven't noticed it happening again. On 5-30-06 I heard on a news report that you have received 15 complaints of headlights going out on Chevy Impala, I wanted to add another complaint to that.
Head light popped out of place as I was riding down the road one evening. One worked but one did not. I took it to a local service station in my hometown. The owner looked at it and said he could see why it may have happened because the seal looked as if it had been broken from around the light. He said this could possibly be caused from the fact that it was not a proper seal and seemed to shrink because of exposure to the sun. He also said that he couldn't believe it had not been recalled. I chose to get it fixed to keep from getting a ticket for a damaged headlight.
On 01/09/06 while driving my 2002 Chevy Impala at dark with the high beam lights on, the headlights went out completely. I had to pull over to the side of the road very carefully. As I could not see at all. I then hit the dimmer, high beam switch a couple of times and the headlights came back on. I reported it to the Chevy dealership (marquardt) where I purchased the car brand new. They stated they had one other incident of the same nature. They had me bring the car in and they replaced a multi-function switch. They stated they were not sure if this would take care of the problem or not but that is what they had did in the other car that had the same problem. I was still under my extended warranty but they still made me pay $50 deductible on it. I felt that was very unfair, since this was a huge safety issue. They said I would have to issue a complaint with GM about it.
While driving on a two lane highway dashboard lights and head lights went out without. The consumer hit the dimmer switch and the lights came back on. The occurred again before the vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer replaced a module in the steering column. Thus far, the failure had not recurred.
When driving at night it was very difficult to see the road. Consumer made contact with the dealership about this issue, and mechanic informed consumer that the headlights were wearing out prematurely.
2002 Chevrolet Impala ls - headlights/dash lights will intermittently blink on and off while coasting/decelerating. I have brought the car to the dealer twice for repair and they claim this is "normal." This condition is distracting to me and other drivers, and I consider it a serious safety defect.
While driving headlights suddenly stopped working this caused driver to have no visibility while driving at night. Over a period of a week, headlights would go out for a few seconds and come back on without any action of the consumer.
My 2002 Chevy Impala ls has had a problem, since buying it in May 2002, with the headlights dimming to the point of cutoff then coming back to full intensity in a rapid fashion. I have had the alternator, battery, belts, cables/wires checked but to no avail. I do notice that if I accelerate sharply, over 3000 RPM, the problem goes away for a while, suggesting there is a charging problem. This problem is intermittent, but is increasing in frenquency as my odo reaches 23,000 miles.
Headlights flicker on and off in pulsating fashion while coasting, braking or stopped. The flickering does not occur while accelerating. 2002 Impala ls, sport edition, 3.8L V-6. this car was taken to the dealership just after purchase, richard lucas, in avenel, NJ. They were not able to recreate the problem. The car was then taken to a dealership in racine, wi - frank boucher. The first time, they were unable to recreate the problem and gave me a "bulletin" advising dimming of lights was normal. This isn't dimming, it's flickering. Plus - I was pulled over by a police officer who thought I was playing with my headlights. I took it back to the dealership, frank boucher, and they contacted GM tech services. They checked a few things including the air pump. Then - by using the tech II tool, they were able to recreate the flcikering by switching the air pump on. However, the response from GM tech services is, they have no information on the problem, have never received a complaint about it and there is no "fix". they have also stated that there is no proposed fix. Now I read here there are three other complaints of the same problem. What can be done? GM won't do anything stating it is normal - but it is not normal. If I am pulled over by a police officer, this is not normal.
While driving and parked, headlights will pulsate and dim to half the brightness. This is very distracting, annoying, and un-nerving because it causes the car in front of you to believe you are flashing your lights at them. I have complained about this problem 3 times since I first bought it in April 2002. Dealer states they can't fix the problem, won't try and it's normal. This was not disclosed to me when I bought the vehicle otherwise had I known, I wouldn't have bought it.
Consumer states that while driving at any speed and without warning the headlights will flicker causing a distraction to the consumer view during nighttime. Dealer notified
Lights will all of a sudden keep going from sharp to dim -mcguire Chevrolet is aware of the problem but tell me that they do not know how to correct it. Seems to be a foolish answer to me since the car has been out for a full year and by now General Motors should have recalled the car and fixed the problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Barhamsville, VA, USA