Owners have filed 19 complaints
about the 1994 Chevrolet Impala with NHTSA between 1996 and 2009.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 24 of 24 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 2
Against the median year of the Chevrolet Impala. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 27
5.3% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
How 1994 compares with every other Chevrolet Impala
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1994 Chevrolet Impala
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
631.6%
Median failure at 33,500 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
421.1%
Median failure at 129,500 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
315.8%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Engine & Cooling
210.5%
Other & Unspecified
15.3%
Seats
15.3%
Wheels
15.3%
Airbags
15.3%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
133.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
133.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
133.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
May 1996peak 7Mar 2009
NHTSA investigations into the 1994 Chevrolet Impala
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA99003Opened 13 Jan 1999Closed 17 Aug 2000VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
COOLANT FIRES
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
LOS Anegles, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY, CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8013589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 22,000 milesSaint Cloud, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT PANEL KEEPS GOING OUT (SPEEDOMETER,TACH,GAS,HEAT) READS 150 MPH WHILE I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP. I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND TURN THE KEY ON AND OFF TILL IT COMES BACK DOWN. AND EVEN THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. NOW THE GAUGE FOR THE TEMP. OF THE CAR IS READING THAT IT IS OVERHEATING AS SOON AS I START DRIVING. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT IN TO GET IT CHECKED FOR SEVERAL THINGS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 42,000 MILES ON IT. THIS HAS BE GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND IS GETTING WORSE!!
NHTSA complaint #10261340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesGlendora, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER ACT ERRATICALLY AT TIMES WITH NO WARNING NOR SYMPTOMS.
NHTSA complaint #10244548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 129,500 milesMena, AR
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CONNECTOR FOR THE FUEL PUMP. VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A HARNESS TO THE FUEL PUMP WHICH BURNT. THE WIRES BECAME HOT AND MELTED THE PLASTIC INSULATION, CAUSING THE PUMP NOT TO WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10075497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Anegles, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY, CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8013589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST. Cloud, FL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WINDSHIELD WIRES INSIDE FUEL TANK THAT MAKES PUMP WORK, HAS SOME WIRES IN IT THAT BURN OUT WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. CHEVROLET HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #882189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Farmington Hills, MI
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVERS SIDE SEATBACK FAILURE ON ACCELERATION FROM STOP NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. PARTS THAT FAILED WERE TWO SMALL VERY INADEQUATE BOLTS USED TO ATTACH SEATBACK TO SEAT BASE.
NHTSA complaint #723548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Duxbury, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
COMPONENT 1 - EXHAUST MANIFOLD THE BOLTS THAT SECURE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BREAK FROM THE HEAT CYCLING ONF THE MANIFOLD. THE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THEM WITH STRONGER BOLTS THAT WERE SUPPLIED BY GM. THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT THERE IS AN EXTREME DANGER OF EXHAUST GASES LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF POOR FITTING MANIFOLDS. A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND PRESENTLY NOT COVERED BY GM WARRANTIES. COMPONENT 2 - STEERING WHEEL HORN. THIS HORN HAS A NICKNAME OF THE "SLEDGEHAMMER HORN" SINCE IT TAKES CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO SOUND THE HORN. ONCE AGAIN, GM RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND HAS A NEW HORN ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR CURRENT OWNERS, UNLESS AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION SINCE DEPRESSING THE HORN SWITCH MAY NOT SOUND THE HORN QUICK ENOUGH, IF AT ALL, IN CAS OF AN EMERGENCY. IT SIMPLY TAKES TOO LONG TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE HORN IS NOT SOUNDED UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. COMPONENT 3 - AUXILLIARY POWER STUD. THERE IS A POWER STUD UNDER THE HOOD THAT ACTS AS A DISTRIBUTION POINT FOR MUCH OF THE POWER REQUIREMENTS. THE COMPOSITION OF THE THIS STUD WAS AN ALLOY THAT DID NOT STAND UP WELL UNDER USAGE, AND AS IT HEATED UP, THE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY BECOMES DEFORMED. IN THE PROCESS, ALL POWER IS LOST, AND IN SOME DOCUMENTED CASES, FIRES HAVE STARTED. IN MY PARTICULAR CASE, I LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED WITHOUT ANY SERIOUS INJURY. ONCE AGAIN, GM HAS A SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY NOW USE A STUD WHOSE MATERIAL CONTENT IS BRASS. IT IS QUITE SECURE AND CAUSES NOT FURTHER PROBLEMS. ONCE AGAIN --- A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONDITION RECOGNIZED BY GM. IN ALL OF THESE CASES GM RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AS SERIOUS, DEVELOPED A SOLUTION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, BUT FAILED TO MOVE TO A RECALL LEVEL. THIS IS IN SPITE OF THE OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #719453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Duxbury, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
COMPONENT 1 - EXHAUST MANIFOLD THE BOLTS THAT SECURE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BREAK FROM THE HEAT CYCLING ONF THE MANIFOLD. THE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THEM WITH STRONGER BOLTS THAT WERE SUPPLIED BY GM. THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT THERE IS AN EXTREME DANGER OF EXHAUST GASES LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF POOR FITTING MANIFOLDS. A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND PRESENTLY NOT COVERED BY GM WARRANTIES. COMPONENT 2 - STEERING WHEEL HORN. THIS HORN HAS A NICKNAME OF THE "SLEDGEHAMMER HORN" SINCE IT TAKES CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO SOUND THE HORN. ONCE AGAIN, GM RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND HAS A NEW HORN ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR CURRENT OWNERS, UNLESS AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION SINCE DEPRESSING THE HORN SWITCH MAY NOT SOUND THE HORN QUICK ENOUGH, IF AT ALL, IN CAS OF AN EMERGENCY. IT SIMPLY TAKES TOO LONG TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE HORN IS NOT SOUNDED UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. COMPONENT 3 - AUXILLIARY POWER STUD. THERE IS A POWER STUD UNDER THE HOOD THAT ACTS AS A DISTRIBUTION POINT FOR MUCH OF THE POWER REQUIREMENTS. THE COMPOSITION OF THE THIS STUD WAS AN ALLOY THAT DID NOT STAND UP WELL UNDER USAGE, AND AS IT HEATED UP, THE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY BECOMES DEFORMED. IN THE PROCESS, ALL POWER IS LOST, AND IN SOME DOCUMENTED CASES, FIRES HAVE STARTED. IN MY PARTICULAR CASE, I LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED WITHOUT ANY SERIOUS INJURY. ONCE AGAIN, GM HAS A SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY NOW USE A STUD WHOSE MATERIAL CONTENT IS BRASS. IT IS QUITE SECURE AND CAUSES NOT FURTHER PROBLEMS. ONCE AGAIN --- A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONDITION RECOGNIZED BY GM. IN ALL OF THESE CASES GM RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AS SERIOUS, DEVELOPED A SOLUTION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, BUT FAILED TO MOVE TO A RECALL LEVEL. THIS IS IN SPITE OF THE OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #719453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Duxbury, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
COMPONENT 1 - EXHAUST MANIFOLD THE BOLTS THAT SECURE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BREAK FROM THE HEAT CYCLING ONF THE MANIFOLD. THE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THEM WITH STRONGER BOLTS THAT WERE SUPPLIED BY GM. THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT THERE IS AN EXTREME DANGER OF EXHAUST GASES LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF POOR FITTING MANIFOLDS. A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND PRESENTLY NOT COVERED BY GM WARRANTIES. COMPONENT 2 - STEERING WHEEL HORN. THIS HORN HAS A NICKNAME OF THE "SLEDGEHAMMER HORN" SINCE IT TAKES CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO SOUND THE HORN. ONCE AGAIN, GM RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND HAS A NEW HORN ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR CURRENT OWNERS, UNLESS AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION SINCE DEPRESSING THE HORN SWITCH MAY NOT SOUND THE HORN QUICK ENOUGH, IF AT ALL, IN CAS OF AN EMERGENCY. IT SIMPLY TAKES TOO LONG TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE HORN IS NOT SOUNDED UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. COMPONENT 3 - AUXILLIARY POWER STUD. THERE IS A POWER STUD UNDER THE HOOD THAT ACTS AS A DISTRIBUTION POINT FOR MUCH OF THE POWER REQUIREMENTS. THE COMPOSITION OF THE THIS STUD WAS AN ALLOY THAT DID NOT STAND UP WELL UNDER USAGE, AND AS IT HEATED UP, THE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY BECOMES DEFORMED. IN THE PROCESS, ALL POWER IS LOST, AND IN SOME DOCUMENTED CASES, FIRES HAVE STARTED. IN MY PARTICULAR CASE, I LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED WITHOUT ANY SERIOUS INJURY. ONCE AGAIN, GM HAS A SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY NOW USE A STUD WHOSE MATERIAL CONTENT IS BRASS. IT IS QUITE SECURE AND CAUSES NOT FURTHER PROBLEMS. ONCE AGAIN --- A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONDITION RECOGNIZED BY GM. IN ALL OF THESE CASES GM RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AS SERIOUS, DEVELOPED A SOLUTION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, BUT FAILED TO MOVE TO A RECALL LEVEL. THIS IS IN SPITE OF THE OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #719453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pflugegville, TX
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT INDICATION. GAS CAP WAS REPLACED. THEN FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACE. ALSO, NOTICED WIRES WERE BURNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON.
NHTSA complaint #856015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pflugerville, TX
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
MY HUSBAND DISASSEMBLED THE GAS TANK TO GET TO THE FUEL PUMP SO HE COULD REPLACE IT. THE FUEL PUMP IS LOCATED INSIDE THE TANK AND WHEN HE LOOKED AND THE WIRING HARNESS THE WIRES HAD MELTED THE EXTERIOR COATING AND THE PLASTIC FITTING THAT ALSO SIT IN THE GAS TANK. WE FEEL THAT THIS COULD HAVE ENDED VERY TRAGIC WITH THE GAS TANK CATCHING ON FIRE. I AM 5 MONTHS PREGNANT AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST AND IF THERE IS SOME SORT OF ACTION WE CAN TAKE TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
NHTSA complaint #718202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pflugegville, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT INDICATION. GAS CAP WAS REPLACED. THEN FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACE. ALSO, NOTICED WIRES WERE BURNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON.
NHTSA complaint #856015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pflugegville, TX
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT INDICATION. GAS CAP WAS REPLACED. THEN FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACE. ALSO, NOTICED WIRES WERE BURNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON.
NHTSA complaint #856015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Colorado Springs, CO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS PART COVERED UNDER GM RECALL 94-C-59 BUT ONLY IF IT WAS INSTALLED ON A VEH INTENTED TO BE USED AS A POLICE CAR OR TAXI CAB PER DEALER. IMPALA SS IS 9C1 OPTION CODE. SAME MECHANICALY AS POLICE CAR. SEEMS LIKE GM SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED IT IN THE RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #717233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waukesha, WI
WHEELS
WHEELS LEAK AT COLD TEMPERATURE CAUSING THE TIRES TO GO FLAT.
NHTSA complaint #543936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clinton, IA
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG INDICATION LIGHT STAYS ON WHICH MEANS A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, TRYING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. AIR BAGS HAVE NOT YET DEPLOYED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #834029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lagrange, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
LOOSENED NUT ON BATTERY CABLE INTERFERED WITH HIGH AMPERAGE EQUIPMENT OF VEHICLE. ALLOWING ENGINE TO STALL.
NHTSA complaint #546862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington TWP, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHEN AT A STOP THE CAR IDLES, STARTS/ SURGES UP AND DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #801887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Blue Island, IL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL, WILL NOT COME ON PROPERLY, HAVE TO TURN ENGINE OFF AND ON.
NHTSA complaint #984448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.