11 of the
120 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Impala are about the
electrical system — 9% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
92,500 miles.
D
11
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
12V/24V/48V Battery
327.3%
Wiring
218.2%
Electrical System
218.2%
Front Underhood
19.1%
Horn
19.1%
Interior/Under Dash
19.1%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator
19.1%
Electrical System across every Chevrolet Impala year
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10628184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 92,500 milesOwasso, OK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
(1) WHILE TRAVELING THRU LAUGHLIN, NV TRAVELING WEST ON HWY 163, CAR ABRUPTLY QUITS. FUEL PUMP FUSE BLOWN. SUSPECT DYING FUEL PUMP. INSTALL NEW FUSE, TRAVEL ANOTHER 30 MILES UP HWY 95...CAR DIES AGAIN. THIS TIME, NO BLOWN FUSE. FUEL PUMP WILL NOT RUN. TOW VEHICLE TO FINAL DESTINATION (LAS VEGAS). (2) PULLED THE TANK, REMOVED THE SENDING UNIT FOR PUMP REPLACEMENT. QUICKLY NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THE FUEL PUMP WIRING INSIDE THE TANK HAD SHORTED OUT. INSULATION BURNT COMPLETELY OFF OF THE PRIMARY PUMP POWER WIRE AND SHORTED INTO THE FUEL QUANTITY GROUND WIRE. CONNECTOR AT TOP OF SENDING UNIT MELTED. (3) REPLACE SENDING UNIT, FUEL PUMP, STRAINER AND FUEL FILTER.
NHTSA complaint #10079043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Henderson, NV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ALL 3 BATTERIES HAVE LEAKED ACID OUT. HAD A PUDDLE OF ACID ON GARAGE FLOOR, THAT MY 6 YEAR OLD SON ALMOST STEPPED IN BARE FOOTED.
NHTSA complaint #756574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa Clara, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I BELONG TO AN IMPALA SS CLUB AND SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE NOTICED THAT THE STOCK AC/DELCO (?) 676 BATTERY WOULD SOMETIMES LEAK. MANY COMPLAINED TO GMC BUT NOTHING HAPPENED SO AS PRECAUTION MANY PEOPLE CHANGED OUT THEIR BATTERY SINCE GM WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. NOW WE (THE CLUB) NOTICED THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ON THE CHEVY SUBURBAN AND TAHOE AND YUKON ABOUT THE SAME BATTERY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT LEAST SINCE 1994 WHEN OUR IMPALAS STARTED TO BE MADE. THESE BATTERYS ARE SHODDY. PLEASE TAKE HELP TAKE THEM OFF THE ROAD. I ALREADY SWAPPED OUT MY BATTERY SINCE I DIDN'T WANT ANY ACID SPILLING IN THE ENGINE BAY.
NHTSA complaint #724372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Federal WAY, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR SUDDENTLY STOPPED WORKING. DASH BOARD LIGHT DOESN'T ALLOW CONSUMER TO SEE THE SPEED. HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW FAST HE IS GOING. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS HEADLIGHTS GO DIM. WHEN HE RELEASES GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS, HEADLIGHTS ARE FULL FORCE.
NHTSA complaint #855976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Absecon, NJFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED & IMMEDIATELY THE LOCKS BEGAN ENGAGING & DISENGAGING IN RAPID SEQUENCE, THEN THERE WAS A SNAP AND I BEGAN TO SMELL BURNING WIRES. I NOTICED SMOKE RISING TO MY LEFT COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE HOOD VENTS. I TRIED TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BUT I COULD NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR. I HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR. MY HUSBAND CAME OUT AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD HE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE FIRE WALL. HE THEN LOOKED UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH BOARD AND SAW FLAMES. I AT THAT POINT CONTACTED 911 AND HE WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A GARDEN HOSE. THE FIRE COMPANY ARRIVED AND CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS OUT, THEY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. I AM GLAD I WAS OF A CLEAR FRAME OF MIND OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN THE CAR. WE COULD NOT OPEN ANY OF THE OTHER DOORS OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT UNLOCKING THEM MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE WHICH WAS VERY TOXIC. THIS COULD HAVE DEVELOPED INTO A VERY SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION IF I HAD NOT GOTTEN OUT OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY ARE NOW INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION WITH THE DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #714285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Evans, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
POSITIVE POST OF BATTERY FORCED OUT FROM INSIDE BATTERY. EXTENSIVE PAINT AND RUST DAMAGE OCCURED. I AM AWARE OF MANY OTHER SUCH CASES WITH DELCO BATTERIES.
NHTSA complaint #712293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
REAR OF ENGINE BLOCK WIRING CHAFFED CAUSING MALFUNCTIONS IN SPEEDOMETER.
NHTSA complaint #525843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL FAILURES : WIRING CHAFFED, VSS SIGNAL (NOT SET TO ECM).
NHTSA complaint #521159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK.
NHTSA complaint #517296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FT. Worth, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN CONTACT CAM OPEN, CAUSING HORN TO FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #504656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.