2000 Chevrolet Impala fuel system problems

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I TURNED THE KEY IN MY CAR TO START IT, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD POP AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING. THE ENGINE THEN CAUGHT FIRE AND IS TOTALLY DESTROYED. THIS CAR HAD BEEN USED 2 DAYS PRIOR WITH NO ISSUES, NO SAFETY LIGHTS ON, NO ISSUES DRIVING AND IT STARTED FINE THAT LAST TIME IT WAS DRIVEN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS SENT ME A REPORT ON THE CAUSE.

NHTSA complaint #11299084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, A CLUNKING SOUND WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT A FIRE HAD ERUPTED NEAR THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. ALSO, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY MISFIRED AND PERFORMED SLUGGISHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SCHUKEI CHEVROLET INC (721 S MONROE AVE, MASON CITY, IA 50401, 641-494-5589) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBERS: EA02030 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND PE00005 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO RENT A VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, HE WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,500.

NHTSA complaint #11166492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODING AND CATCHING FIRE. AS THIS SAME THING HAPPEN TO ME, SOUNDS LIKE A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. MINE JUST HAPPEN TO BE IN THE DRIVE WAY, WHEN I WENT TO START IT I SAW SMOKE. SO I TURNED IT OFF, LOOKED UNDER HOOD DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. WENT TO START IT A FEW DAYS LATER AND I HEARD A REALLY LOUD POP, FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. I QUICKLY TURNED TO OFF POSITION. OPENED MY HOOD AND SURE ENOUGH THE MANIFOLD HAD EXPLODED. WHAT IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING? COULD HAVE CAUSED DEATHS TO OTHERS OR EVEN MYSELF, IF IT WASN'T CONTAINED. NOT EVERYONE CARRIES A FIRE EXTINGUISHER!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10971178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY IMPALA EXPLODED THE INTAKE AND CAUGHT FIRE MELTED HARNESS AND SMOKE DAMAGE TO INSIDE CAR GM KNOWS THIS PROBLEM AN HAS NOT HAD A RECALL ON THIS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN KILL SOMEONE.

NHTSA complaint #10939794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE CAR SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED. STARTING DISABLED AND CUT OFF. LOSING ALL CONTROL OF BRAKES STEERING AND ACCELERATION. AT THIS POINT I REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10683592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WENT TO START CAR AND INTAKE BLEW UP, CAUSING A LARGE FIRE AND PIECES OF THE BURNING PLASTIC HIT MY SON WHICH WAS STANDING BY CAR. THE HOOD WAS UP AT THE TIME AND WE DID GET THE FIRE OUT. IT APPEARS THIS WAS A FUEL REGULATOR ISSUE AND I DO NOT SHOW IT AS BEING DUE FOR MY CAR. IT MUST OF BEEN DONE ALREADY BUT THIS ISSUE STILL HAPPENS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. I WAS LUCKY IT WAS NOT WORSE.

NHTSA complaint #10676999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RECEIVED THE RECALL REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA complaint #10671915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY WIFE WENT TO START THE CAR TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE WAY AND THE ENGINE EXPLODED BURST INTO FLAMES, INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BLOWN INTO PIECES.

NHTSA complaint #10594151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ON 1/8/14 AT APPROX. 8:00 AM, I ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR, I HEARD A LOUD POP OR BANG AND SMELLED SMOKE, I QUICKLY GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. I POPPED THE HOOD AND LUCKILY MY NEIGHBOR AND BOYFRIEND HAD COME OUTSIDE AT THIS POINT AND PUT THE "FIRE" THAT HAD STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, OUT WITH SNOW. BASICALLY, I ATTEMPTED TO CRANK THE CAR, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DURING THE CRANKING, RESULTING IN AN EXPLOSION AND SMALL FIRE. I CONTACTED GM DIRECTLY ASKING IF THERE WAS A POSSIBLE RECALL THAT WAS SIMILAR TO THE SITUATION THAT HAD OCCURRED. AFTER A SHORT INVESTIGATION, THE CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVE DENIED MY CLAIM STATING THAT MY CAR WAS PROBABLY JUST OLD. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE COBALT RECALLS, DID I DECIDE TO DO MORE INVESTIGATIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10573287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

ON 2/24/14 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:50 PM, I PROPERLY ATTACHED A SET OF BATTERY JUMPER CABLES FROM MY TRUCK TO THIS CAR TO START IT FROM A DEAD BATTERY SITUATION. WHEN THE OWNER ATTEMPTED TO CRANK THE CAR, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DURING THE CRANKING, RESULTING IN AN EXPLOSION AND SMALL FIRE. THE OWNER IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED THE CAR OFF, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND I IMMEDIATELY CLOSED THE HOOD SO THAT THE FIRE WOULD NOT SPREAD, CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND REMOVED THE VEHICLES AROUND IT. THE FIRE DEPT. RESPONDED WITHIN 5 MIN., AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH WATER. THE FIRE DEPT. AND POLICE INSPECTED THE CAR, AND LEFT AFTER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS PROPERLY EXTINGUISHED, AND THERE WAS NO FURTHER RISK OF THE FIRE RE-STARTING. THE FIRE DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE ENTIRE UNDER-HOOD AREA OF THE CAR. WHEN THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED, THE ENGINE COVER AND OIL FILLER CAP WAS BLOWN APPROXIMATELY 5 FT. FROM THE CAR, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BLOWN OPEN, AND THE FIRE WAS BURNING INSIDE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. WE ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE CAR INTO THE PARKING SPACE, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. IT SEEMED THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED, PROBABLY AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. THE CAR HAS SINCE BEEN TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. THE CAR'S OWNER WAS INSIDE OF THE CAR, ATTEMPTING TO START IT VIA THE IGNITION KEY. I ASKED HER IF THERE WERE ANY PRIOR ISSUES WITH THE CAR, AND SHE TOLD ME THAT AT THE TIME, OTHER THAN A FLAT TIRE AND DEAD BATTERY, THE A/C WAS INOPERATIVE, AND NOT BEING USED. APPROXIMATELY 2-3 YEARS AGO, THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A LOCAL DEALER, AND A RECALL ISSUE WAS PERFORMED ON IT. SHE DID NOT REMEMBER WHAT SERVICE AND RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE ON THE CAR. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN OPERATED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS. I AM THE PERSON MOST ABLE TO GIVE THE DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT. THE OWNER OF THE CAR (SISTER) HAS AUTHORIZED ME TO ACT ON HER BEHALF IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #10566325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY BATTERY WAS DEAD, SO I PUT A BATTERY CHARGER ON THE BATTERY, THEN WENT TO START THE CAR. I TURNED THE KEY FOR ABOUT THREE REVOLUTIONS AND THEN THE CAR EXPLODED! I WASN'T SURE WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE I WAS SITTING INSIDE THE CAR AND THERE WAS SNOW ON THE WINDSHIELD. I GOT OUT AND THERE WAS PLASTIC PARTS ALL AROUND THE CAR, AND THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE MOTOR!

NHTSA complaint #10502193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND SMOKE IMMEDIATELY EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD WHERE FLAMES BEGAN TO ERUPT. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE HIMSELF AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP HOSE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA complaint #10476880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TRAVELED FOR FIVE MINUTES IN THE VEHICLE AND UPON RETURNING TO HER RESIDENCE, SHE OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS THAT INDICATED A POTENTIAL FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THREE RECALLS FOR HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 04V090000, 01V136000 AND 04V090000). THE MANUFACTURER TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE APRIL 2009 AND HAS YET TO COMMUNICATE THE OUTCOME TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT CONFIRM IF ANY OF THE RECALLS APPLIED SPECIFICALLY TO VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA complaint #10322869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

ON FEB.10TH OR 11TH.MY NEIGHBOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO JUMP START MY CAR BECAUSE THE BATTERY HAD FAILED DUE TO A 3 DAY SNOW STORM. AFTER TURNED THE IGNITION THE SECOND TIME, THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM. WHEN WE CHECKED THE ENGINE, WE NOTED THE MANIFOLD COVER HAD CRACKED INTO SEVERAL PIECES. ALSO THE WIRES WERE ON FIRE. MY NEIGHBOR QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. LATER, I WENT TO MY DEALER(FRANK Z CHEVROLET IN DAYTON, OH. ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE REPAIRS COULD COST FROM $1,800-$2,000 MAINLY DUE TO THE FIRE DAMAGE. SINCE I HAVE BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR 18 MONTHS, I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR AN ESTIMATE OF ACTUAL DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10321865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN IT WAS TURNED ON.

NHTSA complaint #10258377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.