11 of the 959 complaints about the 2001 Chevrolet Impala are about the throttle and cruise control — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 41,871 miles.
11
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
While driving at 70 mph my car just shut off. The radio and lights stayed on. The oil and battery light came on before it just shut down. Steering locked up. When safely to side, and turned key off it starts right back up, but now traction system is off. Has gas and nothing is broken.
NHTSA complaint #11527526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WE WERE DRIVING OFF H-820 N IN FORTWORTH TEXAS..THE CAR COULD NOT SLOW DOWN NOR COULD WE CONTROL IT. WE ENDED UP HITTING THE GUARD RAIL IN ONE CAR ACCIDENT AND IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. BEFORE THAT, SAME CAR WAS SERVICED BY IGNITION PROBLEM BY CHEVROLET DEALER OFF 1-20 IN ARLINGTON,TX..STILL I WAS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10633422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN BRAKING MY CAR ASSUMES I'M SLIDING (LIKE ON ICE) AND I'M NOT--CAR USES ABS UNNECESSARILY. WHEN DRIVING OFF MY CAR ASSUMES MY WHEELS ARE SPINNING AND UNABLE TO GRIP--THEY AREN'T AND CAR USES TRACTION CONTROL UNNECESSARILY. SIMILAR TO A BREAKING THROTTLE CABLE, WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A BUSY STREET, TRACTION CONTROL BEING ACTIVATED COULD BE VERY HAZARDOUS.
NHTSA complaint #10521497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE FAST LANE ON I71 HEADING FROM COLUMBUS, OHIO TO CLEVELAND, OHIO. SHE SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 75 MPH AND WENT TO BRAKE BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING DOWN. WHEN SHE HIT THE BRAKE THEY DID NOTHING! SHE IMMEDIATELY PANICKED AND MOVED OVER 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE BERM NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SHE QUICKLY THREW THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IT STOPPED. I CALLED A CHEVROLET DEALER AFTER SHE CALLED ME FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE THE CAR. THEY ASKED IF THE CAR MATS POSSIBLY BLOCKED THE BRAKE AND MY DAUGHTER SAID NO, SHE REACHED DOWN AND PULLED IT OUT AND THE CAR WOULD STILL NOT SLOW DOWN. SHE EVEN STATED BOTH FEET WERE PUSHING DOWN ON THE BREAK PEDAL AND NOTHING WAS SLOWING DOWN THE CAR. I JUST HAD A FRONT HUB REPLACED AT AUTO PLUS (WHERE I TAKE MY CARS FOR SERVICE) IN ORIENT, OHIO. MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIEND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #10267339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN THE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE TO DECELERATE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #10038390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSING ACCELERATOR TO STICK AND USING CRUISE CONTROL DOES THE SAME. CAUSING WRECK WITH INJURIES AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT UPON IMPACT OF CRASH WITH SPEED OVER 55 MPH TO HEAD ON INTO TO TREE. COULD NOT STOP CAR EVEN WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND HAD TO TURN KEY OFF TO STOP CAR FROM BLOWING UP.
NHTSA complaint #10000055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSING ACCELERATOR TO STICK AND USING CRUISE CONTROL DOES THE SAME. CAUSING WRECK WITH INJURIES AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT UPON IMPACT OF CRASH WITH SPEED OVER 55 MPH TO HEAD ON INTO TO TREE. COULD NOT STOP CAR EVEN WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND HAD TO TURN KEY OFF TO STOP CAR FROM BLOWING UP.
NHTSA complaint #10000055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
HOW MANY MORE ARE OUT THERE THAT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH? DT
NHTSA complaint #770698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS LIKE DRIVING A STICK SHIFT, CONSUMER HAD TO PRESS BRAKE OR GAS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE HITTING SOME ONE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8011712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER GOT INTO VEHICLE AND CRANKED IT UP, AND VEHICLE POPPED. CONSUMER TURNED ENGINE OFF,THEN CRANKED IT UP AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS IDLING. BUT WHEN CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS, ACROSS MAIN STREET, AND QUIT IN A FIELD. STATE POLICE WROTE IT UP AS A MECHANICAL DEFECT, AND WOULD NOT LET ANYONE MOVE VEHICLE. VEHICLE BEEN SITTING FOR 10 DAYS. CONTACTED DEALER AND GOT NO RESPONSE.
NHTSA complaint #896711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER STARTING VEHICLE WITH GEAR IN DRIVE VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD, APPEARING TO JUST SUDDENLY TAKE OFF,CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #878693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.