192 of the 959 complaints about the 2001 Chevrolet Impala are about the engine — 20% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 92,500 miles.
192
Complaints
3
Crashes
48
Fires
4
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that her husband had entered the vehicle and while the key was in the ignition, the vehicle exploded in the engine compartment. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, or police report filed. There were fire and flames approximately six feet high. The contact and her husband were able to extinguish the fire. The contact called the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another local dealer (Sunset Chevrolet 910 Traffic Ave, Sumner, WA 98390(253) 656-0459) but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who referred her to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
NHTSA complaint #11500337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
after car not used for two days, turning ignition on and attempted to start the engine a extremely load explosion came from engine compartment! Upon looking at the engine the PLASTIC intake manifold was blown to pieces. no warning a explosion was to occur, car was running normal prior to explosion.
NHTSA complaint #11440988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
When the Mass Airflow Sensor gets dirty, engine shuts off..
NHTSA complaint #11435801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
MY CAR SHUTS OFF WHEN DRIVING. THE SECURITY LIGHT COMED ON. SOMETIMES NO POWER TO START SO I SEITCH KEYD. THERE BEEN A RECALL BUT WAS NOT PROPERLY FIXED. MY LIFE IS IN DANGER DRIVING AND I REPLACED SO MANY PARTS THAT WAS NEVER THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11352471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
ENGINE OIL LEAKS ON MANIFOLD AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE
NHTSA complaint #11350190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE START POSITION, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE VEHICLE LOSS BRAKES AND POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINING ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS PREVIOUSLY INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #11324713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A FIRE STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND CAME OUTSIDE AND INSTRUCTED HER TO GRAB THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HER HUSBAND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE, ENGINE COOLING), WHICH SHE RELATED DIRECTLY WITH HER FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS OFFERED AN AMOUNT FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION TO THE MATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11288673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I DROVE THE CAR TO A STORE, PARKED, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR IT WAS SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. A SHORT TIME LATER THE CAR WAS ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE BAY. I'D SAY FLAMES ERUPTED APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER I EXITED THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11241397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE ENGINE SIMPLY SHUTS OFF WHETHER ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, ON CITY STREETS AT 40 MPH OR BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. USUALLY AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES IT WILL RESTART. THE PROBLEM BEGAN IN FEBRUARY 2019 AND HAS BEEN ONGOING. MY MECHANIC HAS HAD THE CAR MULTIPLE TIMES AND I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC 3 TIMES MAKING SURE NOT TO START THE CAR. IT HAS NO CODES STORED TO HELP MY MECHANIC FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS BUT AS USUALLY EVEN WHEN THEY KEPT IT 2 WEEKS THE CAR FAILED TO STALL ON THEM WHEN THEY TEST DROVE IT. I HAVE SEEN ARTICLES AND EVEN COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE OF THIS ISSUE. THIS IS SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS AND I CANNOT BELIEVE A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED.
NHTSA complaint #11231604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER LOCATED IN FRENDALE, MICHIGAN AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #11204527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. THE CONTACT USUALLY HAD TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,632.
NHTSA complaint #11184691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
MY SONS CHEVY IMPALA WAS IN OUR DRIVEWAY UNTOUCHED FOR TWO DAYS. WHEN HE GOT IN IT AND TURNED THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED AND CAUSED AN ENGINE FIRE. WHILE ONLINE I FOUND THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS!!! WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN ADDRESSED? HE COULD HAVE DIED. AND IF I WASN'T IN THE YARD TO REACT AND PUT THE FIRE OUT MY HOUSE COULD HAVE GONE UP WITH IT.
NHTSA complaint #11176528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" MESSAGE APPEARED. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE CONTACT SAW A SERVICE BULLETIN ONLINE REGARDING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #11080841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
ENGINE SHOT DOWN ON FREEWAY. PULLED IT TO MEINEKE. THEY REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH & KEY BUZZER SWITCH. ON 12/28/2017, THEY CHARGED ME $169.99 REPLACING IGNITION SWITCH & $155.40. I HAVE RECEIPT. I NEED $364.07 REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS RECALL DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #11057763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE ENGINE INADVERTENTLY CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11056631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE CAR IS MESSING UP WITH THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #11035541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S BROTHER'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,826. UPDATED 06/23/17*LJ UPDATED 10/6/2017
NHTSA complaint #10984295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE'S INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE HEAD GASKET COVER TO FRACTURE AND DETACH. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, THE SENSOR, AND THE HEAD GASKET COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10937698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 10/18/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10897880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STEERED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND COOLANT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10898076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE OIL PAN LEAKS OIL WHEN NOT IN MOTION AND POSSIBLY WHILE IN MOTION. ADDITIONALLY WHEN MOTION THE STEERING MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING (THE SOUND APPEARS TO COME FROM THE STEERING BOX).
NHTSA complaint #10897106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEALERSHIPS FAILURE TO REPAIR VEHICLE OIL LEAKAGE BEFORE CONSUMER RECEIVED ENGINE OIL DEPOSITS ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL ALL THE TIME AND 15 YEARS LATER, SHE RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10875130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I HAD A REBUILD ENGINE IN THE CAR A MONTH AFTER L PURCHASE THE CAR. SINCE THEN MY CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEAL TWICE ABOUT THE ENGINE AND NOW A YEAR FROM THEN MY LAST PROBLEM. MY TRANSMISSION ISN'T WORKING AND NOW I HAVE TO FIND AWAY TO FIX IT. MRS.[XXX] BALTIMORE CITY RESIDENT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10896466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10887779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10887568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. ...UPDATED 09/14/16 *BF
NHTSA complaint #10885829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WE WERE TRYING TO JUMP START THE CAR, AND WHEN TRYING TO START THE ENGINE THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION, AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DESTROYED.
NHTSA complaint #10871841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
NHTSA complaint #10871615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE ERUPTED INTO FLAMES NEAR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10870575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.