23 of the 959 complaints about the 2001 Chevrolet Impala are about the stability control — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 119,000 miles.
23
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
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.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WHEN TURNING PUT ON BRAKE WHEN YOU GO OUT OF PARK THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND IT MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. BUT NOT WHEN GOING DOWN ROAD OR FREEWAY. BUT HAPPENS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10958604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
MY VEHICLE IS HAVING THE ABS KICK ON IN UNECCESSARY CONDITIONS. THEN THE VEHICLES TRACTION CONTROL WILL TURN OFF AND THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND BOTH STAY ON UNTIL I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. FROM RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS LINE OF VEHICLE, BOTH A COSTLY FIX AND A COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10956609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
BLINKERS & HAZARDS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10911251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN. I WAS GOING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME. THE ONLY WARNING LIGHT I GOT WAS TRACTION CONTROL, AND THE ABS MAINTENANCE LIGHTS. IT TURNED OUT THAT I HAD NO POWER STEERING FLUID IN MY CAR. I ENDED UP HAVING TO GET A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. THEN THE MECHANIC THAT WAS WORKING ON MY CAR CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT MY RACK PINION IS BAD. HE WARNED ME THAT IT COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME, AND IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I WOULD LIKE THIS INCIDENT DOCUMENTED, JUST IN CASE THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ENCOUNTER THE SAME WITH THEIR CARS. I DO FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE IT NOT FROM USUAL WEAR AND TEAR, THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10691695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
NHTSA complaint #10659832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON DAY AND LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND HIT A GUIDE RAIL . I BOUNCED OFF THE GUIDE RAIL AND THE CAR STARTED SPINNING AND ANOTHER GUY HAD HIT ME AND I WENT HEAD ON INTO THE GUIDE RAIL . MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND I HAD MINOR INJURY (PAIN IN NECK AND BACK, MY GLASSES BROKE AND IHIT MY HEAD OFF THE STEERING WHEEL) I'M PRETTY SURE MY CARE IS TOTALED BECAUSE THE FRAME IS BENT AND BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #10616173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
OUR 2001 IMPALA RANDOMLY STARTED HAVING THE ABS/TRACTION LIGHT WARNING COME ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT IS SPONTANEOUS AND WITHOUT WARNING. MY BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN I TRY TO STOP, WHEN IN A COMPLETE STOP AND I PRESS THE GAS THE BRAKES MAKE THE CAR HESITATE TO MOVE FORWARD, WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE THE CAR SPUTTERS THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND I FEEL LIKE I'M DRIVING ON ICE. I HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW WHEN OR IF MY CAR IS ACTUALLY GOING TO STOP OR EVEN MOVE FORWARD WHILE I AM ON THE ROAD. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW AND I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT SHOPS AND HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS JUST TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY THINK IS WRONG. I HAVE SPENT AROUND $1000.00 IN REPAIRS AND HAVING IT DIAGNOSED. NOTHING HAS PREVENTED THE ABS/TRACTION ERROR FROM OCCURRING IMMEDIATELY AFTER EACH FIX. THIS PROBLEM HAS GOT TO BE ANNOUNCED AND FIXED BY CHEVROLET IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE OR AN ENTIRE FAMILY GETS HURT OR EVEN KILLED. IF I WAS THE ONLY FLUKE THEN I WOULD UNDERSTAND BUT THERE ARE THOUSANDS WITHIN THE 2001-2005 RANGE THAT HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM. DON'T BE LIKE TOYOTA AND WAIT TIL NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE DIED TO FIX A SIMPLE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10422553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
1. THERE WERE REALLY NO EVENTS THAT LED UP TO THE FAILURE. 2. THE ABS SYSTEM STARTED ENGAGING AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES (WHEN TRACTION CONTROL WAS NOT WARRANTED--COMPLETELY DRY). THIS STARTED OUT SPORADICALLY BUT HAS SINCE BECOME DAILY. AT FIRST, JUST THE ABS ENGAGED AND THE "TRACTION ACTIVE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. NOW, IT WILL CAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO DISARM ITSELF AND THE "SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM" LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE. 3. THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES WITH 4 DIFFERENT PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10417134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I HAVE 2001 CHEVY IMPALA LS WITH ABOUT 80K MILES ON IT. WHEN THE WEATHER STARTED GETTING BAD, THE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT KICKED ON FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. I TOOK IT OFF B/C I DON'T LIKE. NOW WHEN I GET IN THE CAR, AND TURN IT ON, MY ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND "SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. THE "SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT GOES OFF, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE OTHER TO DO OFF. IT SEEMS I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THE TYPE OF PROBLEM. 100'S OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE US HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL RANGING FROM YEARS 01-04.
NHTSA complaint #10378752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT MY IMPALA. MY ABS LIGHTS ON MY DASH KEEP GOING OFF AND MY SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM KEEPS SHOWING UP IN MY MESSAGE BOX. WHEN I AM PULLING OUT FROM ANYWHERE THAT INVOLVES ME TURNING MY WHEEL IS WHEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS GO OFF. YOU HEAR A NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE MY BRAKES GRINDING. ONCE THE LIGHTS GO OFF, MY BRAKES ARE HARD TO SLOW DOWN MY CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW INCIDENTS WHEN MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR AND I THOUGHT WE WEREN'T STOPPING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND EVEN GM TOLD ME IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. PEOPLE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX THEIRS AND STILL HAVEN'T FOUND AN ANSWER. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY CHEVY WON'T FIX IT OR MAKE IT A RECALL. THIS WILL BE THE LAST GM PRODUCT I BUY SINCE THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. IF YOU LOOK ON THE SAFECAR.GOV WEB PAGE THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE FILED ABOUT THE SAME COMPLAINT. IT IS DANGEROUS. I TALKED TO THE MECHANIC AT MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND HE SAID HE HAS HAD MULTIPLE IMPALA'S IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND AFTER REPLACING MANY PARTS, THEY STILL COULDN'T FIND THE ANSWER. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET KILLED FOR CHEVY TO WAKE UP?
NHTSA complaint #10374415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. IT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN I AM TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT OR PULLING OUT FROM BEING PARELLEL PARKED, THE ENGINE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE, IT BECOMES SLUGGISH AND THE SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM AND THE TRAC OFF LIGHTS COME ON. ONCE I STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL, THE NOISE STOPS AND LIGHTS GO OFF. WHEN I AM TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT AND NEED TO BRAKE, IT DOES THE SAME THING.
NHTSA complaint #10365119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW. IT IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN I AM TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT OR PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB WHERE I AM PARELLEL PARKED. THE ENGINE MAKES A WHIRRING SOUND, THE ENGINE BECOMES SLUGGISH AND THE SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS COME ON. ONCE I STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL, THE NOISE STOPS AND THE LIGHTS GO OFF. IT ALSO OCCURS WHEN I AM TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT WHERE I NEED TO BREAK AS I AM TURNING.
NHTSA complaint #10365122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND ABS LIGHTS COME ON IN MY CAR AND I HAVE HAD EVERYTHING REPLACED THAT THE MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME TOO AND ITS STILL ON. THIS IS ON EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. THE ABS BEING ON IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I HAVE KIDS. PLEASE THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ON THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF CAR CHEVY IMPALA 2001 - 2002.
NHTSA complaint #10353841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
THE ABS SYSTEM ON MY 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA ENGAGES AND THE "TRACTION ACTIVE" LIGHT COMES ON WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND THE ABS SYSTEM DISENGAGES WITHIN ABOUT 5 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE EACH TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. THREE TRIPS TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND NO REPAIRS MADE AND NO SOLUTION THUS FAR. THE CHEVY DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10349541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT MY 2001 CHEVY IMPALA LS IN 2004, UNTIL DECEMEBER 2009 THE CAR WAS RUNNING GREAT. IT STARTED WITH MY CARS "TRACTION ACTIVE" LIGHT COMING ON ON WHENEVER I ACCELERATED THEN AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF THIS LIGHT COMING ON MORE AND MORE OFTEN (4-6 TIMES DAILY) I EXPERIENCED AN INCEDENT IN WHERE MY BRAKES JAMMED UP THE BRAKE PEDAL GOT HARD AND I ALMOST HIT A CAR INFRONT OF ME. I WENT TO GET MY BRAKES CHECKED AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WHERE FINE (I FIGURED THEY WHERE FINE A I HAD JUST RECENTLY CHANGED THEM) WELL THE ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES STARTED HAPOENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE DAILY NOT EVRYTIME BUT 1-2 TIMES A DAY AND THEN THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUTO SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME IMPALA'S ARE KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS MODULE. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM IMPALA OWNERS ALL OVER THE U.S HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TRACTION ACTIVE AND THE ABS LIGHTS COMING ON. IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE. THIS MODULE AND THE REPAIR COST ME A TOTAL OF ABOUT $1,000.00
NHTSA complaint #10322692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
TRAC CONTROL ABS PROBLEMS IT MAKES A GRINNING NOISE AND IT VERY HARD TO PRESS BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10320176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TRAC CONTROL ABS PROBLEMS FRONT WHEELS GRAB PULL WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #10313948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON, RPM'S DROP TO 0, GAS DROPS TO 0, CONSTANT DRAINING OF BATTERY AND IS DEAD AFTER 10 OR SO HOURS. MANY PEOPLE ON FORUMS ARE ALL COMPLAINING OF THE SAME THING AND EVEN MECHANICS SAY THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS YET THERE IS NO RECALL! I HAVE SPENT AS OF NOW 1000 DOLLARS ON THIS PROBLEM AND MY DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT MIGHT NOT FIX THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY!!! I HAVE PUT IN A NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW BATTERY, NEW BCM, AND NOW A NEW IGNITION SWITCH! I CURRENTLY HAVE THE OLD BCM AND THE NEW ONE IS IN MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10288697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ABS WOULD FAIL. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HUB WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES, ALONG WITH THE WIRING HARNESS, SENSOR, AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HUB. NONE OF THE REPAIRS REMEDIED THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT UNLESS THE VEHICLE PROVIDED ERROR CODES, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE DIAGNOSTIC PRODUCED ERROR CODES, WHICH INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE SENSOR AND EXCESSIVE SPEED IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OPENER. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #10277699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE A SHARP RIGHT TURN WHEN I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COME FROM MY CAR IT WAS THEN I NOTICED THE TRACTION ACTIVITY LIGHT COME ON . I GOT READY TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE TURNING LEFT AND NOISE HAPPENED AGAIN BUT IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A DELAY IN MY STOPPING AND ALSO TURNING. AFTER WORK I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT WITH NO PROBLEMS SO I JUST PAY IT NO ATTENTION. UNTIL I TURNED IN TO MY MOM'S TO PICK UP MY KIDS AND IT DID IT AGAIN BUT THIS TIME AN 18 WHEELER WAS BEHIND ME AND ACTUALLY HAD TO BRAKE AND GO AROUND ME BECAUSE OF THE DELAY IN MY TURNING. I ACTUALLY HAD TO FIGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO PROCEED WITH MY TURN. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY TIME I MAKE A SHARP TURN LEFT OR RIGHT , WHETHER I'M TURNING SLOWLY OR NOT , AND I BELIEVE SOME ONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT BY THIS PROBLEM IF ITS NOT CORRECTED. IT WASN'T UNTIL 2MONTHS AGO I FOUND OUT THAT IF YOU TURN THE TRACTION OFF THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENS BUT NOT AS BAD AND THAT IT HAD SOME THING TO DO WITH PART#10340313 AND PART#10340314 WHICH IS THE ABS HARNESS WHICH CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED THROUGH THE DEALER OR ON GMPARTSDIRECT.COM. WHICH I THINK WE AS OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR BUT WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR TO INSURE OUR FAMILY AND OUR OWN SAFETY. ANOTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS THAT THE TURN SINGLE ALSO STOPS WORKING I HAVE TO PUSH DOWN ON THE HAZARD BUTTON TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN AND SOME TIMES HIT THE DASH TO GET IT TO WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10274224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM/ABS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I NOTICED THE TRACTION FEATURE ENGAGING WITHOUT CAUSE. IT BEGAN TO GET WORSE AND ENGAGES MOSTLY WHEN YOU TURN (EITHER DIRECTION), BUT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN. TOOK TO DEALER WAS TOLD IT NEEDED NEW WHEEL BEARINGS, HAD BOTH REPLACED (WHICH WAS VERY PRICEY) AND IT WAS OKAY FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND HAS SINCE STARTED AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, WHEN THE TRACTION IS ENGAGED IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP WHEN BRAKING, IT CAUSES A DELAY IN STOPPING. I'VE ASKED OTHER MECHANICS, NOBODY IS SURE WHAT TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT ALL HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM IN HOPES OF FINDING A SOLUTION, TO NO AVAIL, BUT THERE ARE 1000'S OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THE 2001 IMPALA. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL.....THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!!
NHTSA complaint #10273563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT. METAL PIECES WERE FOUND IN FLUID. VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO THE PRESSURE MODULATOR IN TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. FELT LIKE YOU WERE DRIVING AND SHIFTING WITHOUT A CLUTCH IF THE CAR WAS A STICK SHIFT. PRIOR TO THAT, THE COMPUTER MODULE WENT OUT, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN OVER NIGHT AND HAVING TO JUMP START IT. BEFORE THAT, THE AUTOMATIC TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WENT OUT. FOUND OUT IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR IN THE BACK BRAKE AREA. BEFORE THAT, THE FRONT ROTORS WERE SEVERELY WRAPPED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10010286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.