2000 Chevrolet Impala Electrical System

MY 2000 IMPALA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STOP WORKING OR SURGE WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSES INTERMITTENT DIFFICULTIES WITH STARTING. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AMONG GM OWNERS AND WE HAVE MADE NEARLY 13 VISITS TO THE DEALER TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. WE HAVE HAD THE IGNITION REPLACED, BUT ON MOST VISITS GM STAFF ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE, AND HENCE, UNABLE TO TREAT THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE IS RELATED TO STARTING. SINCE MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR, SHE IS OFTEN LEFT UNSAFE IN AREAS DURING THE 20+ TIMES THAT SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO START HER CAR. WHILE NO INJURIES HAVE YET BEEN LINKED TO THIS PROBLEM WITH OUR VEHICLE, IS SUCH A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES THAT IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *JB

DT: CONTACT STATES BOTH BACK DOOR LOCKS ON HIS VEHICLE ARE MALFUNCTIONING. WHEN THE RIGHT DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTIONED THE CONTACT THOUGHT THE DOOR UNLOCKED, WHILE LIFTING THE DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR, THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER THEY STATED IT COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITHIN THE DOOR. THEY DID GIVE HIM AN OPTION TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE WITHOUT THE POWER DOOR LOCKS. *THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS, SO THERE IS NO ADDRESS AVAILABLE*. *NM

HAVE REPEATEDLY NOTIFIED SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED THAT MY REMOTE ENTRY SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. I CAN ONLY OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR OR THE TRUNK--RARELY ABLE TO OPEN BOTH THE DRIVER DOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR EVEN WITH REPEATED ATTEMPTS. I FEEL THE SENSORS ARE NOT WORKING BUT THE DEALERSHIP BRUSHES THE SITUATION UNDER THE RUG AND NEVER ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM. IN TODAYS WORLD IT BECOMES DANGEROUS AT TIMES TO NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER VEHICLE PROMPTLY--NOT TO MENTION IT IS A REAL "PAIN IN THE BUTT" DURING A RAIN STORM.

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WOULD COVER THE DEFECT, HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. *JB THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE FACTORY WIRING WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS. *SC

DASHBOARD LIGHTING FAILED TO LIGHT UP WHEN CAR IS STARTED. SPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT TIME, BECAUSE THIS IS ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY FAILURE OF THE TAIL LIGHTS TO TURN ON. HEAD LIGHTS ARE NOT AFFECTED. THERE IS NO OVERRIDE TO MANUALLY TURN ON THE TAIL LIGHTS NOR DASHBOARD LIGHTS. APPARENTLY THERE IS A SENSOR THAT TURNS THESE LIGHTS ON WHEN CAR IS STARTED. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. AGAIN, SPECIALLY DANGERROUS SITUATION WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF NO TAIL LIGHTS, AND NO WAY FOR DRIVER TO TELL WHAT IS THE DIRVING SPEED. ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.*AK

THE SERVICE VEHICLE SOON AND LOW COOLANT LEVEL LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON. I HAD THE RADIATOR CHECKED AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND SO DID THE SERVICE VEHICLE SOON LIGHT. TOOK THE CAR BACK IN AGAIN TODAY TO GET IT HOPEFULLY FIXED. A SENSOR WAS SHORTING OUT FOR THE DRIVER DISPLAY AND REPLACED. I ALSO HAD TROUBLE LAST YEAR WITH THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS GOING NUTS. IT WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY HAZARD SWITCH THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *LA

ELECTRICAL FAILURE - SIGNAL LIGHJTS WORK PERIODICALLY AND AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF.*AK

WHEN YOU PUT THE KEY IN THE IGINTION THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. TRIED SPARE KEY AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND THE KEY STILL WILL NOT TURN.*AK IN THE PAST WE HAVE HAD THE "FIDDLE" WITH THE KEY IN THE IGINTION TO GET IT TO TURN. NOW IT DOES NOT TURN AT ALL EVEN WHEN YOU "FIDDLE" WITH THE KEY.

LIGHTS IN DASHBOARD CLUSTER DON'T ILLUMINATE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE IGNITION COMPONENTS IN THE FIREWALL AREA OVERLOADED OR SHORTED OUT RAPIDLY WHICH CAUSED THE PLASTIC COVER AND PARTS AROUND IT TO INCINERATE. POSSIBLE FUEL LEAK, HOSES, OR SEALS DAMAGED BY EXPLOSION IGNITING FUEL. GENERAL MOTORS OFFERED TO REPLACE VEHICLE. INSTEAD SETTLED CLAIM. REPLACED NEW IMPALA. *JB *CB *JB

SECONDARY AIR PUMP KEEPS SHORTING AND HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES AND IS SCHEDULED FOR A FOURTH TIME.*JB

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN 5 MPH OR 55 MPH THE PROBLEM WOULD STILL OCCUR. VEHICLE HAD BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CAR COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WHILE THE SECRUITY WARNING SHOWED IN THE MESSAGE CENTER WHEN DRIVING AT 65MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO FORCE THE CAR OFF THE ROAD WITH NO BRAKES AND NO POWER STEERING. *LA

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, THE CAR'S SPEED SUDDENLY DECREASED AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER FUNCTIONS. PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENLY. CAR CHECKED BY DEALER WHO IS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.

CONSUMER STATES SOON AFTER PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING HORN PROBLEMS, AFTER REPLACING THE FUSE SEVERAL TIMES, IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, ALSO THE BATTERY FAILED AFTER 1 YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE.*JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH UP A BRIDGE, VEHICLE QUIT RUNNING, REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH.

AS I PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION - TURN THE KEY - A LOUD BANG CAME FROM THE CAR - WHEN I LOOKED OUT OF THE WINDOW SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD - SO, I POP THE HOOD, EXIT THE CAR, LIFTED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS IN FLAMES - CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT THE FIRE OUT - FIREMEN STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE.

CONSUMER PUT KEYS IN IGNITION, TURNED THE KEYS, AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND SAW SMOKING COMING FROM OUT THE HOOD, ENGINE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK *YH

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 12 WEEKS THAT MY NEW VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT IS UNABLE TO LOCATE SOURCE OF PROBLEM BY COMPUTER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

SEAT BELT SENSOR WIRE UNDER FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAUSED A VEHICLE FIRE WAS DETERMINED BY FIRE DEPARTMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE THERE IS A NO START CONDITION, PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER ON 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE TRYING TO TURN THE A/C BLOWER DOWN,THE CONSUMER BY MISTAKE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF BECAUSE THE DESIGN OF THE TWO SWITCHES WERE VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. *YH

THE CAR HESITATES WHEN PULLING OUT ESPECIALLY AFTER IT HAS SET FOR AN HOUR AFTER IT WAS PARKED FOR THAT LENGTH OF TIME. IT HAS A MISS AT TIMES. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THIS PROBLEM 5 TIMES NOW. THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 3 WEEKS AND STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CAR HAS A MISS WHEN ACCELERATING, ALSO WHEN PULLING OUT THE GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED DOWN AND THE CAR WILL NOT GO IMMEDIATLY AND THEN TAKES OFF. AS STATED WE NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL OCCUR. IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN ON 1/17/01 PULLING OUT OF MY MOTHER'S DRIVEWAY. I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND THE CAR HESITATED AS I PULLED OUT INTO THE ROADWAY AND IT FAILED TO GO RIGHT AWAY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK