2002 Chevrolet Impala Electrical System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE NEEDED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DENNY MENHOLT CHEVROLET (3000 KING AVE W, BILLINGS, MT 59102) ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 279,303.
YOU PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT DOESNT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL IS FREE THERE IS NOTHING ELSE WRONG. YOU HAVE TO SIT THERE FOREVER MOVING THE KEY IN EVERY WHICH WAY. TO HOPEFULLY FIND THE RIGHT COMBINATION TO GET THE CAR TO START.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WIRED TO A STARTER TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CENTURY CHEVROLET (6105 WEST 120TH AVE, BROOMFIELD, CO), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,598.
THE POWER DOOR LOCKS ARE NOT WORKING. WHEN YOU TRY TO START THE CAR, THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT CRANK OR TURN OVER. IN THE RARE INSTANCE YOU DO GET IT TO START, IF YOU TURN IT OFF, IT WILL NOT START AGAIN (ANYWHERE FROM AN HOUR TO TWO WEEKS OR MORE). I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH ONLINE AND THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHOM OWN GM CARS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION. I CANNOT GET HELP FROM ANYONE AND AM FRUSTRATED BEYOND REASON, SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN DO YOUR RESEARCH AND FIGURE THIS OUT! I CANNOT DEPEND ON THIS CAR AND I AM DISABLED!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE IGNITION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT AN IGNITION LOCK FAILURE OCCURRED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION KEY LOCK, CYLINDER, AND IGNITION SWITCH ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 12/13/2017 *LN *TT CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL DEALERS WERE CONTACTED AND NO HELP WITH FAULTY "KEY FOB". UPDATED 7/20/18*JB *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE SECURITY SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY AND WAITED. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE STARTED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPATED 12/04/2017*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT WORKING. THE SECURITY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE BEGAN FIVE YEARS AGO. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
I AM TIRED OF MY CAR NOT STARTING, ESPECIALLY WHEN I NEED TO GO TO WORK. THIS HAS HAPPENED QUIT A FEW TIMES. I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MIN. FOR IT TO START OR KEEP TRYING TILL IT STARTS. I HAVE A NEW BATTERY. THIS HAS HAPPENED LATE AT NIGHT TOO.
SECURITY LIGHT BLINKS AND CAR WILL NOT START. HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES UNTIL THE LIGHT STOPS BLINKING AND TRY TO START IT AGAIN.
RECALL N140350. ATTEMPTED TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED AT JIM GLOVER ON THE RIVER IN TULSA, OK. WAS CONSTANTLY TOLD THAT MY REQUEST FOR SERVICE WAS SENT SLING TO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND I WOULD HEAR FROM THEN SHORTLY. EVERY TIME I CONTACTED THEM, I WAD TOLD THE SAME THING. NO COMMUNICATION WHATSOEVER, OTHER THAN FROM THEIR SALES DEPARTMENT TRYING TO SELL ME ANOTHER CAR. AFTER A WEEK OF GETTING THE RUN AROUND AND NO COMMUNICATION OTHER THAN "YOU'LL BE HEADING FROM THEM," I'M ASSUMING THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO ACTUALLY HELP ME, SINCE THEY WONT MAKE ANY MONEY OFF OF ME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH TOOK A LONG PERIOD TO TURN IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000. UPDATED 04/14/16*LJ UPDATED 05/10/18*JB *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. KEY WOULD TURN, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHTS AND ACCESSORIES WERE ON. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WOULD START NORMALLY. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX BY REPLACING THE BATTERY TWICE, BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IN DECEMBER 2013, THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER WAS REPLACE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED, BUT NOW THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING CAN NOT BE SHUT OFF. NO FURTHER DEALER ACTION HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.
2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR LOCK CYLINDER ASSEMBLY RECALL REPAIRS. *SMD UPDATED 09/14/15*LJ UPDATED 10/25/2017*CN
2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES CAR WAS TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NO LONGER OWNS THE CAR. REQUESTS NO MORE RECALL NOTICES. *TA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 207,000.
I HAD TO HAVE THE KEY LOCK CYLINDER REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT IN ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND GM DONE THE RECALL WHICH WAS TO PUT A PLASTIC PLUG IN THE KEYS BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE LOCK AND AT THE TIME I TOLD THEM I NEEDED A NEW LOCK. I HAVE NOT TAKEN MY CAR OUT OF THE AREA BECAUSE OF WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON AND NOT STARTING PROBLEMS. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY MANY TIMES AND GM REPLACED SENSORS A FEW TIMES. GM KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BUT HAVE NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE REPAIRS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BY UNPLUGGING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND REMOVING AND RE INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V4000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT STALLED, SO SHE PULLED OVER TO TRY AND RESTART IT BUT IT WOULDN'T START. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT CENSOR. WE DROVE FOR 3 DAYS AND THE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. SO WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. I'VE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT GM HAVEN'T HAD A RECALL ON THIS PART. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. THIS PART HAS TO BE DEFECTED. *TR
2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED BECAUSE GM DID NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN A TIMELY MANNER, THE WORK ON HIS VEHICLE HAD TO BE PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT. RECALL # 14V40000 *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE KEY DISLODGED FROM THE IGNITION WITHOUT CAUSE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THERE WAS NO KNOWN DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND THE KEYS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT KEYS WERE DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE DETAILS OF THE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE PARK LOCK CYLINDERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS REAR ENDED BY THE VEHICLE IN THE REAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE DASH PANEL ALSO FAILED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM SEEING IF ANY WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 02/24/15*LJ UPDATED 9/12/2017*CN
2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION TURNING ON AND OFF. *TA ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE BCM. THE BCM WAS REPLACED. *JB
THE SECURITY PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE.THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR IN JULY 2014, THE DEALER INDICATED A LOW BATTERY WAS THE ISSUE, REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH A NEW BATTERY(THE BATTERY REPLACED WAS A YEAR OR SO OLD).THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SECURITY LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND STALLS THE VEHICLE. IF THE LIGHT DISPLAYS AND THE CAR IGNITION IS TURNED OFF IT WILL NOT RESTART FOR 1/2 HOUR. *TR
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2002 Chevrolet Impala has 197 Electrical System complaints on file. 4 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.