2005 Chevrolet Impala Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BIG BEND CHEVROLET BUICK (LOCATED AT 1424 N YOUNG BLVD, CHIEFLAND, FL 32626, (352) 493-4263) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE CONTACT DID NOT HEED THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. *TT *TR *BF*JB

WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH DARK COUNTRY ROAD AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH TIME 10:35PM I HAD ACTIVATED THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS LATER THE HEADLAMPS WENT OFF LEAVING ONLY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON. VISIBILITY WAS INSTANTLY DECREASED TO AN UNSAFE LEVEL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. I HAD IMMEDIATELY REACTIVATED THE LOW BEAMS WITH THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AND THE HEADLAMPS (LOW BEAM) RESUMED OPERATION. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE THE HIGH BEAM HEADLAMPS WERE NOT IN OPERATION FOR ANY LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING COULD LEAD TO THE PROBABILITY OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS ELECTRICAL HEADLAMP PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A VEHICLE SAFETY RECALL. I HAVE CHECKED ON-LINE RESOURCES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUES WITH CHEVROLET IMPALAS FROM THE 2000-2005 MODEL YEARS.

DRIVING AT NIGHT, I TURNED ON MY HIGH BEAMS AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT. AFTER DRIVING IN THE DARK FOR A WHILE, I SWITCHED THE HEADLIGHTS BACK TO LOW BEAM AND THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO WORK ON LOW BEAM. THE HIGH BEAMS DO NOT WORK AT ALL AT THIS POINT, AND THE HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN I SWITCH TO HIGH BEAMS, WHICH IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING ON A RURAL BLACKTOP AFTER DARK AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THEY WOULD COME BACK ON FOR A MOMENT THAN GO BACK OUT. WE DROVE MOST OF THE 20+ MILES HOME WITH JUST THE FLASHERS ON. WE HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED AND THOUGHT THAT TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HERE IN THE LAST MONTH (AUGUST 2014) IT HAS STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. *TR

RIGHT HAND BLINKER -- HAS STARTED FLICKERING..VERY FAST, WHEN I PUT MY RIGHT HAND BLINKER TO TURN.....IT STARTED EARLY JUNE....BUT THEN SUDDENLY WENT BACK TO NORMAL. JUST LAST WEEK/JULY14---IT STARTED FLICKERING VERY FAST AGAIN. IS THERE A PART THAT I CAN PURCHASE AND REPLACE MYSELF....I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN, WOULD APPRECIATE THE ASSISTANCE....I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON DECEMBER 2004. *TR

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AT AT 6:30 AM ON 9-24-13 WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. IT WAS PITCH DARK AND I WAS TOTALLY WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. I WAS ABLE TO TURN ON THE FOG LIGHTS THIS CAR HAS, BUT IT WAS STILL HARD TO SEE. I HAVE NOTICED THE LIGHTS SEEMED DIMMER THAN WHAT I CONSIDER NORMAL. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A LOCAL MECHANIC. HE CANNOT FIND THE REASON FOR THE DIM LIGHTS OR THE LIGHTS GOING OFF BY THEMSELVES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM SURPRISED A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED TO ADDRESS THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I CONDUCTED A GOOGLE SEARCH I NOTICED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH A NUMBER OF GM VEHICLES. IT IS A WONDER I DID NOT CRASH MY VEHICLE AS I NEVER EXPECTED MY LIGHT TO GO OUT AS I TRAVELED DOWN A HIGHWAY. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE REVERSE INDICATOR LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT CASING WAS FULL OF WATER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND AFTER ATTEMPTING TO DIM THE HEADLIGHTS, ALL OF THE LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AFTER ATTEMPTING TO DIM THE HEADLIGHTS, ALL OF THE LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT STATED THAT THE DIMMER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TONIGHT, MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. I EVENTUALLY FLICKED THE LOW/HIGH BEAM SWITCH AND THEY CAME ON. ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, I WAS DRIVING HOME AT ABOUT 55 MPH IN THE DARK ON A SINGLE LANE COUNTRY ROAD. THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, THEY CAME BACK ON FOR A MOMENT, AND THEN THEY WENT COMPLETELY OUT. I DROVE HOME SLOWLY WITH THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON. IF I HAD NOT BEEN ALERT, I COULD HAVE EASILY CRASHED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

16 YR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WHEN HEADLIGHTS JUST QUIT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORTUNATELY THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AFTER DRIVING WITH FOGLIGHTS ONLY. 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. VEHICLE IN GREAT SHAPE OTHERWISE AND MAINTAINED APPROPRIATELY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING EARLY MORNING IT THE DARK AND MY HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING ON MY 2005 CHEVY IMPALA. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY IMPALA IN 2008. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HWY, A VERY TWISTY ROAD . I HAD MY HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRST CURVE MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, I JUMPED THE BRAKE AND FLIPPED THE LEVER BACK AND FORTH AND THEY FINALLY CAME BACK ON LOW BEAM, I ALMOST WREAKED. THE SECOND TIME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY JUST COMING INTO THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN, HEAVY TRAFFIC, I FLIPPED THE LEVER BACK AND FORTH AND THE LOW BEAMS CAME BACK ON. I SPOKE WITH A DEALER WHO SAID THEY HAD NO COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL. IT HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES AND CAN'T BE PINNED TO ANY PARTICULAR TIMES, NOW I DRIVE WITH MY LIGHTS ON LOW ALL THE TIME. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME HAD TO REPLACE THEIR WHOLE STEERING COLUMN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THIS, BUT THE CAR ISN'T SAFE. IT KEEPS DOING IT AND ONE OF THESE TIMES I WILL FORGET AND IT WILL CATCH ME UNAWARE AND I WILL WRECK. *TR

AT APPROX 100,00KM THE HIGH BEAM IS ACTIVATED WHEN SIGNALING A RIGHT TURN. WHEN KEEPING THE HANDLE IN CERTAIN POSITION THE HIGH BEAM GOES OFF BUT COMES BACK AGAIN WHEN RELEASED. LATELY REMAINS ON WHEN THE SWITCH RETURNS TO MID POSITION. NEVER EXPERIENCED WHEN SIGNALING TO THE LEFT. THIS BEHAVIOR MAY BLIND THE INCOMING CARS' DRIVERS AND ALSO DISTRACTS MY ATTENTION FROM THE ROAD. I DID NOT DO ANYTHING YET FOR FIXING THE DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA . WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL ODOR. THE CONTACT THEN PULLED INTO HER RESIDENCE AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO A MECHANIC BEFORE FOR THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINE IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190000.

DRIVING AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITHIN 30-60 SECONDS OF SWITCHING FROM LOW BEAMS TO HIGH BEAMS. HEADLIGHTS STAY OUT UNTIL THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH IS FLIPPED AGAIN. IT STARTED HAPPENING ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE SPRING OF '09. AS TIME HAS PASSED, IT NOW OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME HIGH BEAMS ARE USED. CANNOT FIND A DEALER OR MECHANIC THAT CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IN POSSESSION, OR THAT HAS A SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR WHEN ON THE BRIGHTS WILL JUST SHUT OFF, AND IT ONLY LEAVES THE MARKER LIGHTS LIT, UNTIL YOU PULL THE HEADLIGHT KNOB OUT.. WILL DO THIS INTERMITTENTLY.. HAS HAPPENED VERY OFTEN, EVERYTIME THE BRIGHTS ARE ON. *TR

HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN BRIGHT BEAM IS TURNED ON. WHEN YOU SWITCH BACK TO DIMS IT COMES BACK ON. AFRAID TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS. HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE. NO RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT FOR NO REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IF I PULL THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF IT WILL USUALLY WORK. FLICKING THE HIGH BEAMS ON AND OFF MAY WORK TOO. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY FEATURE AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE CANNOT FIND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL WHEN THERE SHOULD BE. *TR

HAD PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT WEATHER IT'S LOW BEAM OR HIGH BEAM MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE TURN SIGNAL/HIGH BEAM SWITCH AND THEN THAT ONE ONLY LASTED 3-4 MONTHS. THIS COULD REALLY POSE A DANGER HAS THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT COMPLETELY, THE ONLY THING I COULD DUE IS HOLD BACK ON LEVER TO KEEP HIGH BEAMS ACTIVATED. THE MARKER LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON. TO HAVE THIS WORK DONE IS GETTING EXPENSIVE IF I HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THIS SWITCH. ANY HELP OR SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE HELPFUL. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED 2005 CHEVY IMPALA. *TR

TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS STOP WORKING AFTER BEING USED A FEW TIMES. MAY START WORKING AGAIN AFTER CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF ,THEN ON . 2005 CHEVY IMPALA. *TR

I OWN A 2005 IMPALA LS AND WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 12 TIMES WITH MY VEHICLE. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 75MPH AND THEY WENT OUT. I CYCLED THE LIGHT SWITCH 3 TIMES AND THEY WENT BACK ON. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND OVER 60 PEOPLE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT HAVEN'T REPORTED IT. I CONTACTED GM BUT HAD NO LUCK. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO I NEED TO CONTACT BEFORE ANYONE GETS IN AN ACCIDENT AND GETS HURT OR DIES.*TR

TUESDAY, 1/27/09, WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL COUNTRY ROAD TO WORK AT 6:15 AM, VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTS WENT DARK. DASHBOARD LIGHTS STAYED ON, BUT OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTS WENT DARK FOR 8 TO 10 SECONDS. SAME THING OCCURRED AGAIN MONDAY MORNING, 02/02/09. NO DIMMING OR WARNING, LIGHTS JUST WENT OFF AND I WAS DRIVING IN DARKNESS. 02/03/09 TOOK IMPALA TO GM DEALER TO RUN DIAGNOSTIC. THEY DETERMINED PROBLEM WITH THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL HIGH/LOW BEAM LEVER SWITCH (THIS UNIT ALSO HOUSES THE CRUISE CONTROL, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHT CONTROLS). EST FOR REPAIRS $735.00. 02/07/09 HAD THE UNIT REPLACED AT ANOTHER GARAGE FOR $435.00. I KEPT THE DEFECTIVE UNIT. HAVE SINCE DONE RESEARCH TO FIND OTHER PEOPLE REPORTING THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING ON OTHER IMPALAS RANGING AT LEAST FROM MODEL YEARS 2001 THRU 2005. IN SOME CASES THE HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO SWITCH THE HEADLIGHTS BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW BEAM. I FEEL THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO RELATE WHAT HAPPENED AS I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT DUE TO THE HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS INVOLVING INJURY OR EVEN DEATH, THIS MULTIFUNCTIONAL LEVER SWITCH SHOULD BE "RECALLED". *TR

HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENT FAILURE ON HIGH BEAM. CLICK TO LOW BEAM AND LIGHTS COME BACK ON. DISCONCERTING WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT AT HIGH SPEED. CHEVROLET DEALER REPLACED BODY CONTROL MODULE AT $362, BUT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AT NIGHT ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY LOST POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000.