NHTSA Complaint #10037592 — 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA

WHILE DRIVING WITH THREE PASSENGERS IN MY 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS AT 35 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, REQUIRING EMERGENCY MANEUVER TO BRING CAR TO A STOP BEFORE HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE. WHILE DRIVING TO A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, LATER THAT EVENING, THIS RECURRED AT 50 MPH (ENGINE SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING POWER REQUIRING EMERGENCY STOP IN CENTER MEDIAN 4 LANE HIGHWAY MERGE SITE). THIS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY WITH THIS VEHICLE ON 7/4/03 AT 50 MPH WITH MY WIFE DRIVING ON THE VAN WYCK EXPRESSWAY. AT THAT TIME, AFTER 3 DAYS GM REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE CRANK-SHAFT SENSOR WHICH WAS REPLACED. I ADVISED GM THAT THERE WERE OTHER REPORTS TO NHTSA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET IMPALAS. I REQUESTED THAT AN INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED AND ASKED FOR A REFUND OR REPLACEMENT OF MY VEHICLE. THIS WAS DENIED "AS THERE WERE TOO FEW EPISODES TO WARRANT THIS ACTION" AND MY CAR" WAS REPAIRED PER WARRANTY OBLIGATION OF GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION". UNFORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING PLACING MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS IN DANGER. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING DEFECT REQUIRING IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PREVENT INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. THE CAR IS PRESENTLY AGAIN AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE CONTACTED GM CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WILL FULFILL THEIR WARRANTY OBLIGATIONS AND ATTEMPT TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AGAIN. *JB