NHTSA Complaint #10054696 — 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PERIODICALLY FAILS TO PROCEED WITH SHIFTS AFTER REACHING 25-30 MPH. AT THAT POINT, THE ENGINE ROARS, AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, AND THE VEHICLE CEASES TO ACCELERATE. SOMETIMES THIS IS RESOLVED WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS WITH A LURCH. MOST OFTEN, IT IS NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE SPEAD AND ONCE AGAIN ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PROBLEMATIC RANGE. THIS USUALLY LEADS TO THE CAR RESUMING A NORMAL PATTERN OF ACCELERATION. HOWEVER, ON SOME ACCASIONS THIS PROCESS HAS LED TO MULTIPLE REPITITIONS OF THE SAME PROBLEM, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FAIL TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY INTO TRAFFIC FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD WITH RESULTANT DANGER TO THOSE IN THE VEHICLE AND IN OTHER VEHICLES NEARBY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES OVER THE PAST FIVE MONTHS, WITH THE FIRST REQUEST FOR SERVICE OCCURRING WHEN THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE WAS JUST UNDER 10,800. THE FIRST FOUR SERVICE VISITS FAILED TO RESULT IN EFFECTIVE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE RESULTS OF THE FIFTH SERVICE VISIT ARE PENDING. *AK