NHTSA Complaint #10242698 — 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. IN AUGUST OF 2007, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, LIFTED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN MONTHS LATER. IN AUGUST OF 2008, BODY WORK WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND AFTERWARDS THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON AND OFF AUTOMATICALLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE BODY SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE COMBINATION SWITCH. THE COMBINATION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS UNSUCCESSFUL; THEREFORE, THE ORIGINAL PART WAS REINSTALLED. AFTER THE FAILED ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE FAILURE, THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE COMBINATION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,920 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.