NHTSA Complaint #10419576 — 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA

GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PASSKEY SYSTEM MAY, AND THOUSANDS DO, EXPERIENCE A PASSLOCK SYSTEM LOCKOUT, WHERE THE SECURITY SYSTEM PREVENTS STARTING OF THE VEHICLE, EVEN WHEN USING THE MFR'S SUPPLIED KEY. THE PASSKEY SENSOR PROBLEM IS RECURRING EVEN AFTER SOME CONSUMERS HAD DEALERS REPLACE IT. THIS DEFECT IN THE PASSKEY II AND III AS WELL AS THE PASSLOCK SYSTEMS ON GM VEHICLES HAS PLAGUED MY VEHICLE SINCE 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. THE DEALER SAID I HAVE TO REPLACE THE PASSKEY SENSOR, IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, IGNITION SWITCH, BCM AND EVEN POSSIBLY THE ECM. I HAVE CHECKED WITH OTHER SHOPS AND CONSUMERS VIA ONLINE FORUMS AND PERSONAL INTERACTIONS, AND HAVE COME TO LEARN OF 1000'S IF NOT 10,000'S OF CONSUMERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS ONLY COVER UP THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THIS PROBLEM PREVENTS THE OWNER FROM STARTING THE CAR, AS WELL AS CAUSE IT TO STALL REGARDLESS OF LOCATION OR DRIVING CONDITION. THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLY LEAVING A CONSUMER STRANDED IN UNSURVIVABLE SITUATIONS. THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY AND A HEALTH RISK. EVEN WHEN UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE 'RECOMMENDED' PARTS AS THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, HOWEVER THEY CAUSE THE VEHICLE'S POWERTRAIN TO NOT FUNCTION OR CEASE FUNCTION WHEN RUNNING JUST FINE SECONDS PRIOR. GM HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE BY MYSELF AND TO NO AVAIL, A RESOLUTION IS UNAVAILABLE. I HAD A FRIEND OF MINE REPLACE OVER 8 COMPONENTS OF THE IGNITION/SECURITY SYSTEM AT THE DEALER FOR A COST OVER $2500. THE VEHICLE WAS 4 MONTHS OLD. MY VEHICLE, AT 9 YEARS HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 4. GM NEEDS TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A PASSLOCK/PASSKEY 2-3 SYSTEM FOR REPLACEMENT WITH A MORE RELIABLE ONE. A GOOGLE SEARCH TURNS UP OVER 138,000 RESULTS FOR GM PASSKEY PROBLEMS. GM PASSLOCK PROBLEMS TURNS UP OVER 85,100 RESULTS. THAT IS 223,100 RESULTS. IF I DO VEHICLE SPECIFIC, THAT NUMBER TRIPLES. CHEVY PASSKEY PROBLEMS RETURNS 1,340,000. *TR