NHTSA Complaint #10485465 — 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, IT JUST STOPS RUNNING. MY HUSBAND PUTS THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IS ABLE TO START IT BACK UP AGAIN. IT HAS DONE IT A FEW TIMES SINCE THAT OCCURRENCE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION IF THE CAR STALLS IN AN INTERSECTION AND WON'T RESTART. THE CAR ALSO HAS A SECURITY ISSUE THAT PREVENTS US, AS THE OWNER FROM STARTING IT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FROM THE PURCHASE DATE. IF YOU TURN ON THE IGNITION AND LET IT SIT FOR 10 TO 15 MINUTES, IT WILL START UP. WE NOW LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING WHEN FILLING THE CAR WITH GAS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD TO SIT AND WAIT FOR IT TO RESTART AT THE PUMP. THIS COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM ALSO. IF YOU GO ON LINE, YOU WILL SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND KNEW WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME ISSUES, BUT NOT THIS, IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION (VERY COSTLY) ALL NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS, ALL NEW TIRES, AND SOME OTHER MINOR ISSUES. I FEEL, AS DO NUMEROUS OTHER GM OWNERS, THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE SECURITY SYSTEM (PASSLOCK KEY SYSTEM), CAUSING BOTH PROBLEMS. ANYONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SHOULD HAVE TO FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP JUST AFTER WE PURCHASED IT AND HE SAID HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AND SOMETHING ELSE AT A COST OF ALMOST $800. I AM CERTAIN THIS CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF BY REROUTING WIRING IN THE SECURITY SYSTEM AT A VERY MINOR COST, OR JUST RESETTING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.