NHTSA Complaint #721122 — 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA

THE VEHICLE WILL FREELY ROLL BACKWARDS OR FORWARD WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM BRAKE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS IN A DRIVE GEAR. EVEN SLIGHT INCLINES WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, BUT A STEEP INCLINE CAN BECOME A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE THE CAR WILL FREELY ROLL, EXACTLY THE SAME WAY A VEHICLE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD ROLL WHEN TAKEN OUT OF GEAR. UNFORTUNATELY, DRIVERS WHO USE AUTOMATICS EXPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO HOLD THE VEHICLE, AT LEAST PARTIALLY, WHEN ON AN INCLINE. IT IS TYPICAL TO USE ONE FOOT TO MOVE FROM THE BRAKE TO THE THROTTLE, BUT ON STEEP INCLINES, THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL SO QUICKLY THAT USING TWO FEET IS OFTEN NECESSARY (ONE FOR BRAKE, ONE FOR THROTTLE) WHEN MOVING OFF A STOP. OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUES ARE: VEHICLE ROLLING INTO SOMEONE, VEHICLE ROLLING INTO AN OBJECT OR ANOTHER VEHICLE, UNNECESSARY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, AND DRIVER DISORIENTATION RESULTING FROM THE EQUIPMENT NOT WORKING AS EXPECTED, WITH POSSIBLE RESULTING ACCIDENT. DEALER SAYS THIS CONDITION IS CONSIDERED NORMAL, BUT I HAVE DRIVEN MANY VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ONE RESPOND IN THIS MANNER, AT LEAST TO THIS DEGREE. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY A DESIGN DEFECT, AND AT THE VERY LEAST, GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD INFORM BUYERS THAT THESE VEHICLES RESPOND DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHERS. ONE REASON WHY I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IS FOR ITS SAFETY TEST RESULTS, BUT THIS PROBLEM MAKES ME CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE IS ACTUALLY UNSAFE FOR MY WIFE TO DRIVE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES--SHE HAS ALREADY TOLD ME THAT SHE WILL NOT DRIVE IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE (STEEP STREETS) WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE IS NOT A HIGHLY SKILLED DRIVER, AND OPERATING THE CAR ON INCLINES WITHOUT EXERCISING EXTRA CAUTION, OR USING TWO FEET (WHICH REQUIRES ADDITIONAL SKILL) COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FOR NHTSA: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GIVE US A WINDOW LONGER THAN 70 CHARACTERS TO TYPE IN. PLEASE ALSO INCREASE THE FIELD SIZE ON THE "SUMMARY"WHENVIEWINGCOMPLAINTDATABASE