2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, A CLUNKING SOUND WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT A FIRE HAD ERUPTED NEAR THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. ALSO, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY MISFIRED AND PERFORMED SLUGGISHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SCHUKEI CHEVROLET INC (721 S MONROE AVE, MASON CITY, IA 50401, 641-494-5589) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBERS: EA02030 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND PE00005 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO RENT A VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, HE WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SMOKE AND FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/17/16*LJ *TR

2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EXHAUST MANIFOLD RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. LAST DECEMBER. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, SMOKE APPEARED AND THE ENGINE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/13/16*LJ

I WENT TO START MY 2000 CHEVY IMPALA AFTER SITTING FOR 2 DAYS IN THE COLD. IT WOULD NOT START. WE OPENED THE ENGINE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. I TRIED TO START THE CAR ONE MORE TIME AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF. PARTS FLEW EVERYWHERE HITTING EVERYONE AROUND THE CAR. WHEN WE CHECKED THE ENGINE WE NOTICED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND WE WERE LUCKY NO ONE WAS HURT BE FLYING INTAKE PARTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO RUN FOR A FEW MOMENTS. THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO OCCUPANTS WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED AND THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 123,000.

OIL AND COOLANT (ANTI-FREEZE) IS EVAPORATING OR BEING BURNED UP. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE, IT SEEMS THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL USED BY CHEVY WITH REGARD TO A GASKET CALLED A PLENUM THAT IS LOCATED IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE GASKET WARPS UNDER HEAT AND AGE AND ALLOWS COOLANT AND OR OIL TO ENTER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH EVAPORATES. WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS I FOUND ONLINE, THIS SEEMS LIKE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE CHEVY IMPALA 3.8L V6 TYPE 2 ENGINE. GM SHOULD REPLACE THE INFERIOR MATERIAL USED WITH A SUPERIOR METAL GASKET. THIS ISSUE SEEMS LIKE IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE. I ALSO READ THAT THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE OIL TO BE BURNED. GM USED A CHEAP GASKET TO SAVE MONEY BUT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN COOLANT AND OIL IS BEING BURNED UP INTERNALLY AT AN UNUSUAL SPEED OF TIME. THE...

ABOUT WEEKS BEFORE THE INCIDENT, MY CAR SEEM TO MISFIRE. THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR 3 DAYS. WHEN TRIED TO START IT, THE ENGINE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND MOTOR OIL COVER AND SOME OTHER ENGINE PARTS EXPLODED OUT OF CAR. WHEN CONTACTED GM AND MENTIONED THE INCIDENT, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN BY GM AND THE REFUSE TO TAKE ANY ACTION OR ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. IT APPEARS THAT SAME ENGINE HAS ISSUES WHICH CAUSED A RECALL ON APRIL 14, 2009. THE SYMPTOMS/CAUSE ARE DESCRIBED AS: "GM RECALLED 1.5 MILLION VEHICLES WITH THIS ENGINE ON APRIL 14, 2009 DUE TO RISK OF FIRE FROM ENGINE OIL LEAKING UNDER THE VALVE COVER GASKETS ONTO HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE NEARBY PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS ON THE VALVE COVER AND THEN TO THE REST OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. GM FITTED THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH REDESIGNED...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER PLENTUN WAS MELTING AS A RESULT OF IT BEING TOO CLOSE TO THE MOTOR AND RECOMMENDED HAVING THE COMPONENT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR IT WOULD JUST STALL OR DIE AS IF SOMEONE HAD REACHED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WOULD NOT START FOR A FEW DAYS. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS CAR TO TWO MECHANICS AND NEITHER WERE ABLE TO STOP THE PROBLEM BUT TOLD ME THAT DIFFERENT PARTS WERE THE CULPRIT, SO 800 DOLLARS LATER I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP, CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR,REPLACED THE BATTERY, TESTED THE ALTERNATOR, TESTED THE FUEL INJECTORS BOTH HOT AND COLD, TESTED THE IGNITION MODULE AND STILL THE CAR DIED LEAVING MY CHILD AND I STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY IN COLD TEMPERATURES. I THEN CALLED A GM DEALERSHIP WHOM SAID ANOTHER 120.00 JUST TO LOOK AT IT AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM . THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! *TR

COOLANT LEAK AT GASKET BETWEEN BLACK FRP (FIBERGLASS REINFORCED PLASTIC) UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD / PLENUM AND METAL INTAKE MANIFOLD NEAR THROTTLE BODY. NHTSA 10006144. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER WAITING A WHILE SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY CAR (A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA, 3.8L V6 ENGINE) REPEATEDLY DIED AS I WAS DRIVING OR STALLED. IT BECAME A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN I WOULD BE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY WITH NOWHERE TO PULL OVER. I TOOK IT IN, BUT DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED NOTHING. I KEPT REPLACING PARTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I FELT UNSAFE DRIVING ANYWHERE AND EVEN GOT A BIKE SO I WOULDN'T BE FACING NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES EVERY TIME I DROVE. EVENTUALLY I FOUND A MESSAGE BOARD THAT SUGGESTED REPLACING THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I JUST DID AND AM HOPING IT WORKS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS THOUGH, IT'S CRAZY TO HAVE TO GO YEARS WITH A FAULTY CAR AND NO ONE CAN FIND A FIX FOR IT. *TR

2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA CAUGHT A FIRE AND TOTALED. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE AFTER THE FIRE. *NJ

SAFETY RECALL 09047 FOR 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REASON FOR THE OIL SEEPAGE ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS DUE TO THE VALVE COVERS BEING MADE OF PLASTIC AND IT REQUIRED FREQUENT GASKET CHANGES, BECAUSE THE COVERS DID NOT PROPERLY COMPRESS THE GASKET. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY EFFECTIVE REMEDY WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE VALVE COVERS WITH METAL ONES, WHICH WOULD COMPRESS THE GASKET MORE EVENLY AND PREVENT OIL LEAKAGE ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE REMEDY STATED THAT THE DEALER WILL REMOVE THE SPARK PLUG WIRE RETENTION CHANNEL AT THE FRONT OF ENGINE AND INSTALL TWO NEW SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS FOR FREE. OIL HAS ALREADY BEGUN LEAKING FROM THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE; THEREFORE, THE REMEDY WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT IN CORRECTING THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 07/17/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON JUNE 25TH. THE CONSUMER INSISTED THAT THE TECHNICIAN TELL HIM WHERE THE OIL LEAK WAS COMING FROM. THE OIL LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET, WHICH WAS BELOW THE SPARK PLUG WIRES AND SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS. THE SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS THAT THEY...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THREE YEARS AGO, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT RECENTLY RECEIVED A GMC RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT BACK. HE HAS NOT YET RECEIVED A RETURN CALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 108,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE. SHE IMMEDIATELY NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS FAILED AND TRAPPED THE CONTACT IN THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE AND CAUSED MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS AND ONLY OFFERED $1,000 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000, WHICH STATED THAT IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

I'VE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW I HAVE AN 2000 CHEVY IMPALA AND I HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN EVER I PUSH THE GAS,REVERSE, TURN, OR HIT A SMALL BUMP. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE AUTO SHOP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CANT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. HAVE YOU GUYS EVER HEARD ANY REPAIRS FOR THIS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND IT EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO FIRE JUST A SPARK AND SMOKE.. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A REPORT. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT A FIELD INSPECTOR WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND MAKE A DETERMINATION REGARDING THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT COMPENSATION WOULD NOT BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000. UPDATED 3/5/09 *CN UPDATED 03/10/09. *JB

I HAD DROVE MY CAR ABOUT 10 MILES, PARK MY CAR AND WENT INSIDE THE WATERPARK. THEY CALL FOR THE PERSON DRIVING THE CHEVY IMPALA TO COME UP TOP,. I WAS THE TOLD MY CAR WAS SMOKING, I PROCEEDING OUT THE DOOR AND THEIR WERE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER MY HOOD. I WENT BACK IN AND TOLD THEM TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.. MY WHOLE MOTOR WAS IN FLAMES BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE. MY CAR WAS THEN TOTAL OUT AND WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSE THE FIRE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ONE NIGHT TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE ABOUT 10 - 15 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOUSE. AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, SO I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO START MY CAR UP. I STARTED IT ABOUT 3 MORE TIMES THEN IT FINALLY CAME BACK ON, AS I KEPT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT HAPPENED YET AGAIN. LATELY IT'S JUST BEEN HAPPENING EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT I'M CONSTANTLY ON FAST BUSY ROADS AND IF THIS HAPPENS I CAN'T ALWAYS GET OVER AND IT COULD END UP GETTING ME AND ANYONE WITH ME HURT. I'VE TRIED TAKING IT TO PEOPLE BUT NOBODY KNOWS WHAT GOING ON AND I'VE EVEN CALLED CHEVY AND THEY CAN'T TELL ME ANYTHING. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THEM BEFORE AND $483 WASTED BECAUSE THEY "COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT"...

CAR STALL WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY. AT RED LIGHT OR ANY OTHER PLACE OR TIME. WHEN I SAY IT STALLS, I MEAN IT DIES & YOU HAVE TO RESTART IT . IT HASN'T CAUSED A CRASH OR DAMAGE YET, BUT IT COULD AT ANY TIME. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMPONENTS AT GREAT EXPENSE AND HASN'T HELPED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS (UNRELATED TO THE ENGINE) THE ENGINE FAILED. THE ERRORS DID NOT APPEAR WHEN THE DIAGNOSTICS WERE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS INITIALLY CALLED TO COME AND RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE, BUT IN THE SAME CONVERSATION, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT SOMETHING FAILED IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT SHE SHOULD PROBABLY GET RID OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT SPENT $1,000 TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,000. UPDATED 08/27/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, IGNITION SWITCH AND FUEL REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 08/27/08

2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA 4 DOOR WITH 3.8 V6 ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING AND I WAS STUCK INSIDE DUE TO ALL ELECTRICAL GOING DOWN. POLICE ARRIVED WITHIN MINUTES OF ME CALLING 911 FROM CAR. I WAS JUST EXITING THE CAR 3 MINUTES AFTER CALLING THEM. DOORS WERE LOCKED AND CAR WAS A BLAZE AND ALSO SMOKE FILLED INTERIOR. PEOPLE WERE ALL AROUND VEHICLE AS I WAS TRYING TO EXIT. I NOW HAVE A SEVERE COUGH AND LUNG PAINS DUE TO PLASTICS BURNING AND NOW I AM TAKING ADVAIR INHALER. THE CAR GAVE NO WARNING AT ALL AS IT JUST BURST INTO FLAMES. THE DOORS AND ALL WINDOWS LOCKED. A CITY EMPLOYEE CAME RUNNING WITH AN EXTINGUISHER TO TRY BREAK WINDOWS AS I WAS INSIDE, I EXITED AS THE POLICE CAME TO CAR AND HE BLOCKED THE ROAD TO TRAFFIC WITH HIS CRUISER. THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER HE DID....

THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED TWICE WITHIN 45,000 MILES, HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED TWICE FOR THIS INTAKE ISSUE, WHICH INVOLVED MISSING WORK. BAD ENOUGH I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIRS, BUT THEN I HAVE TO MISS WORK AS WELL. LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY AND VEHICLE OVER HEATS. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, RADIATOR REPLACED, WATER PUMP REPLACED AND HAVEN'T ONLY OWNED THE CARE FOR 3 YEARS. I AM REBUILDING THE ENTIRE CAR! I'VE OWNED 7 CHEVY CARS BUT NONE AS BAD AS THIS. I WILL NEVER,EVER,EVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY. *TR

OUR 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA WAS LEFT IN AN APARTMENT BEHIND MY CHILDREN'S' APARTMENT IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA. WHEN THEY RETURNED FROM CHRISTMAS BREAK, THE BATTERY WAS DOWN AND IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE. THEY TRIED TO JUMP START THE CAR USING JUMPER CABLES FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE NEXT TO IT. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN FRONT OF THE CAR TO REMOVE THE JUMPER CABLES AFTER IT STARTED. WHEN MY SON TRIED TO CRANK THE ENGINE, IT EXPLODED ALL OVER THE PARKING LOT, SHOWERING MY DAUGHTER WITH BITS AND PIECES OF THE PLASTIC TOP OF THE ENGINE. MY DAUGHTER WAS SHAKEN UP BUT NOT HOSPITALIZED AND HER CONFIDENCE IN STARTING GM AUTOS IS "GONE." GM CLAIMS THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THERE IS 120,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION AND WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY SAFETY ADVICE ON STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE. THEY ALSO CONTEND THAT THE CHILDREN...

CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL AFTER DRIVER PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR TO MOVE IT FROM A PARKED, IDLING POSITION, AFTER NOTICING A BURNING LIKE ODOR. IT WAS NOTED BY THE DRIVER AT THAT TIME THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS IN THE RED ZONE. WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE CAR TO A SAFER PARKING AREA ONLY A FEW FEET IN DISTANCE, SHE HEARD A SHARP SNAPPING SOUND AND ALSO FELT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN AREA. THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD, THE HEAD LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTING WENT COMPLETELY OUT AS THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS NO STEERING OR BRAKE CONTROL. NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE AN INSURANCE COMPANY IS INVOLVED. *TR

ONE DAY IT JUST GOT WARM. WE TURNED IT OFF AND THE RADIATOR BUBBLED. I LET IT COOLED DOWN. I CHECKED THE OIL AND WATER. IT WAS PROBABLY A QUART LOW AND THE OIL LOOKED A TOUCH MILKY. OIL WAS NOT OVER FULL. I ASSUMED IT WAS FINE. THE NEXT TRIP TO TOWN AND BACK(ABOUT 20 MILES ROUND TRIP)IT RAN WARM ON THE WAY HOME. WHEN WE GOT HOME THE RADIATOR WAS BOILING A LITTLE BIT AGAIN. AFTER IT COOLED OFF I CHECKED THE WATER IS HALF TO THREE QUARTERS GALLON LOW ON WATER. OIL WAS REGISTERING A LITTLE MORE THAN A QUART OVER FULL AND REAL MILKY LOOKING. THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I CHANGE OIL AND FILTER. TOPPED OFF WATER. I ADDED SOME ALUMINUM SEAL AND TOPPED OFF THE WATER. AFTER I DID THAT IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS FIXED FOR ABOUT 8 DAYS...

PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE 3 TIMES IN 100,000 MILES $300 REPAIR EACH TIME. STRANDED IN PARKING LOTS TILL THE CAR RESETS THEN WILL START. MY WIFE IS SCARED TO DEATH WHEN SHE IS IN THE PARKING LOT JUST SITTING THERE WAITING FOR THE CAR TO RESET. INTAKE GASKET FAILURE 2 TIMES IN 100,000 MILES $600 EACH TIME. SUB FRAME FAILURE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILURE 3 TIMES. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE STALLED DURING STARTUP AND CRUISING. THE ENGINE STALLED 35 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WOULD USUALLY RESTARTED AFTER 5 TO 11 ATTEMPTS. ON 08/24/06, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS TAKEN.

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT A STRANGE ODOR ENTERED THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. HE MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT VEHICLE WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FLUID HOSE AT THE CONSUMER EXPENSE. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE SERPENTINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE SUSPENSION. UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

MY 2000 CHEVY IMPALA HESITATES WHEN IT STARTS, IT SEEMS TO GET WORST WHEN IT IS ABOUT 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE. DEALER REPLACED A COUPLE OF PARTS, BUT NOW THE SAID THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT. I SAID THAT THE SHOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR A NEW ONE. I AM JUST A CONSUMER. *JB

ENGINE SHUTS DOWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ALMOST LIKE SOMEONE TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF. I PURCHASED THIS 2000 CHEV. IMPALA LS IN MAY 2005. ON MAY 30, THE ENGINE COUGHED ONCE BUT CONTINUED RUNNING SMOOTHLY, SO I DIDN'T CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM. THEN JUNE 29 IT COUGHED AGAIN BUT CONTINUED RUNNING SMOOTHLY. THAT EVENING ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK WITH NO WARNING, THE ENGINE JUST QUIT RUNNING. AFTER IT SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR A FEW MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO START IT AND CONTINUE ON MY DRIVE HOME. SINCE THEN, BETWEEN JULY 5 AND AUGUST 10, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN 7 TIMES. 3 OF THOSE WERE ON AUGUST 10. EACH TIME, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR(POWER CHEVROLET, IRVINE, CA),ON AUGUST 12, AFTER A SHORT DIAGNOSIS, THE COMPLAINT WAS SIGNED OFF AS"...

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALRSHIP WAS NOTIFED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUME STATED VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ONE WEEK, AND UPON GETTING BACK FROM VACATION, CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, AND IT BLEW UP. EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS BROKEN IN LITTLE PIECES. CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. *AK

LEAK OF COOLANT, LOW COOLANT LIGHT. *JB

I FILED THIS SAME COMPLAINT LAST YEAR AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR OPERATED FINE FOR EXACTLY ONE WHOLE YEAR AFTER DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL REGULATOR. THE FAILURE IS THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THIS OCCURS THERE IS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL OF THE CAR. I AM UNABLE TO STEER, STOP, EVERYTHING LOCKS UP. THE CONSEQUENCES OF DRIVING A CAR LIKE THIS IS ME LOSING MY LIFE. ON 11/29/04 IS WHEN THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THEN ON 11/30 AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IT STALLED WITH A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BUS ON MY TAIL, THE CAR LOSS POWER. THE BUS DRIVER WAS HONKING HIS HORN AND FLASHING HIS LIGHTS BUT SHOWED LITTLE SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN FOR A CAR THAT WAS STALLED OUT. I FEEL THESE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE TOTALLY RECALLED UNTIL THE MANUFACTURER CAN DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I AM...

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND THE PROBLEM STILL HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK *SC *JB

WHIEL DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK

A/C EMITS FOUL ODORS (MOLD/MILDEW). BRAKES PULSATE, WARNING & ABS LIGHTS COME ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON, STALLED ONCE, UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION FROM START UP TWICE. STEERING: INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACED AT 42,618 MILES; RACK & PINION LEAKING AT 65,307 POPPING & MUFFLED EXPLOSION SOUND IN COLD WEATHER START UPS, PAINT PEELED OFF FRONT & BUMPER OF CAR. WEATHER STRIPPING ADHESIVE LIQUIFIES ON DOOR POSTS IN HOT WEATHER. AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON

COOLANT LEAKING FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. DEALER INDICATES THAT THEY ALL DID THAT. WERE SUPRISED MINE LASTED AS LONG AS IT DID. GM SAID THEY WOULDN'T HELP WITH THE COST.*AK

PREMATURE FAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSING LEAKING OF COOLENT AND OIL MIX. *JB

HAD TO REPLACE THERMOST AND GASKET, MELTED PVC, 6 SPARK PLUGS UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY AND GASKETS AND SERP BELT BECAUSE OF A BROKEN PLASTIC PIECE WHERE ERG VALVE SETS IN MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY, ENGINE COOLENT LEAKING INTO CYLINDERS CREATING HYDRO LOCK. *AK

AFTER CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND THE ENGINE IS HOT AND YOU ATTEMPT TO RESTART IT, IT JUST SHUTS BACK OFF. THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT SOUND WHEN IT DOES THIS, IT JUST SHUTS DOWN AS IF THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. IT NOW TAKES ABOUT 3-6 ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE CAR WILL START. IT HAS EVEN PROGRESSED TO SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, AGAIN NO SIGNS OF THE CAR BEING OFF UNTIL I NOTICED THE WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER TO GET THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED. THE FACT THAT IT NOW SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING POSES A SERIOUS DANGER TO ME AND OTHER DRIVERS.

WHILE DRIVING AT 25-35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM STILL RECURRING.

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR VEHICLE IS AT AN IDLE IT WILL STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS INDICATING EGR VALVE PROBLEM. HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. WORSE IN THE COLD WEATHER THAN IN SUMMER. ALSO, CHECK COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON LONG TRIPS, THEN WENT OFF. HAD TO SPEND $800 TO REPLACE COVER. *NLM