2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA Electrical System Problems

CAR STALLING AT STOPLIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS, AND DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. NUMEROUS MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND NO CONCLUSION HAS BEEN MADE. FINALLY IT STALLED AND NOW ITS STRANDED. IT WILL NOT START. *TR

I OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA AUTOMOBILE. "SECURITY LOCK" LIGHT CAME ON DURING NORMAL DRIVE 2 DAYS BEFORE CAR FAILURE. ON THE MORNING OF FAILURE, CAR DOORS WERE UNRESPONSIVE TO REMOTE KEY. A CONTINUOUS LOW DRONING NOISE EMITS FROM INSIDE OF DASHBOARD. WHEN KEY WAS INSERTED INTO IGNITION CYLINDER AND TURNED, NOTHING HAPPENS. ENGINE DID NOT START, ELECTRONIC SYSTEM CHECKS DID NOT COME ALIVE. NOT EVEN A SPUTTERING SOUND FROM THE CAR HOOD. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM, PROFILE FITS THE RECURRENT PROBLEM OF PASSLOCK SENSOR OF GENERAL MOTOR CARS. CAR TECHNICIANS QUOTED ME $400 - $600 FOR REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH AND CYLINDER; $600 ON AVERAGE FOR CHANGE OF BODY CONTROL MODULE. HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/VBULLETIN/T147983.HTML HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-IMPALA/T30R7CEJ84KTJEL1M/P4 TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS RECURRING PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON VARIOUS SOURCES FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS. TO THIS DAY, IT REMAINS UN-RESOLVED. I IMPLORE THE AUTHORITIES TO TAKE CHARGE AND...

THIS IS AN ONGOING REPEATED PROBLEM. MY 2001 IMPALA RANDOMLY WON'T START ABOUT 3 TIMES A WEEK. I WILL TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WAIT 10 MINUTES AND THE SECURITY (PASSLOCK) SYSTEM WILL RESET AND THE CAR WILL CRANK, BUT NO TIME IN BETWEEN...THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS NOW AND I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE BOTH THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH AND THAT I HAVE READ ONLINE.. THIS DOES NOT JUST OCCUR IN CHEVROLETS. ONE PERSON SAID THAT IT OCCURRED IN A PONTIAC. I WOULD ASSUME THIS IS A GM PROBLEM...AND WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED? THIS IS AN EXTREME INCONVENIENCE FROM CHEVROLET AND I HAVE READ INSTANCES WHERE THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED BY REPLACING THE IGNITION, BCM, ETC. AND THIS PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. WHY ARE THERE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NO KNOWN...

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, MY 2001 CHEVY IMPALA HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE IGNITION TO START. IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. I HAVE TO KEEP TURNING THE WHEEL AS I TURN THE IGNITION TO GET IT TO START. I AM THINKING THAT ONE DAY I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN IT. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. *TR

2001 CHEVORLET/IMPALA PURCHASED NEW, CURRENT MILES 51,000. INTERMITTANT LOSS OF DIRECTIONALS. **NOW COMPLETE LOSS OF DIRECTIONALS AND EMERGENCY SIGNALS. FAILED RECENT CAR INSPECTION. ADDITIONAL FAILURES INCLUDE: COMPLETE BRAKE LOSS AT 38,000. RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. FIRESTONE TIRE, WEST ROXBURY, MA STATED ON DOCUMENTS THAT "ROTORS WERE THINNED DOWN TO SIZE OF SHEET OF PAPER &/OR COMPLETELY GONE." TWO TIRE BLOWOUTS AT 35,000, ALSO REPLACED BY ABOVE REPAIR SHOP, WITH 4 NEW TIRES. BATTERY LEAK WITH CORROSION TO EXTENT OF NEED OF CONNECTION CABLES TO BE REBUILT FOR ATTACHMENT. BATTERY REPLACED WITH NEW CONNECTIONS AT 40,000 BY SEARS AUTO BODY IN DEDHAM, MA. PASSENGAR SIDE WIPER FIXED AND REPLACED AFTER FAILURE. WORKED FOR 3 MONTHS AND HAS FAILED AGAIN, HAS NOT AT PRESENT BEEN REPLACED/REPAIRED. CARE OF CAR WAS UPDATED AND MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO ALL REQUIREMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS BY MANUFACTURER. NO HISTORY OF ACCIDENTS. THIS INCLUDING, OIL CHANGES, WIPER BLADE...

MAJOR ELECTRICAL FAILURES ON OUR 2001 CHEVY IMPALA. TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, POWER WINDOWS FAILING, ALARM SOUNDS IF THE REMOTE KEY IS USED TO OPEN CAR. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND EXPERIENCED A COUPLE FROM ACQUAINTANCES AS WELL. *TR

MY CAR RANDOMLY DOESN'T LIKE TO START. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN MANY PLACES BECAUSE OF IT. I DO NOT THINK IT IS FAIR TO ME TO HAVE TO BE LATE TO WORK JUST BECAUSE MY CAR DOESN'T FEEL LIKE STARTING FOR 10 MINUTES. IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I AM GOING TO HAVE TO START IT LIKE A HALF HOUR EARLY JUST SO I KNOW THAT I WON'T BE LATE TO WORK. I HAVE ALSO BEEN STRANDED AT A STORE AT NIGHT. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE CAME UP TO ME...LET ME SEE A YOUNG GIRL SITTING IN A CAR LATE AT NIGHT ALL BY HERSELF...THAT'S NOT A GOOD WAY TO GET ROBBED OR ANYTHING ELSE...THANK YOU GM FOR A WONDERFUL CAR. *TR

PASSLOCK SYSTEM IN CHEVY IMPALA PREVENTS CAR FROM STARTING INTERMITTENTLY. DEPENDING ON CIRCUMSTANCES, LOCATION, AND PERSONS ON BOARD, THIS COULD LEAD TO ILLNESS OR INJURY. *TR

2001 CHEVY IMPALA SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON FOR A WEEK CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING, WON'T START, ONLY AFTER 30 MINUTES IT WILL START,INSTALLING A NEW PASSLOCK IGNITION SWITCH COST OF OVER 500.00 WITH TOW AND DIAGNOSTICS, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, OR COVERED BY GM. THIS IS THE COST IF THIS WORKS IT STILL COULD BE SOMETHING ELSE, BUT THE CODE READER SPIT OUT THE PASSLOCK FAULT. *TR

2001 IMPALA SOMETIMES WON'T START. HAD CAR THREE YEARS. REPLACED IGNITION CYLINDER ONCE ALREADY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU TURN THE KEY CLOCKWISE AND WAIT 10 MINUTES THEN TURN OFF AND TRY AGAIN. USUALLY AFTER 10 MINUTES IT WILL START, BUT SOMETIMES HAVE TO GO TO ROUND 2 OR 3 AND ONCE THROUGH ROUND 7. THAT'S RIGHT AN HOUR AND A HALF! OCCURS ABOUT 4-5 TIMES A MONTH I'D GUESS. NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO HAVE TO ENDURE ALONE AND 19 AND LATE AT NIGHT AND MY DAUGHTER. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHETHER GM WANTS TO ADMIT IT OR NOT. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED! *TR

SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF (ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT) CLICKING NOISE, RADIO LOCKS, BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. CLICKING NOISE HAPPENS WHETHER THE CAR IS ON OR NOT. CANNOT UNLOCK OR LOCK CAR WITH THE REPORT. I'VE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE BLOGS ABOUT THIS. THERE IS A BULLETIN FROM GM #04-08-47-003 SO OBVIOUSLY THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT ON AT 78K MILES; AND MECHANIC CLAIMS IT IS A FAULTY ECM. MANY OTHERS COMPLAIN OF THIS AND ABS LIGHT PROBLEMS WITH AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *TR

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING, I HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, AND THE CAR WILL RESTART. THERE IS NOT ALWAYS A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, THIS CAR SHUT DOWN ON ME IN A SNOW STORM IN THE SIERRAS, IN THE DARK I WAS LUCKY TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OFF AND RESTART. THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AT THIS TIME. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND JUST WANTS TO START REPLACING PARTS, VERY EXPENSIVE. THE COMMENT FROM THE DEALER WAS IF THE PART WE REPLACE DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM THE WE KNOW THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NO PROBLEM PAYING TO REPAIR THIS CAR IF THEY CAN TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, I DON'T WANT TO START REPLACING PARTS GOOD PARTS @ $500.00 A POP BECAUSE GM CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM,RIGHT NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR...

MY 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA STARTED THIS PROBLEM ABOUT A MONTH AGO. OBVIOUSLY, IT IS ANNOYING, BUT IT CONCERNS ME MOSTLY DUE TO THE SAFETY ASPECT. I BELIEVE I HAVE DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM BY MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS FINDING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM ON THE INTERNET FROM OTHER OWNERS. MY TRIPS TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS AND REPAIR SHOPS HAVE PROVED WORTHLESS. THE CAR WILL FAIL TO START AT TIMES. THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES IT WILL START AND RUN GREAT. IT APPEARS TO BE A PASSLOCK SECURITY PROBLEM THAT WILL BE VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL SO THE CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. THE CAR CRANKS OVER FINE AND THE BATTERY IS NEW, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE NO FUEL GETTING TO WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED...

TURN SIGNALS FAIL SPORADICALLY SINCE DEALER REPLACED BODY CONTROL MODULE. DEALER DOESN'T THINK NEW BCM IS PROBLEM BUT CAN'T FIX TROUBLE FOR SURE UNTIL THERE IS A COMPLETE FAILURE. *NM

NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED AS OF YET. THE CAR STOPS WHEN I AM AT STOP SIGNS AND RED LIGHTS. IT HAS EVEN STOPPED WHEN ON THE INTERSTATE AND I HAVE GONE FROM 70 MPH TO 0 MPH IN LESS THAN 60 SECONDS. *NM

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING THE CAR. ABOUT ONCE EVERY 2 WEEK IT JUST WILL NOT START. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED TWICE IN ONE YEAR. IN THE WINTER YOU CAN TURN THE KEY NOTHING HAPPENS BUT ON THE FLIP BACK IT WILL START,. NOW THIS SUMMER IT JUST WON'T START AND I STILL HAVE ELECTRIC. THEN SOMETIMES IT WILL GO INTO A VERY HIGH IDLE AND I TURN IT OFF AND RESTART IT TO FIX IT. WHAT DO I DO? *NM

TRACTION CONTROL RUST ON WHEEL SPEED SENSOR GM RECALL NUMBER#05068 WHY WAS MY VEHICLE'S NOT LISTED ON RECALL 2001 IMPALA LS 51000 MILES. *NM

2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS 3.8L: BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILURE AT 60,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 90,000 MILES. CAR WILL NOT START; VEHICLE AND DRIVER STRANDED. *NM

I HAVE A 2001 IMPALA WE BOUGHT NEW. IT HAS 62,379 MILES. I TOOK IT IN FOR A BRAKE JOB LAST MONTH FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE COMPANY I USE HAS A GOOD REPUTATION IN TOWN. THEY TOLD ME AFTER THE FIRST TURNING OF THE ROTOR WHICH THEY DID THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH METAL LEFT TO TURN AGAIN. THAT SEEMS RIDICULOUS. ALSO, THE CAR AT TIMES WONT START AND HAVE TO LET IT SIT FOR 10-15 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START. I HAVE READ A LOT OF REVIEWS ON VARIOUS SITES AND IT SEEMS THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO THROW OUT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS JUT HOPING THAT IT WILL BE FIXED. I HAVE HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH GOING BAD TO THE PASSLOCK ANTI THEFT SYSTEMS ERRORS AND OR THE BCM MODULE GOING BACK. ALSO SOMEONE SUGGESTED THAT I MIGHT JUST NEED TO...

REPORTED TO FAIRGROUNDS CHEVY THAT ALL THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME-ON INTERMITTENTLY - AUG 12, 2005 WE HEARD A HISSING NOISE FROM THE DASH AREA AND THAT THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS STILL COME ON AS REPORTED EARLIER. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS BAD. *JB

2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAD A CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE VEHICLE LOST PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD WITHOUT WARNING, REAR DEFROSTER SHORTED OUT AND ALMOST INJURED THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER, THE DOORS SEIZED, THE DRIVER WINDOW SEIZED CONSTANTLY, AND THE FAN BLOWER ONLY WORKED ON 5. *SC

PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING SYSTEM ON THE 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS IMPOUNDED. *MR THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, GAS MILEAGE AND THE TURN SIGNALS WERE INOPERATIVE AND THE RADIATOR HOSE HAD BURNED AGAINST THE BATTERY. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE WIRING SYSTEM WAS CHANGED. THE CONSUMER ALSO FOUND MISSING COMPONENTS SUCH AS A FUSE AND A HUGE HOLLOW AREA DUE TO THE MISSING FANS. *SC *JB

(1) COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE, TEMP GAUGE NOT WORKING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, COOLING FANS RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY (2) IMPROPER ENGINE OPERATION, ROADSIDE STOPPAGE (3) RESET CONNECTION ON COOLANT SENSOR , SYSTEM RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. I'M NOT SURE THERE WAS ANY CORRELATION WITH THE SENSOR CONNECTION. THE COMPUTER RESET ITSELF AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND ALL CONDITIONS RETURNED TO NORMAL.*AK

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A POSSIBLE DEFECT WITH GM/CHEVROLET'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR BODY CONTROL MODULE, WHICH DISABLES MY CAR'S DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS (E.G., BLINKERS). I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO TOLD ME IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM), WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY REPLACED THE BCM WITH A NEW ONE, BUT THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS STILL DO NOT WORK.*AK

IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR THE VEHICLE'S CATALYTIC CONVERTER CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE OXYGEN SENSOR MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSED OF THE FAILURE. *MR THE DRIVER'S INFORMATION CENTER STOPPEDWORKING, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDS TO BE CHECKED AGAIN. *NM

CAR WOULD START BUT NONE OF THE GAGES NOR THE RADION OR ANY OF THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS WOULD COME ON. SHUT IT OFF WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND IT WOULD WORK AGAIN. HAPPENED MANY TIMES, GOT IT "FIXED" STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN A MONTH LATER AND WAS AGAIN "FIXED" BUT WITH A DIFFERENT REMEDY SO FAR SHELLED OUT 700 DOLLARS FOR A CAR WITH SIXTY THOUSAND MILES ON IT*AK

I GET A SHOCK WHENEVER I USE MY POWER LOCKS UPON LEAVING MY CAR- NOT FROM INSIDE THE CAR BUT FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. JB

THIS AGENCY OWNS TWO (2) 2001 CHEVY IMPALA (POLICE PACKAGES) VEHICLES HAVE AHD EXTENSIVE TROUBLE WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. VEHICLES WILL NOT START, VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AFTER BEING STARTED AND THEN WONT START. AMOUNTS TO A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHILE IN TRAFFIC OR BEING USED FOR EMERGENCY OPERATION, PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ONGOING SINCE PURCHASE OF AUTOS IN 2002

PURCHASED 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA BASE MODEL. I HAVE 51,000 MILES AND MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON ME. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH SHOWED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITHIN THE THE TRANSMISSION. A NEW TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE INSTALLED. THIS COST $2500. THERE IS NO REASON FOR A CAR THIS AGE WITH THIS MANY MILES TO HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM, GRANTED THE WARRANTY GOES TO 36,000 MILES OR 3 YEARS WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. I AM VERY UPSET, AND IT BASICALLY SOLIDIFIED THAT I WILL NEVER BUY A GM CAR AGAIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER. *AK. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS. ALSO THE DASH LIGHTS FLICKERED. THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION AREA, HOWEVER THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

THE VEHICLE HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. *NLM *MR

CUSTOMER STATES DASH LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER TEST DROVE AND FOUND THAT THE LIGHTS FLICKER, HOWEVER DEALER STATED THIS WAS NORMAL DUE TO THE DROP IN THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR, AND SHOULD NOT CAUSE LIGHTS OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO FAIL. *TT *NLM

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSING ACCELERATOR TO STICK AND USING CRUISE CONTROL DOES THE SAME. CAUSING WRECK WITH INJURIES AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT UPON IMPACT OF CRASH WITH SPEED OVER 55 MPH TO HEAD ON INTO TO TREE. COULD NOT STOP CAR EVEN WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND HAD TO TURN KEY OFF TO STOP CAR FROM BLOWING UP.

CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN PARK, ALL OF THE DOORS UNLOCK, CONSUMER STATES THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE IF SHE HAS TO SIT IN THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE EXITING, ANYONE CAN OPEN THE DOORS.*JB

AFTER VEHICLE BEING PARKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS, THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND MUST BE JUMPED STARTED, A REOCCURRING PROBLEM. THE BATTERY IS IN GOOD CONDITION (VEHICLE IS A POLICE PACKAGE, THE TOWNSHIP ALSO OWNS A SECOND 2001 IMPALA WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS). *YD

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT A POWER SURGE OCCURS WHICH CAUSES HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO MALFUNCTION. LOW BEAM FLASHES TO HIGH BEAM. DEALER CANNOT CORRECT PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT DOES NOT HAVE A REMEDY. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DASH LIGHTS ARE ALSO AFFECTED BY THE POWER SURGES. *JB