2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that her husband had entered the vehicle and while the key was in the ignition, the vehicle exploded in the engine compartment. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, or police report filed. There were fire and flames approximately six feet high. The contact and her husband were able to extinguish the fire. The contact called the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another local dealer (Sunset Chevrolet 910 Traffic Ave, Sumner, WA 98390(253) 656-0459) but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who referred her to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.

2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEALERSHIPS FAILURE TO REPAIR VEHICLE OIL LEAKAGE BEFORE CONSUMER RECEIVED ENGINE OIL DEPOSITS ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL ALL THE TIME AND 15 YEARS LATER, SHE RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE. *JB

I WAITED FOR RECALL PARTS (IGNITION AND OIL LEAK) AND HAD THEM COMPLETED 4/13/16. ON 4/22/16 MY CAR STARTED SMOKING COMING OFF THE FREEWAY, I PULLED OVER AND THE ENGINE STALLED, PEOPLE YELLED TO GET OUT IT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED IN FRONT OF ENGINE AND PROCEEDED THOUGH ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURNING ALL PLASTICS AND WIRING. DEALERSHIP SAYS I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE FULL INSURANCE COVERAGE. HOW CAN THAT BE, MY CAR WAS FINE UNTIL THEY WORKED ON IT. DEALERSHIP WAS ALSO VERY RUDE AND CONDESCENDING. I HOPE ALL CHEVROLET DEALERS AREN'T THE SAME. I GAVE DEALERSHIP 7 DAYS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME NO ONE CAN HELP ME. I ALMOST BURNED UP IN THIS VEHICLE.

2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NO RETURN COMMUNICATION FROM DEALERSHIP ABOUT VEHICLE REPAIRS FOR RECALL NOTICE 15V701. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE ON A RAMP, THE VEHICLE STALLED. SHE HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND QUICKLY EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE FRONT END WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. UPDATED 01/03/17. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE, ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ

2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE CRANK SENSOR RECALL REPAIRS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2010. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND WAS PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REQUIRED PART WAS AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, THE PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 04/22/16*LJ UPDATED 04/28/16.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE INDEPENDENTLY EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000. UPDATED 04/08/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WILL HAVE TO JUNK THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS OF NO HELP. UPDATED 04/21/16.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO WATER GETTING INSIDE THE VALVE COVER AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) A YEAR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. UPDATED 02/26/16*LJ *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE HORN WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 03/09/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE HORN WAS REPLACED ON 12/7/15 AND STILL FUNCTIONING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON SENSOR, CHECK ENGINE SENSOR AND LOW COOLANT SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART THE LAST TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY INDICATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WAS NOT RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE EXPLOSION AND CAUGHT FIRE BEFORE CONSUMER HAD RECALL REPAIRED. *SMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) FOR THE SPARK PLUG RETENTION WIRE, WHICH HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE DEFECT WAS WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000. *TR

ON 4/09/12 AT APPROXIMATELY 18:20 I GOT IN THE CAR THAT HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER FEELING THE HOOD I OPENED IT AND DISCOVERED A FIRE ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE AND ALONG THE BACK SIDE OF THE ENGINE CLOSEST TO THE FIREWALL. FORTUNATELY SINCE I WAS HOME I HAD QUICK ACCESS TO AN ABC FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND I RAN INTO THE GARAGE AND GRABBED IT AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT I NOTED THE ENTIRE ENGINE COVER AND THE TOP OF THE ENGINE UNDER THE COVER WAS IN PIECES ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND IT APPEARED THE EXPLOSION WAS INSIDE THE AIR PLENUM/ INTAKE MANIFOLD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL AUTO SERVICE...

BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE FOR ABOUT A YEAR TILL IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK AND SECURITY LOCK WOULD POP UP FREQUENTLY NOW IT ALMOST TAKES AN HOUR TO CRANK IT EVEN IF U HIT THE STARTER THE STATER MOVES BUT WANT CRANK THE CAR I HAVE SPENT OVER 4 GRAND ON IT TRYING TO FIX IT BUT NOTHING WORKS EVEN CHECKED FUSES WIRES AND COMPUTER BOX NOTHING LOOKS BAD CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AWHILE BACK TOO. *TR

SECONDARY AIR PUMP FAILED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PERFORM NORMALLY UNTIL REACHING THE DESTINATION WHERE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE SIMILAR FAILURE. THE BATTERY, STARTER, ALTERNATOR, AND RELY SWITCH WERE REPLACED AT DIFFERENT TIMES; HOWEVER THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. MOST RECENT, ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CONSISTENT MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SHE HEARD A NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,000.

01 IMPALA 3.8. I WENT TO START THE CAR. THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE INTAKE PLENUM EXPLODED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IS GREAT IF SOMEONE IS STANDING NEAR THE OPEN ENGINE BAY. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION DESPITE THE HIGH MILES. *TR

ENGINE/LOW COOLANT LEVEL LIGHT ON! OVERHEATING. PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE SAME AS OTHER OWNERS OF 2001 IMPALA'S! HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE. STILL SAME PROBLEM W COOLANT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS FAILING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE GASKET WAS MANUFACTURED FROM PLASTIC AND WOULD EVENTUALLY, WOULD NOT RETAIN COOLANT FROM PENETRATING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

INTAKE GASKET FAILURE. I NOTICED THAT THE ANTIFREEZE IN MY VEHICLE WAS OFTEN LOW, SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GET DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO GET THE INTAKE GASKET REPLACED AND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON IMPALA'S. HE STATED THAT ALL OF THESE VEHICLES WILL NEED TO HAVE THE GASKET REPLACED AND THAT GM IS AWARE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FORCED TO RECALL THE VEHICLES, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO REPLACE THE GASKETS. THIS IS QUITE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO COSTS AT THIS TIME. I CONTACTED GM FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY STATED THAT THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR PREVENTS ME FROM BEING ABLE TO BE ASSISTED. I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS ISSUE HASN'T MADE IT AS A RECALL BECAUSE THE CARS WILL OVERHEAT AND ISN'T SOMETHING YOU NORMALLY EXPECT TO NEED TO GET FIXED...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. HE STATED THAT ON DECEMBER 26, 2009 THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. TWO VEHICLES THAT WERE PARKED NEXT TO HIS ALSO CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE INITIATED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HIS RESIDENCE. HE WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 85,000.

CONSUMER HAS A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA WITH ENGINE AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL OF THE ENGINE AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS FAILED DUE TO OIL DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A TIRE FLATTENED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. SHE OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HERSELF. SHE ARRIVED HOME AND CALLED HER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO COME TO HER RESIDENCE AND INVESTIGATE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GENERAL MOTORS, WHICH STATED "THAT SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING. IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF HER VEHICLE. SHE LIFTED THE HOOD AND NOTICED A SMALL FIRE BETWEEN THE ALTERNATOR AND SEVERAL WIRES. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AFTER A FEW MINUTES WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE LOCAL GM DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE; HOWEVER, THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND MAY HAVE STARTED THE FIRE. ONE WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT STATED "IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE". NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 WAS REFERENCED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 50,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMEDY REFERENCED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WOULD NOT SUFFICIENTLY CORRECT THE FAILURE. HE STATED THAT BY INSTALLING TWO NEW SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS FOR FREE WILL NOT STOP DROPS OF ENGINE OIL FROM BEING DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING. THE DEALER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 158,000.

I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT. AROUND 38,000 MILES IS WHEN THE PROBLEMS STARTED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WOULD NOT PASS SMOG BECAUSE OF THAT. THE THERMOSTAT GETS STUCK, THE FAN CONTINUES TO RUN AFTER CAR IS SHUT OFF, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT LOW. THE CAR SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING OR RUNNING HOT. THE CAR NOW HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT AND I CANT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. IT HAS EXPIRED TAGS ON IT BECAUSE I CANT GET IT TO PASS SMOG. I AM REALLY UPSET TO FIND OUT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE MAKE OF THE CAR. IT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO BUY THIS CAR AND NOW I CANT DRIVE IT MORE THEN TO WORK AND BACK. I AM HOPING THEY WILL RECALL THIS CAR AND...

2001 NO-START SITUATION SIMILAR TO HUNDREDS OF OTHERS THAT ARE POSTED ON THE INTERNET FOR THE 2000-2003 CHEVY IMPALAS & MALIBUS (THERE MAY BE OTHER MODEL YEARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS). THE CAR WILL NOT CRANK WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO THE START POSITION. NO NOISE WHEN THIS HAPPENS BUT SOMETIMES SECURITY LIGHT WILL COME ON. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT WE'VE SPENT OVER $1000 TRYING TO RESOLVE. IT OCCURS WITH NO RHYME OR REASON AND HAS PUT OUR DAUGHTER IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. CAR ALWAYS STARTS EVENTUALLY AND IT SEEMS THAT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WAITING A RANGE OF 10 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS. ALWAYS A PAIN IN THE BUTT BUT SOMETIMES A SAFETY ISSUE WITH BAD WEATHER AND OTHER FACTORS. LOCAL GM DEALER NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT OUR PROBLEM AND GM CORPORATION DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE EITHER. MAYBE NHTSA CAN GET GMS ATTENTION TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM...

WHILE JUMP STARTING VEHICLE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODES. NO START CONDITION. *TR

WHILE JUMP STARTING VEHICLE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODES. NO START CONDITION. *TR

2001 CHEVY IMPALA ENGINE, RADIATOR AND BATTERY REPLACED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED AT HER OWN EXPENSE BECAUSE GM WOULD NOT HELP HER OUT. SHE STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT 3 MONTHS AFTER THE ENGINE. *KB THE POWER SWITCH AND SIDE MIRROR WAS REPLACED. *JB

MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE MARKET FOR A USED CAR. SHE FOUND A CAR ON THE WEBSITE FO CITY AUTO AUCTION OF CHICAGO, PRICED AT 1500.00. WE ARRIVED AT THE AUCTION AND INQUIRED ABOUT THEIR BIDDING PROCESS. I WAS TOLD TO READ AND SING THE BIDDERS PADDLE. WE INQUIRED ABOUT THE CAR LISTED ON THE WEBSITE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, BUT WE COULD BID ON ANOTHER LIKE CAR. WE BIDDED 2800.00 FOR A 2001 CHEVY IMPALA. I ASKED THE SALESMAN IF WE CAN SEE THE CAR FOR INSPECTION. HIS INSISTED I PUT A 600.00 DOWN PAYMENT TO HOLD THE CAR. I DID. WE WAITED 3 HOURS BEFORE THEY CALLED US INTO THE OFFICE. THEY PRESENTED US WITH A BILL OF SALE TOTALING 3858.00. I ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION OF THE CHARGES, AND TO SEE THE CAR TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE WERE ANY DEFECTS. THE OWNER BECAME...

1. CRANK SENSOT FAILED AND RAN HAZARD LIGHTS ON SIDE OF INNERSTATE FOR 3 HOURS WHILE GM ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SENT TOW SERVICE. 2. TURN SIGNALS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND OPERATION OF HAZARD SWITCH WOULD BE RESTORE THEM TEMPORIALLY. 3. REPLACED HAZARD SIGNAL SWITCH AND THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER LOCKS, FOG LIGHTS, AND POWER TRUNK RELEASE DO NOT WORK. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND LOW FUEL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2007. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

IN THE PAST 6-8 MONTHS, MY 2001 CHEVY IMPALA STARTED TO SHOW THE OBVIOUS SIGNS OF INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS (SLUDGE ON OIL CAP, BROWN RESIDUE IN COOLANT OVERFLOW RESERVOIR, SMALL COOLANT PUDDLES ON ENGINE). AT 71,000 MILES I RECEIVED A QUOTE AT A GM DEALER FOR THE FIX...$900.00. THE DEALER SAID HE DOES ONE A DAY ON THESE GM 3.4 ENGINES. AS A SIDE, MY WIFE'S VENTURE, SISTER'S VENTURE AND FATHER IMPALA ALL HAVE THE FAULTY INTAKE MAIFOLD COOLANT/OIL LEAK. AFTER SPEAKING WITH GM, THEY AGREED ONLY TO PAY FOR THE TWO BOLTS, A GASKET AND A SMALL TUBE OF SEALANT. THIS PAST WEEK, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND I STOPPED THE CAR AT THE NEXT PARKING LOT. IT STALLED THERE AND NEVER STARTED. AFTER A TOW, THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO FILL IT WITH OIL AND RUN IT. WITHIN SECONDS IT FLOWS OUT THE OIL FILTER AND THE...

LOW COOLANT LIGHT STAYS ON - REPLACED FIRST TIME LOW COOLANT LIGHT STAYS ON - REPLACED SECOND TIME. *JB

DT CONSUMER STATED THE THERMOSTAT WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE, AND THE FAN WOULD RUN FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. THE MECHANIC HAD FOUND OIL IN THE COOLANT. THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET, WATER PUMP, AND THE THERMOSTAT WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED WHEN GOING FROM WARM TEMPERATURES TO COLD TEMPERATURES THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK UPDATED 11/16/2005. *NM

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

I HAVE JUST PURCHASED A 2001 IMPALA FROM DEALER LESS THAN A WEEK AGO (4/29/2005) AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TODAY FOR SOME MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE ENGINE AND IT IS QUITE SERIOUS. I HAVE CHECKED SOME ONLINE DISCUSSION GROUPS AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE IMPALAS. I THINK GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AND REIMBURSE MY COST OF REPAIR.

I HAVE TWO GM CARS BOTH 2001 MY GRAND AM I JUST CHANGED THE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND THE HEAD GASKETS, NOW MY IMPALA ALSO NEEDS THE SAME GASKETS CHANGED MAYBE THERE IS A REASON FOR THIS DEFECT. I DO NOT THINK THAT IT POSSIBLE TO CHANGE THESE GASKETS AFTER FOUR YEARS. MY GRAND AM WAS COVERED MY IMPALA IS NOT. WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS? PLEASE RESPOND. *NM

MANIFOLD AND PUMP GASKET LEAKED. *NM THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. *TC *JB

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS LIT WHEN CAR IS PUT IN REVERSE.. THERE IS NO WHEEL SPIN WHEN THIS HAPPENS. ALSO VEHICLE STALLS AT IDLE, WHINING NOISE ON ACCELERATION DEALER SAYS COULD BE INTAKE GASKET LEAKING.. WILL NOT REPLACE . DEALER SAYS COMPUTER TEST SHOWS NO PROBLEM. SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE IN CABIN AT INTERMITTENT TIMES. CANNOT LOCATE LEAK. *AK

LOW COOLANT SENSOR HAS FAILED (4) TIMES (BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST AT 35,800 MILES). DEALERSHIP HAS FLUSHED COOLANT SYSTEM AND REPLACED THE SENSOR ON EACH OCCASION. EACH SENSOR HAS FAILED AT ABOUT 20,000 MILE SPAN. CURRENTLY ON FOURTH SENSOR WHICH HAS FAILED ON 5-27-04.*AK

COOLANT LEAK AROUND THERMOPLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS COOLANT LEAK DEVELOPED AROUND 42000 MI AND IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT THE DEALER ADMITS. ALSO DEX-COOL IS FALSLEY ADVERTISED THAT IT CAN GO 150,000 OR 5 YEARS. MOST CONSUMERS AREN'T AWARE THAT IT TURNS ACIDIC AND DESTROYS GASKETS AND OTHER COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS. I FEEL THE COOLANT LEAK AND ASSOCIATED DEX-COOL PROBLEMS DEMONSTRATES GM FAILURE TO CORRECT A KNOWN DEFECT. UNFORTUNATLEY THE CONSUMER PAYS DEARLY RIGHT AS WARRANTY EXPIRES. GM SHOULD REPLACE THERMOPLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WITH SOMETHING MORE DURABLE AND HEAT RESISTANT.

WHEN THE HEATING SYSTEM WAS TURNED ON THERE WAS A STRONG ANTI FREEZE ODOR WITHIN THE CABIN. THE ODOR CAUSED A BURNING IRRITATION IN THE EYES AND NOSE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE HEATER CORE LEAKING ANTI FREEZE INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR.*AK *MR

AT 47000 MILES AND ONLY 9000 OF THESE MILES WERE PUT ON BY ME. I JUST BOUGHT IT 5 MONTHS AGO. THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. COSTING ME 813.37 THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 3800 ENGINES. MINE IS THE 3400 AND I'M TOLD BY THE REPAIR PERSON THAT IT IS COMMON IN THESE TO. WHY WON'T GM HELP ME PAY THIS REPAIR WORK. *JB

ANY TIME THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON MESSAGE CENTER LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE COOLANT LEVEL IS LOW. CONSUMER CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVELS SEVERAL TIMES TO FIND THEM UP TO PAR. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE MESSAGE CENTER LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

CHRONIC COOLANT LEAK ON 2001 IMPALA LS. DEALER REPLACED MANIFOLD UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO IN FIRST 2 YEARS, WHEEL BEARING, INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, AS WELL AS ROOF MOLDING. *JB