2002 Chevrolet Impala problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (151) · Engine (52) · Exterior Lighting (44)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Impala model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
570 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2015-10-26 · campaign 15V701000 · 1,003,556 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Risk: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Fix: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick c
Electrical System:ignition 2014-07-03 · campaign 14V400000 · 5,877,718 vehicles
Defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-200
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
Service bulletins (448)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-20 · PIP5358D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. technician will need to
Electrical System 2024-10-25 · PIP4723J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the tire pressure monitor, active fuel injector tester, multi media tester, pico scope, gr8 starting/charging tester and vehicle data recorder tools, giving website address and ste
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Electrical System 2024-08-26 · General Communication · Service Campaign
vehicle wide programming (vwp) is a new process to update software on gm vehicles. it provides the ability via a single selection within techline connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). the updating of modules is com
Showing the 6 most recent of 448 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-05-06 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“the contact’s son owned a 2002 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that the contact was unaware of how the failure occurred; however, the contact’s son was involved in a crash in which the vehicle collided with a wall. the contact stated that none of the air bags deployed during the crash. the contact stated that the contact’s son sustained multip…”
2026-01-03 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 🔥 fire“fuel system or backfire is what i believe happened to it. the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. my safety was severely put at risk because the car exploded and caught fire while i was inside the car and fire came through the dash and air conditioner slots, anything could of happened whether shrapnel or burn. this also put others at …”
2025-05-24 · Tires:valve · 💥 crash“225/60 r16 tire size valve leak and pushed in slow tire leak…”
2025-05-23 · Wheels“power windows fail at times blinkers fail at times front hub assembly damage front calipers are damaged and affect steering these are available for inspection. there are huge safety risks with all of these compromised issues. last inspection is unknown. no known warning lamps present. …”
2024-06-25 · Power Train“transmission hesitates to pull out in drive from a stop…”
2024-02-25 · Air Bags“i was driving out of supermarket i was alone and the airbags deployed. i was hit hard and had a panic attack. i was able to drive home 14 miles. windshield busted and dash board totaled everyone i try to download a picture i'm sent to the begining. i'm going to have pictures on file incase needed. . …”
2022-10-16 · Unknown Or Other“i was driving along when out of no where my trunk opened. i got off the highway and closed it. at that time i was puzzled wondering who had been in my truck to have not closed it correctly. i knew i hadn't been in it in awhile. it wasn't until a few weeks later when the "service vehicle soon" light on my dash came on. i went and had my vehicle scan…”
2021-05-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 🔥 fire“my vehicle caught on fire after i returned from it getting serviced by pepboys in phenix city alabama. my car was only getting serviced for the a/c and once i returned home, my car caught on fire in our drive port. …”
2020-11-09 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking“i just purchased this 2002 chevy impala which came with the important vehicle safety recall and i would need the problem fixed. nhtsa 15v-701 im actually now scared to drive it/…”
2020-10-02 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 75,000 mi“while driving the vehicle gas gauge was fluctuating up and down. i subsequently ran out of gas due to the fact that i did not know how much gas i had. i was stuck on the road. i had to get the fuel pump replaced. i checked online and there appears to be a problem with the fuel pump on other chevy impalas. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.