2002 Chevrolet Impala Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe electrical and starting problems: the security (PASS-Key) light comes on, the key does nothing or the car cranks and will not fire, and dash lamps, turn signals and gauges behave erratically. Many complaints involve the ignition switch or body control module, and reports appear from very low mileage up to well past 150,000 miles. A second common theme is headlamps or turn signals that quit intermittently while driving.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Intermittent no-start with security light

   • 224 complaints (28%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 8.4 yrs old (179 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 27 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2026

   Owners describe turning the key and getting nothing, or a long crank that eventually catches, sometimes after waiting 10 to 30 minutes. In many cases the security indicator is lit or flashing and the doors lock or lamps flash on their own; several say the dealer replaced the ignition switch, the starter or the body control module, and some report the symptoms returned afterward. A few were told the PASSLock sensor or wiring was involved. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 30,000 to over 180,000 miles, and the failures are described as intermittent rather than tied to one season.

   Recall 14V4000002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch recall work was completed, and try several cold and warm restarts during a test drive. Note whether the security light stays on or flickers when the key is turned.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 02 chevy Impala has issues with the starting system. I have no know electrical problems with this car except sometimes it will not start and hours of trying to start the car it starts. I even tried to short out my starter and that didn't work. It was in the middle of the summer and my infant child got very hot waiting on me to start the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10383284, filed 2011-02, 50,000 miles

   “On numerous times, anti theft system prevents me from starting my car. I have been stuck trying to come home from work, trying to go to work and at many other times. There are numerous complaints on the internet from many consumers about this issue. It is dangerous if you are out late at night and you cant even start your own car. Chevrolet has refused to pay to correct the problem and has offered no help at all.”

   NHTSA complaint #10618161, filed 2014-08, 50,000 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights and turn signals cut out

   • 245 complaints (31%)
   • median 80,500 mi at 6.6 yrs old (206 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 42 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2026

   Complaints describe headlights going dark without warning at night, sometimes recovered by flicking the high/low beam stalk. Turn signals are reported to work only intermittently, with owners saying they had to use the hazard flashers to restore them or signal by hand. Some also mention instrument panel lamps dropping out at the same time. Described from about 60,000 miles upward, with failures noted as sporadic and unpredictable while driving.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the headlights, high beams and both turn signals repeatedly, including while wiggling the multifunction stalk. Ask whether the headlamp switch or multifunction switch has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Turn signals failed to function occasionally and this problem was increasing in frequency. No accidents,but I had to roll down window to give turn indications. My chevy dealer replaced a part or parts and I seem to be ok. At a cost of over 100 dollars.”

   NHTSA complaint #10139138, filed 2005-10, 75,000 miles

   “My turn signals work intermittently. Sometimes not at all and sometimes have to activate flashers on and off. Sometimes lites won't turn all the way off when I park they will make a chiming sound and I will turn them on and off til it stops.”

   NHTSA complaint #10473260, filed 2012-09, 100,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 127 complaints (16%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 9.4 yrs old (103 state mileage)
   • 34 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2026

   Owners describe the engine quitting without warning at speed, after hitting a bump, or when slowing from a high idle, with restart sometimes possible immediately and sometimes not. A few reports involve a corroded or dirty mass air flow sensor or rough running and misfire, and some describe an intake manifold failure after a jump start. Reported from about 30,000 miles to well over 180,000 miles, with no clear pattern of age or weather.

   Recall 15V701000Recall 09V1160003 related service bulletins

   What to check: During the test drive, note idle quality and whether the engine stumbles under acceleration. Ask about any history of stalling, and whether the air flow sensor or ignition components have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is a continuing problem. When I start my car and drive it down the road, sometimes, but not always, the idle will not come down from high idle. I can do up to 45 MPH and never touch the accelerator. If I tap the accelerator to release the high idle, it works sometimes. Usually thought, I have to stop the car and cut the engine off, wait a few seconds, and restart it. That usually, but not always fixes the idle problem. If it continues to high idle, I have to repeat the stop and start scenario.”

   NHTSA complaint #10614701, filed 2014-07, 136,500 miles

   “This car was one-owner and very well taken care of and serviced routinely. I was driving home from work on the interstate and my car just lost power. I had no control of the car. It slammed into the concrete medium wall on drivers side, then spun around and lodged underneath the trailer of a semi-tractor. The semi hit the brakes and it projected me back across upon the top of the concrete medium where my car just rode to a stop. The air bags did not deploy. My beautiful car was totaled but, by the grace of god and seat belts I am alive. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10607310, filed 2014-07, 162,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Dashboard lights and gauges fail

   • 113 complaints (14%)
   • median 87,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (92 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 27 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2026

   Owners report the entire dash going dark while driving, fuel gauges reading full or empty regardless of actual level, and warning lamps lighting in clusters. Dealers reportedly diagnosed the body control module or instrument cluster and quoted replacement, though some owners say they were not repaired. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 135,000 miles, typically as an intermittent fault rather than a one-time failure.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the key on, confirm every warning lamp and gauge reads sensibly; watch the fuel gauge for drift. Ask whether the body control module has been replaced and whether replacement modules were properly programmed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2002 chevy Impala. The car behaves as though there is an electrical problem. My own research seemed to indicate a faulty bcm module. I took the car to a dealer and explained my suspicion and the odd intermittent problems, and they replaced the ignition switch and spent a lot of time trying to find a wiring problem. After 2 weeks they said they found the electrical problem and charged me $700. Now, a few weeks later all symptoms are back. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10339180, filed 2010-06, 130,000 miles

   “- the contact stated that while driving the 2002 Chevrolet with Impala 48000 failure mileage at 60 MPH the entire dashboard lights failed without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who did a diagnostic test and confirmed that the body control module failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle has not been repaired. The current mileage was 55000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10182814, filed 2007-02, 48,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Coolant loss and leaks

   • 105 complaints (13%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (69 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 20 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2020

   Complaints describe the low coolant light coming on, coolant disappearing at a steady rate, and leaks traced to the lower intake and water pump area. Some owners mention an intake valve seal or intake gasket repair, and a few report the leak returning after earlier repairs. Often reported under 60,000 miles, with other cases spread out to about 135,000 miles.

   Recall 09V1160003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant level in the reservoir and look for crusty residue at the intake and water pump. Ask whether the intake gaskets or water pump have been replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Supposedly the cooling system was fixed in 2003 but it still tells me that my coolant is low and it leaks. I am the second owner of this car and have only had it since september of 2019. Also the transmission has a delayed shift from 1st to second.”

   NHTSA complaint #11319827, filed 2020-03, 135,000 miles

   “Loud thumping noise coming from lower engine area. Echanic diagnosed problem. Fly wheel disinegrated. Poorly manufactured part. One month later low coolant engine light came on. Mechanic diagnosed problem as bad intake valve seal. Poor quality GM part. Both parts replaced and repaired as recommended.”

   NHTSA complaint #10096010, filed 2004-10, 70,000 miles

Buying note. Because these complaints center on intermittent electrical and starting faults, plan on having a pre-purchase inspection that includes repeated key-on and restart checks. Ask for records showing the open ignition-switch recall and the exhaust-manifold oil-drip recall were completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.