2002 Chevrolet Impala Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 47about this part
- Share
- 6%of 795 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 75,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 47 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Chevrolet Impala, 6% of the 795 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 75,000 miles. 20 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Chevrolet customer service states that the NHTSA campaign notices - 07e021000 & 02v222000 - do not apply to my 2002 chevy Impala ls. Chevrolet does not recognize or cross reference your campaign numbers. They stated to me that the information provided by NHTSA is false . I think Chevrolet customer service is lying. Help needed. Please don't send me some legal jargon answer.”
NHTSA complaint #10263647, filed 2009-03, 20,000 miles“We hit a horse with our car and the air bags did not deploy. We received cuts on our head, face, hands, and legs. I received a blow to my head causing swelling and bruising to my forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks. Experiencing headaches and dizziness since then. Large bruises and swelling on my thighs from the steering wheel.”
NHTSA complaint #10223207, filed 2008-04, 65,000 miles“I was driving at about 45 miles an hour. Ford ranger in front of me slammed on brakes to avoid head on collision. I had plenty of time for car to stop but ABS brakes locked up and I rear ended the truck. Then after hitting the truck hard enough to have car towed the battery burst and the air bags never deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #10162484, filed 2006-07, 53,000 miles“I was standing outside of the vehicle, watching the gauges on the instament cluster going up and down, like they were loosing power, then both air bags exploded! ,shattered the windshield and dashboard! I just cant believe that happened if I or my loved ones had been going down the road!!! Well I dont want to think about that but, the piont is the system failled. And if I had hit a wall or something and been killed it would have looked like the air bags worked properly. This car was in my drive ideling , in park no one even touching it!”
NHTSA complaint #10730949, filed 2015-06, 179,523 miles“I was involved in a rear-end collision. The air bags did not deploy (expected) and the shoulder restraint did not prevent my head and body from going forward and striking the steering wheel (unexpected.) I received injuries as a result of my forehead striking (I assume) the steering wheel.”
NHTSA complaint #10147283, filed 2006-01, 60,000 milesRelated recalls
- 02V222000Aug 9, 2002Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.Covers: Chevrolet Impala 2002–2003, Oldsmobile Bravada 2002–2003, GMC Envoy 2002–2003 +10 more
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 13% |
| 2019 | 5 | 18% |
| 2018 | 6 | 10% |
| 2017 | 17 | 15% |
| 2016 | 16 | 14% |
| 2015 | 29 | 10% |
| 2014 | 44 | 7% |
| 2013 | 19 | 7% |
| 2012 | 20 | 8% |
| 2011 | 37 | 7% |
| 2010 | 103 | 23% |
| 2009 | 232 | 28% |
| 2008 | 50 | 6% |
| 2007 | 49 | 8% |
| 2006 | 47 | 9% |
| 2005 | 33 | 5% |
| 2004 | 31 | 3% |
| 2003 | 39 | 6% |
| 2002 | 47 | 6% |
| 2001 | 47 | 6% |
| 2000 | 80 | 10% |
| 1996 | 1 | 1% |
| 1995 | 1 | 2% |
| 1994 | 1 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2002 Chevrolet Impala
305 complaintsExterior lighting
123 complaintsEngine cooling
106 complaintsEngine
75 complaintsBrakes
74 complaintsSteering
57 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
36 complaintsFuel system
34 complaintsOther or unknown
34 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
34 complaintsEquipment
21 complaintsElectronic stability control
17 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology