Well i'm pretty torn up on mine i hate the goddamn mechanical portion of the car, everything seems to go wrong that can, but man do i like the way it looks and how comfortable it is. Im curious about the rest of u?

well i'm pretty disgusted with my 01' impala. electrical & mechanical problems have made me hate GM. but on the upside i put spinning rims & televisions in it so at least it looks nice. I would like to run over someone from GM.

I like the feel of my '03 Impala LS. But I have had electrical and brake problems with it since 6 months after I bought it. It is disappointing to have such a sharp looking car, with squeaky brakes! Our dealership cannot offer any repairs for the problems we have with our car. So we are currently seeking buyback from GM.

My Mom has an '04 Impala she got late last year, and so far not one problem with it.
Ok, I'll admit, her brakes squeak too, but I suppose thats not really that big of a deal........... right?

as long as she isnt slammin her brakes on all the time....is it a squeak or a grinding sound? Also the 2003 and 2004 i'm pretty sure they worked most of the bugs out, or u better hope they did cuz u could be going down a long road of an endless money pit :/

Other than the electrical nitemares and putting new brake rotors on every 15k i guess its ok

just put good rotors and brakes and you won't have any issues. I've replaced mine and they are better than GM. I like and dislike the car. Looks great but all these stupid problems. All the cars seem to have the same thing wrong with them.

I hate my Impala. I have a 2000 3.4 and have had nothing but bad luck with this shit. I almost got killed because some asshole tried to jack me for my rims, so I tookm them off. Now I haven't driven my car for like 4 months because the heads went out, and where cylinder #6 was had to be re-threaded for the spark plug to go back in. And I'm Having this starting issue that seems to can't be fixed. It could be a sensor but I don't know which one?

We have been communicating with GM and our dealership this week about our 03 Impala trouble. Mainly electrical and brakes, we are also troubled by the shifter acting up at times. Probably the transmission will cause us problems in the future, as others have posted!

We have been told by GM and the dealer mechanic that GM has too many electronics on these cars and not enough to feed their needs. But they are working on it! (Not sure that helps me now)

The dealership has offered free of charge to put ceramic pads on the car for us, that will be done this week. We are still waiting to hear what GM has to offer. They already declined to buy it back, but offered a free extended warranty. I am waiting for more questions to be answered before we decide.

We are not sure what to do because we like the feel & look of the car. But after reading this message board; know it is only going to give us problems. I can't believe GM can get away with telling customers that's just the way it is and you are stuck with it!

If we had it to do over again, we would not have bought a GM vehicle. We had a 96 Thunderbird and 99 Windstar that never gave us trouble. We bought the Impala for the looks and On Star feature.

But the On Star has drained our battery dead after sitting at the airport for 10 days. (You don't hear that in their commercials) And when we hang up the On Star phone, the RPM's drop to 200, the cars lights dim and a loud popping comes out of the speaker. Seems the extra features were not worth the trouble.

Add the squeaky brakes, heated seat that is too hot or too cool when on; I could go on and on! I would suggest anyone who is thinking of buying a GM product (because it is not just the Impalas with these issues, and that is what GM stated to me!) wait until they include a 100,000 mile warranty and they back the quality of their vehicles up the way a reputable company should!!!

I have had less problems with the 2000 3.8 with over 150k miles on it then the 2003 LS with 30k miles on it... I almost would say it can vary car to car... I have no complaints with my 2000, its been a solid workhorse of a car and still drives strong as the 03 Impala...

YOU PEOPLE ARE CRYBABIES
The reason the brakes squeak is becase the government stopped the use of asbestos in brake pads.
THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FOR THIS MATERIAL.
ALL cars brakes squeak EVEN EXPENSIVE FOREIGN CARS!!!!
so get over it and move on

I absolutely hate my impala....i have had nothing but problems....the longest i have driven yet is 6,000 miles without a problem, it's been in and out of the shop the whole time i had it. It was so bad the place i took it to refused to work on it anymore. I have a post on here of all the problems i have had. I'm looking now to get rid of it!!! Piece of shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Has anybody else had this starting issues that I've been speaking on? I took it to 3 mechanics and no one can figure out why the car starts sometimes and other times it takes like 17 tries before it starts. Then sometimes I'm driving, I'll stop at a light and the car will die. i then have to start it up right there again. I'm gonna give it like 4 months or so and if anything else goes wrong or the starting issue can't be fixed I'm gonna burn that bitch and go back to Nissan's. BTW this is my second Chevy I've owned and the second to be a F@#$ up. My chevy Beretta took me up to 169,000 miles. My Impala has only 90,000 miles on it.

How reliable do you guys think that new V8 will be in the 2006 SS Impala?

Has anybody else had this starting issues that I've been speaking on? I took it to 3 mechanics and no one can figure out why the car starts sometimes and other times it takes like 17 tries before it starts. Then sometimes I'm driving, I'll stop at a light and the car will die. i then have to start it up right there again. I'm gonna give it like 4 months or so and if anything else goes wrong or the starting issue can't be fixed I'm gonna burn that bitch and go back to Nissan's. BTW this is my second Chevy I've owned and the second to be a F@#$ up. My chevy Beretta took me up to 169,000 miles. My Impala has only 90,000 miles on it.
IT COULD BE A LOOSE WIRE TO THE MASS AIR SENSOR. I PUT A K&N DROP FILTER IN AND I GUESS THE WIRE GOT LOOSE FROM THAT. MINE WOULD STOP AND DIE AT LIGHT.

IT COULD BE A LOOSE WIRE TO THE MASS AIR SENSOR. I PUT A K&N DROP FILTER IN AND I GUESS THE WIRE GOT LOOSE FROM THAT. MINE WOULD STOP AND DIE AT LIGHT.

Hey I put a drop in K&N also but my issue has been happening before I put it in but I'll check the Mass Air sensor

YOU PEOPLE ARE CRYBABIES
The reason the brakes squeak is becase the government stopped the use of asbestos in brake pads.
THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FOR THIS MATERIAL.
ALL cars brakes squeak EVEN EXPENSIVE FOREIGN CARS!!!!
so get over it and move on

Have seven GM vehicles in the driveway right now, not one has squeaking brakes. Not one is a front wheel drive either. I would think the world's largest auto manufacturer could put quiet brakes that last on their number one car.

I`ve Had My Impala About 3 Month And So Far No Problem I Just Dont Like The Way In Starts

I got a 2002 Impala V6 3.4 and it was fine at first, untill it started getting numerous misfires, all on cylinder 5, but now its fine, it had problems with coolant leaks, and oil leaks, and it was all a big bitch, but the dealer fixed it all, and runs fine now, and i like the look of it, and the fact its quite and all, but problems keep coming and going, although i think its a good car, it does have its flaws. out of 10 i'll give it a 6

you're brakes squeek or the rotors warp well then stop replacing them with the same thing try what i did 20minutes after i left the lot with my 2000 LS i ordered all the parts i needed and swapped everything in my garage check out the links

i went with the brembo cross drilled and slotted on all 4 corners and the ceramicool pads front and back
http://www.brakeworld.com/catalog.asp?page_id=items&catid=1
pads (http://www.brakeworld.com/catalog.asp?page_id=items&catid=2)

the way i see it great tires are crap with out great brakes so if you dont like'm change them

Has anybody else had this starting issues that I've been speaking on? I took it to 3 mechanics and no one can figure out why the car starts sometimes and other times it takes like 17 tries before it starts. Then sometimes I'm driving, I'll stop at a light and the car will die. i then have to start it up right there again. I'm gonna give it like 4 months or so and if anything else goes wrong or the starting issue can't be fixed I'm gonna burn that bitch and go back to Nissan's. BTW this is my second Chevy I've owned and the second to be a F@#$ up. My chevy Beretta took me up to 169,000 miles. My Impala has only 90,000 miles on it.


i have a 1991 Buick century Custom with 400,000kms i retired when bought my 00 Impala LS its sat in the yard for a month and still starts 1st time so and i got every service record for my impala its only had the one hard start problem lets not blame the car it could happen to a Nissan just the same

I was told there was a problem with the caliper. It engages to roughly or something along those lines, i talked to a mechanic at the dealer he said it wasn't true but hell you cant trust them. And Monster what do u mean dont blame the car? U just said that ur buick has 400000k on it and never had a hard start and your 5 year old impala with much less miles has had one. I dont understand that statement. Some of these impalas are complete shit and u shouldnt defend them, i fucking hate chevrolet.

I was told there was a problem with the caliper. It engages to roughly or something along those lines, i talked to a mechanic at the dealer he said it wasn't true but hell you cant trust them. And Monster what do u mean dont blame the car? U just said that ur buick has 400000k on it and never had a hard start and your 5 year old impala with much less miles has had one. I dont understand that statement. Some of these impalas are complete shit and u shouldnt defend them, i fucking hate chevrolet.

what i ment was the impala only had one problem that was a hard start the buick was a great car cept for the brakes GM has always had bad front brakes on the FWD cars and on the dont blame the car every company makes shit cars every once and a while my Neighbour has a 04 maxima with 20000 kms on it been through the shop enough they bought it back!! and im not defending them just saying it could happen to a Toyota just the same

what i ment was the impala only had one problem that was a hard start the buick was a great car cept for the brakes GM has always had bad front brakes on the FWD cars and on the dont blame the car every company makes shit cars every once and a while my Neighbour has a 04 maxima with 20000 kms on it been through the shop enough they bought it back!! and im not defending them just saying it could happen to a Toyota just the same

Thank you for a wise comment, not some OMG GM SUCKS comment. It can vary car to car, manufacturer to manufacturer.

thanks MCO

just a little information i surfed the automotiveforums.com boards this morning and i would say 90% of the people on here in every make and every model has something to complain about so lets stop bitchin about this problem and that problem and the squeek in the dash or my brakes make noise or this isnt working or tht isnt working blah blah blah lets start talking about the up sides of our Impala's and if it means that much to you and your that pissed off sell it trade it and buy a ford ...... just dont come here and bitch about it or even better buy a toyota,nissan,mazda and when the warrenty expires and your out jumbo amounts of money for a for that same part thats 25.00 for a GM but 250.00 for Jap car dont say i told ya so !!!!!! :banghead:







thats my :2cents:

thanks MCO

just a little information i surfed the automotiveforums.com boards this morning and i would say 90% of the people on here in every make and every model has something to complain about so lets stop bitchin about this problem and that problem and the squeek in the dash or my brakes make noise or this isnt working or tht isnt working blah blah blah lets start talking about the up sides of our Impala's and if it means that much to you and your that pissed off sell it trade it and buy a ford ...... just dont come here and bitch about it or even better buy a toyota,nissan,mazda and when the warrenty expires and your out jumbo amounts of money for a for that same part thats 25.00 for a GM but 250.00 for Jap car dont say i told ya so !!!!!! :banghead:
thats my :2cents:

Reminds me that I almost bought a Crown Vic... mostly because I have a thing for police cars... :biggrin: ... That aside, We need a good discussion of whats good about the Impala...

yea i love my car and i dont wanna dwell on the issue of the company but GM today is a shitty company, you all know it. I have fought with dealers and the company to get somewhere and all they do is push me away. They know some of their cars are shit(mechanically) and they also know that a lot of people dont know that. All they want is your money for a product that barely works and goddamn if that doesnt piss me off.

yea i love my car and i dont wanna dwell on the issue of the company but GM today is a shitty company, you all know it. I have fought with dealers and the company to get somewhere and all they do is push me away. They know some of their cars are shit(mechanically) and they also know that a lot of people dont know that. All they want is your money for a product that barely works and goddamn if that doesnt piss me off.


On a good note, the 3.8 is so old of an engine that it is nothing but a damn workhorse... :D

I have an 01 Impala with 154000 miles on it. I have done all maint. and had very few problems. I had to have the front end worked on. Probably my driving. I have the ever famous hard shift problem which is intermittent. I also had an exhaust manifold pop a hole because of a back up cat. I could not even tell the cat was backed up. It is a great car.

We had a 2003 3.4 LS that we loved until it got trashed by a '93 grand marquis while it was innocently parked! I just bought a 2005 3.8 LS- so far so good!

They better fix the PASS LOCK problems and get some electrical techs that KNOW what they are doing..not shot gun artists. PASS LOCK sucks.
OnStar sucks, Saginaw steering half shafts suck, Rotors suck, Oil leaks suck, crappy ignition switch. Other than that it's JUST OK...and my very last UAW GM car.

i dont understand why you guys instead of trying to resolve your problems you come on here and bitch about the cars..if they bother you that much then go out and post some for sale signs around your city/town...i have a 2001 cavalier with 90,000miles and so far the only thing thats wrong with it at the moment is that it needs a rear strut and the stereo needs to be replaced (so its going aftermarket)..doesnt really matter what company you go to theres always a chance that you end up with a lemon batch..but if you want to keep your car cuz you like the style..then change everything about it that you dont like...dont like the passlock..buy a new security system...dont like the brakes do what the other guy here did and buy some brembo's..best brakes on the market. doesnt matter what the problem is just fix it...what..did you think you were going to be able to buy a car and never have to pay for anything...we arent talking about a CD player that has one job and can last for years with no problems..we're talking about advanced peices of technology that have to do everything that you want it to..heated seats for your pleasure..cd player to entertain you..air condition the cab so that your not freezing or not boiling...meanwhile getting you from point a to point b...so quit all your bitching..treat these like your babies and they turn out to be good kids...if you dont want to deal with the responsibilities of owning a vehicle..maybe you shouldnt own one...and what do you expect anyways...you bought a gm/chevy..this is the company that signed up for bankrupsy cuz they arent making enough money selling vehicles to keep themselves alive....be really..its just a car..no make is really different...its always going to be down to (pistons..wheels..brakes..camshafts...gas..frame.. etc)

so for fucks sakes...all of you that do nothing but complain about your cars...shut the hell up and thank it for what it DOES do..like take you distances of 500 miles to visit mom...take you downtown cuz your too lazy to use your own damnfeet or ride a bike

To my car: You caused me to go into debt, left me stranded two times, and made me lose faith in car companies. God how can i ever repay you?! Let's see, well when i get some money together i guess i'll buy a new car and take you to the junkyard where you belong!

To my car: You caused me to go into debt, left me stranded two times, and made me lose faith in car companies. God how can i ever repay you?! Let's see, well when i get some money together i guess i'll buy a new car and take you to the junkyard where you belong!



cars only do their jobs...like i said..some might be lemons..but its all in the driver...cuz when you go to a dealership ALL the cars will fire up when sittin in the line up..its only after someone takes over it as the owner and everyday driver that shit starts to happen..if you tend to have a heavy foot on the gas when leaving a red..chances are your cars going to start acting fucked with the engine and tranny..if another person is the type that has the state of mind that the reason why they put suspension systems on cars are for shit like potholes...chances are their suspension components and steering are gonna go downhill...if someone likes to brake hard..brakes are gonna go sooner then normal...dont get me wrong...there are cars that off the production line are complete shit..but theres no way that they can have thousands upon thousands of different year models that are all fucked and not the cause of the driver...not even chevy/gm is capable of that

I love everything about my '03 Impala. I did have some problems with the rotors, however the car I bought was a demo and supposidly that happends when cars are in the showroom for too long, or something like that. Anyway, GM fixed it without charging me and I haven't had any problems since (knock on wood). I would recomend an Impala to anyone. It's a fun car to drive, good size too.

I'm pretty pleased with our 2000 LS. We've only had some (what I would consider) minor problems, but the "goods" of the car have outweighed the "bads" so far.

Our vents started to smell like vomit every time you turned the fan on, so (under warranty) the dealer put this module or something in that turns the fan on for a few seconds every so many minutes (24/7) to keep it from collecting moisture. Scares the crap out of you when you're working on something quietly beside the car and out of the blue it kicks on.

Car was hesitating sometimes so they they adjusted something in the tranny and hasn't done it since.

Haven't really been bothered by brake problems. I replaced the brakes and front rotors myself and still don't have any issues.

At 87,500mi, we're just now getting something that's worrying me. It sounds like the tranny whines during heavy acceleration when there is more than one person in the car and the A/C is on. Doesn't do it when you're not accelerating and it doesn't do it if I'm by myself with the A/C off. I would be elated if it is just bearings in a pulley going bad, but I'm not putting any money on it.

***just had the tranny flushed on 7/8/05 and the whine is gone...whew!!!***

Overall, I like the looks, the power and the room. My wife was hell-bent on getting a Camry until we test drove it compared to the Impala. I'm only 6', but it was dredfully uncomfortable to me.

I just wish there were more power-adder mods.

Overall, I like the looks, the power and the room. My wife was hell-bent on getting a Camry until we test drove it compared to the Impala. I'm only 6', but it was dredfully uncomfortable to me.

I just wish there were more power-adder mods.

http://www.3800performance.com

They have the majority of power adders for the Impala's out there.

And I can easily imagine the Impala being comfortable for taller people especially compared with something such as a Camry.

I have a 2002 LS with 50,000 miles on it. The brakes absolutely suck. I've had it so I will spend the money on Brembos. Passlock system gave me fits for a month before they found the problem (control module). Found out today that the catalytic converter is rattling inside (this is my second cat. First one was rotten). Water pump leak (gasket replaced). Some little noises depending on the weather. Some found and fixed, some still lurking. All in all, I can't really complain about this car. Good performance, great looks (mine is black with tan leather), continuously get compliments because of the styling, roomy as hell, doesn't guzzle gas, great turning circle. For the money, it's great value. I was thinking of buying a Cadillac CTS but I really like this car. Japanese cars have boring styling (except the Nissan Altima which I think looks cool). Plus they're not as well equipped. I saw the 2006 Impala SS and it is disgusting. It looks like a brand new....Lumina - with Cadillac Catera mags. GM screwed up big time on this one. So overall, I would say not a great car....but a very good one.

I love everything about my '03 Impala. I did have some problems with the rotors, however the car I bought was a demo and supposidly that happends when cars are in the showroom for too long, or something like that. Anyway, GM fixed it without charging me and I haven't had any problems since (knock on wood). I would recomend an Impala to anyone. It's a fun car to drive, good size too.

not trying to make fun or anything, but ....you actually bought a demo, please tell me you payed like $500 for it. a demo is pretty much the one car you dont want to buy, it just gets traded around the dealership for the employees to drive for a few months, and they beat the shit out of it, one of my friends sells cars, well used to, but he drove a ton of sifferent cars and beat the hell out of everyone, as well did his work buddies. but if you like it and it isnt screwed up yet more power to you, hope it stays that way.

I have a 2002 LS with 50,000 miles on it. The brakes absolutely suck. I've had it so I will spend the money on Brembos. Passlock system gave me fits for a month before they found the problem (control module). Found out today that the catalytic converter is rattling inside (this is my second cat. First one was rotten). Water pump leak (gasket replaced). Some little noises depending on the weather. Some found and fixed, some still lurking. All in all, I can't really complain about this car. Good performance, great looks (mine is black with tan leather), continuously get compliments because of the styling, roomy as hell, doesn't guzzle gas, great turning circle. For the money, it's great value. I was thinking of buying a Cadillac CTS but I really like this car. Japanese cars have boring styling (except the Nissan Altima which I think looks cool). Plus they're not as well equipped. I saw the 2006 Impala SS and it is disgusting. It looks like a brand new....Lumina - with Cadillac Catera mags. GM screwed up big time on this one. So overall, I would say not a great car....but a very good one.

2006's look too much like everything else thats been made in the past 10+ years. Thats one thing I did like about the 2000-2005 Impala's, they had a style of their own.

I like the room in my Impala, Performance is alright, could have been beefed up some IMO. The 200hp 3.8 should have been the Base model engine, and Northstar V8 for the 2000-05 SS's... oh well. Imports are looking more and more bloated anymore to me...

I've owned my Impala for about 6 months now and I haven't had any problems with it that I did not initiate myself. I got hit by a deer and it smashed up one side of the car. After I got it back from the shop, the lights are getting condensation in it. The GM dealer is actually going to replace the last one (which I was shocked they said they would replace it when they knew I hit a deer on that side). I also had an aftermarket radio added to the car that has built-in navigation in it. The shop that installed it did really well on the electrical installation but they didn't do too well with the dash of putting it back together. Now I have this intermittent squeak in the dash. But I was talking to the dealer yesterday and they said that they respect the shop that did the work for me so much that what ever they do to my car, the dealer will warranty the stereo shop's installation and fix anything they break. I was really impressed by that. So they said they will fix my dash under warranty.

Other than that, I have not had one problem that was not brought on by me (or the deer that hit me). The car has been great. About the post that said they would wish that GM would offer a 100,000 mile warranty with their cars, there is an option to upgrade to the 100,000 mile warranty. My dad works for GM and I asked him about that. He just says that those foreign cars have the same amount of problems as any domestic car. They just tack on the 100,000 mile warrranty and add it to the price of the car without asking you. At least GM, you don't have to take it. I'm not 100% how true that is, but it sounds logical. I also asked the dealer about that when I was buying my Impala. The person that sold me the car, she said that those foreign car dealers require you to bring everything to the dealer to have normal maintence done, even oil changes, which can get expensive. Or you void the warranty. They said, all they require is you take it to a repuitable shop and have documentation, but you don't have to take it to the dealer. But I decided to pay a few thousand dollars more and get the 100,000 mile warranty on my 2004 Impala.

fuel pump?

fuel pump?

What about a fuel pump?

I love my '04 SS Indy. I didn't have kids, I had an Impala. I treat this thing like my baby and keep my eyes and ears open for anything that may be wrong. I have yet to find anything and when I do I'll fix it. So be it.
Does anyone know of any other forums for the new Impalas? I'm more into performance mods, and most (all) of what I've found here is complaints. If you are prone to complain about your car, you are probably also prone to abusing it. Lets face it: how many people really know how to take good care of a vehicle? Many people in the US buy a car, beat the hell out of it, and trade it in when it doesn't perform up to their standards. Some people will say that cars are not what they used to be, I say the people driving them are not what they used to be. Everything has suddenly become disposable which is what's wrong with our society. We bought into the Jap market and forced American auto makers to their knees. What did we think would happen? Don't be so quick to judge GM when we forced their hand. We are all responsible, anyone who has ever bought a Jap car. It's the Hondas and Toyotas that started the whole disposable car syndrome to begin with. They built them cheaper and we bought them. The jokes on us, now we'll pay for it. Don't complain before you initiate change. Everyone knows someone who bought a foreign car in the last year, if you weren't so busy complaining about your Chevy they may not have.

I love my '04 SS Indy. I didn't have kids, I had an Impala. I treat this thing like my baby and keep my eyes and ears open for anything that may be wrong. I have yet to find anything and when I do I'll fix it. So be it.
Does anyone know of any other forums for the new Impalas? I'm more into performance mods, and most (all) of what I've found here is complaints.

I know of two forums. www.impalahq.com and www.newimpala.com.

I know of two forums. www.impalahq.com and www.newimpala.com.

http://www.3800performance.com Has a good ammount of listed parts for the Natual Aspirated and Supercharged 3800's. Give thanks to those crazy Grand Prix owners. It shows at least whats available, i'm sure you can find better prices for those things elsewhere.

Initially I was pretty disappointed in my 2005 LS with 3.8L. When I tried it out seemed really comfortable. Turned out the seats were not comfortable on a long ride. I have found out if I add a small cushion seems to be usable. The armrests are still too low and firm for me. I have made 4 day long trips with it and starting to like the way the cruise control handles moderate hills with out kicking down. Also like the mileage, 28-32 highway depending on A/C usage.
The car is far from perfect but I have not had to take it back to the dealer yet for malfunctions(knock on wood). Still only have 3200 miles on it. With a couple of coats of wax on it, it gets a lot of looks.

yea i love my car and i dont wanna dwell on the issue of the company but GM today is a shitty company, you all know it. I have fought with dealers and the company to get somewhere and all they do is push me away. They know some of their cars are shit(mechanically) and they also know that a lot of people dont know that. All they want is your money for a product that barely works and goddamn if that doesnt piss me off.


Sorry to tell ya, but isn't everyone out for money anyway, anywhere, anyhow now a days? Capitalism....... the market of money.

http://www.3800performance.com

They have the majority of power adders for the Impala's out there.

And I can easily imagine the Impala being comfortable for taller people especially compared with something such as a Camry.


I'm not even that tall and I couldn't work with the Camry. The steering wheel, anyway I adjusted it, didn't work for me. It was a nice riding car though. Nice get up and mileage. I couldn't complain for the 2-week rental I had it for. In terms of the Impala, I was at the showroom today. Love the car like no other, BUT I didn't buy it yet. I'm trying to make sure I completely know what I'm getting myself into. But all in all, it seems like it should be a great car to drive.

I have a 2002 LS, 50K miles, and have had not one thing go wrong. Nothing. Brakes wore out, I replaced em. Still running the OEM rotors, I didn't even resurface them, just replaced the pads. 1 set New tires, oil changes, and that is it.
I guess I am one of the lucky ones. I love the car.... it's a keeper.
It drives the same as it did in 2002.

I'm not even that tall and I couldn't work with the Camry. The steering wheel, anyway I adjusted it, didn't work for me. It was a nice riding car though. Nice get up and mileage. I couldn't complain for the 2-week rental I had it for. In terms of the Impala, I was at the showroom today. Love the car like no other, BUT I didn't buy it yet. I'm trying to make sure I completely know what I'm getting myself into. But all in all, it seems like it should be a great car to drive.

The 3.8 Engine is better power wise and reliability wise for the Impala. Most of the trouble spots have been worked out in the latest models, the car should be a good deal and a solid ride for awhile. I have a ex-police and a '03 LS. I like the ex-police over the LS just for responsiveness, I havn't drivin any newer Impala's, so I can't speak for them, but the LS always felt too 'boaty' for me. Comfort was top notch though. <3 heated seats.

For the price they are selling GM cars right now, i'd go for a SS if I had the spare change right now *sigh*

MCO....what do u mean the 9C3 is nore responsive? aren't they the same 3.8 powerplant? Do u mean the handeling b/c of hte added sway bars?

MCO....what do u mean the 9C3 is nore responsive? aren't they the same 3.8 powerplant? Do u mean the handeling b/c of hte added sway bars?

Same motor yes, Different Transmission / Handling Gear.

The tranny alone is a big difference, higher gearing and stronger parts. Suspension is stiffer. I almost wish all the Impala's came stock like the 9C1's do.

i need to get those bigger sway bars man, im doing a steering and suspension overhaul

I have a 2000 9c1 3.8l with 120,000 with no problems...just had the brakes redone, but really wasn't having a issue with them before, but could i be having less problems cause it was a police car, and all the bugs were worked out by the county mechanics???

i need to get those bigger sway bars man, im doing a steering and suspension overhaul

Definitly, the Impala's are wonderful cars with stiffened up handling, IMO anyways.

Police cars usually do have their problems worked out 7, If your lucky they did a overhaul on the general maitence parts before selling to the public. I know mine came with new set a of tires... but that was it. Had to get 4 new brake pads/rotors and wipers. Not a big deal for the price I paid. Later on the transmission went, which... they drive the hell out of the cars, tranny is almost general maitnence to a fleet of cars.

the police package impalas aren't geared different then the civilian impalas. The police package impalas have alloy parts in place of the plastic parts in the civilian models. Still geared the same.

Mike

SO am I on my 2001 base. minor or major, mechanical or electrical, problems just keep coming up. I'm looking to trade it out for an import....
well I just really like the look and the size of my impala...

Well i'm pretty torn up on mine i hate the goddamn mechanical portion of the car, everything seems to go wrong that can, but man do i like the way it looks and how comfortable it is. Im curious about the rest of u?

I don't know if you still have this car, but in case you do......... We had this problem sometimes and then finally on our trip up to Canada from Virginia for Christmas it decided to die on us. The mechanic at the GM shop couldn't find the problem so we ended up renting a car and leaving it with them to fix. They found the problem after 12.5 hours and $1200. It was a purple wire that had looked fine on the outside but was severed inside the casing. In other words it was like that when they built the car. It cost $30 to fix and $1200 to find the problem. It was less than 2 years old, but over the milage by a few 1000. They ended up eating 75% of the cost, but I still had a bird over it.
I love the car, and the only other trouble we've had with it has been the brakes so far. (Got a new problem with a security message flashing but we'll see what comes of that)
Melinda

the police package impalas aren't geared different then the civilian impalas. The police package impalas have alloy parts in place of the plastic parts in the civilian models. Still geared the same.

Mike

The police package Impala's have the 4T65E-HD transmission with a final gear ratio of 3.29. Civilian Impalas come with the Non HD transmission and the 2.93 Final Gear Ratio.

That information is straight out of a 9C1 catalog. Do tell how they are not geared differently.

The base model has the 2.93 ratio. The LS has the same ratio as the police package (3.29), while the SS has the 2.93 ratio (I think) with the hd transmission from the Police pkg.

ive driven my fiance's 2003 base with the 3.4, its a nice car, verynice ride,

weve taken it on a few road trips this past year and its pretty comfotable, great mileage. it looks ok, nothing amazing, but it looks descent, i would have preferred if it was the ls as i dont care so much for the front bench seat.

im considering getting a used 05 ls, i have a 3800II in my intrigue and the engine/tranny is a pretty good combo.

It just annoyes me the people who haven't dumped money into their cars can sit there bitch about us complaining about our cars are a piece of shit. Just something for you to know. I got rid of my car, i bought a brand new subaru impreza and this car is just fricking awesome. It's all wheel drive, awesome in the snow, it gets 34 mpg. It's fast and it's simple. After all the problems i have had and all the money and time my car has been in the shop, well over 30 times in four years. Why in hell would i sit there and think chevy is still great. I drive a 2001 Chevy Suburban at work. It's a piece of shit too and it doesn't have 100k on it yet. The intermitted steering shafts is crap, the cd player doesn't work, the cluster dims and goes out on it's own. The radio doesn't illuminate at night. THe flywheel has been replaced. It's slower then shit too.

Now sit there and tell me chevy is a great company and that if all i want to do is bitch about my car then go somewhere else. I added up every damn dime i put in my car. $9,234.75. That does not include oil changes. If you think thats normal, then your just as good as the next person.

I have been on the phone with chevy, not once did i ever recieve a dime on my problems or did they assist me. Everytime, they said they would call back, never do, then a few days later, i would call back and they would say that the case is closed. Well they would open it, give them all the problems again, they would say they will call me back later today or the following day and not call back. It was just a vicious cycle. It got really old.

Now, why would someone have to take a brand new car and replace the brakes, I think that is stupid. If you dont' like it fix it....yeah i have been doing that, the car made me go into debt, left me stranded 5 times, almost killed me once because of the master cylindar that failed....twice...

I will probably never own a GM vehicle for a long time. They are not going into bankrupcy because peopel aren't buying their cars. They are going into bankrupcy because they did it to themselves selling shitty cars, then haveing to fix all those cars that have problems.

Everytime i got my car fixed, I would also think, well i hope I got all the problems fixed and I will probably be trouble free for the next few years.....hell no, a week later, a no start problem. Just one thing after the other.

After haveing it for four years. I was starting to see a pattern in repairs. I have replaced a shit ton of parts. Some parts have been replaced four times, like the fuel pressure regulator, twice on the master cylindar, i can't ever remember how many time i had to replace brake pads and rotors. The cd player was replaced, something with the windows, because they won't wouldn't go back up.

I have been posting on here for almost 3 years. I have learned a lot about the impalas and how to fix them. I didn't know shit about cars when i bought this thing, but now i feel like i'm a master mechanic.

Anyone feel free to add to this, i know I'am just ranting, but it really pisses me off to sit there and listen to people give us shit because we think our car is a piece of shit. I feel for every one of you that has had the problems i have had. I truely feel sorry for you and i know the fustrations of not recieving any help from chevy. The times you have been stranded, the countless repairs and all the money you put into it.

It doesn't break my heart one bit to see GM filing bankrupcy. They where at one time one of the best car manufactures around...what the hell happened.

But for those of you, feel free to flame all you want, but I have voiced my honest opinion!!!!!!!

ummm, im not trying to falme or anything of that nature, but im just curious as to what brought that on, the last post was just about that guy thinking the impala wasnt that bad. again, im NOT flameing in any way, just wondering where that came from.

and you are pretty mcuh right about the dealerships, while they may be independently run, almost all dealerships try to stick it to you. but in defense of the impala, they are a dime a dozen, and there are so many of them its bound to happen that there are goods ones and bad ones, like ive said in the past some of them will have every single problem in the book and some will go forever with only maintenence.

but again i'm NOT trying to flame, you are intitled to your opinion, I myself have been just fed up with the dealership, but not the impala. its just depends on the situation I guess.

It just annoyes me the people who haven't dumped money into their cars can sit there bitch about us complaining about our cars are a piece of shit. Just something for you to know. I got rid of my car, i bought a brand new subaru impreza and this car is just fricking awesome. It's all wheel drive, awesome in the snow, it gets 34 mpg. It's fast and it's simple. After all the problems i have had and all the money and time my car has been in the shop, well over 30 times in four years. Why in hell would i sit there and think chevy is still great

Now sit there and tell me chevy is a great company and that if all i want to do is bitch about my car then go somewhere else. I added up every damn dime i put in my car. $9,234.75. That does not include oil changes. If you think thats normal, then your just as good as the next person.


I agree and disagree. First off, i'm happy you bought a New Subaru that your pleased with. Its also not comparable to the Impala, so I would assume that its greatly better than the Impala. You answered why there are so many Subaru's on the road now for that matter.

I've spent plenty of pretty pennies into my Impala and have no hard feelings against it or GM myself. Still have 3 GM cars in the driveway for that matter. I don't have every dime added up for repairs that have been done to my car, but its in the ball park of $5,000-$6,000. Certinly not $9,234.75, but not chump change either. In your case, yes its abnormal. But I hate generalizations of all cars being bad, my car would stand in the good category as for the milage i've gotten out of the $5-6k in repair is over 171,000 miles. Car runs perfectly like it should and has no problems going on. Certinly going against people assuming all GM cars can't last 100k miles.

I don't want to flame you or anything, I think your a good person, who has an understandable grudge against GM. You have your reasons, you've voiced them plenty to this group as a whole.

As bigrod put it, theres good ones and bad ones. Thats true for any car manufactuer, its how the deal with the bad ones that gets noticed by people. In GM's case its generally pretty poor. I know well enough, i've had a Older GM car that went through 5 head-gaskets due to shop incompantence at the dealership. (Never cost me a dime in the end BTW, I got lucky in that sense)

Phew, long winded reply. Good luck with your Subaru and it going that 100k miles flawlessly.

(Can this be the end of Impala hate posts?)

You guys are scaring me. I have had my 03 Impala LS for only about 4 weeks. I have put 2000 miles on it though and I love it. I do have the int steering shaft issue. And I know this might be dumb but I think I will repair it myself, I do not like having strangers working on my cars including dealers. The car is very nice. I know the typical brake problems cars have and have experienced it on my other cars. So I try to let the brakes cool before I park her if I have been driving a little hard and that has helped on my other vehicles except my Tahoe cause I pull a camper and it just cannot be avoided. I put pads and rotors on my Moms Bonneville and told her to ease up on the the fast stops but she doesn't listen. The last time I was in the car it felt like it had square tires when you hit the brakes. You have to let the brakes cool before you park a car or they will transfer friction material to the rotor and it causes an uneven friction surface. The rotors are not usually warped so just a cleanup with a D/A will get them working nicely again. I forget the technical name for what happens to them. Well anyway I love the car. It better stay that way or I will dump it real fast and get a Chevy truck. I ain't buying a freaking toyota. EVER!!!

It just really ticks me off and my response was from a few posts on this thread that really made me mad. I know the next person is going to have little or just as many problems. But this is not the first GM that i have had problems with. I don't mind paying for something here and there. But damn it was just a constant battle. Lets say the intake gasket and the intermitted steering shaft went, yeah thats fine, not all cars are flawless, but when I'm turning about and replacing parts that I already paid to have fixed a year ago, now thats getting kinda ridiculous. I complained about my converter at about 70k. Well I took it to the dealership and they said it was fine, I took it again at 75k and then again at 78k. Knowing that after i hit 80k, it was going to be out of warranty. At 80410 miles, i took it in for an oil change, and they said they had a hard time starting it, well no shit, i brought it in 3 different times...but all of a sudden the converter was plugged badly and they wouldn't replace it because it was out of warranty. My god was i so fricking mad. I threw a tantrum in the dealership. I know the cats aren't cheap and it was replaced once already at 46k and it was replaced under warranty. Again this is just an instance of many that i have complained about. I got rid of my 2000 3.4 liter with 98,000 miles on it.

My friend has a 2002 chevy trailblazer with 60k on it and she just had a costly repair with the transfer case or something on it, can't remember exactly. I'm also a law enforcement officer and the county has purchased a few impala's and they have had maintance problems also. Tranny's going out at 60k. The cooling fan constantly staying on, and just an over all piece of crap.

The county ambulance service bought a 2003 Chevy Blazer and at 45,000 miles, the motor blew, it was not a response vehicle at all, and being a county vehicle it received proper maintance and oil changes. Now the county has taken the dealership they bought it from to court because they refuse to replace the motor. Yeah it's out of warranty, but you shouldn't have to be replacing motors at 46k, thats crazy

Now, we have a 2001 Chevy Suburban 2500HD First response vehicle with 86,000 miles on it. It's also been a nightmare. The onstar in it would come on for no reason, it was nice to hear that sexy voice at the other end, but it was disabled since it wasn't needed. At 36,000 miles, the flywheel was replaced, the cluster would stop illuminating at night which is a pain in the ass and annoying. The CD player doesn't work. The intermitted steering shaft was replaced. Non-stop problems with the four wheel drive, I know for a fact it's not working right now. The motor skips and misfires, and it's already had a intake/injector cleaning, new plugs/wires, fuel filter, the computer reprogrammed and a few sensors replaced, i dont' know which ones. Also when you step on the gas, it doesnt' go anywhere, once in a great while it will stall out. It's to the point now where they are thinking about retiring it early because you can't have a first response emergency vehicle doing things like this. They are getting a ford Excursion and see how it hold up to emergency responses.

I know that police departments are ever so thrilled with the dodge intrepids. They can really take a beating, some have 150.000 miles on them and they drive like brand new. The crown vics are ok, but they tend to fall apart after 100k, but they keep on going. Crown vics are a pretty serious work horse. I have also read about the impalas breaking down in high speed chases and all kinds of crazy shit.

I know all the vehicles i have talked about are not really related to the impala forum, but they are GM vehicles. I know my subaru could have the same problems also but i know it won't. It's been a great car so far, fun to drive great in the snow, yeah it only has 1600 miles on it. But my impala was in the shop three times with 1600 miles on it.

I dont' mean to scare anyone about GM. But I felt I had to get my side of the story because you guys are the only ones that seem to listen. LOL. Also don't take my post to heart as I'm only one person, if you ask the next person about it they might brag GM up and down and swear by them!!

But on a good note, i will add that there are things that i did like on my impala. I loved the styling on it and the way it looked, it ticks me off that i had so many problems because I really wanted this car to last. Thats what disappoints me. The car was pretty comfortable to drive. I swear the people in the back have more room then the driver and front passenger. The trunk is HUGE. I literally have to crawl inside to get something that is all the way in there. It has a smooth ride, the seats are confortable, but has a little to be desired on long distance trips.

The thing I miss about it the most is the stereo system. Thats the only complaint i have about subaru, the sound systems sucks. But thats with any import car. The stereo system was all bone stock, and it sounded great, good quality sound, great bass and I never changed anything in it because i was pretty happy with it.

I do have good things to say about the impala, I wish I could have kept it. But just couldn't afford the problems.

I agree....I kept mine for 2 years and drove 24,000 miles and it sure was a comfortable riding/driving car. Could not maintain with transmission problems, gasket leaks, having the radiator flushed 3 times during that period, etc, etc. GM made a decent car but equipped it with a crappy motor and transmission. Shame on them. Shouldn't be having these problems before 75-100 thousand miles and certainly not before 25,000.

2001 Base Impala. 117,000 Miles.

there's plenty to love about it:

tough as shit. it's a tank. I got in an accident, and my impala was barely touched, the other car was kinda crushed to shit.

good mileage as a commuter college student, it's pretty nice not to have a gas guzzler.

stock soundsystem I love music. It's one of my passions, so a good soundsystem was in order. I waited forever to change the speakers, because of how good the stock system was. I was impressed.

speedy it's got some power behind it. I've got a heavy foot, so I was happy driving this home the first day.

roomy I always seem to be the driver when I'm out with my friends, and the ability to fit six full-grown people is awesome. And the trunk is gigantic. I have a 12-inch Sub with a custom box in there, and it's still spacious in there. Enough to fit drums, or guitars/amps.

and things to hate about it:

brakes and rotors I'll admit it, I'm hard on my breaks, but with all these people that have problems with theirs.... A friend of mine had a Malibu, and had the same problem with his. So I guess GM's partially at fault here... At least I can save money on installation because it's an easy DIY fix. (just a sidenote, are the brembos really worth it to anyone who has them installed?)

CD Player/Head Unit It's a pain in the butt if you want to get a new head unit, yet still be able to control your car's computer and have to keep your old head unit in the trunk. Also, I've had to reset my radio several times because the CD player has gotten stuck trying to eject a CD over and over that's not there. All i listen to are CDs.

Window Switch I also have the problem with my windows being stuck. It's only the driver's side, front. Which can be a pain, but at least it's winter, and they won't be down much.

little problems I've just had stupid little problems, but I guess because mines up there in mileage, it's just stuff that needs to be taken care of. This isn't too much, but it's just a little annoyance. It does seem like once I get one thing done, something else pops up.

I guess overall I'm happy with this car. It's my first car, I got a steal (IMO) on it. 2001 in 2003 for $4250 w/75,000 all hwy. According to the notary who appraised it, it was worth somewhere around 11,000-12,000 at the time.

Overall I like the Impala - however I have had issues with the brakes/tires which I have been able to figure out and for the most part fix myself. Also I agree with one of the previous posters that mentioned asbestos pads being outlawed - this does cause different performance and possibly squeeky brakes - and not just on Impalas. I however have NOT had any problems with squeeky brakes on my vehicle. I know that the amount you drive on dirt roads also adds to the possibility of noisy brakes.
The brake/tire issue I had was vibration. There was 2 problems - 1 was vibration when appling the brakes and also vibration while driving at highway speeds. I changed the rotors and brakes pads on all 4 wheels at 85,000 km (about 53,000 miles) and this completely solved the vibration with applying the brakes. For those not afraid to work on their own car this is not a difficult job in my opinion.
I then took the car to Canadian Tire and had all 4 tires balanced and this has solved the vibration at highway speeds issue. They told me all 4 tires were out of balance.
We also have a 2000 Dodge Caravan and I change the rotors/pads every 18-24 months on this vehicle as well because of the exact same issue. I believe the pad material these days causes the rotors to get hotter and warp, thus causing the vibration.
My Impala does not have ABS, heated seats, DVD popping out of the ceiling etc - and my next car won't have this extra crap either. One of the guys at work had trouble with the ABS on his truck and after I found out what it cost him to get fixed there is no way this option is for me.

You guys are scaring me. I have had my 03 Impala LS for only about 4 weeks. I have put 2000 miles on it though and I love it. I do have the int steering shaft issue. And I know this might be dumb but I think I will repair it myself, I do not like having strangers working on my cars including dealers. The car is very nice. I know the typical brake problems cars have and have experienced it on my other cars. So I try to let the brakes cool before I park her if I have been driving a little hard and that has helped on my other vehicles except my Tahoe cause I pull a camper and it just cannot be avoided. I put pads and rotors on my Moms Bonneville and told her to ease up on the the fast stops but she doesn't listen. The last time I was in the car it felt like it had square tires when you hit the brakes. You have to let the brakes cool before you park a car or they will transfer friction material to the rotor and it causes an uneven friction surface. The rotors are not usually warped so just a cleanup with a D/A will get them working nicely again. I forget the technical name for what happens to them. Well anyway I love the car. It better stay that way or I will dump it real fast and get a Chevy truck. I ain't buying a freaking toyota. EVER!!![/QUOTE]

Overall I like the Impala - however I have had issues with the brakes/tires which I have been able to figure out and for the most part fix myself. Also I agree with one of the previous posters that mentioned asbestos pads being outlawed - this does cause different performance and possibly squeeky brakes - and not just on Impalas. I however have NOT had any problems with squeeky brakes on my vehicle. I know that the amount you drive on dirt roads also adds to the possibility of noisy brakes.
The brake/tire issue I had was vibration. There was 2 problems - 1 was vibration when appling the brakes and also vibration while driving at highway speeds. I changed the rotors and brakes pads on all 4 wheels at 85,000 km (about 53,000 miles) and this completely solved the vibration with applying the brakes. For those not afraid to work on their own car this is not a difficult job in my opinion.
I then took the car to Canadian Tire and had all 4 tires balanced and this has solved the vibration at highway speeds issue. They told me all 4 tires were out of balance.
We also have a 2000 Dodge Caravan and I change the rotors/pads every 18-24 months on this vehicle as well because of the exact same issue. I believe the pad material these days causes the rotors to get hotter and warp, thus causing the vibration.
My Impala does not have ABS, heated seats, DVD popping out of the ceiling etc - and my next car won't have this extra crap either. One of the guys at work had trouble with the ABS on his truck and after I found out what it cost him to get fixed there is no way this option is for me.

I have a 2004 Indy SS and love it. The car looks great and drives great!

I have a 01 Impala LS with 96k and it has its share of problems.So far beyond normal; maintenance I have replaced cat convertor twice,3 oxygen sensors,1 rack and pinion,drivers window/ door master switch,sunroof switch,console lid,
and have had several bulbs out in instrumentation,
Probably the most annoying is the clunks and creaks in front end/engine cradle/steering shaft asslys.I wish Chevy would own up to this problem instead of doing band-aid fixes
My 70 Chevelle puts this car to shame!:banghead:
ronvb

I just bought a 2000 LS and I've already poured $400.00 dollars into it. I've only had it a week. Go figure that the $400.00 dollars that I have poured into it didn't even fix the problem. The engine seems like it is running out of gas no matter how much is in the tank and sometimes it will stall out at red lights or when idling in park. One week and I wish I would have never bought the dang thing. Next time I'm buying a Nissan or Toyota.

Try replacing the crankshaft position sensor - those are its symptoms and it is a common failure on gm v6s.

I've been noticing that alot of people have had the same problem that is and stated that the crankshaft position sensor was the problem. Its weird though because the problem got worse after I replaced the MAF sensor.

Really like my 2003 Impala 3.4L V6

elitemp1984 So you do not think there are any 5 year old used Nissan or Toyotas that have defects ? What did you pay the $400 to have done ?
did you take it back to where you had the work done and tell them it still is not working ?

yeah thats where it is at right now. I had them check the crank sensor they said it was okay. The CEL came on with the same code I have been getting the past two times it has been in the shop. The bad thing is I usually like to be there to make sure they are actually doing something but unfortunately I am in the army and work two hours from home and can't be there all the time. they are changing the maf sensor for the third time.

Talk about freaking me out...
I just bought a 2004 model, dark gray color a couple days ago, I absolutely love it.
I'm surprised to see so many complaints, but i noticed the LARGE majority of complaints are for the 2000-2002 models, so hopefully they fixed those problems for 2004 and on.

Talk about freaking me out...
I just bought a 2004 model, dark gray color a couple days ago, I absolutely love it.
I'm surprised to see so many complaints, but i noticed the LARGE majority of complaints are for the 2000-2002 models, so hopefully they fixed those problems for 2004 and on.

Great! Glad you like your 04 but wondering what model: LS 3.8 or base 3400? I also like the the dk grey better than the red 02 base I have but the deal was right for me. I have hade no problems since I purchased in July 05, just things I don't particularly like. Example the tail lights on trunk are phony. What was GM thinking? Engine compartment poorly engineered and cluttered. Trunk carpet poor fit and finish. But these are minor complaints, Thinking of getting the silver vinyl for rear tail lights (remembering "62 & 63" impala). Also considering stainless brake rotors and upgrade to the spoke alloy wheels rather than the 20 spoke I have.

Great! Glad you like your 04 but wondering what model: LS 3.8 or base 3400? I also like the the dk grey better than the red 02 base I have but the deal was right for me. I have hade no problems since I purchased in July 05, just things I don't particularly like. Example the tail lights on trunk are phony. What was GM thinking? Engine compartment poorly engineered and cluttered. Trunk carpet poor fit and finish. But these are minor complaints, Thinking of getting the silver vinyl for rear tail lights (remembering "62 & 63" impala). Also considering stainless brake rotors and upgrade to the spoke alloy wheels rather than the 20 spoke I have.

Thanks, I got the base model, looking forward to upgrading suspension and thats about it.
I'm coming from a panther platform, going to an Impala after 3 crown vics. I was VERY impressed with the smooth ride and acceleration. There are, like you said some downsides but for $13k with 27k miles, brand new condition... I can't complain.

Thanks, I got the base model, looking forward to upgrading suspension and thats about it.
I'm coming from a panther platform, going to an Impala after 3 crown vics. I was VERY impressed with the smooth ride and acceleration. There are, like you said some downsides but for $13k with 27k miles, brand new condition... I can't complain.
I have read here in this forum that when upgrading the suspension that the most effective is the rear stabilizer it might have been Impalahq.com I read this also, you may want to check that out as there are several suppliers listed there. had my first pain in the neck with battery 2 days ago, had to get new one 59 +tax at Napa, was told by GM tech AC delcos just not what they used to be. Four years on the original seems a bit short to me for AC Delco. With all the new electric do dads maybe it's not!

I purchased my 04 Impala new two years ago.. Currently at 42Kmi and satisfied so far... Nice Car ... No major complaints.. Excellent service form my Dealer - Mathews Chevrolet in Owego, NY

Only problems so far: both rear wheel bearing assemblies replaced under warranty for faulty ABS sensors (one at 15K and one at 38k) .. Steering rack replaced under warranty at about 20k - leaking seal.

:)

The fact of the matter is this all you that say " oo i hate my Impala " are just morons. If it's that bad of a car then SELL IT! i mean SH**. But no all you people just cry about how bad it is and dont seem to do anyting about it.

That's all i have to say.
:nono:

Aint that a bitch, I bought my 04 Impala about 2 weeks ago and them brakes and steering are shit. The handling's fine, it's just that damn shimmy. I thought I was the only one till I read all this, yeah it look nice and all, but you know GM and all there bullshit. GM pisses everyone off somehow or another.

I have two GM cars and so far I have not had major problems.

I like my 03 Impala LS with appearance package. It has 54 K and I have only replaced the brakes once. I resurfaced the rotors and did not need to buy new ones. I went with the expensive ceramic brakes as so far so good.

My other car is a 99 sunfire and no major problems even at 110,000 miles (just maint. and two sets of front brakes.)

After the bad cars of the early FWD 80's cars; I am slowly trusting american cars again. They are getting more reliable. I think all makes have their good and "bad" cars.

I have two GM cars and so far I have not had major problems.

I like my 03 Impala LS with appearance package. It has 54 K and I have only replaced the brakes once. I resurfaced the rotors and did not need to buy new ones. I went with the expensive ceramic brakes and so far so good.

My other car is a 99 sunfire and no major problems even at 110,000 miles (just maint. and two sets of front brakes.)

After the bad cars of the early FWD 80's cars; I am slowly trusting american cars again. They are getting more reliable. I think all makes have their good and "bad" cars.

I just bought a 2000 LS and I've already poured $400.00 dollars into it. I've only had it a week. Go figure that the $400.00 dollars that I have poured into it didn't even fix the problem. The engine seems like it is running out of gas no matter how much is in the tank and sometimes it will stall out at red lights or when idling in park. One week and I wish I would have never bought the dang thing. Next time I'm buying a Nissan or Toyota.

You bought a car that someone else was having problems with (if you only had it a week, then the problem was there when you bought it). Then when the crackpot you took it to misdiagnoses the problem.... you are buying a Nissan or Toyota, hahahahahaha. Good thing you are patient and rational.. why dont you sell it and buy yourself an import (for twice as much for the same year and mileage).

For the record, I have had a Nissan Altima 2.5s for the last month ('05 with 18000km on it) and I HATE the thing. Decent off the line... till 20km/h when instead of kicking down it kinda dies for a second or two then revs like a mofo cause its underpowered (useless little 4 banger):banghead: . Extremely uncomfortable, seemingly worse mileage with this 4 cyl Nissan then I am getting in my 3.8l Impala (I dont have actual "#'s" to back this claim up, but I do know that the Nissan has been ridiculous for a 4cyl. A shimmy in the steering while breaking, generally crappy interior aesthetics (sp?) even the freakin' gas cover release doesnt work, I have to pry it with the key everytime.

Enjoy that $400 repair job on the GM turning into a $1200 job on your new Honda. "ummm, sir we are gonna have to lift the motor to change the rad, not enough room under the hood to get it out otherwise".:screwy: ):grinyes:

I should have my buddy with his lemon Prelude post on here with the insane amount he has had to put into his car (I thank him for the lifting the motor to remove the rad reference:grinyes: ). I am in no way saying that Preludes are bad cars, but his is... some cars just are lemons regardless of maker/model.

I had a '94 Cavalier z22 that I bought at 100K finally sold at 345,000 km. It was still running great, the only thing was the clutch starting to go. The only thing I ever really had to do to that thing was brakes, and 2 or 3 starters and alternators (but I generally used starters and alts from the wreckers hence the frequency), the tensioner pulley and a new positive battery cable cause of corrosion at the solenoid.
I am sure that you wont see all "good" stuff on the cavalier sites either.

We'll after getting the main intake gasket replaced my 02 Impala is a great car. I like how it looks and runs and how for a bigger car it's actually pretty quick. I have actually raced it befor i had a big sterio in it and beat a z28 Camaro V8. SO i mean they have there problems but what car doesn't?

Great Car

Gonna b nicer with rims =)

2000 LS with 155k miles on it, and until the last 5000 it's been an awesome car. Now that my window regulators are failing at an incredible rate my opinion may be shifting somewhat. I'm on my third. But I still love it!

Has anybody else had this starting issues that I've been speaking on? I took it to 3 mechanics and no one can figure out why the car starts sometimes and other times it takes like 17 tries before it starts. Then sometimes I'm driving, I'll stop at a light and the car will die. i then have to start it up right there again. I'm gonna give it like 4 months or so and if anything else goes wrong or the starting issue can't be fixed I'm gonna burn that bitch and go back to Nissan's. BTW this is my second Chevy I've owned and the second to be a F@#$ up. My chevy Beretta took me up to 169,000 miles. My Impala has only 90,000 miles on it.


i cant say this will help , but i had the same problem with my '01 imapala , at only 11272 miles . luckily i was still under warranty for this problem . i just found the paperwork on it and this is what dealer replaced : fuel pump assembly , fuel return line , and master cylinder bracket . i have not had any starting or quitting problems since , and have 57000 miles as of today . all the other things i have had to fix and new problems is ANOTHER story .:banghead:

I am very satisfied with my 2001 Impala LS 3.8L

Highs - Ride, comfort, ample power, looks great, incredible highway mileage

Lows - Brakes a bit squeaky for the first few brakes in the morning, but I've checked them out multiple times they are ok and they stop the car very well. So it's not really an issue.

Also I love the rims, but why did GM put plastic center caps that get damaged so easily?!?!? I went to the dealer and they are $80 each?!?!? At that price I can live with a few nicks on the caps, the rest of the rim look sweet.

I like my car alot, I just worry that it might not be worth my money in the long run. I have had one recall for the bolts on the brake calipers. Oil pan gaskit was leaking, Cig lighter shorted out twice, Moonroof doesn't want to close or open when i use it but every time i'm at the dealer it works just fine. There a clunking in the steering wheel right now, I'm thinking it's the steering shaft. The front rotors warped, The Ac rec. wasn't working, but it has never has left me stranded. I like to fill the tires to 34psi min because there to soft at 30 for me. If i corner hard you can see on the tires that most of the sidewall was rubbing the ground. I wish you could turn the traction control off or on forever not just untill you shut the car off. I have a dumb reason for that but still a reason. But over all i love it. If it gets me to 150,000+miles without any major reapairs i will always have good things to say about it. But I'm worried at this point.

I like the way my 01 Impala looks but thats about it. I'm replacing my catalytic converter for the second time, I've replaced my BCM, Headlamp switch, window switch, crank shaft, lower and upper intake gaskets, replaced front wheel bearings but they still dont sound right. I think the check engine light has been on for about 3 out of the 4 years I have had it. And of course GM will do nothing for me. Everything that has gone wrong with it either happened just after the warranty was up or it wasn't covered. I have had much better luck with the ford cars I have had at least the repairs didn't cost as much.

My first post here...

I just bought a used 2002 Impala 3.4L with 109,000 on it 4 months ago and I have put almost 4,000 on it since I bought it. It still felt tight and pretty responsive when I took it out before buying it.

Pro's: The engine is pretty quiet and gets me great gas mileage (best has been 34mpg) yet still has the acceleration I want at times. The transmission shifts fine with no hard shifts and/or noise. It has plenty of room, is comfortable (longest trip has been 400 miles), has a friggin awesome stereo at base level (although there are taped wires hanging down from the amp location), came with consol/floor shift/front buckets, 6 way power driver seat, drivers side impact air bag, HUGE trunk, is very clean, and it looks awesome (besides some rock chips on hood).

Con's: Brake noise. But I put new brakes on right away and went with ceramic on original rotors and have a pretty quiet ride since. Some play in the steering from time to time accompanied by a little noise. Nothing hard or chunky sounding/feeling tho. Overflow tank for radiator is a bit gummy looking but a flush is in the works (Iv'e read that DexCool is sh!te). Already did the oil change and reset the indicator.

My car actually was a rental of all things so I know that at times it was driven hard but I am in love with this car. I carfaxed it and it came back clean with regular service. I still have less than $5,900 in it including the brakes and oil change.

And as a side note... anyone that pays to have a dealership reprogram their Remote is wasting money IMO. My friend owns a 2000 Impala and I reprogramed his remote for him after he replaced the battery, all with the stock radio and the owners manual.

http://myspace-123.vo.llnwd.net/01300/32/10/1300100123_m.jpg

Some play in the steering from time to time accompanied by a little noise that is the intermediate shaft, there are kits to lube it with extra lube. I heard it does not help. Mine has a little play


anyone that pays to have a dealership reprogram their Remote is wasting money IMO. My friend owns a 2000 Impala and I reprogramed his remote for him after he replaced the battery, all with the stock radio and the owners I know on my 2003 It has to be done with a scan tool .

I know on my 2003 It has to be done with a scan tool .

Have you looked in the owners manual? If its just the transmitter you do not need to have it done with a scan tool. Check out page 2-53 of your owners manual (all customizations begin on 2-45). If you dont have your owners manual you can view or download it from this site...

http://www.analogstereo.com/pdf/om/2003impala.pdf

Dont give the dealer any more of your money, especially for something that anyone can do within 3 minutes. Have a good day tractorboy.

surr

Have you looked in the owners manual? No I did not. Awhile ago I saw how prog the key in the factory manual while i was looking for something else. They used a scan tool, so i assumed that a scan tool was needed. That is good stuff, thanks. Unfortunate as it is I have a lot to read for work. So reading in other areas is limitted and I have to assume that what I read is the most direct approach, I guess not in this case. We just got a Malibu Maxx also that has the theft lock where the key has a chip. If I want a third spare key. Do I have to go to the Dealer for that ?

No I did not. Awhile ago I saw how prog the key in the factory manual while i was looking for something else. They used a scan tool, so i assumed that a scan tool was needed. That is good stuff, thanks. Unfortunate as it is I have a lot to read for work. So reading in other areas is limitted and I have to assume that what I read is the most direct approach, I guess not in this case. We just got a Malibu Maxx also that has the theft lock where the key has a chip. If I want a third spare key. Do I have to go to the Dealer for that ?

I would assume [i]that[/] would need to be programed at the dealership. And they would have to reset the other keys to have them all work.

OK Thats what I thought also

My long term GM cars:
'89 Cav 160K miles, one bad crank sensor $25 and an altenator
'89 Silverado 100K miles not on issue
'93 Z28 100K miles clutch went out the day after I sold it
'99 Grand Am 130K miles ABS sensor, ignition lock and water pump have been replaced has the occasional stuck valve in the tranny, plastic window bracket, plastic lock switch cover, brake rotor pulsates but I keep it at bay by running good pads and hand surfacing the rotors (there're not warped, its an issue with the pad material being induced into the rotor surface by improper breakin or heavy use. (do not keep the brake pedal depressed after a hard stop)

'02 Impala 60K miles I've owned this car for five years and have had the rotor issue, which I have resolved, and the seat heater element go out and now the "hard start" issue which I am currently tracking down. Could be the fuel pressur regulator or a valve in the fuel pump. I'll post up what I figure out. Also could have been somewhat related to carbon build up on the throttle body blades and IAC pintle which I have cleaned. I also had the coolant level sensor issue but I resolved it by taking it out and cleaning it, now it works fine.(hard start fixed, it was the FPR), replaced the BCM the first year.

The poll portion of this thread has been closed. It has run long enough but the thread will remain open.

Note: Closing this poll makes it impossible to vote. It however does not stop people from replying to the thread.

just put good rotors and brakes and you won't have any issues. I've replaced mine and they are better than GM. I like and dislike the car. Looks great but all these stupid problems. All the cars seem to have the same thing wrong with them.
makes perfect sense, since the manufacturer uses subcontractors who are low bidders. Also think about the volume of products these subcontractors put out to supply GM; 60,000+ Impalas a year with, what, 8 years on the current model. That would be 480,000+ Impalas. Add to that all the other cars that use the alot of the same parts, several other cheverlet models, just as many Pontiac models and a coupla Buick models. That works out to millions of products put out be these companies so you are bound to have the odd issue crop up from time to time. You say they should have the issues worked out? GM, to appease the buyer, or least make them want a new car has to change the model up from to timt time. This requires new parts to be made and thus new issues to occur. I think they are doing quite well in the quality dept.

If my 2003 Impala (3.4) was anywhere near as reliable as the other GMs I've had, I'd probably say it was "OK". It was purchased new, maintained by the selling GM dealer, and has been a complete disappointment from a reliability standpoint.
Before the warranty ended (all covered) it needed:
a new block heater
a new dimmer switch
a set of tranny cooler hoses
two intake manifold gasket sets (at precisely half the mileage of my previous Buick)
a new rad cap
noise emanating from the dash was deemed "normal" and not repairable

After the warranty expired, (just recently), it's needed the steering shaft lubrication for the "slip-stick" condition, yet ANOTHER set of tranny cooler hoses (they leak at the crimps), a brake job that means all 4 rotors get replaced. The rotors on the 99 Century were good for one turning, so I don't buy the "they're all like that". Over an inch of water collected in the passenger front seat footwell, when, as I discovered, the weathersrip under the front cowl fell off. This is not even secured in place by adhesive, it's friction-fit, abysmal design. The passenger side temp regulator will not reliably control the temperature, it locks at hot or cold regardless of setting.
One good thing about it though, it's my last General Motors product.

sounds like you have had some bad luck. I, on the other hand, have had very good luck with my '02 Imp. I guess that off sets your one bad vehicle. I have owned many GM vehicles and overall have had very few problems. I believe that the owner/driver has a lot to do with the problems they have with a vehicle. I take very good care of my cars (driving and maintaining) them and have excellent luck with them.

I can assure you this vehicle was looked after. Were it not, the dealership would have used any possible excuse to get out of the warranty obligations. My 80's Malibu went on to 2002, it doesn't go that far in Canadian winters unless you know how to look after it. All the required maintenance on the Impala was done by the dealership to ensure that warranty would stay in effect. I'm still trying to figure out out how a block heater fails unless it's simply shoddy parts to start with.

Obviously as displayed in other forums, the degration of quality emanating from GM (originating with management decisions) is not isolated to this particular vehicle. If they were so reliable, and the company so willing to step up to the plate when blantant design defects arise, then there wouldn't have been all the talk of "possible bancrupty" a short time ago, the customers would be flocking in.

driving styles and habits weigh heavily on how well a vehicle fairs on the road. meanwhile;
judging by all the GM vehicles on the road, I'd say the cutomers are flocking in. Your block heater is just one of about one million made by the sub-contractor. Obviously, at some point on his manufacturing line somebody missed something and that particular defective part made it onto your vehicle. GM is not going to stop evrything to try and appease one cutomer, they will continue pumping out millions of fine automobiles to everybody else while you sit and stew. Theres no skin off their back if you dis-own them. Meanwhile you will go purchase another mass-produced vehicle from Ford and one of the much touted Japanese consortiums and eventually you or one of your new found foreign car owner friends will discover that other manufacterers have similar issues when it comes to building and selling millions of cars.

So the three sets of tranny cooler hoses required with less than 38,000 miles because they all failed at the crimp are because:

a) I drive like a maniac
b) They were simply "sample anomolies"

To quote Seinfeld, "I don't think so"

I'd put option c) in there, but hey, I'm going to keep it civil.

Gee, even the dealer agreed that it wasn't abuse because he replaced the first set under warranty, no charge.

My 80's Malibu that was in reality driven a lot harder still has it's originals. Yes, that sure is a puzzler isn't it?

seems you've had a stroke of bad luck with a bad batch of hoses, so far all my lines are good to go.
I wonder how many people have had issues with their tranny lines...out of the millions that have been made?

That's enough, it's off thread at this point. It's "like or hate the Impala".

I like the product as conceived. As executed, I don't.

It's made with parts that were selected based solely on bottom line, with no thought to longevity, serviceability etc, which is the direction GM has elected to go.
My advice to people buying GM is get the best deal you can, read the fine print, follow the owners manual service requirements and keep your receipts. With the new warranty you'll be covered for 5 years. Before you buy, look at depreciation figures, how much it'll be worth at the end of that warranty.

Finally, another Impala example: (Yeah, and this is "Normal" too, uh-huh.)
hxxp://www.autosite.com/content/research/forums/index.cfm/action/Posts/fid/2983
I suppose people must be just making this stuff up.

[QUOTE=rbolduc]It's made with parts that were selected based solely on bottom line, with no thought to longevity, serviceability etc...
Pretty much the way industry works, usually the low bidder gets the job. When/if they get too many complaints the contract will then be pulled and given to the next lowest bidder..

It's your money, folks.

I had a 2002 LS that I purchased brand new. A few weeks ago a Dodge Ram made me thankful the trunk was as ginormous on the thing as it was. Ram hit me and shoved me into a hyundai, no front end damage to my car and none to the hyundai but the trunk of my car took a beating and the car was totalled.

I had somewhere around 75,000 miles on it and no major problems.
There at the end I kept blowing a fuse in the cigarette lighter and then it wouldnt work at all. There had been some sort of clunk sound in the left front for quite a while as well. But other than that I had no complaints and loved it!
I can say when I was sitting at a red light and a Ram came crashing into me full speed, the car did exactly what I had hoped it would do in terms of safety, and I wasnt hurt.

chalk up another one for the happy GM owners

My 2000 is a total lemon. Lots of the things I'm reading here have happened to my car. Driver's window switch lowers the window, but won't raise it. Air bag light came on after slamming my brakes to avoid someone running a red light...$210 later, the mechanic finds a soda can under my seat that hit the sensor. Months after that, the car sometimes doesn't start. No click click in the ignition, absolutely nothing to indicate the car is even trying to start. This turned out to be a faulty ignition switch that was causing the car to only have half the amps it needed to run (something like that)...ignition switch replaced. Now the car sounds like an airplane when I drive it. It's so loud, people think they're in a truck. I have no idea what this problem is, but I'm sure it won't be cheap. Oh, and the emergency brake light comes on when I turn a corner. Not the brake, just the light. Brake fluid is full.

I will never own another Impala.

Wow.

I'm coming to this discussion late but I traded in my 2004 LS in for a 2007 SS just the other day...

Only problem I had with the 04 was heated leather seat went out on the drivers side and a broken passenger wiper (my fault but covered under warranty)

Gotta say, the '07 is nicer than the '04 in several ways but then I loved my '04 so I guess I'm easy...

Later,
Sean

I would just like everyone to know that I have 135K on my 2000 Impala LS. the thing totaled a Haybailer and the only problem I've had since then is the transmission pressure control solenoid hanging up. I fixed that myself. the car runs great. Yes the brakes squeek. They should. If the brakes stop squeeking you should then worry......THEY PROBABLY AREN'T WORKING. I work on some of the most expensive cars in the world. Don't tell me its GM. High performance brakes squeel. have you ever heard race cars????? Geez you guys are cry babies.thanks for listening.:banghead:

I have been having problems with my 2001 impala starting too. Sometimes it would take a few tries or so to start and others no problems at all. Also i would be driving down the street doing anywheare from 20 - 60 mph and the car would just die and shut off. I would shift into neutral and it would start right back up and i would have not more problems for the rest of the trip. I was also only getting approx 16 miles to a gal very littile compared to 24 when i bought the car a year ago. I took it into a mechanic whom thought it was the fuel pump so being a friend he went ahead and replaced because i still have an extended warranty which expires in approx 2,000 miles so i only had to pay the $100 deductable. Problem fixed? no. Finally about a month or so later it start doing it a lot more frequently and the check engine light started coming on every so oftem so i took it into the dealer- they found it to be the crank sensor. Its been about 2 weeks now and i haven't yet had any problems with starting or dying. My gas mileage has also gone back up to about 22. Hope this helps, sorry for the lengthy reply just want to be detailed to help whomever i can.

I recently posted some problems and the resolution that was found. I am somewhat happy with my impala. I have heard of people having a lot of problems and others with none. But you have to think a lot of problems are how the car is driven. I purchased my car used with 76,000 miles on it only a year ago. It now has nearly 97,000 miles on it. As you can see i drive alot. I have never had any major problems besides not starting all of the time and dying while i am driving which i believe has finally been fixed. Other that tha no major problems. Had to replaced brake pads and the battery but other than that no other problems.

Has anybody else had this starting issues that I've been speaking on? I took it to 3 mechanics and no one can figure out why the car starts sometimes and other times it takes like 17 tries before it starts. Then sometimes I'm driving, I'll stop at a light and the car will die. i then have to start it up right there again. I'm gonna give it like 4 months or so and if anything else goes wrong or the starting issue can't be fixed I'm gonna burn that bitch and go back to Nissan's. BTW this is my second Chevy I've owned and the second to be a F@#$ up. My chevy Beretta took me up to 169,000 miles. My Impala has only 90,000 miles on it.

I had a 98 Honda Accord LX and it would do the exact same thing, I was told that it was the Distributor, i was so tired of that junk I banged the hell out of it, i also unplugged it for a few mins, plugged it back in and it started working okay. Junk Hondas!

I have a 2005 Impala LS 3.8L, with 58k miles, i like it! I've been having some problems with my A/C, but besides that it's a great car!

Appears as though I'm resurrecting another old thread. Leave it to the newbie. LOL

I own, drive and love a 2000 Impala LS with the 3.8 and sport suspension package. I bought it used in Nov 2002 with just over 34K on it and now, after almost 6 years and over 97,000 miles, I can honestly say that I have had very few major problems with it.

The first was that the rear tires needed alignment shortly after I bought it (within 6 months). Since then, the only things that I have changed is: secondary air pump (a CA emissions item and I live in NY. But, it was on the car when I bought it), all 4 wheel bearing assemblies (at about 119,000 miles), serpentine belt (at about 126,000 miles) and rear struts (at about 130,000 miles). And, of course, tires, brake pads, a battery, etc.

Today I got my car back from its annual safety inspection and they told me it failed because my rack (rack and pinion box for steering, I'm assuming) was leaking. I checked it out when I got it home from the garage and it doesn't seem to be leaking enough to fail the safety inspection. It doesn't seem to me that it's leaking at all. No spots on the ground after it's been parked or anything like that. I haven't had any problems with the steering so I don't see the issue. Anyway.....

After putting the new rear struts in a few months ago, the car drives and handles like it did when I fell in love with it almost 6 years ago. I was getting ready to trade it in, but now I'm going to keep it.


I fell in love with Impalas in 1983 when I bought my best friends 1967 Impala 4 door - 283ci with "slip and slide powerglide" tranny. I'm looking forward to someday (when I have money and time) rebuilding a 1967 Impala SS 327 Convertible and/or 1994 - 96 Impala SS.

Love the forum and I'm really glad that I found it. I used to belong to another "new" Impala forum, but it apparently has died. All I've found on there for quite some time now has been spammers.

Appears as though I'm resurrecting another old thread. Leave it to the newbie. LOL


Yes you have...
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