2002 Chevy Impala Problems

I purchased a 2002 Impala in October 2005 with 31,500 miles. Is there
any class action lawsuit/ recalls on this unit?? The few postings I have
just started to read lets me know that this model has a lot of problems.
The clicking, grinding noise in the steering. After 3000 miles & regular
maintenance I have noticed a loud humming sound almost like a belt sander
coming from underneath the hood. Only between 30 and 40 mph. Almost like
the engine is racing at 80 mph when it is only at 40 mph. Also the change
engine oil light keeps coming on even though it has been changed on schedule. Low tire pressure light when the tires are fine.
Is this model car a piece of garbage as far as maintenance headaches? It
looks like a lot of people want to get rid of it. I've seen numerous ones in
the local paper for sale with only 25,000 to 35,000 miles on them. I have
an extended warranty but the hassles & headaches of dealing with this
seems more of an aggravation of my time. Are these inferior "Made in China" parts putting us in danger of a major accident???

The clicking, grinding noise in the steering. its the ISS (intermediate steering shaft) with it still under warrenty, take it to a dealership and tell them about it, they will probably just lube it (temp fix) or replace it with an updated desgin (perm fix)

Also the change engine oil light keeps coming on even though it has been changed on schedule. It needs to be reset, the car has a oil life monitoring system (looks at revolutions and temp) to determine when the oil needs to be changed, then it tells you, after you change it, it needs to be reset. heres how to do it.

http://www.impalaauthority.com/message_center_lights.html

Low tire pressure light when the tires are fine.
Again, needs to be reset, check that link I posted

Are these inferior "Made in China" parts putting us in danger of a major accident???
Impalas are made in Canada. And they do actually have a very good crash rating.

My impala has the new design steering shaft and guess what its clunking again. took it to the dealer they just lubed it GM has not fixed the problem. the dealer charged me nothing and said it was pointless to repalce it again do to GMs new updated part no correcting the problem so look for another update soon

same thing for me. Got it lubed a year ago, but still feel it's the worst steering...

I had the ISS replaced in my 2001 LS... It's been about a year now and it's been fine...

The oil life monitor is a good thing... You just need to learn how to reset it via the radio... Same for the tire pressure monitor system... Use the links that the prior poster gave you...

As far as reliability is concerned it seems like a small percentage of people have no end of troubles with their Impalas and then many people like me who have very little troubles (knock on wood!!)...

Oh yeah.... The loud humming sound you are hearing might be the serpentine belt or the belt tensioner... The belt is easy to replace... The tensioner is a little more difficult but not to bad to replace either... Then again your noise might be something else...

The noise and the low tire pressure light could both be a bad hub bearing. The tire monitoring system uses info from the wheel speed sensor (a low tire rotates slower than a properly inflated one).

I purchased a 2002 Impala in October 2005 with 31,500 miles. Is there
any class action lawsuit/ recalls on this unit?? The few postings I have
just started to read lets me know that this model has a lot of problems.
The clicking, grinding noise in the steering. After 3000 miles & regular
maintenance I have noticed a loud humming sound almost like a belt sander
coming from underneath the hood. Only between 30 and 40 mph. Almost like
the engine is racing at 80 mph when it is only at 40 mph. Also the change
engine oil light keeps coming on even though it has been changed on schedule. Low tire pressure light when the tires are fine.
Is this model car a piece of garbage as far as maintenance headaches? It
looks like a lot of people want to get rid of it. I've seen numerous ones in
the local paper for sale with only 25,000 to 35,000 miles on them. I have
an extended warranty but the hassles & headaches of dealing with this
seems more of an aggravation of my time. Are these inferior "Made in China" parts putting us in danger of a major accident???



Hi, I also have a chevy impala LS 2002. I love my car, but the steering shaft has to be lubed every 14months, and thats even after we did the replacement part that GM offered. also its only under warranty untill 75,000 miles and i already have 73,000 miles. after that it will cost about $120.00 everytime it needs to be lubed. My car also has a whining noise everytime i take off and when i turn the wheel, almost like its the power steering, but it does it when the car is just idle too. does anyone what that could be. it also seems like theres skipping in the motor or tranny when it shifts. also the coolant is also a problem as well. GM had a recall to replace some bolts because the coolent was leaking. to bad the cars are a piece of shit. i really like mine. any info email me @pmastro1066@snet.net Thanks

Hi, I also have a chevy impala LS 2002. I love my car, but the steering shaft has to be lubed every 14months, and thats even after we did the replacement part that GM offered. also its only under warranty untill 75,000 miles and i already have 73,000 miles. after that it will cost about $120.00 everytime it needs to be lubed. My car also has a whining noise everytime i take off and when i turn the wheel, almost like its the power steering, but it does it when the car is just idle too. does anyone what that could be. it also seems like theres skipping in the motor or tranny when it shifts. also the coolant is also a problem as well. GM had a recall to replace some bolts because the coolent was leaking. to bad the cars are a piece of shit. i really like mine. any info email me @pmastro1066@snet.net Thanks


I know what you mean! I love my 02' LS. I got the whole sports package deal and what not. Bought it in 03' I't was used with 9000ml. and now it's at 44,990ml. But ya... they're crap! They make a perfect rental. Thats how I 1st drove the car. Then I had to go buy one. Now my Impala has been giving me problems for the last week. I too have the raddling of the strearing wheel. It only happends to me when I'm at about 50 mph and I step on the brakes. I need to change my rotors. The whining sound is the converter. Mine does it too. It drives me crazy! But the big one is that I've been losing power especially up hill and with a rumbleing sound, almost muffled. Then there's my blinkers! I have too mess with the hazard button so my blinkers work. I'm telling you! If it's not 1 thing it's another!!! I miss my JEEP!!!
Well gonna work on the Impala tomorrow and take a look at it and see whats wrong. I'll keep ya posted!

Your blinker problem is due to a bad hazard switch... The blinker is part of the hazard switch, that's why when you play with the hazard switch the blinkers work... It's a very common problem in Impala's... If you replace the hazard switch your blinkers will be fixed...

Your losing power problem MIGHT be a clogged catalytic converter (CAT)... It's another common problem... Due to a design/manufacturing problem many Impala CAT's are likely to clog... They break internally and the loose part(s) clog your exhaust and kill your power... It's warranty coverd by Chevy for 10 years, 120K... But you'll nave to do some battling with the dealer to get him to verify a bad CAT and change it... I had mine changed at 52K and it drives like a rocket now!...

Good Luck!!