Electrical System. Review the 187 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 159 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 124 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

49 crash reports73 fire reports41 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

159 reports

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70,000 miles · Mar 14, 2005

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALRSHIP WAS NOTIFED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10115052

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2005

Engine And Engine CoolingFire

CONSUME STATED VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ONE WEEK, AND UPON GETTING BACK FROM VACATION, CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, AND IT BLEW UP. EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS BROKEN IN LITTLE PIECES. CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10111283

67,888 miles · Jan 17, 2005

Engine And Engine Cooling

LEAK OF COOLANT, LOW COOLANT LIGHT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10106514

80,029 miles · Dec 8, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I FILED THIS SAME COMPLAINT LAST YEAR AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR OPERATED FINE FOR EXACTLY ONE WHOLE YEAR AFTER DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL REGULATOR. THE FAILURE IS THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THIS OCCURS THERE IS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL OF THE CAR. I AM UNABLE TO STEER, STOP, EVERYTHING LOCKS UP. THE CONSEQUENCES OF DRIVING A CAR LIKE THIS IS ME LOSING MY LIFE. ON 11/29/04 IS WHEN THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THEN ON 11/30 AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IT STALLED WITH A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BUS ON MY TAIL, THE CAR LOSS POWER. THE BUS DRIVER WAS HONKING HIS HORN AND FLASHING HIS LIGHTS BUT SHOWED LITTLE SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN FOR A CAR THAT WAS STALLED OUT. I FEEL THESE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE TOTALLY RECALLED UNTIL THE MANUFACTURER CAN DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I AM WILLING TO ALLOW THEM TO TROUBLESHOOT MY CAR TO EVERY EXTENT. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS AND ALL THEY CAN SAY IS TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL IT GETS WORSE. THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT AN OPTION AS I DID LAST YEAR AND THEY STILL WERE NOT ABLE TO FIX THE CAR. THESE CARS ARE GOING TO CAUSE SOMEONE TO LOSE THEIR LIFE IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT A.S.A.P. I REFUSE TO PICK UP MY CAR FROM THE DEALER UNTIL THEY HAVE A FIX, I ALSO REFUSE TO MAKE ANOTHER PAYMENT ON THE CAR UNTIL IT IS IN WORKING CONDITION. I FEEL THAT EITHER THIS CAR WILL EXPLODE ON ME THE NEXT TIME I ATTEMPT TO CRANK IT OR I AM GOING TO BE KILLED WHEN IT STALLS WHILE I AM DRIVING. MY LIFE IS WAY MORE VALUABLE THAN THIS CAR WILL EVER BE WORTH TO ANYONE. I DIDN'T GET MUCH ASSISTANCE FROM YOU LAST YEAR WHEN I FILED THIS COMPLAINT SO I AM HOPING YOU HAVE A NEW INSIGHT ON THE SERIOUSNESS THIS CAR POSES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10102348

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING. LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. REPAIR IS APPROX $900.00 AT THE DEALER, BEARDMORE CHEVROLET. IN CHECKING FOR A CHEAPER REPAIR PRICE, SEVERAL MECHANICS STATED THEY HAVE REPLACED LOTS OF THESE ON THE IMPALA. SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT. REPAIR IS BEING DONE TODAY, 2 DEC 04 AT BEARDMORE CHEVROLET, BELLEVUE N…

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NHTSA ODI #10100922

74,485 miles · Oct 25, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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MY 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA RECENTLY STARTED MAKING VERY LOUD GURGLING SOUNDS. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM MY COMPLAINT AND ASKED THEM TO FLUSH THE COOLING SYSTEM. I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE AND MAKE A THREE DAY TRIP AND UPON RETURNING TO MY DRIVEWAY THE GURGLING SOUNDS BEGAN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND MADE APPOINTMENT TO BRING MY VEHICLE BACK TO THEM. AFTER THEY PRESSURE TESTED MY VEHICLE THEY SAID I NEEDED A CHEMICAL FLUSH DUE TO ALL THE RUST THEY FOUND. I ASKED THEM WHY THEY DIDN'T SEE THE RUST A FEW DAYS EARLIER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY FELT THE FIRST FLUSH MUST HAVE BROKEN THE RUST LOOSE AND THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING LIKE THAT 7 DAYS AGO. THEY THEN QUOTED ME $400 TO DO A CHEMICAL FLUSH. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER REPAIR PLACE AND WHEN HE REMOVED THE CAP IT WAS COVERED WITH BROWN SLUDGE-LOOKING GUNK. A YEAR PREVIOUSLY, WHEN I SAW THE NEWS ABOUT DEX-COOL, I HAD ASKED AT THE DEALERSHIP (DURING ONE OF MY ROUTINE SERVICES) IF MY CAR WAS AFFECTED AND WAS ASSURED IT WAS NOT. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE TO HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE AND IT WAS THERE THAT I WAS TOLD THAT ALL OF THIS DAMAGE WAS DUE TO DEX-COOL AND THAT THEY SEE VEHICLES CONSTANTLY WITH SIMILAR DAMAGE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10096367

80,000 miles · Oct 21, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLANT REFILL BOTTLE HAS BEEN REFILLED SEVERAL TIMES BUT COOLANT LEVEL KEEPS GOING DOWN. TOOK AUTO TO SHOP FOR TIRES AND MECHANIC NOTIFIED ME THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO OIL DUE TO DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. MECHANIC IS AWARE OF MULTIPLE OCCURANCES OF THIS PROBLEM WITH 2000 CHEV IMPALA. CHECKED WEB S…

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NHTSA ODI #10096182

42,410 miles · Sep 29, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND THE PROBLEM STILL HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10087137

83,000 miles · Sep 21, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH STALLING WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT NO WARNING OR INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF DURING HIGHWAY/CITY DRIVING. THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART AFTER YOU PUT THE VEHICLE …

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NHTSA ODI #10083970

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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CAR HAS PROBLEMS WITH ROUGH START AND/OR ENGINE STALLING WITHIN THE FIRST MINUTE AFTER STARTING IT. SOMETIMES IT COUGHS/CHUGS/RPMS REV IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU START IT. OTHER TIMES WHEN YOU PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WILL CHUG AND COMPLETELY STOP MOVING AS IF IT'S RUN OUT OF GAS. IT'S ONLY BEEN A MIRACLE THAT I HAVE NOT BE BROADSIDED YET. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE MARCH OF 2001 AND THIS HAS HAPPENED AROUND 4-5 TIMES A WEEK SINCE THEN. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE PROBABLY 6 TIMES TO TRY AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS IT IS A DANGEROUS ONE, AND EACH TIME HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. NOBODY CAN RECREATE THE PROBLEM IN ORDER TO FIX IT. I HAVE HAD MY COMPUTER SYSTEM UPDATED, AND MOST RECENTLY THEY PRESSURE WASHED MY FUEL INJECTORS IN HOPES THAT THAT WOULD CURE THE PROBLEM. IT ONLY REMAINS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE'S A BAD ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10088837

Official recalls

15V701000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Oct 26, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 3, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

09V116000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Apr 8, 2009

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINES FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINES PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

04V090000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

Feb 24, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

01V136000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Apr 24, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.4L ENGINE AND NON-ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." A FUEL RETURN LINE CAN BECOME SEVERED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, RESULTING IN FUEL SPILLAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BRACKET THAT WILL MAINTAIN POSITIONING OF THE FUEL LINE IN A FRONTAL CRASH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020.

00V371000 · Air Bags:side/window

Nov 13, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE DRIVER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG INFLATOR SEPARATES FROM THE AIR BAG MODULE DURING DEPLOYMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE INFLATOR SEPARATES, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY DURING A CRASH AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION WOULD BE REDUCED. IF IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT A SEPARATED INFLATOR COULD BE PROPELLED DOWNWARD AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO A REAR SEAT PASSENGER WHOSE FOOT IS POSITIONED APPROXIMATELY UNDER THE INFLATOR MODULE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG MODULE.

00V228003 · Seat Belts

Aug 7, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Fuel System, Gasoline

PE00005 · Inadvertent Engine Stalling

Opened Jan 19, 2000 · Closed Feb 29, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available