NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
221 reportsClear category filter63,000 miles · Feb 4, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering
RECENTLY, THE CAR LOOSES POWER STEERING WHEN IT RAINS, OR I GO THROUGH A PUDDLE. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER (BEST CHEVROLET) WHERE I BOUGHT IT NEW SOME YEARS AGO. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT, SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THEY CHANGED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER, AND IT STILL DOES IT. THE POWER STEE…
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RECENTLY, THE CAR LOOSES POWER STEERING WHEN IT RAINS, OR I GO THROUGH A PUDDLE. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER (BEST CHEVROLET) WHERE I BOUGHT IT NEW SOME YEARS AGO. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT, SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THEY CHANGED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER, AND IT STILL DOES IT. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS, AND IN DEEP WATER I ALSO GET A DUMMY LIGHT ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IT'S SCARY TO DRIVE; BUT, I DON'T WANT TO JUST SELL IT CAUSE SOMEONE ELSE AN INJURY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10562890
52,107 miles · Dec 22, 2013
Electrical System
MY KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT. I CAN NOT TURN IT OFF COMPLETELY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10556945
80,000 miles · Oct 31, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering
WHENEVER IT IS RAINING OR I DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE GROUND, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP FOR ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS AND THE CAR SEEMS TO LOSE POWER. I'VE CONCLUDED THAT THIS MUST BE SOME SORT OF SERPENTINE BELT ISSUE AS A LOT OF COMPONENTS ARE AFFECTED AT ONCE SUCH AS ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING ETC. THIS IS EXTREMELY …
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WHENEVER IT IS RAINING OR I DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE GROUND, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP FOR ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS AND THE CAR SEEMS TO LOSE POWER. I'VE CONCLUDED THAT THIS MUST BE SOME SORT OF SERPENTINE BELT ISSUE AS A LOT OF COMPONENTS ARE AFFECTED AT ONCE SUCH AS ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING ETC. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION AS ONSET IS UNPREDICTABLE ESPECIALLY IN HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS SUCH AS RAINING AND FOR THIS REASON I DREAD DRIVING MY CAR WHEN IT RAINS. PLEASE SOMEONE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10550413
136,000 miles · Oct 9, 2013
Electrical System
ALARM/SECURITY SYSTEM IS PREVENTING CAR TO START. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE ALARM/SECURITY SYSTEM, BUT MULTIPLE OF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN POSTED ABOUT THIS DEFECT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10547391
103,000 miles · Sep 19, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK CONTINUES TO FAIL UPON DEPRESSION OF UNLOCK BUTTON ON FOB OR INSIDE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10544496
67,124 miles · Sep 12, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
REAR DOOR PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH KEYLESS ENTRY. THEY LOCK IS ALSO POSITIONED WAY TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE DOOR MAKING IT VERY TROUBLESOME TO UNLOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10543366
133,566 miles · Aug 6, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAD TO FIX THIS PASSLOCK THING ON MY IMPALA AND IM GETTING SO SICK AND TIRED OF IT *TR
NHTSA ODI #10533866
10,203 miles · Jul 27, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesStructure
DOOR LOCK PROBLEMS: FIRST THE DRIVER DOOR FAILED TO WORK. THEN THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR..(WHICH HAS TO BE MANUALLY OPENED AND CLOSED). NOW THE DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK IS UNDEPENDABLE. THE PROBLEM IS BECOMING A HAZARD TO DRIVING THE AUTOMOBILE IN THAT THE SAFETY OF THE INGRESS AND EGRESS OF THE PASSENGERS CANNOT BE GUA…
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DOOR LOCK PROBLEMS: FIRST THE DRIVER DOOR FAILED TO WORK. THEN THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR..(WHICH HAS TO BE MANUALLY OPENED AND CLOSED). NOW THE DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK IS UNDEPENDABLE. THE PROBLEM IS BECOMING A HAZARD TO DRIVING THE AUTOMOBILE IN THAT THE SAFETY OF THE INGRESS AND EGRESS OF THE PASSENGERS CANNOT BE GUARANTEED AND THIS CAN BECOME A DEFINITE HAZARD, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10532148
11,000 miles · Jul 25, 2013
Electrical System
THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERRMITTENLY, BOTH WITH THE REMOTE KEY FOB AND THE INTERIOR DOOR LOCK BUTTONS OFTEN RESULTING IN MANUALLY HAVING TO USE THE KEY TO ENTER THE VEHICLE OR PHYSICALLY PULLING UP THE LOCK ONCE INSIDE THE CAR TO UNLOCK A PARTICULAR DOOR. THIS IS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE FOR THE REMOTE AS I'VE EVEN NOTICED ON SE…
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THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERRMITTENLY, BOTH WITH THE REMOTE KEY FOB AND THE INTERIOR DOOR LOCK BUTTONS OFTEN RESULTING IN MANUALLY HAVING TO USE THE KEY TO ENTER THE VEHICLE OR PHYSICALLY PULLING UP THE LOCK ONCE INSIDE THE CAR TO UNLOCK A PARTICULAR DOOR. THIS IS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE FOR THE REMOTE AS I'VE EVEN NOTICED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN USING THE REMOTE TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE DOOR LOCK REGISTER THE "INPUT" AND ATTEMPT TO MOVE UP TO THE UNLOCK POSITION, PHYSICALLY LOOK AS IF SOMETHING WERE PREVENTING IT FROM DOING SO, AND REMAIN IN THE LOCKED POSITION. AND, ITS COMPLETELY RANDOM AS FOR WHICH DOOR LOCK WILL OPERATE AND THERE ARE STRETCHES OF DAYS WHEN ALL LOCKS WILL OPERATE PROPERLY WITH BOTH THE REMOTE AND THE DOOR LOCK BUTTONS. ALSO, THERE IS NO PATTERN TO WHICH DOORS WILL OPERATE AS TO FRONT/REAR, DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE AND/OR ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, OR ZERO DOORS LOCKING/UNLOCKING. THIS SITUATION IS EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT (PARTICULARLY WHEN RAINING), POTENTIALLY UNSAFE, AND PROBLEMATIC IN KEEPING YOUR VEHICLE AND ITS CONTENTS SECURE.
NHTSA ODI #10532507
85,000 miles · Jul 16, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER AFTER IT WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER AFTER IT WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10525097
Official recalls
2Jun 23, 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) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and 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. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
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 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.
Aug 3, 2012
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Chevrolet Impala police vehicles because the front lower control arms may fracture. This safety recall does not include non-police Chevrolet Impala vehicles.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 21, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
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
1DP14001 · Passenger Air Bag Ocs Algorithm
Opened Jul 22, 2014 · Closed Mar 7, 2017
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
The Agency received a petition on November 14, 2013 requesting an investigation into the operation of the passenger air bag Occupant Classification System (OCS) software logic and algorithm.The petitioner states that due to this alleged defect, the passenger air bag may be suppressed at point of impact and not provided the occupant protection as needed in a crash.On July 22, 2014, NHTSA opened DP14-001 to further review the crash event and perform a more comprehensive search and analysis of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).The Agency also collected manufacturers reports on the alleged OCS issue on the subject Impala vehicles and other GM and non-GM peer vehicles.After examination of the petition and available data relating to the subject vehicle's OCS and the specific crash incident where the OCS allegedly failed to operate properly, NHTSA did not identify an issue with the MY2008 Impala involved in the subject crash, nor has it identified a safety-related defect trend existing in the OCS used in the MY 2006-2008 Impala vehicles, in GM peer vehicles or in other non-GM peer vehicles.NHTSA has concluded that further expenditure of the agency's investigative resources is not warranted. The agency accordingly has denied the petition.However, the agency will take further action if warranted by changing future circumstances. The official petition denial, as published in the Federal Register, is available in the document file for this defect petition.The single complaint and crash noted in the Failure Report above is the petitioner's VOQ (10568388) and can be reviewed online at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=10568388.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
The Agency received a petition on November 14, 2013 requesting an investigation into the operation of the passenger air bag Occupant Classification System (OCS) software logic and algorithm.The petitioner states that due to this alleged defect, the passenger air bag may be suppressed at point of impact and not provided the occupant protection as needed in a crash.On July 22, 2014, NHTSA opened DP14-001 to further review the crash event and perform a more comprehensive search and analysis of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).The Agency also collected manufacturers reports on the alleged OCS issue on the subject Impala vehicles and other GM and non-GM peer vehicles.After examination of the petition and available data relating to the subject vehicle's OCS and the specific crash incident where the OCS allegedly failed to operate properly, NHTSA did not identify an issue with the MY2008 Impala involved in the subject crash, nor has it identified a safety-related defect trend existing in the OCS used in the MY 2006-2008 Impala vehicles, in GM peer vehicles or in other non-GM peer vehicles.NHTSA has concluded that further expenditure of the agency's investigative resources is not warranted. The agency accordingly has denied the petition.However, the agency will take further action if warranted by changing future circumstances. The official petition denial, as published in the Federal Register, is available in the document file for this defect petition.The single complaint and crash noted in the Failure Report above is the petitioner's VOQ (10568388) and can be reviewed online at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=10568388.
Air Bags
The Agency received a petition on November 14, 2013 requesting an investigation into the operation of the passenger air bag Occupant Classification System (OCS) software logic and algorithm.The petitioner states that due to this alleged defect, the passenger air bag may be suppressed at point of impact and not provided the occupant protection as needed in a crash.On July 22, 2014, NHTSA opened DP14-001 to further review the crash event and perform a more comprehensive search and analysis of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).The Agency also collected manufacturers reports on the alleged OCS issue on the subject Impala vehicles and other GM and non-GM peer vehicles.After examination of the petition and available data relating to the subject vehicle's OCS and the specific crash incident where the OCS allegedly failed to operate properly, NHTSA did not identify an issue with the MY2008 Impala involved in the subject crash, nor has it identified a safety-related defect trend existing in the OCS used in the MY 2006-2008 Impala vehicles, in GM peer vehicles or in other non-GM peer vehicles.NHTSA has concluded that further expenditure of the agency's investigative resources is not warranted. The agency accordingly has denied the petition.However, the agency will take further action if warranted by changing future circumstances. The official petition denial, as published in the Federal Register, is available in the document file for this defect petition.The single complaint and crash noted in the Failure Report above is the petitioner's VOQ (10568388) and can be reviewed online at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=10568388.
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