What 630 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Chevrolet Impala Eco Eassist

BLIND SPOT WARNING NOT WORKING, GM NOT WILLING TO REPLACE MODULES ON CAR WITH ONES THAT HAVE SINCE BEEN UPDATED. NEW MODULES ARE SEALED AND RESIST WATER INTRUSION, OLD MODULES DO NOT.

NHTSA ODI 11206248

SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT SENSORS HAVE FAILED. THESE FAILED SENSORS ARE CAUSING OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE INCLUDING AIR BAG WARNING, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING, HVAC CONTROLS NOT WORKING AND INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH STARTING THE CAR. RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM EXTENDING COVERAGE ON THE COMPONENTS TO 6 YEARS / 80,000 MILES. VEHICLE HAS 142,000 MILES BUT THIS IS NOT A PART THAT IS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. GM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PART HAS KNOWN ISSUES BUT HAS LIMITED THE AMOUNT OF TIME/MILEAGE THEY WILL COVER. SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEING UNRESPONSIVE AND AIR BAG POTENTIALLY BEING DISABLED DUE TO THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11205953

SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM SENSORS ARE LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR BUMPER PANEL ON EITHER SIDE, THEY DETECT CARS IN THE BLIND SPOT. THE SENSORS ARE LOCATED IN A POOR LOCATION TO BEGIN WITH, THEY ARE IN DIRECT LINE OF FIRE WITH ROAD AND TIRE DEBRIS, SALT WATER, GRAVEL, SAND, SNOW, MUD, ETC. OVER TIME, THE NATURAL ELEMENTS SEEP INTO THE CRACKS OF THESE SENSORS AND/OR THEIR WIRING HARNESSES AT THE CONNECTIONS, AND CAUSE MALFUNCTIONING OF THIS SYSTEM. MINIMALLY, THE PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED BY REPLACING THE SENSORS AND/OR HARNESSES FOR BRAND NEW ONES. AT THE WORST, THESE MALFUNCTIONED SENSORS CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS AND SUBSEQUENTLY INCREASED ROAD HAZARDS AND DRIVING CONDITIONS BY THE WAY THAT IT CAN LEAD TO THE DRIVER INFO CENTER GOING BLACK, THE RADIO CUTTING OUT, ALL THE INTERIOR AND GAUGE CLUSTER LIGHTS GOING OUT WHILE ON THE ROAD. IF LEFT UNRESOLVED BECAUSE MANY CUSTOMERS AND DRIVERS WOULD MUCH RATHER WAIT FOR AN OFFICIAL RECALL AND CONTINUE DRIVING, MANY WILL BE AT RISK.

NHTSA ODI 11205793

BLIND SPOT SAFETY LIGHT MODULE WENT BAD DUE TO POOR DESIGN, GENERAL MOTORS HAS A WARRANTY UP TO 80,000 MILES, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THERE'S NO CODE READING, BUT FAILED TO ACTUALLY CHECK THE MODULE ITSELF, AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THEY ARE SUBJECT TO STARTING FIRES, A GM ENGINEER MADE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE POOR WORDING IN THERE EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE, I'M AFRAID THE CAR MAY CATCH FIRE BECAUSE OF THEIR FAILURE TO ACTUALLY CHECK THE MODULE ITSELF, I BELIEVE BOTH BLIND SPOT LIGHT MODULES SHOULD BE REPLACED AS GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11204779

SIDE DETENTION SENSOR ALERT CAME ON A DAY OR TWO AGO. TODAY WHILE DRIVING NUMEROUS DASH LIGHTS AND ALARMS CAME ON. I HAD NO GAUGES AND COULD NOT SIGNAL WHILE DRIVING. HAD MY DAUGHTER IN CAR. VERY DANGEROUS. I HAD THE SENSORS REPLACED A YEAR AGO WHICH COST ME OVER $1,000.

NHTSA ODI 11204225

THE BLINDSPOT DETECTION SYSTEM MODULE FAILED AND IT MESSED UP ALL MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE CAR THW SPEEDOMETER RPM AND FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES BOTTOMED OUT TO 0. ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON . THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DOING 79 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. ON STAR THOUGHT I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11202653

SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM: THIS IS THE SECOND REPLACEMENT OF "SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM" SENSORS, AT 98000 MILES. FIRST WAS EIGHT MONTHS AGO. MECHANIC REPORTED THIS IS "A HUGE PROBLEM." GM IS UNABLE TO KEEP THE SENSORS IN STOCK IT MAYBE A MONTH OR MORE TO GET IT FIXED. AFFECTS SAFETY AND SECURITY OF PASSENGERS.

NHTSA ODI 11202580

WHAT MY INFORMATION CENTER SAID IS SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM. CHEVROLET WANTS ANT WHERE FROM $400.00 TO 1200.00 TO REPLACE THIS MODULE. IT HAS SCREWED UP MY EVERYTHING SO IT SEEMS. I'M SO AFRAID THAT THE GAS WILL STICK OR THE BRAKE WON'T WORK. I BELIEVE THAT THIS MODULE CONTROLLING SO MANY THINGS IN MY VEHICLE IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. BY THE WAY I WAS DRIVING ON MY SIDE STREET ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN THE GAS PEDAL DID NOT WORK FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS OR SO.

NHTSA ODI 11196410

SIDE DETECTION NOT WORKING, GETTING ERRORS

NHTSA ODI 11196495

SIDE DETECTION MODULE DEFECTIVE DUE TO BEING EXPOSED TO ELEMENTS (RAIN MUD SNOW SALT) CAUSE ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONAL ISSUES WITH POWER STEERING AIR BAG REVERE BACKUP ASSIST ENTIRE GAUGE MALFUNCTION.. GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOT RECALL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ON CAR GURUS WEBSITE

NHTSA ODI 11194786

WHEN THE REAR DETECTION SYSTEM CONTROLLER GET CONTROLLER IT CAN TAKE DOWN THE VEHICLE COMMUNICATION BUSS WHICH TAKES OUT ALL FUNCTIONALITY OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ALL GAUGES QUIT WORKING AS WELL AS TURN SIGNALS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI 11194427

MY WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED! MY SIDE DETECTORS STOPPED WORKING THE FORWARD COLLISION FAILED ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I HAD SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR BUMPER. THEN I WAS GETTING ALL KINDS OF MESSAGES AIRBASE, ABS, TRACTION I LOST ALL THE GAUGES NO SPEEDOMETER NOTHING THE HEAT WOULD COME ON AND STUFF OFF ALL BY IT SELF. BEFORE I COULD MAKE IT TO MY SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO GET CHECKED OUT IT DIED I COULD GET IT STARTED ANYMORE!! VERY UNSAFE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD! AND VERY FRUSTRATED WITH GUM BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE OF FAILING MODULES.

NHTSA ODI 11194292

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF, AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED AND FLAMES APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND FAULKNER CHEVROLET (298 STOKE PARK RD, BETHLEHEM, PA) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 11193781

THE BLIND SPOT MONITORING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY VEHICLE AT ONLY 62,000 MILES. THE MODULES AND HARNESS ARE MOUNTED UNDER THE REAR BUMPER COVER BEHIND THE WHEELS WHERE MOISTURE DIRT AND ROAD SALT ENTER CAUSING CORROSION AND POSSIBLE FIRE. THE PASSENGER SIDE NOTIFICATION LIGHT STAYED ON FOR TWO DAYS STRAIGHT EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS OFF. IT IS NOT FUSED IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE ONLY UNDER THE HOOD. THESE SAFETY COMPONENTS SHOULD BE MOUNTED IN THE TRUNK PER INDUSTRY STANDARD OR SEALED WITH PROPER WEATHER RESISTANT GASKETS AT THE VERY LEAST. THE HARNESS WAS CORRODED SO BADLY IT WAS JUMPING THE CONNECTION AND BLOWING FUSES. THE MODULES WERE VISIBLY SWOLLEN FROM HAVING MOISTURE INSIDE AND RUST FORMING. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THERE SHOULD BE A FULL RECALL IF NOT A SPECIAL COVERAGE ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS VERY SERIOUS AND VERY COSTLY. MY GARAGE/HOUSE COULD HAVE BURNED DOWN OR I COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE FIRE OR ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF SAFETY FEATURE.

NHTSA ODI 11193916

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO A FAULTY GASKET THAT ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY POWER WOULD DRAIN ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE ODOR OF MOLD AND MILDEW WERE PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. GRAY-DANIAL CHEVROLET (6060 I-55, JACKSON, MS) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.

NHTSA ODI 11193612

SIDE DETECTION MODULES FAILED CAUSING ALL GAUGES AND DASH ITEMS TO QUIT WORKING WENT OUT AT 65 MILES PER HOUR PARTS WEEKS OUT

NHTSA ODI 11193646

MY CAR WAS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THE SIDE BLIND SPOT MONITORING SYSTEM WHEN MY CAR'S DASH STOPPED WORKING WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH.. I HAD SEVERAL SERVICE SYSTEM ERRORS` `FOR `SIDE BLIND SPOT, FRONT CAMERA, TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR ETC BUT MOST CONCERNING IS THAT THE DIRECTIONAL WOULD NOT FUNCTION, THE GAS, SPEEDOMETER, AND THE TACHOMETER DID NOT FUNCTION. IT WAS DUSK AND IT APPEARED THE AUTOMATIC LIGHTING CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AS WELL. I STOPPED SAFELY AND TURNED OFF MY CAR AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND THE PUSH BUTTON START WOULD NOT WORK. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR BY PUTTING THE KEY FOB IN THE FACTORY POCKET DESIGNED TO START THE CAR WITH A KEY FOB WITH A LOW BATTERY. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR INTO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE SIDE BLIND SPOT MODULES WERE BAD. THEY DISCONNECTED THE MODULES AND MY CAR'S DASH FUNCTION RETURNED WITH JUST A WARNING TO SERVICE THE SIDE BLIND SPOT SYSTEM THE DEALERSHIP PROVIDED ME A COPY OF A GM SERVICE BULLETIN #17-NA-154 SERVICE SIDE OBJECT DETECTION MESSAGE STATING TO REPLACE BOTH MODULES AND THE WIRING HARNESS NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1,638.91. I HAD ALREADY REPLACED ONE MODULE 13 MONTHS EARLIER FOR $720. THIS FAILURE MODE IS UNACCEPTABLE LEAVING THE CAR IN A DANGEROUS STATE WITHOUT DIRECTIONALS, IMPORTANT GAGES LIKE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL , AND POSSIBLY NO AUTOMATIC LIGHTING CONTROLS. THE DESIGNED FAILURE MODE SHOULD BE SOLELY A SERVICE BLIND SPOT MONITORING SYSTEM LEAVING ALL OTHER SYSTEMS OPERATIONAL. CURRENTLY I AM TOLD THAT ALL PARTS REQUIRED TO FIX MY CAR ARE UNAVAILABLE. AN ADVANCED SAFETY SYSTEM THAT IS DANGEROUS WHEN IT FAILS IS NEITHER ADVANCED OR SAFE.

NHTSA ODI 11193170

THE REAR SIDE DETECTION MODULES CORRODED DUE TO BAD PLACEMENT ON THE VEHICLE. THE MODULE IS DIRECTLY BEHIND THE REAR WHEEL WITHOUT ANY SHIELDING, SO WHEN THE SNOW AND SALT FROM THE WINTER CAME OFF THE TIRE, IT WOULD LAND DIRECTLY ON THE READ SIDE DETECTION MODULE CAUSING CORROSION. THERE ARE A TON OF FORUMS ONLINE SUCH AS HERE HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T54868_DS885696. CHEVY HAD THIS PROBLEM IN 2014.5-2016 MODEL BUT WON'T COVER IT EVEN THOUGH THEY CHANGED THE MODULES IN NEWER MODELS TO PROTECT AGAINST THE ELEMENTS BETTER. THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT FOR OLDER MODELS.

NHTSA ODI 11193219

SIDE DETECTION MODULE WENT OUT ON BOTH SIDE AFTER IT WAS IMPACTED BY RAIN. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE IS A NEW MODULE HOWEVER I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 1300.00 FOR IT BECAUSE IT IS SEALED UP BETTER AND LESS LIKELY TO RECEIVE WATER DAMAGE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF NOT FIXED THAT MY CAR WONT START AND I WOULD HAVE OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID THEY THEIR MODULE HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. BAD PART CHEVROLET THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP.

NHTSA ODI 11192820

SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT STOPPED WORKING DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE MODULES. THIS CAUSED MY GAS GAUGE AND ODOMETER TO STOP WORKING. IN ADDITION, THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS CAME ON AND SAID THEY NEEDED TO BE SERVICED: AIR BAGS, TIRES,THEFT SYSTEM, CHECK ENGINE. AFTER ALL OF THIS, MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I WAS LEFT STRANDED. THE FAULTY MODULES SCRAMBLED MY COMPUTER IN MY CAR. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS AROUND $1400 TO FIX, PLUS THE MODULES WILL FAIL AGAIN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MODULES ARE A POOR DESIGN FROM GM. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THESE CARS. CURRENTLY, GM HASN'T BEEN HELD RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THE DESIGN OF THESE MODULES. NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE FAULTY MODULES. WE PAID AND STILL PAY A HEFTY PRICE FOR THIS VEHICLE. I WISH I KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEFORE I PURCHASED THIS CAR. MY CAR WAS PARKED AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT, IT WOULDN'T START. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO START IT. AS I DROVE IT TO THE SHOP, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPEED ODOMETER, TURNING SIGNALS OR LIGHTS. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY IN A BUSY CITY. TO LOSE ALL GAUGES, LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND TO HAVE OTHER NUMEROUS "CHECK" LIGHTS COME ON IS VERY UNSAFE. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED.

NHTSA ODI 11192576

EVERY WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD BECAME ILLUMINATED. LOST POWER STEERING, CAR BECAME SLUGGISH, LACKED SPEED, AND POWER. BRAKING CONTROL WAS LIMITED. VEHICLE WAS DRIVE ABLE ONLY IN LIMP MODE.

NHTSA ODI 11191646

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITRAK WAS FAULTY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY SHIFT INTO DRIVE. ALSO, THE RADIO AND HEAT FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT RESET ITSELF; HOWEVER, THE STABILITRAK INDICATOR WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. ALL THE OTHER WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI 11191350

SIDE TRAFFIC DETECTION SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE. CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 15 DAYS AS OF THIS WRITING . WE ARE BEING TOLD THE CONTROL MODULES TO REPAIR THE DEFECT IS NOT AVAILABLE. WE ARE ELDERLY AND CANNOT BE WITHOUT THE USE OF A CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11190336

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYED "SERVICE VEHICLE, AIR BAGS, FRONT LAMP DETECTION". THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCGRATH CHEVROLET OF DUBUQUE (3255 UNIVERSITY AVE, DUBUQUE, IA 52003) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN DISPLAYING THE SAME MESSAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,755.

NHTSA ODI 11189909

THE LANE DEPARTURE MODULES GET WET AND ARE LOCATED BEHIND THE REAR TIRE. AS A RESULT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOW FAILING I GET MESSAGES THAT MY AIRBAG HAS DEPLOYED. THE GAS GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY. THE HEAT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT DOES NOT WORK. NOW I HAVE UNEXPLAINED WATER IN THE BOTTOM OF MY TRUNK WITH NO SINGS HOW IT GOT THERE. I HONESTY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IN IT NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT AND IT MY GAUGES TELL ME WRONG INFORMATION. IE NO GAS

NHTSA ODI 11189970