What 619 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Chevrolet Impala Limited

CAR STARTED SMOKING FROM THE BUMPER AREA AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOING NUTS. CAR WAS SLUGGISH AND ACTING WEIRD. ALL GAUGES AND INSTRUMENT PANEL GOING OFF AND ON. DOOR LOCKS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. CRUISE ENABLE THEN DISABLE. INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SCREEN GLITCHING OUT. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THE SIDE DETECTION MODULE AND WIRING HARNESS IS BAD WHERE IT GOT WET. THE LOCATION LEAVES IT EXPOSED TO WATER FROM THE ROADWAY AND CAN CAUSE FIRE HAZARD. VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI 11196510

WHEN MY SIDE DETECTION MONITORING SYSTEM FAILED A FEW MONTHS AGO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER. THEY RESPONDED TELLING ME THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, THE DESIGN FOR THIS SENSOR MODULE/HARNESS IS COMPLETELY FLAWED. THE SENSORS ARE LOCATED IN THE REAR BUMPER, WITH PLASTIC HOUSING. THERE IS NO WEATHER PROTECTION, EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE DIRECTLY BEHIND THE TIRES AND ARE EXPOSED TO ALL WEATHER - PLUS I LIVE IN IL SO WE'RE TALKING RAIN, SNOW, SALT, ETC. IT'S TWO SENSORS AND THE HARNESS. I COULDN'T AFFORD THE $1200 REPAIR, SO I FIGURED I WOULD JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE LOSS OF THE SAFETY FEATURE AND IGNORE THE WARNING LIGHT. LAST WEEK, ALL OF MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON - THEFT DETECTION, FRONT CAMERA, AIRBAG, STABILITRACK, ETC. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS, LOCKS AND HEADLIGHTS WERE ALL GOING HAYWIRE, AND AT ONE POINT WHILE DRIVING ALL OF MY GAUGES WENT TO ZERO (NO SPEED LIMIT, RPM, GAS GAUGE, ANYTHING) AND MY HEAT WENT OUT, TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP HOPING THAT MAYBE MY BATTERY (FACTORY ORIGINAL)/WIRING MIGHT BE THE CAUSE. NO SUCH LUCK. AS IT TURNS OUT THE SIDE DETECTION MODULES ARE NOW CORRUPTING ALL SENSORS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING MY AIR BAGS! THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT THE SIDE DETECTION MODULES HAD FAILED AND WERE CAUSING THE CHAOS THAT IS OCCURRING WITH ALL OF MY OTHER WARNING SYSTEMS, AND THAT MY AIR BAGS NO LONGER WORKED. MY AIR BAGS DON'T WORK BECAUSE OF THIS, NEVERMIND THE EXTREME DANGER IN HAVING A SYSTEM GO HAYWIRE WHILE I'M DRIVING! I'M AT NEARLY 100,000 MILES SO I'M WELL PAST ANY WARRANTY THAT WOULD COVER THIS, BUT I HAVE BEEN READING FORUMS AND CARCOMPLAINTS AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS A REALLY COMMON ISSUE. THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTICS, COST OF THE REPAIR, AND ANTICIPATED COSTS OF SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS IS RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING IT IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW.

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RIGHT HAND PASSANGER ROOFRAIL AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO PETERSON CHEVROLET, THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. CAR HAS 62,904 MILES ON IT. SEEMS TO ME THIS OUGHT TO BE GM'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THE [XXX] THING WORKS. NO EVENT HAPPENED. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT JUST CAME ON WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. HOW DO I KNOW WHO THE AIRBAG MANUFACTURER WAS? INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED HEAFNER MOTORS INC AT 662-563-7631 (LOCATED AT 935 MS-6, BATESVILLE, MS 38606) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,300.

NHTSA ODI 11139311

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A DEER CROSSED THE ROAD. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE A SHARP LEFT TURN TO AVOID THE ANIMAL AND CRASHED INTO A HILL IN THE WOODS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISED RIBS, AND INJURIES TO THE LEFT ARM AND SHOULDER, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,390. *TT UPDATED 11/28/18*JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING OVER 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND MADE A DINGING SOUND. THE FAILURE WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CONTACT CALLED AND SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WITH GATES CHEVY WORLD (636 W MCKINLEY AVE, MISHAWAKA, IN 46545, 574-256-3000). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

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TAKATA INFLATORS. MY AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AT ALL.

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AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. NO REASON THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT SHOULD BE ON.

NHTSA ODI 11012923

WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH, ALL ELECTRICAL CONTROLS INSIDE THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF, INCLUDING THE HEADLIGHTS. THEY IMMEDIATELY CAME BACK ON, BUT DID NOT REGISTER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR (THE SPEEDOMETER WAS REGISTERING 0 BUT THE CAR WAS STILL TRAVELING). THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON IMMEDIATELY (IT TOOK SEVERAL TRIES) AND THEN WHEN WE REACHED THE MECHANIC, IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FOR SOME TIME. THE MIRROR SENSOR (WITH BLIND SPOT INDICATOR) WENT OUT SOON AFTER PURCHASE. THE FRONT CAMERA WILL SPORADICALLY STOP WORKING WITH AN ERROR LIGHT. TRACTION CONTROL WILL TURN OFF, WITH AN ERROR MESSAGE. THIS CAR HAS SOME SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO THE BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BACK, NECK, AND HEAD BRUISES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD FOUR BRUISED VERTEBRAE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE LEFT MAGNETIC RING, WHICH HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AGAIN, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE HUB ASSEMBLY, WHICH FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,500. UPDATED 09/18/15*LJ

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HEAVY RAIN. SKIDDED ON PAVEMENT (BLACK TOP) HIT CONCRETE UTILITY POLE, AIR BAD DID NOT DEPLOY, HIT NOSE ON STEERING WHEEL. *TR

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ODI 10690320

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR IS NOT WORKING RIGHT. THERE IS NO PERSON IN THE SEAT, OR OBJECT AND THE LIGHT SAYS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS ON. SOMETIMES THE CHIME GOES OFF FOR THE NON-OCCUPANT TO PUT ON THEIR SEATBELT, BUT MOST THE TIME IT DOES NOT. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER 2 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME, THEY SAID THEY CHECK THE SENSOR'S 'READINGS' AND THERE WAS ZERO INFORMATION FROM IT. THAT WAS ALL THAT WAS DONE. THE SECOND TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT AND ON THE RIDE HOME AND EVERYDAY SINCE THEN, THE LIGHT IS ON FOR THE AIRBAG WITH NO OCCUPANT. ALSO, THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT IN WAS BECAUSE OF WATER/MOLD DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE BOTTOM INSIDE OF MY TRUNK BECAUSE OF THE RECALL OF THE TAIL LIGHT GASKET. I WAS GIVEN A LOANER CAR THE 10 DAYS THEY HAD MINE AND THE TRUNK OF THAT 2014 IMPALA WAS FULL OF WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE AREA AND MOLD ON THE TOP OF TRUNK CARPETING. I AM AFRAID THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

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AT 55 MPH ON A SLIPPERY RIGHT HAND SIDE CURVE (SPEED LIMIT IS 65 MPH) VEHICLE UNDER-STEERED AND LOST TRACTION COMPLETELY, WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKES, IT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND SKIDDED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CURVE (TO THE LEFT). I TRIED TO GET IT BACK TO THE DRIVING LANE, IT STARTED TO SKID LATERALLY TO THE RIGHT AND SLOWED DOWN UNTIL IT HIT A REFLECTOR POST ON THE EDGE OF THE RIGHT LANE AND STOPPED. VEHICLE INFORMATION ON THE DASH BOARD READ "ICE DETECTED...". ALTHOUGH THE DAMAGE ON THE RIGHT DOOR WAS A VERY MINOR DENT, THE CAR DEPLOYED ALL 4 HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAGS AND 2 RIGHT SIDE AIRBAGS, ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN AND FRONT SEAT-BELTS WERE STUCK. FEW MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY WITH THE "ICE DETECTED .." MESSAGE STILL ON. IT SEEMS THAT THE AIRBAGS SENSORS WERE ACTIVATED FOR NO REQUIRED REASON FOR A MINOR DENT ON THE DOOR. ALSO, THE STABILITY AND THE FAULTY BRAKING SYSTEM MIGHT BE OF A GREAT SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10553585

I PURCHASED MY NEW 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA FROM HAWTHORNE CHEVROLET IN HAWTHORNE, N.J. SOME FOUR (4) MONTHS AGO. I AM THE SOLE OWNER AND DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE. LAST WEEK (AROUND SEPTEMBER 11, 2013) I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE VINYL TOWARD THE RIGHT OF THE GOLD COLORED CHEVROLET BOW TIE POSITIONED IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL AREA. THE CRACK IS A SEMI-CIRCULAR LINE THAT HAS A SLIGHT DEPRESSION TO THE IMMEDIATE LEFT OF THE CRACK. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE HAWTHORNE CHEVROLET AND THE VERY NEXT DAY, THEY REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG FOR ME. THIS PART INCLUDES THE "RIGID" BLACK SURFACE VINYL WHERE YOU ACTIVATE THE HORN. THE HORN TAKES AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO ACTIVATE TO MAKE A SOUND DUE TO THE RIGIDITY OF THE VINYL--WHERE THE HORN ICONS (I.E., THE RAISED "TRUMPETS") ARE IS EXTREMELY NON YIELDING--IN MY OPINION. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG WAS INSTALLED AND 1/10 OF A MILE AWAY, I NOTICED THE SLIGHT DEPRESSION AND LINE DEMARCATION ALREADY. HAWTHORNE CHEVROLET'S SERVICE DIRECTOR TOLD ME TO RETURN THE FOLLOWING DAY AND AFTER A 2-1/2 HOUR WAIT THE SERVICE DIRECTOR AND A MECHANIC WALKED ME OUT TO ANOTHER 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA AND STATED THAT ALL OF THEIR IMPALAS ARE LIKE THIS. I AM WORRIED ABOUT UNPREDICTABLE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, DIFFICULTY IN SOUNDING MY HORN AS I DO MUCH OF MY TRAVELING ON A BUSY/DANGEROUS HIGHWAY, AND I WORRY ABOUT FUTURE/CONTINUED CRACKING OF THAT VINYL SURFACE COVERING WHERE I AM TOLD BY HAWTHORNE CHEVROLET'S SERVICE DIRECTOR IS WHERE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYS. AGAIN...THE CAR IS ONLY 4 MONTHS OLD WITH ONLY 2,200 MILES WHEN THIS CRACKING FIRST OCCURRED. I AM WORRIED THAT WHERE THIS CRACK IS LOCATED THE AIR BAG COULD EXIT. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THERE ARE 2 ACTIVE SERVICE REQUEST NUMBERS RELATING TO THE CRACK AND THE HORN SOUNDING MATTER. *TR

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