What 288 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Chevrolet Impala Eco Eassist

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN PERRY ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2015 CHEVY IMPALA AIRBAG DEFECT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD NOT TURN ON UNLESS A PERSON OF ADEQUATE WEIGHT WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT WITHOUT ANY CUSHION. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE HAD TO SIT ON A CUSHION, IN ORDER TO SEE OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND TO PROPERLY POSITION HER BODY IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR DEACTIVATED. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10806824

AT 1884K MI LEAVING HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT PWR STEERING WENT OUT WITH WARNING ON DASH (POWER STEERING FAILURE DRIVE WITH CAUTION). TOWED TO PORTER CHEVROLET IN NEWARK DE. WHERE THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRIC PWR STEERING RACK. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK. NOW, AT 3838K MI THE SAME SITUATION HAS OCCURRED AFTER PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND STARTING DOWN THE STREET. THIS 4908 LB. CAR IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

NHTSA ODI 10783134

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO RESPOND CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A DITCH AND IMPACTED THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA ODI 10782425

LATENT DEFECT IN CHEVROLET 2015 IMPALA IGNITION SYSTEMS THAT GM (GENERAL MOTORS) WILL NOT FIX. THE KEYLESS ENTRY FOB WAS REDESIGN FROM PART NUMBER GM/L 22733524 TO PART NUMBER GM 13584829, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN ALL THE PUSH BUTTON SWITCHES NOW RAISED ABOVE THE KEYLESS HOUSING. WITH RAISE SWITCHES ABOVE THE HOUSING, THE TRUNK CAN INADVERTENTLY OPEN WHEN THE FOD IS IN SOMEONES POCKET. THE CAR TRUNK CAN INADVERTENTLY OPEN WHEN THE FODS SWITCH, WHICH IS IN SOMEONES POCKET, IS INADVERTENTLY PRESSED AGAINST SOMETHING WITHOUT THE OWNERS KNOWLEDGE. FOR EXAMPLE: THIS HAS HAPPEN BY JUST SETTING IN A CHAIR WHEN THE FOB PRESSES AGAINST THE CHAIR, OR WHEN LEANING AGAINST SOMETHING LIKE A TABLE OR WALL WITH THE LOWER PART OF THE BODY. GMS OLD KEYLESS ENTRY FOBS SWITCH WERE RECESSED BELOW THE KEYLESS ENTRY FODS HOUSING AND THE OLD DESIGN DID NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH INADVERTENTLY OPENING THE TRUNK. I OWN A 2009 CHEVY COBALT THAT HAS THE OLD KEYLESS ENTRY FOB . THIS MAJOR LATENT DEFECT WILL EXPOSE ELECTRICAL WIRING, AND PERSONAL ITEMS IN THE TRUNK TO RAIN STORMS WHEN THE TRUNK INADVERTENTLY OPENS WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF THE CAR OWNER. I CONTEND THAT CHEVROLET LIKELY DID NOT TEST THE CAR WITH THE TRUNK OPEN WHEN RAINING. FURTHERMORE, THE TRUNK CAN INADVERTENTLY OPEN WHILE SHOPPING WITHOUT THE OWNERS KNOWLEDGE RESULTING IN GIFTS, FOOD, AND PERSONAL ITEMS EASILY STOLEN OR DAMAGE BY RODENTS. I E-MAILED AND CALLED CHEVROLET ABOUT THE LATENT DEFECT. I TALKED TO A JENNIFER AT GM (COMPLAINT NUMBER 8-154-782-3093) PHONE NUMBER 866-790-5700 EXT 5921542 ON 1 SEPTEMBER 2015. JENNIFER TOLD ME THAT GM HAS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AND WOULD ONLY FIX THE LATENT DEFECT IF GM RECEIVED ENOUGH COMPLAINTS. SHE DID NOT SAME HOW MANY COMPLAINTS GM NEEDED MAYBE 150% OF CAR OWNERS COMPLAINING OR 2,000S OF CAR FIRES!

NHTSA ODI 10760803

AS I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BRAKE STAYED CLUTCHED AGAINST THE ROOTER. I NOTIFIED THRIFTY CAR RENTAL NUMEROUS TIMES BUT NO ASSISTANT AS YET.

NHTSA ODI 10758712

WHEN I WAS REVERSING THE CAR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BREAKS WAS TIGHTLY GRIP ON TOO THE ROTOR. AS I TAP ON THE GAS THE CAR DID IT MOVE. I HAD TO PUT IT IN DRIVE AND TRY AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 10749940

THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR REMAINS SLIGHTLY OPEN. HOWEVER WHEN DRIVING THEN BREAKING IT WILL OPENED OCCASIONALLY

NHTSA ODI 10745641

ON JUNE 30, 2015 I PURCHASED A 2015 CHEVY IMPALA FROM RED RIVER CHEVY, BOSSIER CITY, LA 71111, (318) 549-7500. ON JULY 17, 2015 THE ENTIRE MY LINK SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDES, ONSTAR, GPS, CD PLAYER AND SIRIUS XM RADIO QUIT WORKING. ONSTAR COULD NOT LOCATE MY VEHICLE. ON JULY 27, 2015 I TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE THE GPS/MY LINK FIXED. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE MODULE. BEFORE THE MY LINK FAILURE I KEPT HEARING A ROARING NOISE ON THE CAR AND SOMETIMES SMELLING A BURNING ODOR. I ASKED A LOCAL MECHANIC WHAT THAT COULD BE AND HE GAVE ME THE OPTION OF BALL BEARINGS, TIRES COULD MAKE THE NOISE AND CHECK THE BRAKES. I LOOKED ON YOUR WEBSITE FOR ANY RECALLS ON THE IMPALA AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PADS STICKING TO THE TIRE THAT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO FIX THE BRAKES RECALL. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO FIX FOR THE BRAKES, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE SOFTWARE. I ASKED THE OWNER TO REFUND MY MONEY, BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT AND TOLD ME IT WAS A USED CAR. I COULD TRADE THE CAR FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE AS A USED CAR TRADE IN. THIS DEALERSHIP KNEW THERE WAS A SAFETY RISK WITH THE BRAKES AND NO REPAIR FOR THE POSSIBLE FAILURE AND STILL SOLD ME THIS VEHICLE. THEY FAILED TO DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION TO ME. IF MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE GOING DOWN AN INTERSTATE I WOULD NOT KNOW IT UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE, PLUS I TAKE MY 83 YR OLD MOTHER IN THE CAR; I MAY NOT HAVE TIME TO GET HER OUT. THIS DEALERSHIP DID NOT CARE ABOUT MY SAFETY IN DRIVING THIS CAR. I WAS GIVEN A IMPALA LOANER WHILE THEY REPAIRED THE GPS AND IT ALSO HAS A BURNING ODOR. GENERAL MOTORS DOES NOT NEED TO SELL ANY CARS WITH THIS ISSUE UNTIL A FIX IS GIVEN. I COULD SEE IF I HAD THE CAR BEFORE A RECALL NOTICE, BUT I BOUGHT IT AFTER THE RECALL. THIS IS PURE NEGLIGENCE ON GENERAL MOTORS PART AND RED RIVER CHEVY. I WANT ALL OF MY MONEY BACK.

NHTSA ODI 10746334

QUESTION: ARE THESE NEW POLICE CARS WITHOUT LIGHTS SAFE IN HIGH SPEED CHASES? I LIVE IN NYC NY AND SEE THAT WE HAVE THESE NYPD CARS WITHOUT LIGHTS ON THE TOP OF THE CARS THERE. YES, IT IS A REGULAR CHEVY IMPALA POLICE CAR BUT WITHOUT THE LIGHTS ON TOP OF THE POLICE CAR WHICH ARE THERE WHEN CARS ARE IN PURSUIT OR IN CHASES OR SOMETHING. I THINK THE ONLY LIGHTS THAT THE NYPD CAR HAS WOULD BE LIKE IN THE FRONT MOTOR. WOW, THEY ALSO HAVE HIGHWAY PATROL CARS WITH THE NYPD WHICH DO REGULAR DUTIES WITH THE CAR WITHOUT THE LIGHTS ON TOP OF THE CAR THERE. WOW, IS THAT CAR ESPECIALLY THE NYPD HIGHWAY PATROL CAR TO DO CHASES WITHOUT THOSE LAMPS ON TOP. WOW, THAT IS ODD, YES, NYPD HIGHWAY PATROL HAS THOSE CARS WITHOUT LIGHTS ON TOP OF THEM DOING REGULAR PATROLS ON THE HIGHWAYS THERE. SAFE FOR CHASES AND ALL OF THAT?(REPLY BY E MAIL)...UPDATED 10/01/15*BF

NHTSA ODI 10745078

I PURCHASED A NEW 2015 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT2 ON JUNE 30, 2015 WITH 25 MILES ON THE ODOMETER FROM RED RIVER CHEVY, BOSSIER CITY, LA. THE GPS AND NAVIGATION AND THE WHOLE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. ONSTAR COULD NOT LOCATE MY VEHICLE. IT KEPT SAYING I WAS IN TEXAS WHEN I HAVEN'T BEEN TO TEXAS IN THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR MUST HAVE COME FROM TEXAS. THE CAR WAS PLACED IN THE REPAIR SHOP ON JULY 27 AND IS STILL IN THE SHOP. THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO WORK WHILE I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE BRAKES ON THE CAR HAVE A BURNING SMELL TO THEM AND HAVE A CREEKING SOUND. WHEN I STOP IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS RUBBING THE TIRES. I ASKED ABOUT THE BRAKES, I WAS TOLD IT COULD NOT BE FIXED BECAUSE GM HAS NOT RELEASED THE SOFTWARE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE SOUND THE BRAKES MAKE, HE STATED HE PROBABLY COULDN'T FIX THE SOUND. THE ROAD NOISE IN THIS CAR IS REALLY LOUD NOW. IT WASN'T LOUD LIKE THIS WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. MY 83 YR OLD MOTHER MENTIONED THE NOISE AND SHE'S HARD OF HEARING. A LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD ME BALL BEARINGS WILL MAKE THAT TYPE OF NOISE. I KNOW GM INSTALLED BAD SWITCHES, I HOPE THEY DIDN'T INSTALL BAD BRAKES AND BALL BEARINGS. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE SOUND AND I WAS TOLD ITS JUST LOUISIANA HIGHWAYS. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO ABOUT THE BRAKE ISSUE? I WOULD LIKE A NEW CAR THAT IS SAFER TO DRIVE. IT HAS NOT BEEN 30 DAYS CAN I GET A REFUND OR ANOTHER VEHICLE?

NHTSA ODI 10744482

SUNROOF EXPLODED! I WAS DRIVING MY NEW, 3 WEEK OLD, 2015 CHEVY IMPALA LTZ ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 65 MPH, WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AND MY RETRACTABLE PANEL OF THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED, WITHOUT CAUSE, AND BLEW OUTWARD. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE IN THE CAR AS THE PASSENGER SEAT AND REAR SEATS WERE COVERED WITH SHARDS OF GLASS. THE REMAINING GLASS IN THE FRAME WAS ALL BENT OUTWARD WHICH MADE IT APPEAR THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL EXPLOSION TO PUSH MOST OF THE GLASS UP AND OUT OF THE CAR. WHY THE MFG DOESN'T USE SAFETY GLASS, LIKE THE WINDSHIELD, INSTEAD OF TEMPERED GLASS WHICH BREAKS INTO A THOUSAND PIECES IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HIT THE SUNROOF GLASS, IT JUST EXPLODED ON ITS OWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10691589

WHEN I RECEIVED MY BRAND NEW CAR FROM THE DEALER, BEFORE I EVEN DROVE IT, THERE WAS EXCESS MOISTURE INSIDE OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THIS MOISTURE CAN DIMINISH THE HEADLIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL FUNCTION,AND CORRODE THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE MOISTURE IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. WORKING WITH DEALER TO FIX THIS IF POSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10676926

EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED AND SHOCKED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME ON A COUNTRY ROAD IN THIS VEHICLE. THE PROJECTOR BEAM HALOGENS UTTERLY FAIL TO ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY IN A MANNER ANY COMPETENT DRIVER WOULD CONSIDER TO BE ADEQUATE OR MOST IMPORTANTLY SAFE! DEALER OF COURSE SAYS THIS IS "FACTORY" AND CONSIDERED NORMAL. I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THIS HEADLIGHT DESIGN IS ADEQUATE FOR MOST URBAN (SEMI LIGHTED) HIGHWAY BUT NECESSARILY DANGEROUS FOR RURAL DRIVERS. I WILL BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A NEWLY DESIGNED HEADLAMP OFFERING FROM GM. MY FIX IS TO INTENTIONALLY AIM THE (LOW BEAMS) EXTREMELY LOW AND JUST USE THE (HIGH BEAMS) FULL TIME WHICH AT LEAST ALLOWS ALL THE AVAILABLE LIGHT TO BE UTILIZED WITH NO ILL AFFECT TO ONCOMING DRIVERS SINCE THE BEAM IS SO DIM! OH, ALSO IT SEEMS THERE ARE NO PROVISIONS (ADJUSTABILITY) THAT I CAN SEE FOR SIDE TO SIDE AIMING? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10669598