What 298 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Chevrolet Impala

There was a recall on the SBZA in April of 2019 and we received a recall letter from GM, probably in July of 2019 but the recall was for vehicles with less than 80,000 and we had 83,000, so I never pursued recall thinking that we wouldn't qualify. We had the SBZA-Side Blind Zone Alert system replaces in December of 2019, at a big cost to us of $1000, at local Chevrolet dealer. The new detection system only lasted about 15-16 months or March-April of 2021 before it started acting up again. When I called the Chevrolet dealer up to complain about the problem, they told me that there was only a 1 year warranty on brand new part and it being over 1 year old now, it was out of warranty!! Arrgghh!! We left it at that and it didn't cause too much of a hassle as I turned off detection system, using car radio settings and we only had a message on dash, which we could turn off and live with as we didn't have another $1000, out of our pocket, to get fixed. Then in November of 2021 and onwards, the light on drivers mirror would come on, stay on or blink off and on but doesn't always stay on. Now as of February 26 2022, we are having many of the same issues and things happening, that we had back in 2019, where the car is hard to start, dash doesn't work properly along with many safety warning lights coming on the dash, sounds, speedometer not working, no radio, no turn signals, no HVAC, windows don't function properly, etc, etc. It usually goes away, after 10 minutes or so, then is normal again, then goes berserk again, off and on. This is now happening more often each day and is a huge safety issue, esp with our daughter using the car now, to get back and forth to work. She has panicked each time this happens. We bought car with 72,000 miles on it back in May of 2018 and it currently only has 126,300 miles on it. We love this car otherwise as it's been a real great car but now with this stupid problem again and so soon, we are not sure what to do. Thank you very much.

NHTSA ODI 11455099

It appears that my vehicle had a special coverage bulletin titled “N172097060 - Special Coverage Side Blind Zone Alert Module Water Intrusion” This special coverage only covered vehicles for 6 years or 80,000 miles. This week I started experiencing problems with my vehicles side blind zone alert system. From everything that I have read it appears to be the same issue that led to the special coverage mentioned above being issued. However, my vehicle is now outside of the specified coverage limitations. I believe that it should still be covered as it still remains a safety issue. Regardless of how many years or miles have passed. Thank you.

NHTSA ODI 11454268

The stabilitrak system GM installed on my vehicle repeatedly indicates a "service" notification. Once this occurs, my vehicle loses power and the ability to shift into any driving mode. This issue began around 60,000, I currently have 77,500+ on my vehicle. GM issued a technical service bulletin (PIC5992A) for my vehicle, however, denies it's the issue and will only attempt a repair from a computer code, which they continue to fail to replicate. The occurrence of this issue is especially worrisome on any interstate highway. ODI 11406439

NHTSA ODI 11437787

Side detection system has failed. This detection system is vital to the safety of the vehicle. This is because there are blind spots inherent in the cars design that the side detection system corrects. My Impala LTZ is 6 1/2 years old with just under 30,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11433292

Blind side collision monitor is not functioning properly due to faulty design which allows moisture to get into cabin where the monitor is installed. Causing the collision feature not to function properly and "service side collision" msg to show on the dashboard. I had this issue before and had it repaired by the dealer on 03/2019. The problem has since returned. But this time it's caused the functions on the dashboard ( gas, h/c and speed meters, digital monitor screen etc) to stop working where I can't tell if I have gas or my driving speed or anything associated with the dashboard info system, it blacks out. And now the alert light on the door mirrors continuously stay on even when there's no car on the side of my vehicle and even when the car is turned off. I took it back to the dealership and have been told that the collision monitor sensors AGAIN need to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11427605

The connector on the drivers side module is corroded from water intrusion. It is an identical condition as described in NHTSA recall N172097060. The dealer and GM claims this vehicle was not included in the recall, even though it is a 2015 Chevrolet Impala. They now want me to pay 1,000+ dollars to fix the issue according to the steps in the bulletin? If i don't get this fixed soon is it could disable my vehicle as explained in the bulletin. I purchase the car in November of 2019 which is 7 months after this bulletin was released, and because GM did not include the VIN number in their system it was never corrected previously. The connector in the images is damaged now because the mechanic broke it at the dealer trying to get it off from the internal corrosion. I also contacted GM directly and they said that my car was not included in the VIN range and that I could take the issue up with NHTSA at my own prerogative.

NHTSA ODI 11423080

The blind sensor indicators are defective. The right side stays on but the the left side worked accordingly. Without warning the indicator on the left also stopped working. GM is well aware of the issue but will only fix the issue if it happens within a warranty timeframe. The initial issue with mine happened while driving in a winter storm with slushy roads. The sensors that stays illuminated isn't as much as a safety issue as the one that was lighting up as expected then stopped without warning. This item should be a full recall not a fix it if it breaks scenario. Mine stopped working within my warranty timeframe but because I was a secondary purchaser, I had no way of knowing that waiting until my next oil change would cause me to be stuck with $800 in repairs because GM refused to recall a safety issue item they are well aware of.

NHTSA ODI 11421029

JUST RECEIVED A MESSAGE ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER THAT SAYS "SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM" SO I LOOKED IT UP IN THE WARRANTY INFO BOOK AND FOUND ONLY AN INSTRUCTION THAT SAID TO CLEAN THE REAR BUMPERS, AND NOTHING ELSE. CALLED DEALER AND THEY WANT $135 TO DIAGNOSE AND POSSIBLE REPAIR CHARGE OF $1100. LOOKED INTO COMMON PROBLEMS WITH OTHERS VEHICLE OWNERS AND FOUND SEVERAL WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS; ALSO FOUND A GM 'SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT"" DATED 4-1-19 COVERING THE COST OF REPAIR BUT ALSO FOUND IT WAS ONLY GOOD FOR YEARS AND/OR 80,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS 62,000 MILES BUT IS 6 MONTHS BEYOND THE YEARS. IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE? I WOULD THINK SO. SO WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT OTHER INCIDENTS WITH THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS LOOSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS AS WELL AS ISSUES INVOLVING VEHICLE HEADLIGHT AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN. WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF ASAP. THANK YOU [XXX] CELL # [XXX] JUNE 15. 2021 P.S. THIS HAS BEEN THE BEST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED; UP UNTIL NOW. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11421030

MY CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER SPECIAL COVERAGE N172097060, SIDE BLIND SIDE ALERT MODULE, IN APRIL 2019. TWO YEARS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAS RECURRED YET NOW I'M TOLD THE SPECIAL COVERAGE HAS EXPIRED, AS THE IN SERVICE DATE OF MY VEHICLE IS 2 MONTHS PAST THE 6 YEAR LIMIT. THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS ALSO SUBSTANDARD, PERHAPS EVEN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, AS IT DID NOT LAST MUCH MORE THAN TWO YEARS. THE FACT THAT IT FAILED JUST TWO MONTHS AFTER THE COVERAGE LIMIT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO ME AS A CONSUMER. THE DEALER CHARGED ME OVER 900 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM, REQUIRED TO PASS NY STATE INSPECTION.

NHTSA ODI 11415026

I HAD THE DRIVER SIDE BLIND SPOT DETECTION GO BAD ON MY IMPALA, SO IT'S STARTING OUT THAT MY DRIVER SIDE MIRROR BLIND SIDE IMAGE WAS BLINKING, THEN IT STOP AND WAS WORKING OK FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS AND THEN A MESSAGE APPEARS ON MY DASH TO FIX THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM, WHICH IF FINE, BUT WHEN I GO TO THE INTERNET TO SEE IF I CAN JUST DO AWAY WITH THIS SYSTEM, THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE FIND OUT WAS VERY UPSETTING, EVERYTHING ON DASH DOESN'T WORK, CAN'T GET INTO THE CAR, CARS DON'T START. THAT'S FINE BUT WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO GET FIX THE SERVICE MANAGER AND WORKER TELL ME ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN WHEN THIS SYSTEM GOES DOWN. WHAT HAPPENS IF I'M DRIVING THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IT JUST STOP RUNNING, I HAVE NO BREAKS OR STEERING. IT'S CAUSES AN ACCIDENT.TO ME THIS IS A VERY SAFETY ISSUE. AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE BLIND SIDE IS BLINKING NOW, IT STOP BLINKING AND WORKING FINE FOR AWHILE AND THAN JUST QUITE WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11408352

WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON AND NOT IN MOTION THE DASH DISPLAYS A SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM MESSAGE AND THE BLIND SPOT DETECTORS IN THE SIDE MIRRORS DO NOT LIGHT UP LIKE THEY SHOULD WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED. WHEN DRIVING, AT ANY SPEED AND ON ANY ROADS OR HIGHWAY, THE BLIND SPOT DETECTORS DO NOT LIGHT. WHEN ASSESSED BY A CHEVY MECHANIC THE SIDE DETECTION SENSORS WERE SWOLLEN AND . CORRODED. THIS SENSOR IS IN AN AREA WHERE IT IS UNPROTECTED FROM THE SNOW AND SALT. IT WILL COST ALMOST $2,000 TO REPLACE TWO SENSORS. IF NOT REPLACED I'M AFRAID THAT MY VEHICLES WILL START CATCHING FIRE OR HAVING OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS LIKE OTHER 2015 IMPALA OWNERS HAD HAPPEN TO THEM IN THE PAST DUE TO THESE CORRODED SENSORS.

NHTSA ODI 11404505

ELECTRICAL MODULE (SIDE DETECTION) HAS FAILED TWICE. HAVE TO DRIVE TO GET REPAIR WITH NO GAUGES, SIGNALS, OR HEAT. THIS COULD EASILY BE A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR WAS PARKED, UPON STARTING, GOT SEVERAL ERROR MESSAGES INCLUDING SIDE DETECTION ISSUE, AIR BAG FAILURE, TIRE INFLATION FAILURE. NO SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, HEAT - BUT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SEAT ELECTRICAL HEAT STILL WORK!

NHTSA ODI 11397392

SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON

NHTSA ODI 11394321

SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM LIGHT ON DASH SAY SERVICE BUT THE SIDE DETECTION LIGHT ONBTHE MIRROR STAYS ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11386278

2015 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM. *LD *TR THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO PAY ALMOST HALF THE REPAIRS WHICH IN COST IS OVER $600. *TR *JS

NHTSA ODI 11185314

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BLIND SPOT MONITORING SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE SIDE ACTIVATION SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED SCHONER CHEVROLET (720 W MAPLE ST, HARTVILLE, OH 44632, (330) 267-9263) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLIND SPOT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI 11109653

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE REAR CAMERA FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE LANE DEPARTURE ALERT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (DOAN CHEVROLET, 5049 W RIDGE RD, SPENCERPORT, NY 14559) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MODULE HARNESS WAS CORRODED AND THERE WAS WATER INTRUSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND OFFERED TO ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH HALF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,990.

NHTSA ODI 11088830