2001 Chevrolet Impala: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Sep 8, 2020 · Lights · 245,000 miles · MN

Both headlights unexpectedly turn off while driving. Flicker on and off and then go off. Used to be able to let the car sit a few hours and they would work again. Now 2 nights ago they went off while driving at night....won't come back on at all. Parking lights stay on, turn signals, and 4 way flashers still work, pull switch lever back for bright lights and both headlights work in bright mode as long as you keep holding back on the lever. This was an intermittent problem that no one has been able to figure out. Have had it looked at several times and problem still exists. Replaced hazard flashers swithc, replaced mutlifunction switch, replaced headlights switch. Problem still exists. Now lights are off and won't come back on no matter what we try.....looking on the internet this is huge problem for impala's covering alot of years, this is a very dangerous issue when you loose your headlights totally at night while driving.......once they go out/off it doesn't matter if you stop, park, move, bang on them, wiggle wires and connectors, they may or may not come back on. So far, this time, ours are not coming back on......can't keep throwing money away to a dealer when they can't fix the problem either. They just want to start throwing parts at it and hopefully they finally fix it....that hasn't worked so far either.....

Filed Nov 6, 2015 · Lights · 100,000 miles · IA

On two separate occasions I've been driving on the highway at highway speeds and when I go from bright to dim my headlights shut off. They come back on shortly after, it's only my headlights as I can see my side lamps illuminated. Quickly going back to bright seemed to bring them on quicker the second time they went out. These two issues both occurred as I was meeting another vehicle and went from bright to dim. They occurred over the time period of two months.

Filed Sep 25, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 180,000 miles · WI

All at once the car would not start depending on how key was in ignition. Could wiggle then start, sometimes had to wait a period of time before you could wiggle it and it started. Unreliable. At the exact same time the front end electrical seemed to all go haywire. Headlights not working properly. High beams with no low. Wipers went into upright position when car started and won't go down. All routine maintenance and tuneups were on schedule.

Filed Nov 6, 2012 · Electrical · 153,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 chevrolet impala. The contact stated that the starter switch continuously failed and the vehicle could not be started. In addition, the headlights had become inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who advised that there was an electrical failure, such as the anti theft and pass lock systems, which constantly caused the entire electrical system to fail. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that they were unable to repair the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 153,000.

Filed Feb 13, 2012 · Electrical · 50,000 miles · IL

This models electrical system is flawed. Its been nothing but problems, for example I have replaced the blower motor and resister two times now took it to a mechanic and problem persist!! Others include one headlight dual, lights in dash cutting in and out, and rear defrost. I am done with this car and its company! From now on I am only buying ford!

Filed Jul 31, 2010 · Electrical · 125,000 miles · OH

Headlights, taillights, interior lights were all flashing. The car also would have incidents where it wouldn't start and I'd have to wait for 10 minutes to restart. I was told by the mechanic at the dealership that these problems were well known in gm cars and were caused by the bcm and passlock system. I was told that installing a new bcm for $400 would fix the problem. Immediately, I noticed that the flashing lights had stopped. A month later, I was leaving a grocery store when I tried to start my car and it wouldn't start. I had to wait 10 minutes before it would restart. I called the dealership service center and they told me that when this happens, the passlock system is resetting itself and the only remedy is to replace the bcm again. I had a 1 year warranty on the replacement of the bcm, so I took it to the dealer the next day. The car wouldn't do it when they had it, so they weren't able to determine that the bcm was the problem. I was never able to get it replaced because it wouldn't happen while at the dealership. Now that it's been over a year, the non-start issue has been happening weekly. Gm will not assist with paying for another bcm because of the mileage of my vehicle.

Filed Jul 5, 2010 · Lights · 129,000 miles · MI

2001 chevy impala headlights went out on our way home from the fire works on july 4th. Lucky the cop stopped us at the corner while directing traffic. The multiswitch has gone out.

Filed Apr 23, 2010 · Lights · MI

2001 impala. Pressed unlock on vehicle remote at 4:30 am. The headlights were supposed to come on and did not. I tried the headlight switch, and still no headlights. Two days later, the headlights came on momentarily, then went out. The headlights haven't worked since. I talked to a mechanic that agreed that the multifunction switch has gone bad and needs replacement. He has replace quite a few.

Filed Mar 30, 2010 · Electrical · 120,000 miles · CA

I began having electrical problems in my 2001 chevrolet impala in mid 2008, which continued to get worse until around late 2009 when the car was no longer safe to drive. These problems consisted of headlights flickering on and off randomly, intermittent turn signal failure, and a variety of other electrical related issues. Doing minimal research on the internet shows that many consumers have or are suffering from the exact same problems, and it appears that the majority of these claims are (temporarily?) solved by replacing the body control module in these vehicles. After replacing my body control module at the dealer ($600), the airbag light came on within a few days of the repair. I presume it is also related to a faulty body control module since that is what many voices on the internet say to check. I called my local chevrolet dealer and asked about another replacement, and they told me it would cost 170$ just to look at it and they said it was instead related to an airbag control module (more electrical). This vehicle has been in my family since it was purchased brand new, and has experienced a variety of electrical problems, most of which went away after replacing the body control module. After replacing the bcm, some have come back already. Please put a stop to this! It is highly dangerous to be driving down the freeway at night and have my headlights suddenly stop working or turn signals that are unreliable at best or an airbag that fails to launch during an accident. The symptoms seem to get worse the older the body control module, and I can see it happening all over again now that my airbag light is on after replacing my body control module.

Filed Jan 1, 2010 · Electrical · 127,000 miles · OH

Dash and instrument lights dim to where I can't see what speed I'm doing while driving at night. I can't manually adjust them with headlight knob when this problem occurs making for a very dangerous situation while driving at night.

Filed Dec 4, 2009 · Electrical · 150,000 miles · OR

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 chevy impala. While driving the pass lock system light began flashing. When the pass lock system light flashed the radio turns off, the doors locks, the dome light flashed on and off, the truck lid opens, and sometimes the vehicle will shut off and will not restart. The fuse must be removed in order to restart the vehicle. The failure is currently causing the headlights to shut off intermittently while driving. The manufacturer informed the contact that they were unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The contact is concerned about the safety risk since a crash could occur due to the failure. The current and failure mileages were 150,000.

Filed Apr 14, 2009 · Electrical · 80,000 miles · DE

The bcm (body control module) caused my 01 impala to do some crazy things. It started with turn signals intermittently working. My wife and I were in several near accidents because other drivers could not tell what we were doing. Then it progressed to each time that I applied the breaks the headlights would flash from high beam to low beam at least a dozen times. It distracted the drivers in front of me when driving at night. On many occasions it caused the entire dash instrumentation to fail with the exception of the speedometer. The message center would give me false indications of required maintenance and low tire pressure. Twice it locked the car out on "security" the vehicle would also intermittently start. After about 10minutes the vehicle typically started backup again. Once, the vehicle left the headlights on after vehicle was turned off. I had to disconnect the battery to keep it fromdraining the battery. Again, after about 10 minutes it would allow something to reset and all would be fine. After searching on the internet for similar problems on the make and model I took it toa gm dealer leading them towards the bcm. I didn't want to pay an exuberant amount of money forthem to chase an "electrical ghost". After $500 they replaced the bcm and the vehicle ran perfect for about 2 1/2 months and now the turn signals are intermittent once again.