Fuel system or backfire is what I believe happened to it. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety was severely put at risk because the car exploded and caught fire while I was inside the car and fire came through the dash and air conditioner slots, anything could of happened whether shrapnel or burn. this also put others at risk if my spouse was in the car with me or the apartment complex I live in could have caught fire and endangered multiple people. No the issue has not been seen or confirmed by a dealer or service center. Yes the vehicle has been inspected by state fire marshal. No there was no warning lights or problems at all. We drove the car the night before, everything was normal and nothing was showing on the dash and the next day I jumped in, put my seat belt on and started the car to make sure it was running good and it exploded and caught flames.
2002 Chevrolet Impala engine problems
180 complaints (23% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 96,000.
- owner complaints
- 180
- of this car's complaints
- 23%
- typical mileage
- 96,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
- Cooling system24
- Engine11
- Exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe10
- Exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor8
- Exhaust system5
- Exhaust system: emission control2
- Engine: gasoline2
- Engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Chevrolet Impala engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2002 Chevrolet Impala engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Won't start 102Stalling 41Check engine light 18Loss of power 18Overheating 17Knocking 8Engine failure 7Misfire 6Oil consumption 5
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V‑118, 09V‑116, and 15V‑201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
- Risk
- Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
- Remedy
- The remedy applied under recalls 08V‑118, 09V‑116, and 15V‑201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V‑118, 09V‑116, or 15V‑201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, Buick customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1‑800‑442‑6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
Recall number 15V701000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 buick regal, my 1998-2003 chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking.
- Risk
- If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engines plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, oldsmobile at 1‑800‑630‑6537, and pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668 or http://www.pontiac.com or http:www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 09V116000 · Recall details
What 2002 Chevrolet Impala owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My vehicle caught on fire after I returned from it getting serviced by Pepboys in Phenix City Alabama. My car was only getting serviced for the A/C and once I returned home, my car caught on fire in our drive port.
I just purchased this 2002 chevy impala which came with the important vehicle safety recall and I would need the problem fixed. The federal safety agency 15v‑701 im actually now scared to drive it/
Supposedly the cooling system was fixed in 2003 but it still tells me that my coolant is low and it leaks. I am the second owner of this car and have only had it since september of 2019. Also the transmission has a delayed shift from 1st to second.
I bought a 2002 chevy impala and got it looked at before purchase the only thing that popped up on the code reader was there is an electrical problem, sometimes my signal lights work sometimes they don't, my speedometer doesn't light up or anything. I then start to smell gas when I turn on the heat or air it's unbearable. I then proceeded to check for any recalls and there are a few dealing with the engine cooling and exhaust/gas leak along with electrical issues. They said the car could catch on fire at any time. I have two toddlers so there is no way that this is a safe car.
Takara recall
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet impala. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal odor of burning oil emerging from the vehicle. Additionally, there was oil on the engine compartment. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to modern chevrolet (5955 university pkwy, winston-salem, nc 27105 (336) 793-5943) but, was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 186,000.
On april 9th of 2017, our 2002 impala ls was brought in to have the vehicle serviced due to this recall: these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking, which may result in an under hood fire. This work was done in april 2017: dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engines plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension. Summer of 2017 we had the oil and filter replaced, and afterwards lots of smoke came from engine. We thought the mechanic had simply spilled some oil on the engine. Summer of 2018 oil and filter was changed and smoke from the engine compartment, we again thought the mechanic had spilled some oil on the engine. In march of 2019 the vehicle was parked, facing downhill at an above average angle, and oil began to seep out of the engine and burn of on the hot exhaust manifold lots of smoke and potential fire hazard. The vehicle was returned to bob mccosh, who had performed the original gasket replacement in 2017, to have the original recall work inspected. Upon inspection a piece of gasket, about 2 to 3 inches long, was found to be protruding from between the valve cover and the engine. Upon further inspection of this gasket, the edge of the gasket visually appeared to have been caught by the bolt as it was tightened and this either tore the gasket or weakened it sufficiently so that the gasket failed. Said gasket is currently in my possession. We know it failed before the oil/filter change in the summer of 2017, because of the amount of smoke that issued from the engine compartment afterwards. This recall repair lasted far less than the 12month/12,000 mile warranty. The vehicle, today april 2019, still has less than 10,000 miles since the original recall work was done in march 2017.
Last year I bought my car from a private dealer. Since purchasing it, my car always seems to be running hot. My "check engine coolant" light use to come on so often, I went out and purchased another radiator hose and clamps and got the light to turn off. However the issue with my car running hot has not gone away. I'm scared that this is a bigger issue than coolant and it could create a fire and after reading the recall, I am afraid to drive until this problem is fixed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet impala. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking oil, fuel, and power steering fluid. In addition, the vehicle failed to start and the engine, traction control, and power steering warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 14v400000 (electrical system) and 15v701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in a recall and provided a case number. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
Questions about the 2002 Chevrolet Impala engine
Does the 2002 Chevrolet Impala have engine problems?
Owners have filed 180 complaints about the engine of the 2002 Chevrolet Impala, 23% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Impala engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 96,000 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala engine?
Yes, 2 recalls: 15V701000, 09V116000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
Other 2002 Chevrolet Impala problems
Electrical 305Lights 125Brakes 74Steering 57Airbags 47Transmission 36Fuel system 34Visibility 34Driver assistance 32Acceleration 15Suspension 12Body 10Tires 9Seats 8Locks 4Seat belts 4Wheels 3
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