2005 Chevrolet Impala: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Oct 26, 2017 · Electrical · 160,000 miles · MD · fire

I tried to start my car and smelled smoke. Something under the hood of my car must have been burning because there was a distinct smell of smoke when I opened the hood. When the road service attendant tried to jump the vehicle the next day, smoke came out of the fuse box and the car would not start.

Filed Dec 13, 2015 · Driver assistance, Engine · 126,000 miles · AZ

All gauges on the car stopped working 4 years ago around the time the pass lock had to be replaced. I have been locked out of my car many times. The valve cover leaks oil which might result in a fire. Driving it results in thick black smoke coming from the valve cover leak.

Filed Dec 24, 2013 · Engine · 170,000 miles · WI · fire

My car just lost all power so I coasted to a stop. I smelled smoke and saw it coming from under the hood. The car started on fire and was a total loss.

Filed Oct 24, 2013 · Electrical · 130,000 miles · MI

Noticed a smell and started seeing smoke coming out of the glove compartment. Turned off car and checked to find out the blower motor, resister and harness melted.

Filed Aug 22, 2013 · Electrical, Fuel system · 165,450 miles · IA

Car has just rolled over to a little over 165,,000 miles and when we bought it at the time we didn't think anything of it and then turns out a year after we bought the car it started smelling like gas big time but we didn't know where it was coming from then when I went to put the car in park the check engine light came on so im like thinking now what and so we take it to a garage and they say oh your entire exhaust system is rusted out and that there's a dollar size hole near the front of the exhaust but we didn't get it fixed becuz we couldn't at the time so they just told me to drive it as is and I have been but I've been noticing that it sounds louder and louder almost like how a car does not have an exhaust system and I really don't feel safe becuz its loud and it smells like gas on the inside and im afraid of it catching on fire one of these days and as for the resistor blower module for the A/C and heater we already had to replace that three times becuz it kept going out and I really don't want to have the car catch on fire becuz the blower motor resistor module isn't working properly and I don't have any money to keep fixing things on my car.

Filed Oct 24, 2012 · Visibility · 68,000 miles · OH · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet impala. The contact stated that the sunroof could not be opened. Immediately after trying to open the sunroof the driver saw smoke coming from under the headliner of the vehicle. The contact then tried to open all the windows however they were also inoperable. The contact stopped the vehicle and shut off the engine. The smoke ceased once the vehicle was shut off. The contact called the dealer in regard to the failure and a representative advised that if he did not see any flames, then they were not able to provide any assistance. The vehicle was neither inspected nor repaired. The manufacturer was later contacted but offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were approximately 68,000.

Filed Feb 18, 2012 · Electrical, Lights · 140,920 miles · WA · fire

This report is about sudden and repeated headlight electrical system failure in a 2005 chevrolet impala sedan, and a request for a nationwide safety recall and repair at gm expense for this issue. After getting in my 2005 impala sedan at approximately 4:55 pm on 16 february 2012, I started up and drove out on the road then I smelled burning plastic and noticed the headlights (low beam) were out. I tried the high beams and they worked as did the left and right turn signals, the windshield wiper controls and the cruise control functioned. As darkness increased I had to hold the switch in the high beam position so I could see to drive so I could get home. From what I could determine the problem seems to be in the wiring to/from the multifunction light control switch or maybe it is the switch itself on the steering column. The fuses and relays and the all seemed to be in working order but the low beam lights still did not work. This failure is extremely dangerous and happens without warning. This is the second time this has happened to me now. With dealer parts cost for a replacement multifunction light switch at $350.00 alone, not to mention labor costs and the criticality of lights while driving means this should be a required safety recall item. I have searched mechanical forums on this subject and there are many such occurrences documented, but gm does not seem to think there is a common problem or a reason to investigate and fix the malfunction. This problem is common knowledge at gm dealerships nationwide. Smelling burning plastic is an indication of a serious electrical problem which could lead to an onboard fire in the car in addition to causing injury and or death from a sudden light outage at night. Again, I request a nationwide safety recall and repair be initiated as it appears to be a manufacturing defect and an extreme safety issue.

Filed Oct 15, 2010 · Electrical · 108,284 miles · MI · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet impala. The contact stated that the wiring to the heater system that supplied power to the blower motor melted and caught fire inside the instrument panel. The heater system failed as a result of the fire. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the wiring was replaced. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that they could offer no assistance. The current and failure mileage was 108,284.

Filed Mar 7, 2008 · Electrical, Fuel system · SC · crash · fire

2005 chevrolet impala caught fire under the hood in an accident. Consumer states that when the car first caught fire the vehicle stayed in drive and would not go into park and ignition would not turn off causing the vehicle to feed fuel to the fire. *kb the driver of the impala was involved in a moderately low speed front end collision with the rear of another vehicle. According to the fire report, the fire a cap was missing from the fuel return on top of the engine which would have spewed gasoline as long as the engine was running.

Filed Aug 8, 2007 · Engine · 64,035 miles · CA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet impala. The vehicle overheated and shut off. The contact stated that the vehicle had been parked for one hour when he heard a loud boom. The vehicle then caught fire. The fire inspector stated that the fire was caused by the engine. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. Two other vehicles parked next to the contact's vehicle also caught fire. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The current and failure mileages were 64,035.

Filed Aug 1, 2006 · Electrical · 22,000 miles · NY · fire

Dt*: the contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire without warning while was parked in the driveway overnight. The fire originated from the engine compartment and battery area, as flames were clearly present. The fire department extinguished the fire and determined the fire was electrical in nature. The police were on the scene and a report was taken. The vehicle was totaled due to the extreme fire damage. The manufacturer was alerted.