repaired · 2017 Q3
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
2002 Chevrolet ImpalaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 795 owner complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Impala, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-400 the manufacturer reports only 22% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 6, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2002 Chevrolet Impala has problems
795 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
305Electrical system17 crash/fire/injury
123Exterior lighting2 crash/fire/injury
106Engine and engine cooling5 crash/fire/injury
75Engine20 crash/fire/injury
63Service brakes, hydraulic4 crash/fire/injury
57Steering
47Air bags
36Power train
31Visibility
17222 other systems19 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 305 | 17 |
| Exterior lighting | 123 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 106 | 5 |
| Engine | 75 | 20 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 63 | 4 |
| Steering | 57 | 3 |
| Air bags | 47 | 23 |
| Power train | 36 | 1 |
| Visibility | 31 | 0 |
| 22 other systems | 172 | 19 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2002 Chevrolet Impala recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
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…
no report yet
Air bags: frontal
Risk. PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
82kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 233 electrical system complaints. 59% were reported before 100,000 miles.
20under 30k miles138under 100k miles95100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Electrical system
25 owners mentioned a cost$750median
Middle half: $509 – $1,100
Exterior lighting
16 owners mentioned a cost$500median
Middle half: $450 – $600
Engine and engine cooling
14 owners mentioned a cost$925median
Middle half: $625 – $1,638
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2002 vs. every other Impala year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Impala median. How we score
'65'66'67'68'69'71'72'73'74'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'85'87'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2002 Chevrolet Impala safety ratings
2002 Chevrolet Impala 4-DR in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2002 Chevrolet Impala, and the recalls they led to.
- ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESLed to recall 04V-090
- ALLEGED HEADLIGHT FAILURENo recall
In owners' words
What Impala owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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…
Power windows fail at times Blinkers fail at times Front hub assembly damage Front calipers are damaged and affect steering These are available for inspection. There are huge safety risks with all of these compromised issues. Last inspection is unknown. No known warning lamps present.
I was driving along when out of no where my trunk opened. I got off the highway and closed it. At that time I was puzzled wondering who had been in my truck to have not closed it correctly. I knew I hadn't been in it in awhile. It wasn't until a few weeks later when the "Service Vehicle Soon" light…
Own a 2002 Impala?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.