2000 Chevrolet Impala Brakes Problems

ENTERED MY PARKED CAR ON A SLOPING DRIVEWAY AND STARTED THE ENGINE TO PULL AWAY. I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL GAVE UNDER THE PRESSURE OF MY FOOT AND WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. NO BRAKES, CAR ROLLED INTO STREET AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME WITH VERY LITTLE STOPPING ABILITY. THANK GOODNESS I ONLY HAD TO GO A SHORT DISTANCE TO MY HOUSE WITH NO STOPPING REQUIRED IN THE 6 MILE TRIP. AS IT TURNS OUT THE REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AWAY AND BLEW OUT UNDER NORMAL USE AND DUMPED THE FLUID. *TR

APPLIED BRAKES WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUNK ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR HOLDING NO PRESSURE WHICH CAUSE ME TO ROLL THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SHOP BRAKE LINES WHERE CORRODED INSIDE OUT AND ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

CORRODED THROUGH BRAKE LINE! I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES MILDLY. MY FOOT FELT NORMAL BRAKE RESISTANCE FOR AN INSTANT AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR. FORTUNATELY, AS MY SLOWING WAS NOT CRITICAL AT THAT MOMENT, THE FAILED BRAKING DID NOT RESULT IN A DISASTER. DURING MY DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM, ON APPLYING THE BRAKES MUCH BRAKE FLUID LEAKED ON THE GROUND BELOW THE MASTER CYLINDER, BUT NOT INVOLVING THE MASTER CYLINDER. CLOSER INSPECTION I DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINE CROSSING THE FIREWALL TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL (ABOUT 12 INCHES BELOW THE MASTER CYLINDER AND A FEW INCHES TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE) WAS ASSEMBLED SUCH THAT IT IS EMBEDDED IN FELT (WHICH APPARENTLY PROVIDES SOUND DEADENING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT) UP AGAINST THE FIREWALL FOR ABOUT 6 INCHES. THIS FELT HOLDS WATER AND REMAINS WET ALMOST CONTINUOUSLY IN THE NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENT. THERE IS EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE BRAKE LINE IN THIS AREA - AND IT IS RUSTED THROUGH, WITH BRAKE FLUID SQUIRTING OUT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS IS VERY STUPID AND DANGEROUS DESIGN PATH FOR THIS BRAKE LINE - IT SHOULD BE INSTALLED SUCH THAT IT DOES NOT CONTACT THE FELT. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT IT WAS ASSEMBLED THIS WAY (THE LINE IS NOT FLEXIBLE AT THIS POINT) - FIRMLY FORCED UP AGAINST THE FELT ON THE FIREWALL AND HELD IN THIS POSITION BY FASTENERS - NOT DUE TO ANY MOVEMENT OF THE LINE AFTER ASSEMBLY. THIS UNNECESSARY FAILURE DUE TO STUPID DESIGN MAY WELL HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS OR EVEN FATAL ACCIDENT, VERY POSSIBLY INVOLVING A PEDESTRIAN AND/OR ONE OR MORE AUTOMOBILES. ACCESS TO REPLACE THIS LINE WILL REQUIRE THE CAR TO BE ON A LIFT, WHICH I AM UNABLE TO PROVIDE, SUCH THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY GOOD MONEY TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS WILL MOST ASSUREDLY BE A PROBLEM (LIKELY RESULTING IS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH) ON OTHER 2000 ERA IMPALA'S. *TR

WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. SINCE THE CAR WAS GOING ONLY 5-10 MPH, I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING. WHEN I CHECKED THE BRAKES, I FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH, APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES TO THE REAR OF THE FUEL FILTER. I HAD BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES REPLACED, FOR THE OTHER WAS RUSTY. *TR

THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE FAILED, FORTUNATELY IN THE DRIVEWAY. INSPECTION OF THE LINES SHOWED HEAVY CORROSION ON ALL FOUR LINES. THE FAILURE ON THE RIGHT FRONT LINE WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND THE ENGINE AND THE HOLE WAS A LARGE ENOUGH TO DRAIN THE RESERVOIR IN 5 OR 6 PEDAL DEPRESSIONS. *TR

REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED IN HALF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ABRUPTLY TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP UNTIL THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION IN COMBINATION WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. THE CONTACT REPLACED BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 148,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I HAVE A 2000 IMPALA THAT DOES NOT HAVE TRACTION CONTROL. IT HAS A NO START PROBLEM. IT WON'T TURN OVER AND I HAVE TO SIT THERE ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 30 MINS WAITING FOR THIS PIECE OF CRAP TO START. I THINK SOMEBODY NEEDS TO MAKE GM RECALL THESE CARS TO FIX THEM. ITS TIME TO PUT THE CONSUMER FIRST AND NOT THESE MONEY HUNGRY CORPORATIONS LIKE GENERAL MOTORS!!! *TR

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE, HE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, HE HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY FOUND RUST ON THE BRAKE LINE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE AND THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *JB UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA; CONTACT COMPLAINT THAT BRAKE LININGS CORRODED. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, IN COURSE OF HITTING BRAKES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS NO BRAKES. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIX BRAKE LINES. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR BRAKES TO BE FIXED AT ANOTHER DEALER . . NO INJURIES. NO POLICE REPORTS. NO CRASHES. *AK

DT: WITHOUT WARNING THE AUTOMATIC TRACTION SERVICE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON RIGHT BEFORE THE CALLER'S SON LOST CONTROL OF CAR AND HAD A CRASH. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER TO GET IT FIXED. AUTOMATIC TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON TWO OTHER TIMES BEFORE THE CRASH, AND WENT RIGHT OFF. ONCE WHEN CALLER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING ,AND ONCE WHEN SON WAS DRIVING. HAS NOT TALKED TO DEALER OR MANUFACTURER YET.*AK

THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LINE THAT GOES THROUGH THE FIREWALL RUPTURED CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL WHEN THE DRIVER WAS COMING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER. *NM THE RUPTURE WAS A RESULT OF PREMATURE TOTAL RUST THROUGH IN TWO LOCATIONS ALONG THE PIPE. *TC

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR REGULAR CHECKUP WHEN RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE FALLING OFF AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF REPAIR PRIOR TO THIS OCCASION, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS IF THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE BRAKES DID NOT OPERATE. *JB

BRAKES WEAR UNEVEN, ALWAYS A STRANGE SOUND. I HAVE REPLACED THEM THREE TIMES, EVEN WHEN I WAS TOLD THE PAD WAS NOT WORN. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2003 THE BRAKES DID NOT WORKED PROPERLY. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY CONSTANTLY GRABBED AND LET GO. SHE DID NOT KNOW WHETHER SHE COULD TALK TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER TOMORROW. *AK THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE BRAKES PULSATED WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED THE TRUNK LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. *SC *JB

PROBLEM WITH SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT GOING ON WHEN DRIVING ON WET OR SLIPPERY ROADS. PRECEDING THIS BRAKES WILL MAKE GRINDING NOISE. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM AT 18K MILES. *PH THE BRAKES BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND HUM, THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS CAME ON WHICH STATED THERE WAS AN ABS AND TRACTION PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND A THERE WAS A SENOR PROBLEM. THE REAR WHEEL SENOR WAS SHOWING A PROBLEM WHICH RESULTED FROM THE LEFT FRONT STRUT, WHERE CONNECTOR C101 AND CONNECTOR C045 WIRES PASSED INTO THE TRUNK UNDER THE CARPET. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB

VEHICLE WOULD HAVE HARD START PROBLEMS, AND WOULD STALL OUT AT ANY TIME WITH NO WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TOOK IN & WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD REPROGRAM COMPUTER, OTHER PROBLEMS W CAR, BRAKES WOULD WEAR OUT EVERY MONTH, ODOMETER READING INCORRECTLY. DEALER NO WILLING TO WORK ON VEHICLE UNLESS A CASH DEPOSIT WAS MADE. FINALLY TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT PROBLEMS WERE TAKEN CARE OF. CAR IN SHOP FOR 1 WEEK, AND AFTER RETURN OF CAR THE SAME PROBLEMS BEGAN OCCURRING, WITH THE STALLING, FINALLY OCCOASIONALLYWAS WHEN SON DRIVING ON FREEWAY CAR DIED WHILE GOING 65MPH. SON HAD TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART VEHICLE . THEN FINALLY AFTER 1 WEEK TRANSMISSION DROPPED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD VARIOUS PROBLEMS SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE AND DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS.*AK

ROTORS WARPED AT 16,054 MILES. DEALER RESURFACED ROTORS AND SANDED PADS. ROTORS WARPED AGAIN AT 29502 MILES. DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. AT 38735 MILES I TOOK CAR TO DEALER WITH COMPLAINT OF A BUMPING SENSATION IN THE STEERING MOSTLY WHEN TURNING. SER. MGR. REPORTED THAT IMPALAS HAVE HAD INTERMEDIATE STEERING PROBLEMS, BUT MECHANIC REPORTEDLY FOUND NO SUCH PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, HE FOUND THAT ROTORS WERE AGAIN OUT OF ROUND. ROTORS WERE RESURFACED AND PADS WERE SCUFFED. THIS DID NOT HELP THE BUMPING SENSATION IN THE STEERING. FEEL THAT CHEVROLET KNOWS THEY HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH ROTORS AND STEERING, BUT NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN OFFERED TO ME.*AK

THERE ARE TWO: ONE: A/C "OVERFLOW CATCH TRAP" COLLECTS WATER AND DOES NOT DRAIN, CAUSING MOLDY SMELL AND REQUIRES CLEANING OUT OF "TRAP" TWO: FRONT END BRAKES "WOBBLE" - TOOK IN 3 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY TO HAVE FIXED AND ONCE HAD TO PAY AT 12K MILES TO HAVE TO HAVE ROTORS REPLACED. OTHERWISE REPLIED TO AS "NORMAL". STILL WOBBLES (I WOULD NOT DESCRIBE AS THE EXPECTED "PULSING") - NEVER COMPLETELY SATISFIED AT ANY TIME REPORTED. NOW OF WARRANTY (OF COURSE) BUT WHO HAS TIME TO KEEP TAKING THE CAR BACK IN? *NLM