2000 Chevrolet Impala Fuel System Problems

MY IMPALA EXPLODED THE INTAKE AND CAUGHT FIRE MELTED HARNESS AND SMOKE DAMAGE TO INSIDE CAR GM KNOWS THIS PROBLEM AN HAS NOT HAD A RECALL ON THIS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN KILL SOMEONE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FUEL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS STARTED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL AND THERE WAS AN ODOR EMITTING THROUGH THE VENTS INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

ON 2/24/14 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:50 PM, I PROPERLY ATTACHED A SET OF BATTERY JUMPER CABLES FROM MY TRUCK TO THIS CAR TO START IT FROM A DEAD BATTERY SITUATION. WHEN THE OWNER ATTEMPTED TO CRANK THE CAR, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DURING THE CRANKING, RESULTING IN AN EXPLOSION AND SMALL FIRE. THE OWNER IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED THE CAR OFF, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND I IMMEDIATELY CLOSED THE HOOD SO THAT THE FIRE WOULD NOT SPREAD, CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND REMOVED THE VEHICLES AROUND IT. THE FIRE DEPT. RESPONDED WITHIN 5 MIN., AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH WATER. THE FIRE DEPT. AND POLICE INSPECTED THE CAR, AND LEFT AFTER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS PROPERLY EXTINGUISHED, AND THERE WAS NO FURTHER RISK OF THE FIRE RE-STARTING. THE FIRE DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE ENTIRE UNDER-HOOD AREA OF THE CAR. WHEN THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED, THE ENGINE COVER AND OIL FILLER CAP WAS BLOWN APPROXIMATELY 5 FT. FROM THE CAR, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BLOWN OPEN, AND THE FIRE WAS BURNING INSIDE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. WE ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE CAR INTO THE PARKING SPACE, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. IT SEEMED THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED, PROBABLY AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. THE CAR HAS SINCE BEEN TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. THE CAR'S OWNER WAS INSIDE OF THE CAR, ATTEMPTING TO START IT VIA THE IGNITION KEY. I ASKED HER IF THERE WERE ANY PRIOR ISSUES WITH THE CAR, AND SHE TOLD ME THAT AT THE TIME, OTHER THAN A FLAT TIRE AND DEAD BATTERY, THE A/C WAS INOPERATIVE, AND NOT BEING USED. APPROXIMATELY 2-3 YEARS AGO, THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A LOCAL DEALER, AND A RECALL ISSUE WAS PERFORMED ON IT. SHE DID NOT REMEMBER WHAT SERVICE AND RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE ON THE CAR. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN OPERATED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS. I AM THE PERSON MOST ABLE TO GIVE THE DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT. THE OWNER OF THE CAR (SISTER) HAS AUTHORIZED ME TO ACT ON HER BEHALF IN THIS MATTER. *TR

MY CAR STARTED TO OVER HEAT IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER IN MINNESOTA. THERE WAS PLENTY OF COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIRS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING THERE WAS A NOISE AND ONCE I STARTED TO MOVE AGAIN THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER THE GAS GAUGE BEGAN SHOWING THE INCORRECT ABOUT OF GAS LEVELS IN MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND SMOKE IMMEDIATELY EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD WHERE FLAMES BEGAN TO ERUPT. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE HIMSELF AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP HOSE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED AND AS A RESULT, THE GAUGE INDICATED THAT WRONG AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

ON FEB.10TH OR 11TH.MY NEIGHBOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO JUMP START MY CAR BECAUSE THE BATTERY HAD FAILED DUE TO A 3 DAY SNOW STORM. AFTER TURNED THE IGNITION THE SECOND TIME, THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM. WHEN WE CHECKED THE ENGINE, WE NOTED THE MANIFOLD COVER HAD CRACKED INTO SEVERAL PIECES. ALSO THE WIRES WERE ON FIRE. MY NEIGHBOR QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. LATER, I WENT TO MY DEALER(FRANK Z CHEVROLET IN DAYTON, OH. ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE REPAIRS COULD COST FROM $1,800-$2,000 MAINLY DUE TO THE FIRE DAMAGE. SINCE I HAVE BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR 18 MONTHS, I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR AN ESTIMATE OF ACTUAL DAMAGE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TRAVELED FOR FIVE MINUTES IN THE VEHICLE AND UPON RETURNING TO HER RESIDENCE, SHE OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS THAT INDICATED A POTENTIAL FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THREE RECALLS FOR HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 04V090000, 01V136000 AND 04V090000). THE MANUFACTURER TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE APRIL 2009 AND HAS YET TO COMMUNICATE THE OUTCOME TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT CONFIRM IF ANY OF THE RECALLS APPLIED SPECIFICALLY TO VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

TRIED TO START OUR CAR. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THE FUEL LINE CAME OFF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD RUPTURED. *TR

FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW, MY FUEL INDICATOR FLUCTUATES. ONLY TIME IT READS ACCURATELY IS WHEN IT IS FULL, OR ALMOST EMPTY. A COWORKER WHO ALSO OWNS AN IMPALA HAS SAID THAT HE JUST STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

WAS HAVING A HARD TIME STARTING THE CAR AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY ON SHORT TRIPS IN TOWN. TOOK ABOUT 7 CRANKS TO FINALLY GET IT STARTED. DROVE THE CAR THE NEXT DAY, EVERYTHING SEEMED OKAY DID NOT DRIVE CAR AT ALL OVER THE WEEKEND. GOT INTO THE CAR ON MONDAY AND HEARD A HUGE NOISE. I THOUGHT THE WINDSHIELD BROKE. LOOKED UP AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. UNLATCHED HOOD, AND SAW THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED ALONG WITH THE INTAKE PLENUM, AND THERE WAS A FIRE. BURNT THE INJECTOR CONNECTORS. CAR WAS NOW AT DEALERSHIP, AND CHEVROLET WAS SENDING AN INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK AT CAR AS THIS WAS A POSSIBLE RESULT FROM A RECALL BY GM REGARDING THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, WHICH I TOOK TO DEALER TO HAVE IT REPLACED. HOPEFULLY GM WILL TAKE OFF THIS.*AK

NO CRASH, BUT THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER,GAS GAUGE GOES WACKY MOST OF THE TIME THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK AT ALL, THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS ABOUT 25 PERCENT OF THE TIME, I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER IMPALA OWNERS ON LINE AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS A RECALL FROM G.M. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. ALSO MOST OF THEM SAID THE TEMP. GAUGE GOES ALSO AND THAT CONCERNS ME IF YOU CAR WOULD OVERHEAT YOU WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT IT HAPPENED, UNTIL IT WAS TO LATE, NOW YOU WOULD HAVE TO INVEST IN A NEW MOTOR AND THAT IS WAY TO COSTLY. PLEASE SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED, WERE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE REPAIR WAS TO COST $500.00. *TR

AFTER NOT BEING USED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH, I TRIED TO START MY 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH 114,000 (+/-) MILES. THE CAR DID NOT START. I CONNECTED JUMPER CABLES AND AGAIN TRIED. THE CAR DID NOT TURN OVER. I WAITED A FEW MOMENTS AND THEN TRIED AGAIN. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE. I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND DISCONNECTED THE CABLES. THE TOP OF THE UPPER INTAKE HAD EXPLODED. THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER HAD DISCONNECTED AND THE OIL FILLER CAP/TUBE HAD PROJECTED TO THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE TOP OF THE MOTOR, FUEL LINE AND SURROUNDING WIRES/INSULATION WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY SMOTHERING. I CALLED A MECHANIC DIRECTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT AND WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. AFTER VIEWING THE RECALL FOR FOR THE 3.8L (VIN K) FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, THE POTENTIAL SITUATION OF A LOW BATTERY COMBINED WITH THE LEAKING REGULATOR CAUSING A BACKFIRE AND THUS EXPLOSION WAS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. I CONTACTED LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS AND WAS THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. I THEN CONTACTED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE VIA A PHONE CALL ON DECEMBER 4, 2006. AFTER MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, I WAS REQUESTED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED, AT MY EXPENSE, TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP SO CHEVROLET COULD SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT. CHEVROLET THEN CALLED ME THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY TO TELL ME THAT THEY FEEL THE LOW BATTERY CAUSED THE EXPLOSION AND THUS, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. I ASKED FOR A COPY OF THEIR INSPECTION REPORT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS CHEVROLET PROPERTY AND WOULD NOT BE RELEASED. I THEN SEARCHED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND VEHICLE RECALL BULLETIN 03054-B WHICH MY VIN # IS WITHIN THE RANGE GIVEN FOR 2000 IMPALA. I AGAIN CALLED CHEVROLET WITH THIS INFORMATION AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH MY # WAS IN THE RANGE, IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, BUT IN ANY EVENT, THEY HAD INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THEY WERE NOT AT FAULT. THEREFORE, CHEVROLET'S DECISION WOULD NOT BE CHANGED. *NM

I WENT OUT TO START MY 2000 CHEVY IMPALA WITH A 3.8L ENGINE AND UPON CRANKING THE ENGINE THERE WAS A LOAD BANG. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. I GOT OUT AND OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER AND IT WAS NOTED THAT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD EXPLODED AND THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE FUEL LINE BEING DISPLACED. CHEVY SAID THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INCIDENT EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THE 3.8L ENGINE UNDER THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V090000. MY [XXX]. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

MY CHEVY IMPALS LS 2000 HAS BEEN STALLING WHILE HOT ON THE PARKWAY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION. THIS WAS HAPPENING INTERMINTELY ABOUT EVERY FEW MONTHS, THEN RECENTLY IT HAS BECOME A DAILY EVENT. MAYBE 1 - 6 TIMES A DAY WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK. THE DRIVE IS ABOUT 30 MILES, ONE WAY, AND IT STALLS USUALLY TOWARD THE END OF THE TRIP. I HAD THE THRODLE BODY REPLACED LAST WEDNESDAY AT THE DEALER, AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. BEFORE THAT THE GAS FILTER WAS REPLACED. THIS WEEKEND IT HAPPENED FOUR TIME ON SATURDAY AND FOUR TIMES ON SUNDAY. THIS IS A VERY DANGERIOUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY ON THE PARKWAY. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER A NUMBER OF TIMES AND THEY CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. AFTER THESE STALLS OTHER CARS ARE ALMOST RUNNING ME OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY. I LOVE THE CAR AND DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF IT, BUT IF THIS KEEPS UP I MAY HAVE TO.*AK

1. I DISCOVERD I HAD A SLOW GAS LEAK IN THE GAS RETURN LINES. I HAD BEEN SMELLING GAS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BUT JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A SPILL IN THE TRUNK POSSIBLY OR SOMETHING ELSE. I NEVER SUSPECTED IT TO BE A LEAK BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SO NEW AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAD NEVER BEEN TREATED ROUGHLY. 2. I COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR SEVERAL WEEKS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS AND IF IT WAS A RECALL OR NOT, IT WASN'T CLEAR. THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF I HADN'T FOUND THE LEAK. 3. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC, THEY SAID IT WAS A RECALL; THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM FIX IT. I DID THAT AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIX IT BECUASE IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MECHANIC AND THEY FIXED IT FOR EXACTLY HALF THE PRICE THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP WAS TRYING TO CHARGE... ANYWAY, I AM OUT OF POCKET A LOT OF MONEY FOR A RELATIVELY NEW CAR. THE RECALL ON THE WEBSITE SEEMS TO INCLUDE THE GAS HOSES BUT WHEN I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS, THEY SAID MY VIN # WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECUASE IT CLEARLY STATES THAT MY CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL!

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT REGISTERING THE PROPER AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE WOULD RUN OUT OF FUEL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH COULD CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION. *AK *NM

THE CAR WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. HAS NEARLY CAUSED 6 ACCIDENTS. THERE IS NO WARNING PROCEEDING THIS. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON ANY HIGWAY. HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR REPAIR ABOUT 8 TIMES. HAVE REPLACED: "WIRES", FILTERS, PLUGS AND SENSORS WITHOUT RESULTS. STILL NO CORRECT DIAGNOSIS.*AK

SMELLED GASOLINE. FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILED. WAS REPLACED, OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB