RecallRepo

2002 Chevrolet Impala Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2002 Chevrolet Impala has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 8,512,011 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,077 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 15V701000 2015-10-26 1,003,556 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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 engineÂ’s 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…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14V400000 2014-07-03 5,877,718 affected
Defect

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3,…

Consequence

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.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 09V116000 2009-04-08 1,497,516 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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 ENGINEÂ’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINEÂ’S 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,…

AIR BAGS 02V222000 2002-08-09 133,221 affected
Defect

CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

Consequence

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 THE DRIVER.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT…

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
247
7crashes5fires6injuries
ENGINE
75
20fires3injuries
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
48
2crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
45
4fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
38
STEERING
37
1crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS
28
13crashes18injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
26
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
24
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
22
Total complaints1,077

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The contact’s son owned a 2002 chevrolet impala. The contact stated that the contact was unaware of how the failure occurred; however, the contact’s son was involved in a crash in which the vehicle collided with a wall. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed during the crash.…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2026-05-06

“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…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2026-01-03

“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…”

ENGINE · reported 2026-01-03

“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…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2026-01-03

“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.”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2025-05-23

“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.”

SUSPENSION · reported 2025-05-23

“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.”

WHEELS · reported 2025-05-23

“Transmission hesitates to pull out in drive from a stop”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2024-06-25

Defect investigations

Investigation EA02030 Opened 2002-10-22 · closed 2004-03-09

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…

Investigation EA02030 Opened 2002-10-22 · closed 2004-03-09

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…

Investigation EA02030 Opened 2002-10-22 · closed 2004-03-09

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…

Investigation PE06017 Opened 2006-05-15 · closed 2006-10-25

ALLEGED HEADLIGHT FAILURE

A TOTAL OF 646,038 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE SOLD DURING MY 2001-2003, AND THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA TABULATED ABOVE APPLY TO THE TOTAL VEHICLE POPULATION.COMPLAINT REPORTS ALLEGING HEADLIGHT OUTAGE REPRESENT SLIGHTLY MORE THAT ONE-HALF OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND THE BALANCE ARE ALLEGATIONS OF FLICKERING…

Investigation PE06017 Opened 2006-05-15 · closed 2006-10-25

ALLEGED HEADLIGHT FAILURE

A TOTAL OF 646,038 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE SOLD DURING MY 2001-2003, AND THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA TABULATED ABOVE APPLY TO THE TOTAL VEHICLE POPULATION.COMPLAINT REPORTS ALLEGING HEADLIGHT OUTAGE REPRESENT SLIGHTLY MORE THAT ONE-HALF OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND THE BALANCE ARE ALLEGATIONS OF FLICKERING…

Investigation PE06017 Opened 2006-05-15 · closed 2006-10-25

ALLEGED HEADLIGHT FAILURE

A TOTAL OF 646,038 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE SOLD DURING MY 2001-2003, AND THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA TABULATED ABOVE APPLY TO THE TOTAL VEHICLE POPULATION.COMPLAINT REPORTS ALLEGING HEADLIGHT OUTAGE REPRESENT SLIGHTLY MORE THAT ONE-HALF OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND THE BALANCE ARE ALLEGATIONS OF FLICKERING…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.