Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
AIR BAGS - FRONTAL
02V222000GENERAL MOTORS CORP.from 05/01/2002 to 07/31/2002V (Vehicle)13322108/15/2002MFRGENERAL MOTORS CORP.08/09/200208/14/2002
Defect SummaryCertain 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 SummaryPieces 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.
Corrective SummaryDealers 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 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
NotesGm recall no. 02032. also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
AIR BAGS
0197001/01/200410006959Sir disable. also including 2005 chevrolet impala and monte carlo. *mr05/20/2004

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
AIR BAGS
11/12/2012890001
 At 10:00 p.m., driver started the vehicle (cold) and pulled away from curb stopping at a stop sign 100 feet ahead. as driver pulled away from the curb, the dash lights (seat belt, abs, airbag, etc.) and tachometer began to intermittently flash/ fluctuate. driver proceeded to take a right turn onto a main road when the driver's side head curtain airbag inadvertently deployed from the driver's seat back. driver immediately stopped the car and pulled off into a parking lot to call for assistance. *tr
11/12/201289000
 At 10:00 p.m., driver started the vehicle (cold) and pulled away from curb stopping at a stop sign 100 feet ahead. as driver pulled away from the curb, the dash lights (seat belt, abs, airbag, etc.) and tachometer began to intermittently flash/ fluctuate. driver proceeded to take a right turn onto a main road when the driver's side head curtain airbag inadvertently deployed from the driver's seat back. driver immediately stopped the car and pulled off into a parking lot to call for assistance.
02/06/20081090001
 Me and my wife was riding down azalea road in mobile alabama and a car came into our lane and we hit it dead on...my wife head hit the windshield and no airbags deployed .. we were going about 35 mph..we were in a 2002 impala that we just bought the day before..i want some answers for what happen and i really want to sue the chevy company..please give me information about who i should talk to about my lawsuit.. even though my wife and i were not hurt, she could have had a serious head injury, because once again her head hit the windshield and crack the windshield..we had to take an ambulance ride and everything and get x-rays...please notify me on what can i do... *tw
05/26/2009122000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet impala. while driving 35 mph, the contact rear-ended the preceding vehicle. none of the air bags deployed in her vehicle. she believes that the impact was severe enough that the air bags should have deployed. the vehicle was towed to a repair shop. the driver sustained severe back pain and a headache. she was transported to the hospital and released three hours later. a police report was filed. the current and failure mileages were 122,000.
11/04/20081
 2002 chevy impala air bags inadvertently deployed while the consumer was pulling out of the driveway. *nj the consumer suffered minor injuries. *jb
03/26/200865000212/20/2002
 We hit a horse with our car and the air bags did not deploy. we received cuts on our head, face, hands, and legs. i received a blow to my head causing swelling and bruising to my forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks. experiencing headaches and dizziness since then. large bruises and swelling on my thighs from the steering wheel. *tr
12/23/200330000106/12/2002
 Our son was going appx 35 miles an hour and my husband was in the passenger front seat. a drunk driver pulled out of an apartment complex, literally on top of my husbands car - hitting them on the front right side. the airbags did not deploy and my husbands seat belt did not hold. he was in perfect health before this accident and is now a partial functioning quadriplegic. all because of defected air bags!!! i realized also, this is not the first time someone's seat belt did not hold!! *tr
06/14/200650000105/20/2004
 Dt:caller states that his spouse was driving at 20 mph while crossing intersection a car came an hit the vehicle the drivers side of the car.vehicles airbag did not deploy. another vehicle hit the car head on. neither the side airbags and airbags deployed.insurance determined that the car was totaled no repairs were made.no lose of control of vehicle. the warning light did not signal during or after accident. no injuries.did not contact manufacturer.no pre-impact braking occurred. driver was wearing their seatbelt.no pictures were taken my occupant possible pictures taken by insurance company.
01/05/200660000108/26/2002
 I was involved in a rear-end collision. the air bags did not deploy (expected) and the shoulder restraint did not prevent my head and body from going forward and striking the steering wheel (unexpected.) i received injuries as a result of my forehead striking (i assume) the steering wheel. *nm
06/28/200323186201/10/2002
 I was involved in a side impact collision in a 2002 chevrolet impala police package. i was hit in the drivers side door , then my veh run up into a parking lot where i struck a sign. i was injured in the accident.*ak
06/17/200345420205/01/2003
 I recently bought a second hand 2002 chevrolet impala with 45,955 miles as part of the deal the dealer was to fix the air bag light -it would not go out- a month after the sale of this car i had to have the intermediate steering column replaced at a cost of $331 because the steering was knocking all the time, no matter the road condition. i believe that for a car that has had no accident damage and has this amount of mileage on it, that this should not be happening. and i would like to know if i can expect more of the same and if this was/is a safety issue? i drive about 5000 miles a year myself. i am not to please with this car at the present time because of the above am i am wondering if, i should cut my losses and sell it. *nlm
05/30/2003106/09/2002
 Air bag light came on. consumer was never notified of recall. *tt
02/14/20039982106/13/2002
 Owner of the car was involved in a accident. it consisted of the driver hitting an 8 foot gate and knocking it down. hitting the truck parked in that gate with the force of pushing it into the building, where the building was cracked on the inside. according to the manual its no reason why the airbags should not have deployed at this time. i damaged the front of the vehicle. also the driver side has significant damage. which as stated the owners manual are reasons the airbags should have deployed. can you please look into this situation . i know i am not the only person this has happened to with an chevrolet impala 2002. i have made contact with other owners. who have also filed claims with you. i know each accident/situation is different but please send me a response thank you for your time.
02/01/2002102/18/2002
 It takes excessive pressure to make horn work. vehicle was checked by dealer, who advised consumer that position of airbag is making it difficult for horn to work.*ak *yh
AIR BAGS - FRONTAL
04/03/2011123000
 I fell asleep at the wheel and was heading straight for a telephone pole. i awoke at last second and managed to swerve to avoid hitting pole head on, in which case i would probably be dead. doctors said i was lucky to be alive even though i wore my seatbelt b/c the car hit the pole and then flipped over 2 or 3 times before landing on its hood with me trapped inside. the jaws of life were used to help pull my passenger door off enough to get me out of car onto a flatboard, once they had me in a neckbrace, that is. the reason i am making a complaint is because i leased this car at a very high percentage rate and was more than 75% done paying it off and now i have nothing. the '02 chevrolet impala had front airbags, (at least thats what they said when they sold me the car), however, neither deployed in the accident and i sustained a serious injury to my whole left side. my head and shoulder went right through the drivers side window, hitting the pavement, and i have nerve damage now b/c of this. my left arm is now tingling and going numb, which comes down from a pinched nerve in my neck. i will need to go to physical therapy once i am able. i am on high dose pain meds. right now and can barely walk. i now wonder if the airbags had been deployed already sometime b/f i bought the car, put back in used, and that is why neither came out when they should have. i am thinking about contacting a lawyer regarding this situation. do your have any suggestions on this? thank you and please get back to me as soon as possible. as time is of the essence in this situation.
01/01/2009200001
 Chevrolet customer service states that the nhtsa campaign notices - 07e021000 & 02v222000 - do not apply to my 2002 chevy impala ls. chevrolet does not recognize or cross reference your campaign numbers. they stated to me that the information provided by nhtsa is false. i think chevrolet customer service is lying. help needed. please don't send me some legal jargon answer. *tr
03/16/200977000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet impala. when the vehicle was started, the driver and passenger side air bags deployed without an impact or crash occurring. the contact was slightly injured during the deployment. the insurance company took the vehicle to the dealer to be inspected by a gm engineer. the cause of the failure has not been determined and the vehicle is waiting to be repaired. the contact called the manufacturer and was informed that a field technician would come out to inspect the vehicle. the failure and current mileages were 77,000.
10/31/2008189000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet impala. while approaching a stop light at 5 mph, the air bags deployed. the windshield was damaged, but the vehicle was still able to be driven. general motors inspected the vehicle, but would not provide an explanation of what caused the failure. the vehicle has not yet been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 189,000.
07/30/20081
 Car would not start changed passlock and still will not start. security light is on, radio is locked and the chevy dealership does not know what is wrong with it, they are guessing that is the bcm and the sdm but they cannot promise that it will work. *tr
07/29/200614000110/25/2004
 Tl*- the contact stated that while driving at speed of 55 mph the air bags deployed unexpectedly. the contact noticed that air bag indicator lights, headlights, speedometer and gas gauge were turning on and off. both the weather and road conditions were good. the contact stated that when she took foot off the accelerator the airbags deployed on both the driver 's side and passenger side of vehicle. the contact was able to get the vehicle to the side of the road when the horn started sounding. the horn had to be disengaged manually. then the vehicle was towed. the contact stated that the insurance company would not cover the expense of the repairs because the contact didn't strike anything. the dealership said that the repair will cost $3,000. *ak updated 02/27/07. *jb
07/18/200453000103/20/2003
 I was driving at about 45 miles an hour. ford ranger in front of me slammed on brakes to avoid head on collision. i had plenty of time for car to stop but abs brakes locked up and i rear ended the truck. then after hitting the truck hard enough to have car towed the battery burst and the air bags never deployed. *jb
06/17/200575000105/03/2005
 Dt: 2002, chevrolet, impala ls, while consumer was backing the vehicle up the air bags on both front drivers side and passenger's side deployed, this was without impact , and not while making a sudden stop. consumer had only backed up about one foot when the air bags deployed. consumer contacted gm twice, upon calling the second time, gm instructed the consumer to take it to a local dealer, who did a diagnostic test, and could not identify the cause of the problem. gm will not correct the problem. consumer's insurance agency said that it was a manufacturer's defect. consumer reported the incident to the police , and they said that they would not file a report because there was no accident. *ak
03/08/2004400001
 After a 45 mph frontal collision front air bags did not deploy. two people were injured. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak
11/22/200338000109/12/2003
 While driving across an intersection, going 5 mph the consumers vehicle t-boned and the air bags did not deploy. consumer had the vehicle towed. *ak *cb *jb
07/30/20031
 While driving at normal speed consumer lost control, and had a front and center collision. upon impact, neither air bag deployed. dealer notified.*ak
06/25/200215261101/22/2002
 While driving, the vehicle was involved in a front/center collision and none of the air bags deployed upon impact.*ak the windshield shattered upon impact injuring the consumer. safety devices didn't perform as advertised. *ph *jb
06/01/200342000110/15/2001
 Air bag warning light comes on when turning to the right and stays on. driver's side air bag, and related wiring and computer components have to be replaced. *jb
107/08/2002
 The consumer states that the driver front air bag(s) are defective. recall #c020325. nhtsa#02v222000 scc ph
10/07/20021
 The air bags failied to deploy during an accident. *yh
AIR BAGS - FRONTAL - SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
06/30/2009180122
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet impala. while driving approximately 70 mph, the air bag warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. the warning indicator dimmed once the vehicle speed was reduced. the warning indicator remained illuminated after the engine was turned off for a short period of time. the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic on three separate occasions for the same failure, but there were no resolutions. the failure mileage was 180,122 and current mileage was 180,652.
01/02/200739700106/15/2002
 Dash indicator for airbag stays on. dealer says computer module controlling airbag deployment defective and will not respond to diagnostics. dealer says that control unit must be replaced at a cost of $557 parts and labor. gm will only pay for part, leaving consumer with responsibility for $225. *jb
AIR BAGS - SIDE/WINDOW
02/22/2005700001
 The first thing is that i had to replace the head gasket two time now it is leaking again into the water reservoir then i had two replace the main control ( bcm ) and ( pcm ) by the dealership ha to replace the starter and the water pump had to re place two window motor and two window electronic switch that control each window there a lot more but this are the more importance ones it would be okay if i got this car used but i paid for a new car so i would not have this kind of breakdowns does gm stand behind there car or what !!!!!!!! *tr
 Defective driver's side airbag. *ak