Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Chevrolet Impala owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated rapidly without warning and caused a crash. The air bags did not deploy. There were injuries sustained and medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 100,000.
As I was driving home from work I accidentally went through a red light and t-boned the other car. Although no one was hurt,there was extensive damage to both cars. My concern is the airbags never went off. I have always thought this was strange. Now that I'm hearing about the Impala recall due to faulty airbags it raises more concerns, because now this is my sons car. My understanding is the 2000 Impala's are not part of the recall but maybe they should be. There is absolutely no reason those airbags should not have deployed. Now I'm am concerned if my son is ever in an accident he will not have the airbags as a safety net. Should the 2000 Impala's be part of the recall also?
Tl* the contact owned a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. While driving 25 MPH, the contact's front passenger side wheel was struck by another vehicle that ran a stop sign. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The contact's wife sustained neck and back injuries, which required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that when entering and starting the vehicle, the driver side air bag inadvertently deployed. There were no warning lights. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was then driven o the contact residence. A dealer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while waiting at an intersection, another vehicle crashed into the rear end of the vehicle and the air bags failed deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained back, neck and shoulder injuries which required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the driver side seat leather was separating where the air bag was located. As a result, the air bag was visible. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician informed the contact that the seat could not be repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,000. Updated 05/18/16 updated 11/30/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. When the ignition was turned to the on position, the passenger side air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.
Tl contact owned a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. While driving between 25-35 MPH in foggy weather, the driver drove around an s-shaped curve and crashed into an embankment. None of the air bags deployed and the driver was killed. A police report was filed. The contact has pictures. The current and failure mileages were 90,000. Updated 4/16/08
I was on my way to work and my car just shut off out of no where at a intersection, I was scared I didn't know what to do. The car behind me almost hit me because of it. I tried starting my car back up and it wouldn't roll over or make a sound and my brakes were like locked up . But all my dash lights were on and my air bag light kept blinking and my radio was working. After about 6 times trying to start my car it finally started up and the air bag light went off for like 2 minutes and came back on and my turn signal stopped working and started making a buzzing sound . Til this day if that air bag light is on my car wont start and sometimes I can put it in neutral and it will start . Every once in a while my car will accelerate on its own and when I put it in park it sounds like my car is just going to blow up because it sounds like my foot is on the gas . …
Air bag system failures; 01.25.01 air bag warning light comes on intermittently (reported to dealer / service; repaired wire under driver seat and passenger seat at sdm had to rr seat passenger side*) *service paperwork language 11.16.01 air bag warning light comes on intermittently (dealer / service; replaced faulty air bag module) 08.27.02 air bag warning light stays on all the time (dealer / service; code b0041 in history. Inspect wiring, disconnect / reconnect cn for l/h side air bag to ensure proper connection. 03.04.03 air bag warning light stays on all the time (dealer / service; code 41, repaired poor connection at lh seat connector. 05.09.06 air bag warning light comes on intermittently (dealer / service; found possible fretting corrosion at driver side inflator connector. Cleaned terminals in cn. Recommended; if code returns will need inflator module). …
Related recalls
Air bags › Side/window
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the driver side impact air bag inflator separates from the air bag module during deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the side impact air bag module.
Airbag complaints in other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2000 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA has 80 complaints about the air bags of the 2000 Chevrolet Impala, 10% of the model year's 818 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (20 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Chevrolet Impala airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V-371 (side/window, Nov 13, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Chevrolet Impala airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 28 crashes, 0 fires and 26 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.