Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
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. When the vehicle was started, a clunking sound was heard. The contact looked under the vehicle and noticed that a fire had erupted near the exhaust manifold. The fire extinguished on its own. Also, the vehicle intermittently misfired and performed sluggishly. The vehicle was towed to schukei Chevrolet inc (721 s monroe ave, mason city, ia 50401, [phone]) for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA action numbers: ea02030 (fuel system, gasoline) and pe00005 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) and 09V116000 (engine and engine cooling). The failure caused the contact to have to rent a vehicle for two weeks. When the contact took the vehicle back to the dealer, he was provided a loaner vehicle. …
Have been numerous complaints on the intake manifold exploding and catching fire. As this same thing happen to me, sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen. Mine just happen to be in the drive way, when I went to start it I saw smoke. So I turned it off, looked under hood didn't see anything. Went to start it a few days later and I heard a really loud pop, followed by smoke. I quickly turned to off position. Opened my hood and sure enough the manifold had exploded. What if I would have been driving? Could have caused deaths to others or even myself, if it wasn't contained. Not everyone carries a fire extinguisher!!!!
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the vehicle received the recall repair for NHTSA campaign number: 04V090000 (fuel system, gasoline), but the failure recurred. Upon starting the vehicle in the driveway, there was a loud boom and the engine caught fire. The contact was able to extinguish the flames. The vehicle was not diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 162,000.
Went to start car and intake blew up, causing a large fire and pieces of the burning plastic hit my son which was standing by car. The hood was up at the time and we did get the fire out. It appears this was a fuel regulator issue and I do not show it as being due for my car. It must of been done already but this issue still happens. This is very dangerous and should not happen. I was lucky it was not worse.
I turned the key in my car to start it, there was a very loud pop and the engine started smoking. The engine then caught fire and is totally destroyed. This car had been used 2 days prior with no issues, no safety lights on, no issues driving and it started fine that last time it was driven. The fire department has sent me a report on the cause.
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.
Tl 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.
On 1/8/14 at approx. 8:00 am, I attempted to start my car, I heard a loud pop or bang and smelled smoke, I quickly got out of the car and noticed smoke coming from the hood. I popped the hood and luckily my neighbor and boyfriend had come outside at this point and put the "fire" that had started under the hood, out with snow. Basically, I attempted to crank the car, there was an explosion from the intake manifold during the cranking, resulting in an explosion and small fire. I contacted GM directly asking if there was a possible recall that was similar to the situation that had occurred. After a short investigation, the claims representative denied my claim stating that my car was probably just old. It was not until I heard about the cobalt recalls, did I decide to do more investigations.
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.
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 [redacted]. Updated 07/16/2012
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 3800 v6 (l36) engines and certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, the regulators have a much higher than usual rate of fuel leaks. A leak can allow fuel to enter the intake manifold through a vacuum line.
Remedy: Dealers will install new fuel pressure regulators with improved diaphragms. The recall will be conducted in phased mailings. Phase 1 began on June 30, 2004, and phase 2 began on September 30, 2004.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a 3.4l engine and non-antilock braking system (ABS). These vehicles fail to comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 301, "fuel system integrity." a fuel return line can become severed in a frontal collision, resulting in fuel spillage.
Remedy: Dealers will install a brake master cylinder bracket that will maintain positioning of the fuel line in a frontal crash. Owner notification began June 29, 2001.
NHTSA investigations
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 backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a…
Fuel System complaints in other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2000 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA has 76 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2000 Chevrolet Impala, 9% of the model year's 818 complaints. The component named most often is storage › tank assembly (16 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Chevrolet Impala fuel system problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-090 (delivery, Feb 24, 2004); NHTSA recall 01V-136 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Apr 24, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Chevrolet Impala fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 107,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 19 fires and 4 injuries to fuel & propulsion system 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.