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 2001 Chevrolet Impala owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
after car not used for two days, turning ignition on and attempted to start the engine a extremely load explosion came from engine compartment! Upon looking at the engine the PLASTIC intake manifold was blown to pieces. no warning a explosion was to occur, car was running normal prior to explosion.
On dec, 12, our 2001 Impala was sitting in the driveway. It had not been driven for a few days and since the weather was cold, my husband wanted to make sure it would start. When he turned the key, there was an explosion in the injector system. Flames shot out and the system was blown apart. Fortunately, the car was not in our garage at the time and he was not injured. We called vermilion Chevrolet in danville, illinois and the person who answered said it was a defective fuel regulator that had caused the problem. He seemed to be aware of the problem. We had recently received a recall for possible under the hood fires, but he told us that was for a leaky valve cover gasket, not the fuel regulator. We have comprehensive insurance, but they are balking at covering the damage. We have not had any estimates on getting it repaired yet. We are still waiting on the insurance. …
My sons Chevy Impala was in our driveway untouched for two days. When he got in it and turned the key to start the vehicle the intake manifold exploded and caused an engine fire. While online I found this has been a problem for years!!! Why hasn't this been addressed? He could have died. And if I wasn't in the yard to react and put the fire out my house could have gone up with it.
On 4/09/12 at approximately 18:20 I got in the car that had been sitting all day in the driveway of my home and when I attempted to start it there was a loud explosion and smoke started coming out from under the hood. After feeling the hood I opened it and discovered a fire on the top of the engine and along the back side of the engine closest to the firewall. Fortunately since I was home I had quick access to an abc fire extinguisher and I ran into the garage and grabbed it and put out the fire. After the fire was out I noted the entire engine cover and the top of the engine under the cover was in pieces all over the engine compartment and it appeared the explosion was inside the air plenum/ intake manifold. I had the car towed to my local auto service location via aaa and contacted my insurance carrier the following day. …
My vehicle was a 2001 Chevy Impala, ( city police vehicle) 02/17/10 I went out in the morning to start the car parked in the driveway. Upon turning the ignition to the on position there was a sonic boom. (so much that it shook our house)the engine compartment began smoking my husband ( a fireman) returned to the car and slightly lifted the hood and found it had flashed over and was totally involved. 911 was called and fire department responded extinguishing the flames. This is city police vehicle so not sure what if anything will be done but I wanted to report the incident in hopes that it would have an impact of keeping others from being injured. This explosion was powerful and fames erupted immediately. Searching the web a odi resume was found which I believe to be the circumstance of my experience. …
Tl contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Impala. While the vehicle had been parked for seven minutes, the contact was notified that her vehicle was on fire. The vehicle was completely destroyed. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign id number 01V136000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping); however, the contact never received a recall notice. The representative added that because the contact did not purchase an extended warranty, she would only be reimbursed $2,000 for accrued vehicle damage. The contact has not yet received any assistance. She has access to obtaining supporting documents. The failure mileage was 80,000.
I have a 2001 Chevy Impala with a 3.8l v6. Today around 3:30 central time I went outside to start my vehicle and I saw that the battery was dead so I got another vehicle of mine and put on my jumper cables and allowed the battery to charge, after waiting for it to charge, I turned the key. When I turned the key I heard a loud explosion, and the plastic intake manifold exploded and caught on fire. The fire was so large I had to call the fire department to put it out, they wrote a report on the incident. I had plastic pieces all over. I would to know why I haven't recieved a recall on this if there has been reports of this issue.
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that there was a loud back fire after the vehicle was started, followed by smoke emitting from the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished with a fire extinguisher and the cause of the fire was undetermined. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign number: 96V116000 (fuel system, gasoline) that could have been related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 161,711. ...updated 03/27/13
Tl contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Impala. While the vehicle was parked in a paint shop, it spontaneously exploded. Although the contact was experiencing the same failure as noted in NHTSA campaign id number 96V116000 (fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system), the dealer stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer stated that he would have to replace the cover intake manifold and the fuel injection system. The manufacturer was unable to assist. The failure and current mileages were 95,000.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Impala. When the contact's wife attempted to start the vehicle before jumping the dead battery, the fuel system bypassed through a regulator and created an explosion. Although the vehicle caught fire, it was not destroyed and was capable of being repaired. The dealer stated that nothing could be done because the VIN was not included in the recall. The purchase date and recall number were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 131,000.
Related recalls
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 2001 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2001 Chevrolet Impala, 5% of the model year's 742 complaints. The component named most often is storage › tank assembly (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Chevrolet Impala fuel system problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 01V-136 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Apr 24, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Chevrolet Impala fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 115,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 16 fires and 0 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.