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 2002 Chevrolet Impala owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. The contact stated that the contact's son sustained multiple injuries, and medical attention was provided. The contact was unaware if any warning lights were illuminated at the time of the failure. The contact stated that the injuries included a fractured nose, lacerations to the nose and cheek, a broken right femur, a shattered right knee, collapsed lung, broken ribs, and paralysis on the right side. The contact also stated that the right foot required amputation. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed destroyed by an independent mechanic. The dealer was not contacted. …
I was driving out of supermarket I was alone and the airbags deployed. I was hit hard and had a panic attack. I was able to drive home 14 miles. Windshield busted and dash board totaled Everyone I try to download a picture I'm sent to the begining. I'm going to have pictures on file incase needed. .
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 that's 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. …
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.
This car was one-owner and very well taken care of and serviced routinely. I was driving home from work on the interstate and my car just lost power. I had no control of the car. It slammed into the concrete medium wall on drivers side, then spun around and lodged underneath the trailer of a semi-tractor. The semi hit the brakes and it projected me back across upon the top of the concrete medium where my car just rode to a stop. The air bags did not deploy. My beautiful car was totaled but, by the grace of god and seat belts I am alive. I have a concussion, sprained ankle, cuts, and bruises, but I am here to tell about it. Hopefully, the NHTSA will investigate and save someone else from injury or death. My car is available to inspect.
I was driving on main street in rio vista and my vehicle just simple shut off. The car rolled and hit a planter in front of the store as I tried steering it out of the street. When I tried to start it again, the ignition switch would not operate. I called the amica roadside assistance and was towed to abel Chevrolet. They informed me that this problem was typical to this year vehicle and that the ignition switch would need to be replaced. They replaced it at a cost of approximately $509.11 since my ignition has already been replaced, do I need to take it back in? Also will I be compensated for the cost of the replacement?
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.
I was standing outside of the vehicle, watching the gauges on the instament cluster going up and down, like they were loosing power, then both air bags exploded! ,shattered the windshield and dashboard! I just cant believe that happened if I or my loved ones had been going down the road!!! Well I dont want to think about that but, the piont is the system failled. And if I had hit a wall or something and been killed it would have looked like the air bags worked properly. This car was in my drive ideling , in park no one even touching it!
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!!
Tl 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.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began August 15, 2002.
Airbag complaints in other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2002 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA has 47 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Chevrolet Impala, 6% of the model year's 795 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Chevrolet Impala airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-222 (frontal, Aug 9, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Impala airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 19 crashes, 0 fires and 23 injuries 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.