Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Impala. While driving 25 MPH, the battery light illuminated. The contact drove to a stop light and the vehicle shut down completely. The vehicle restarted after approximately 20 minutes. The contact replaced the battery, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and replaced the catalytic converter, but the failure recurred and the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and the air conditioning fans were replaced, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but offered no assistance. The check engine light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 79,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while traveling 40 MPH, there was a sudden loss of power causing the vehicle to crash into a pole. The air bags did not deploy. There was a police report filed. The contact and two passengers were taken to the hospital for treatment of unknown injuries. The vehicle was towed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 171,000 and the current mileage was 171,000.
Supposedly the cooling system was fixed in 2003 but it still tells me that my coolant is low and it leaks. I am the second owner of this car and have only had it since September of 2019. Also the transmission has a delayed shift from 1st to second.
I have a 2002 Chevrolet Impala. It has around 53,000 miles on it. My wife drives the car and it has been driven slowly. About 3 weeks ago she told me the car shifted hard and I drove it and found that problem also. That went away for 2 weeks and it happened again. We were referred to a independent transmission shop and we were told that the transmission in the Impala has been having problems and we were told it needed to be rebuilt. I then took the car to the Chevy dealer and they said they is some problems but just wouldnt get specific with me. I then went to another independent transmission shop and was told the same thing as the first shop told me and that was I needed this rebuilt. They said the transmission is a bad design and want $2400. To $2600. To fix it. This is the same price as the first place gave me. I think if this is so common of a problem g.m. …
I was driving the vehicle and when I came to a stop to pump gas I left the keys in the ignition I placed the car in park. I turned around to place the pump into the gas gauge and my car was rolling down the hill and I had to chase the car open the door and stop the car. When I got the car to a halt position. I tried to take the key out the ignition and couldn't get the key out the ignition. Once I was able to get the key, the key slot was turned at 3:00 position and not a 12:00 position when a key is removed from a ignition. After the key was removed the car started to roll again and I had to place the "emergency brake" on to keep the car from rolling. Once I tried to turn the car back on after pumping the car started up and I placed it in drive pressed the gas pedal and car stalled, I placed the car in reverse and pressed the gas pedal and the car stalled. My car has not worked since.
I noticed that my transmission shifts very hard when it warms up. I took to Chevrolet dealer, they changed my transmission mounts, and dog bones. I paid quite a few dollars and my vehicle still has this same problem. The vehicle has 85,000 miles, but I,ve maintained the vehicle very well. I,ve also had problems with my steering play.the dealer changed some parts in the assembly which is better. I'm a mechanic and I don't beleive that there was anything wrong with my drivetrain mounts, but it's in the transmission. I paid alot of money and still have the same problem. Since owning the car I had problems with the drivers window. The motor was changed once under warranty now it's doing the same thing again. The problem is it will go down but won't go up sometimes.
Traveling on a straight residential street after car had been driven about 10 miles and was at operating temperature, I heard a short "chirp" sound from the front passenger side of the car at which time the engine stopped running. Steering became very difficult and the brake pedal required substantial force to stop the car. I was able to bring the car to a stop and put the car in park. The engine restarted immediately with no problem. I was not moving or touching the key at the time that the engine turned off. I have owned the car since it was new in November 2001 and this is the first time that I have experienced this problem. I have driven the car about 20 miles since this incident and it has not recurred as of yet.
As of yet there has been no incident however there have been numerous close calls as the transmission is not shifting into gear unless you race the motor. Nearly rearending other vehicles, property or pedestrians. I can not safely pull out at an intersection because the transmission May slip. I've read on message boards where hundreds of other people are having the same problem and GM has no good fix for it. It doesn't seem to mater if the car is warm or cold the transmission still acts up. 89K miles on the car when this began and I haven't felt safe driving the car since. Thank you
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 !!!!!!!!
1. Within this past month, am noticing tremendous power loss and shifting/timing issues with the transmisson when accelerating to higher gear.. Potential consequence would be insufficient power to accelerate out of the way of oncoming traffic. 3. Have investigated and seen numerous complaints online concerning a shift solenoid that is a very troublesome issue with a lot of GM owners. Typical parts cost and labor for this problem runs in the $400.00 ballpark.
Transmission complaints in other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2002 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA has 36 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2002 Chevrolet Impala, 5% of the model year's 795 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (16 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Chevrolet Impala transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Impala transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 3 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.