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2002 Chevrolet Impala Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2002 Chevrolet Impala has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Ignition switch and PassLock anti-theft no-start.” Chevrolet vehicles use the GM Oil Life System (OLS) — a percentage-based monitor that calculates oil life from driving conditions, not fixed mileage. When the OLS drops to 0%, oil and filter are due. The schedule below reflects GM's Normal Use intervals for everything else.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2002 Chevrolet Impala.

Reported to NHTSA

Ignition switch and PassLock anti-theft no-start

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

65 NHTSA complaints · 2013-11 → 2020-10

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE NEEDED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11343691
“ON NUMEROUS TIMES, ANTI THEFT SYSTEM PREVENTS ME FROM STARTING MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN STUCK TRYING TO COME HOME FROM WORK, TRYING TO GO TO WORK AND AT MANY OTHER TIMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10618161
“CAR WOULD NOT START. SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WOULD NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES A YEAR SINCE 2004”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10573383

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Traction control and ABS false activation

SERVICE BRAKES

10 NHTSA complaints · 2014-05 → 2018-07

“I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY 2002 CHEVY IMPALA FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10936363
“ALL OF THE SUDDEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE ABS LIGHT AND THE TRAC CONTROL LIGHT COME ON WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND THE CAR ALMOST SKIDDED OUT OF CONTROL! NOW THE LIGHTS HAVE STAYED ON CONSTANTLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10594961
“ABS IS KICKING BACK AND TRACTION CONTROL IS COMING ON FOR NO GIVEN REASON MAKING STOPPING THE CAR INCREASINGLY HARD AT SLOW SPEEDS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11112401

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel gauge inaccurate reading

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

6 NHTSA complaints · 2014-02 → 2020-10

“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE GAS GAUGE WAS FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN. I SUBSEQUENTLY RAN OUT OF GAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I DID NOT KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I HAD. I WAS STUCK ON THE ROAD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11362423
“MY GAS GAUGE STOP WORKING AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO TELL HOW MUCH GAS WAS IN THE VEHICLE. FUEL GAUGE READ INACCURATELY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10596510
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE BECAME INOPERATIVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10565804

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Oil leak onto exhaust manifold and underhood fire

ENGINE

38 NHTSA complaints · 2014-02 → 2019-04

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10970130
“VALVE COVER LEAKS OIL ONTO MANIFOLD . WHEN ENGINE IS HOT YOU CAN SMELL THE OIL BURNING ON THE MANIFOLD. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10824798
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10820221

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag inadvertent deployment or failure to deploy

AIR BAGS

11 NHTSA complaints · 2014-06 → 2024-02

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11573901
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10639115
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10633287

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Turn signal and headlight switch failure

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

14 NHTSA complaints · 2014-03 → 2020-07

“HIGH BEAM SWITCH HAS BEEN BROKEN, VERY COMMON PROBLEM WHEN GOOGLE SEARCHING. NO ONE FIXES IT AS IT IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11340188
“THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE OCCURS AT RANDOM TIMES AND CONDITIONS. AS I'M TRAVELING AT NIGHT AND I PULL BACK THE DIMMER SWITCH LEVER, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT AND LEAVE ME TOTALLY IN THE DARK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10695393
“I HAVE HAD 1 TURN SIGNAL SWITCH REPLACED DUE TO A WIRE THAT FRIED AND STARTED SMOKING CAUSING WHITE SMOKE TO COME OUT NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10649205

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (per Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change oil when the Oil Life System reaches 0% or every 12 months — whichever comes first. dexos1-approved synthetic oil required on all gas engines since 2011.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Silverado 4x4 and Tahoe owners benefit from earlier rotations to even out drivetrain wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake at each tire rotation. Equinox and Malibu front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

GM specifies brake fluid replacement based on contamination testing. Test every 30,000 miles; replace if moisture content exceeds 3% or fluid appears dark.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

GM long-life cellulose air filters are rated 45,000 miles. Direct-injection engines are sensitive to airflow restriction; inspect at every oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Severe service (heavy towing, frequent stop-and-go, dusty conditions): replace every 45,000 miles. Normal service: 97,500 miles. Use Dexron-VI on 6L80/8L90 transmissions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD)

Every 45,000 mi

On 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid every 45,000 miles — sooner if towing or off-roading. Use GM Auto-Trak II fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

GM iridium spark plugs are rated 100,000 miles on most LS and LT engines. The 5.3L V8 in Silverado 1500 commonly fouls plugs early under heavy idling.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Dex-Cool Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

GM Dex-Cool (orange): first change at 150,000 miles or 5 years, then every 50,000 miles. Mixing with green coolant creates a sludge that destroys the cooling system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 50,000 mi

Silverado and Tahoe: replace rear axle fluid every 50,000 miles, or 25,000 miles if towing. Limited-slip differentials require GM friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 22,500 miles. Silverado and Tahoe owners in dusty climates should replace earlier.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

380 crashes 1990–2024

How the 380 occupant deaths break down

262

driver deaths

117

passenger deaths

1

not recorded by seat

380

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2001 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

40

complaints mentioning a crash

32

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala reflects Chevrolet's published service intervals and the Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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