Problems with 2000 Chevrolet Impala ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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, 641-494-5589) 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. the manufacturer was notified and provided a case number. the approximate failure mileage was 78,500. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet impala. while the vehicle was stationary, the intake manifold leaked fuel and released vapors. the intake manifold was replaced two years prior by a certified mechanic, but the failure recurred. the contact stated that the intake manifold was fractured. in addition, the intake manifold exploded and caused a fire. a police report was not filed. the contact's family extinguished the fire. there were no injuries. the dealer, walter's chevrolet, was contacted about the fire. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet impala. when the contact attempted to start the vehicle, smoke appeared and the engine blew out. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v701000 (engine and engine cooling) and stated that the part needed for the repair was not available. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000. vin tool confirms parts not available. updated 04/13/16*lj

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet impala. while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for repair, the battery depleted. while attempting to start the vehicle, the intake manifold exploded. the mechanic stated that the valve cover and intake manifold needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 04v090000 (fuel system, gasoline). the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 200,200.

2000 chevrolet impala. consumer writes in regards to exhaust manifold recall notice issues. *smd the consumer received a recall notice. last december. *jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet impala. while driving 25 mph, smoke and flames emitted from the hood. the fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. there were no injuries. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign number: 15v701000 (engine and engine cooling) associated with the failure. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was not available. updated 11/17/16*lj *tr

I went to start my 2000 chevy impala after sitting for 2 days in the cold. it would not start. we opened the engine to charge the battery. i tried to start the car one more time and it sounded like a bomb went off. parts flew everywhere hitting everyone around the car. when we checked the engine we noticed the intake manifold exploded. this is extremely dangerous and we were lucky no one was hurt be flying intake parts. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that she started the vehicle and allowed the engine to run for a few moments. the vehicle then caught on fire. there were no occupants when the fire occurred and there were no reported injuries. no warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel prior to the failure. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for a diagnosis. the dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacture was not notified. the failure and current mileages were 123,000.

About weeks before the incident, my car seem to misfire. the car was parked for 3 days. when tried to start it, the engine exploded and caught fire. the intake manifold and motor oil cover and some other engine parts exploded out of car. when contacted gm and mentioned the incident, no action was taken by gm and the refuse to take any action or acknowledge any responsibility. it appears that same engine has issues which caused a recall on april 14, 2009. the symptoms/cause are described as: "gm recalled 1.5 million vehicles with this engine on april 14, 2009 due to risk of fire from engine oil leaking under the valve cover gaskets onto hot exhaust manifolds. the fire could spread to the nearby plastic spark plug wire retainers on the valve cover and then to the rest of the engine compartment. gm fitted the affected vehicles with redesigned spark plug wire retainers.[3] these engines were noted for having problems with the plastic upper intake manifold cracking around the egr passage. the engine would then vapor lock. " i did take my car to dealership to take care of this recall but it appears that it does not fix the problem and it still exists and my car is totaled. but gm has told me that according to texas law it is not responsible for any issues after 4 years from the purchase date. *tr

Oil and coolant (anti-freeze) is evaporating or being burned up. after extensive research online, it seems there is a defect in the material used by chevy with regard to a gasket called a plenum that is located in the intake manifold. the gasket warps under heat and age and allows coolant and or oil to enter the engine compartment which evaporates. with the amount of complaints i found online, this seems like a common issue with the chevy impala 3.8l v6 type 2 engine. gm should replace the inferior material used with a superior metal gasket. this issue seems like it could cause a fire in the engine. i also read that this issue can cause oil to be burned. gm used a cheap gasket to save money but this is a safety issue when coolant and oil is being burned up internally at an unusual speed of time. the second unknown issue is, will this cause a fire? *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that coolant was leaking out of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the lower plentun was melting as a result of it being too close to the motor and recommended having the component replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and the current mileage was 126,000.

While driving this car it would just stall or die as if someone had reached over and shut the car off and would not start for a few days. i have brought this car to two mechanics and neither were able to stop the problem but told me that different parts were the culprit, so 800 dollars later i have replaced the fuel filter, fuel pump, crank shaft position sensor, mass air flow sensor,replaced the battery, tested the alternator, tested the fuel injectors both hot and cold, tested the ignition module and still the car died leaving my child and i stranded on the side of the freeway in cold temperatures. i then called a gm dealership whom said another 120.00 just to look at it and said they couldn't find the problem . this is outrageous! *tr

Coolant leak at gasket between black frp (fiberglass reinforced plastic) upper intake manifold / plenum and metal intake manifold near throttle body. nhtsa 10006144. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that when driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly stall without warning. after waiting a while she was able to restart the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they advised her that they were unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 57,000. the vin was unavailable.

After parking the car i was notified by a neighbor that my vehicle was on fire. the fire dept. was call and extinguished the fire.the arson squad was called and determined the vehicles fire was due to a mechanical problem. after i researched the vehicles safety recalls and found out there had been a recall for this vehicle and i was unaware of it. i purchased it used. i did not receive any notice on the recall. i found there were many other fires associated with this failure. the vehicle was totally burned up vehicle was non repairable and towed to the junk yard after arson investigation was complete. *tr

Tl*- the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet impala. the contact stated when attempting to start the vehicle, the intake manifold exploded into pieces. the vehicle was towed to a local repair shop and is currently waiting to be inspected. she contacted the manufacturer and filed a complaint, but was advised by a representative that the statue of limitations in the state of maine specifies that after four years they are not obligated to make repairs. the vehicle identification number was unavailable. the failure mileage was 101,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet impala. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 09v116000 (engine and engine cooling). the remedy stated that the dealer will remove the spark plug wire retention channel at the front of engine and install two new spark plug wire retainers for free. oil has already begun leaking from the contact's vehicle; therefore, the remedy would be insufficient in correcting the failures. the manufacturer did not assist. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was 105,000 and current mileage was 140,000. updated 07/17/09 *bf the consumer stated the recall was performed on june 25th. the consumer insisted that the technician tell him where the oil leak was coming from. the oil leak was coming from the front valve cover gasket, which was below the spark plug wires and spark plug wire retainers. the spark plug wire retainers that they replaced had no evidence of oil, therefore the leak was not related to the recall and did not pose a safety threat. updated 07/21/09.*jb

5/1, 5/2--ignition simply clicked . it took several minutes to get it started in each case. took to repair shop--could not find the problem. not the battery. 5/6, 5/8--engine died while i was driving down the road. ignition clicked when tried to restart. taken to repair shop again--could not find the problem. chronic--since i have had the auto the "low coolant light" shows. this last time at repair shop, i was told that auto was leaking coolant--most likely gasket and would be very expensive to repair. *tr

My car (a 2000 chevrolet impala, 3.8l v6 engine) repeatedly died as i was driving or stalled. it became a huge safety issue, especially when i would be driving at high speeds on the freeway with nowhere to pull over. i took it in, but diagnostics showed nothing. i kept replacing parts, but to no avail. i felt unsafe driving anywhere and even got a bike so i wouldn't be facing near-death experiences every time i drove. eventually i found a message board that suggested replacing the crankshaft position sensor. i just did and am hoping it works. something needs to be done about this though, it's crazy to have to go years with a faulty car and no one can find a fix for it. *tr

Bought 2000 chevy impala on feb 8,2009,and have had multiple really bad problems. bad shake in front end,pulls to right really bad, has sevear cooling problems, turn signal failure more then working, gear shift problems, air bubbles backing up in coolant bottle, low coolant light always on, check engine ight always on major oil leakage under car body not on ground. loss of coolant but no idea where its going. serging problem in electrical system, and wiring conections and plugs not connected to anything. icnition problems key wont stay in and can be pulled out with car running.have replaced radiator,all hoses,all gaskets,thermistate,water pump,belts,done tuneup,oil change, done brakes,replaced sencers,battery,and other things. im pissed and very angry with chevy and gm for all the problems they have with there vehicals and not fixing the problems.

2000 chevrolet impala caught a fire and totaled. consumer received recall notice after the fire. *nj

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet impala. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start. she attempted to start the vehicle again and it exploded. there was no fire just a spark and smoke.. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they confirmed the failure. the contact called the manufacturer and filed a report. she was informed that a field inspector would inspect the vehicle and make a determination regarding the issue. the vehicle was inspected and the contact was informed that compensation would not be provided because the vehicle was not under warranty. the failure mileage was 171,000. updated 3/5/09 *cn updated 03/10/09. *jb

I've been having this problem for about 6 months now i have an 2000 chevy impala and i hear a knocking noise when ever i push the gas,reverse, turn, or hit a small bump. i have taken it to the auto shop several times and they cant figure out the problem. have you guys ever heard any repairs for this. *tr

I had drove my car about 10 miles, park my car and went inside the waterpark. they call for the person driving the chevy impala to come up top,. i was the told my car was smoking, i proceeding out the door and their were flames coming out from under my hood. i went back in and told them to call the fire department.. my whole motor was in flames by the time they got there. my car was then total out and we still don't know what cause the fire. *tr

Intake manifold gasket failure, engine coolant light will come on which is prelude that coolant is leaking into the oil. most all people will not even know this. gm used a plastic gasket and if you check with any repair shop/gm service garage they will all tell you the same, the plastic gasket just deteriorates, with any mileage from 60k to 90k and the cost to repair is from $795 to $995 plus tax and garage surcharges ie some charge clean up and add ons such as cost of towels and cleaners etc. i was told by several repair professionals this is such a common problem they know as soon as a impala rolls through the door, exactly what it is. ""i believe gm should take ownership for using a defective part as no other vehicles have such poor failure rate, nor have i ever in my 58 years of live and ownership of 15 cars/trucks ever had to replace an intake manifold gasket because of deterioration. just search the internet and you will find a million people of the same issue. if they knew where to complain, i am sure you would be swamped. i hope something can be done to help all of the owners. thank you for your time and assistance. *tr

I was driving one night to my friends house about 10 - 15 miles away from my house. as i was driving my car just shut off and my steering wheel locked up, so i drifted to the side of the road and tried to start my car up. i started it about 3 more times then it finally came back on, as i kept driving down the road it happened yet again. lately it's just been happening every now and then but i'm constantly on fast busy roads and if this happens i can't always get over and it could end up getting me and anyone with me hurt. i've tried taking it to people but nobody knows what going on and i've even called chevy and they can't tell me anything. i've taken it to them before and $483 wasted because they "couldn't find anything wrong with it" this starting to become a problem because i need reliable transportation. *tr

Car stall while driving down freeway. at red light or any other place or time. when i say it stalls, i mean it dies & you have to restart it . it hasn't caused a crash or damage yet, but it could at any time. i looked on the internet and other people have replaced several different components at great expense and hasn't helped. *tr

Antifreeze is leaking. auto repairman said that their is a recall because of dexcool. i was told that because of dexcool the repair of the engine would cost close to $800. *tr

Like everyone else w/ a 2000 impala i have faulty, non-working turn signals all the way to the major problems of the intake gasket problem to the most severe - the problem of the car stalling while driving or sitting at a light. and no one can pin pointe the actual problem. my car used to just stall out at least once or twice a day while driving. now the car has given up and i'm about to too. it starts when it wants... i wish life worked that way but it doesn't. today i decided to research recalls on the car and found out everyone has the problems i do but chevy has not taken care of anyone. please take note this is serious. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet impala. while the vehicle was parked in the garage, the contact heard a loud banging noise. she immediately noticed flames under the hood. the power windows and locks failed and trapped the contact in the vehicle momentarily. the fire spread to the side of the garage and caused minor property damage. the manufacturer would not assist with the repairs and only offered $1,000 towards the purchase of a new vehicle. she received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 09v116000, which stated that if the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond, increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire. a police report was filed. the failure and current mileages were unknown.

The lower intake manifold gasket leaked twice within 45,000 miles, had to have vehicle serviced twice for this intake issue, which involved missing work. bad enough i can't afford the repairs, but then i have to miss work as well. low coolant light comes on constantly and vehicle over heats. i have had the transmission replaced, radiator replaced, water pump replaced and haven't only owned the care for 3 years. i am rebuilding the entire car! i've owned 7 chevy cars but none as bad as this. i will never,ever,ever buy another chevy. *tr

I own a 2000 chevy impala which caught on fire approximately march or april of 08. i called 911 and a fire crew was sent to my prior residence. i recently heard of the recall on the news, however, they stated no fires were reported thus far. i need to find out if my car was impacted. the car is currently in the shop, so an immediate response as to my next steps would be appreciated. thank you. *tr

2000 chevrolet impala 4 door with 3.8 v6 engine caught fire while driving and i was stuck inside due to all electrical going down. police arrived within minutes of me calling 911 from car. i was just exiting the car 3 minutes after calling them. doors were locked and car was a blaze and also smoke filled interior. people were all around vehicle as i was trying to exit. i now have a severe cough and lung pains due to plastics burning and now i am taking advair inhaler. the car gave no warning at all as it just burst into flames. the doors and all windows locked. a city employee came running with an extinguisher to try break windows as i was inside, i exited as the police came to car and he blocked the road to traffic with his cruiser. the fire dept arrived shortly after he did. i was all black with an oily substance and soot as well as coughing lots. i am awaiting an appointment with lung specialist as this cough will not subside and it is awful as i can't talk or exhale without gasping for air and coughing all the time. *tr

150k this january heater not working, took to garage, told about engine coolant prob. called gm canada , told my car is too old for them to do anything but there was a recall on an engine part they would do, took the car for a scheduled appt and after an hour wait the service manager came to tell me they did not have the part in stock and "not to bring the car back because it wasn't going to last long" i was very upset and called gm, there anywhere was for me to go back to that dealership. how insulting, i told gm i used to have a honda and even though it was over 10 years old they fixed a prob with fuel tank free , washed car inside and out and were very polite, this is one of the reasons gm is not doing well, they have no customer service at any level. when i first contacted them they said it was my fault because i had not registered with them when i bought the car (2002) so they did not have the ability to inform me of any prob. when i asked if all i should expect from a gm prod is 80,000 miles he said nothing. they have known about this prob since 1985 and they still deny it. i will never buy a north american prod again. this is july and i am still driving the car and the recall has not been done. i figure so many vehicles are involved they would go broke if they acknowledged this issue. cant someone help us. *tr

Our 2000 chevrolet impala was left in an apartment behind my children's' apartment in omaha, nebraska. when they returned from christmas break, the battery was down and it was cold outside. they tried to jump start the car using jumper cables from another vehicle next to it. my daughter was in front of the car to remove the jumper cables after it started. when my son tried to crank the engine, it exploded all over the parking lot, showering my daughter with bits and pieces of the plastic top of the engine. my daughter was shaken up but not hospitalized and her confidence in starting gm autos is "gone." gm claims that they are not responsible because there is 120,000 miles on the vehicle at the time of the explosion and will not provide any safety advice on starting the vehicle in the future. they also contend that the children were responsible for blowing up the car by starting it with jumper cables, although the dealer acknowledges that it was started in accordance with the owners manual. there seem to be unresolved safety issues here that gm does not want to acknowledge or admit to. *tr

Car went out of control after driver put the car into gear to move it from a parked, idling position, after noticing a burning like odor. it was noted by the driver at that time that the temperature gauge was in the red zone. when the driver attempted to move the car to a safer parking area only a few feet in distance, she heard a sharp snapping sound and also felt a vibration in the steering wheel/column area. the car suddenly lurched forward, the head lights and dash lighting went completely out as the car began accelerating out of control. in addition, there was no steering or brake control. no work has been done yet to correct these problems because an insurance company is involved. *tr

Put. *tr

One day it just got warm. we turned it off and the radiator bubbled. i let it cooled down. i checked the oil and water. it was probably a quart low and the oil looked a touch milky. oil was not over full. i assumed it was fine. the next trip to town and back(about 20 miles round trip)it ran warm on the way home. when we got home the radiator was boiling a little bit again. after it cooled off i checked the water is half to three quarters gallon low on water. oil was registering a little more than a quart over full and real milky looking. that is when i noticed there was a problem. i change oil and filter. topped off water. i added some aluminum seal and topped off the water. after i did that it seemed like it was fixed for about 8 days then it did it again. i haven't started it or driven it since. it is going to cost about 500-800 dollars to get it fixed. my complaint is that general motors knows about the intake manifold gasket problem but they won't recall any of these vehicles. there is even a petition online to get them to. my car is a 2000 chevrolet impala. i didn't feel like i should have to pay for their mistake. i can't afford to get it fixed and i am still making payments on it. i didn't want it to go to waste it is a very nice car. i really like my car. i wish i could drive it. *ak

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 mph on normal road conditions, the engine stalled. there were no warnings prior to the incident. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who could not determine the cause of the problem.

While driving on the freeway i have noticed that me steering wheel became very stiff and smoke started to come out from the hood. i drove the car home slowly, and the next day taken it to the chevy dealership. my engine was blown due to the lower intake manifold gasket (which already had been replaced) and the head gasket was blown. i had to replace a brand new engine.($4k). next my transmission was completely done, and i had to replace that. the radiator was messed up and had to replace that as well as the starter. the airbag light will not go off at all either. now i can not get my car smogged due to the check engine light which the codes came up as "too lean on bank 1" which could mean a variety of things according to the mechanic. today while i was driving my car to work there was smoke coming from the steering wheel column which smelled like burnt plastic. oh...how could i forget a few months back my car just wouldn't start out of nowhere and the mechanic had to replace the sensors as well. oh another problem is the steering on the car is so stiff as if i don't have power steering. all the money i have invested in this vehicle i could be driving around a mercedes! *tr

Intake manifold gasket leak on 2000 chevy impala. *nm

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet impala. three years ago, the vehicle caught fire under the hood. the contact recently received a gmc recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 09v116000 (engine and engine cooling). he was able to extinguish the fire. a report was filed with the manufacturer and they stated that they would call the contact back. he has not yet received a return call. the current and failure mileages were 108,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet impala. while the vehicle was in the shop for repairs (unrelated to the engine) the engine failed. the errors did not appear when the diagnostics were performed. the contact was initially called to come and retrieve the vehicle, but in the same conversation, she was informed that something failed in the engine. the contact was also informed that she should probably get rid of the vehicle. the engine was replaced. nhtsa campaign id number 04v090000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery) was referenced. the contact spent $1,000 to have the engine replaced. the current and failure mileages were 78,000. updated 08/27/08. *lj the consumer stated the crankshaft position sensor, ignition switch and fuel regulator was replaced. updated 08/27/08

Dt*: the contact stated without warning the vehicle stalled intermittently at various speeds. the consumer attempted to restart the vehicle. at time it would start right up. other times the vehicle had to cool down before it would restart. the dealership reprogrammed the computer but the problem persisted. *ak updated 9/22/2006 - the vehicle stalled a couple times a week. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle stalled during startup and cruising. the engine stalled 35 times. the vehicle would usually restarted after 5 to 11 attempts. on 08/24/06, the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop who was unable to locate the cause of the problem. the manufacturer was contacted and a complaint was taken.

2000 chevrolet impala ls, 3.8 engine. at 78,000 miles the "lower intake manifold gasket" failed causing loss of coolant. required $804 repair. my research indicates this is a widespread pattern failure of gm 3.8 liter engines of that year, due to insufficient torque on the intake manifold bolts and/or a faulty gasket. this affects other gm brands using the same engine. a properly maintained engine should not suffer this type of failure at 78k miles. *nm

i have a 2000 impala ls with 97000 miles. the car will stall at highway speed. this has happened to both my wife and myself several times this summer. the car has been in the dealership for 3 of the last 4 weeks and i am tolled they can't find the problem. i have done a internet check and have founded several other owners with the same issue. this needs to be addressed before someone is killed. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated the engine would not start after the vehicle was parked overnight. initially, it was suspected the battery was discharged and the battery was charged for twenty minutes. afterwards, the contact attempted to start the vehicle, with the key in the ignition, and the intake manifold exploded. a large fireball along with pieces of the intake manifold and the engine cover shot out of the underhood area. the vehicle was towed to a dealer for inspection. the dealer determined the backfiring occurred due to the contact starting the engine while applying the accelerator pedal. the manufacturer was alerted.

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 45mph, the engine stalled and the check engine light illuminated. the temperature gauge of the engine also elevated and the engine was turned off. the vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop for inspection. the mechanic determined the intake manifold, head gaskets, and the engine cooling system needed to be replaced. the dealer and manufacturer have been alerted and agree the vehicle is included in a customer satisfaction program, # 03034, concerning the engine and engine cooling. however, both refuse to repair the vehicle without charge because the campaign expired.

Engine stalls when it reaches normal running temp, it becomes hard to start after. only makes clicking noise. even after starter has been replaced. *nm