Engine
4.3L 8-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 66 of 88 complaints with a usable failure date.
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Steering
16 complaint records
"INABILITY TO CONTROL THE STEERING ON ROUGH ROADS. STEERING IS VERY LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. ALSO, VEHICLE DARTS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS WHILE BRAKING. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse steering parts in the directory →
Glass & wipers
14 complaint records
"HEATER CORE CLOGS UP FROM (DEX-COOL) ANTIFREEZE, RESULTING IN NO HEAT FOR DEFROSTERS CAUSING FOGGING OF THE WINDOWS, UNABLE TO RECTIFY. *MJS..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse glass & wipers parts in the directory →
Power train
14 complaint records
"ODOMETER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER RESISTERS OPERATE AT SUCH HIGH TEMPERTURES BECAUSE OF A LACK OF VENTILATION THAT THE SOLDER JOINTS MELT CAUSING THE ODOMETER TO FAIL .I FEEL IF THESE RESISTERS COULD FALL OUT INTO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IT COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICIAL FIRE....."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| EA99003 opened Jan 1999 | closed Aug 2000 | Visibility | COOLANT FIRES There is no summary currently available |
| PE96001 opened Jan 1996 | closed May 1996 | Suspension | REAR WHEEL SEPARATION - led to recall 96V245000 INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM GM INDICATES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF WHEEL SEPARATIONS IS WARRANTED.IN GM'S RESPONSE DATED APRIL 26, 1996, GM STATED THAT:GM HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHIH... |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996025 1996-02-12 | Suspension | 1,942 | NOTE: INCLUDES CAPRICE POLICE SEDANS, TAXI CABS AND SPECIAL SERVICE WAGONS; FLEETWOOD HEARSE AND LIMOUSINE. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT MAY BE LOOSE. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17-NA-073 Feb 2023 | Equipment | This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy. | |
| PIP4723F Jan 2022 | Service Brakes | This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving... | |
| PIP4723D Jan 2020 | Electrical System | This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving... | |
| PIC4696E Nov 2019 | Equipment | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. | |
| 17NA073 Sep 2019 | Equipment | This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy. |
Show 17 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIC4696D Sep 2019 | Equipment | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. | |
| 17NA073 Feb 2019 | Equipment | This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy. | |
| PIC4696C May 2018 | Equipment | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. | |
| PIP4723C Sep 2017 | Electrical System | This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving... | |
| 17-NA-073 Mar 2017 | Equipment | This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information with the field action courtesy transportation policy. | |
| PIP4723B Feb 2017 | Electrical System | This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving... | |
| PIC4696B Dec 2015 | Equipment | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. | |
| PIC4696A Oct 2015 | Equipment | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. | |
| 130089009 Sep 2013 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules | |
| 020730024A Aug 2005 | Power Train | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT | |
| 010602003 May 2001 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE HEATER IS INOPERATIVE, BLOWS COLD AIR, THE ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN OVERHEAT CONDITION OR THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS RUST IN IT. *TT | |
| 00096 Jan 2001 | Engine And Engine Cooling | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE FAILURES. *JB | |
| 9709016114B Sep 1997 | Engine And Engine Cooling | EXPERIENCING ENGINE NOISE. *YC | |
| 776513 Apr 1997 | Engine And Engine Cooling | WATER IN AIR PUMP AND/OR DTC P0410, P0412, P1415, P1416, P0100, P0101, P0102 AND DTC 48 (INSTALL AIR PUMP SERVICE KIT). *TW | |
| 676114A Mar 1997 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE NOISE (INSTALL VALVE STEM OIL SEAL). *TW | |
| 3060 | Power Train | THE ENGINE DOES NOT STALL WHEN PERFORMING A P1870 DIAGNOSTIC TEST WITH THE TECH 2 SCAN TOOL OR WHEN COMMANDING THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH ENABLE SOLENOID ON APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE P1870 DIAGNOSTIC TEST LISTED. 4L60E OR 4L65E TRANSMISSIONS. *TT | |
| 4615 | Service Brakes | ABS PUMP RUNNING WHEN NOT NEEDED. *NJ |
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Drive one straight highway stretch and one slow parking lot.Wander or a shimmy over bumps at speed, and heavy or dropped assist at low speed, are the two faces of this vehicle's steering cluster. A clunk on turn-in points at the linkage.
- Run the wipers and washers, and test every window.Slow or stuck regulators, streaking wipers, and windshield cracks are this vehicle's visibility complaints.
- Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Chevrolet Impala →