2002 Chevrolet Impala Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 305 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2002 Chevrolet Impala, 38% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 82,162 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (14% of reports).
- 305electrical system complaints
- 82,162median miles at failure
- 8mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,050typical repair cost reported by owners
- 46%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 43 of 305 complaints (14%)
- Body control: mentioned in 24 of 305 complaints (8%)
- Failed start: mentioned in 16 of 305 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the 2002 Chevrolet Impala at $1,050, and half of them between $740 and $1,500.
Based on 20 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 234 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 305 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 7 a fire, 5 an injury.
Chevrolet Impala electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Impala | 3 | 20% | — |
| 2019 Impala | 9 | 32% | 35,700 |
| 2018 Impala | 11 | 19% | 51,300 |
| 2017 Impala | 15 | 13% | 42,000 |
| 2016 Impala | 30 | 27% | 45,691 |
| 2015 Impala | 96 | 32% | 59,523 |
| 2014 Impala | 221 | 35% | 66,000 |
| 2013 Impala | 52 | 19% | 60,000 |
| 2012 Impala | 58 | 22% | 55,000 |
| 2011 Impala | 95 | 19% | 78,000 |
| 2010 Impala | 132 | 30% | 78,000 |
| 2009 Impala | 224 | 27% | 82,559 |
| 2008 Impala | 221 | 27% | 85,000 |
| 2007 Impala | 128 | 20% | 84,200 |
| 2006 Impala | 124 | 24% | 85,000 |
| 2005 Impala | 331 | 54% | 80,000 |
| 2004 Impala | 681 | 63% | 68,750 |
| 2003 Impala | 264 | 38% | 98,740 |
| 2002 Impala | 305 | 38% | 82,162 |
| 2001 Impala | 225 | 30% | 100,000 |
| 2000 Impala | 187 | 23% | 98,000 |
| 1996 Impala | 11 | 13% | 92,500 |
| 1995 Impala | 6 | 14% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition
Problem: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Fuel system or backfire is what I believe happened to it. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety was severely put at risk because the car exploded and caught fire while I was inside the car and fire came through the dash and air conditioner slots, anything could of happened…
Power windows fail at times Blinkers fail at times Front hub assembly damage Front calipers are damaged and affect steering These are available for inspection. There are huge safety risks with all of these compromised issues. Last inspection is unknown. No known warning lamps present.
Transmission hesitates to pull out in drive from a stop
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Chevrolet Impalas have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 305 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala (38% of the 795 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Chevrolet Impala electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 82,162 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the 2002 Chevrolet Impala?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,050 (half paid between $740 and $1,500), from 20 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2002 Chevrolet Impala?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 43 of 305 complaints, followed by “body control” (24).
Other 2002 Chevrolet Impala problems
See all 2002 Chevrolet Impala problems or electrical system problems across all Impala years.