2016 CHEVROLET IMPALA Electrical System Problems

30 complaints about Electrical System

30
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Electrical System Complaints (30)

Jun 11, 2024

The Side Detection System Modules are preventing the vehicle blind spot system to work correctly. and the vehicle takes 5, 10, 15 + attempts to start up.

Jul 1, 2023 Fire

When my car is exposed to water (rain, a car wash) the trunk completely floods and does not drain. It has flooded so much now that my amplifier does not work. I took my vehicle to Chevy to have the known recall on this vehicle repaired but Chevy claims that they will not do anything for me. I am afraid that the car can potentially catch fire and burn my home down as I park this car in my driveway. With this being a known recall for this vehicle, can I please have this fixed immediately!!!! I have already replaced my tools that have been damaged, please just have this fixed or id likely take further steps after this. I have been going back and forth with GMC and Chevy for over 7 days now! Just recently, my car was producing sparks from the trunk area, THIS IS NOT GOOD!!!

Nov 21, 2022

Radio/sound system malfunctioning; Radio/sound will intermittently turn on and off, at times sound will not work for days/weeks at a time. Radio/sound system is tied in with vehicles internal warning systems. When sound is not working, there is no audible notification of several safety conditions including: Seat belt not fastened; door open; turn signal on/off; Low fuel; service engine; Stabilitrack. There was no notification (audio or visual) prior to condition beginning. Symptoms began to appear about 2 months ago during routine highway driving. Vehicle has sustained no accidents and has had no aftermarket upgrades.

Nov 21, 2022

side detection fault. this is an acknowledged problem by GM but they will not fix my car.

Mar 31, 2022

For approximately 2 months, my 2016 Impala LTZ, would display a message on the small screen in front of the driver in the dash, stating for the driver to, "press ignition button again to turn vehicle off." The worst part about it was this would happen very randomly whether I would be driving in city traffic, or be sitting in a parking lot at a local store. I took it to my local Chevrolet dealership. Five different times, because they were not able to get the occurrence to duplicate for them. They replaced the ignition, as well as other suspected parts with no resolution. Resolution. Ended up costing me over $1,200. That was the first time I took it in for this issue. The other four times didn't cost me anything because they hadn't fixed the issue. Come to find out it was a wire on the body control module that had some of the insulation sheathing removed, which then in turn caused the wire to ground out on the car's frame. Just thought I would put this out there in case anybody else goes through it because it wasn't real inconvenience.

Dec 6, 2021

All instruments failed. After a couple restarts they came back on. Lane departure alert doesn’t work now. From a web search, I’m afraid it’s just the beginning. No, I haven’t taken it to the dealer; they charge for diagnosis. And it hasn’t been inspected. The problem doesn’t act up all the time. There are no warning lights, the system just fails. I have 50,600 miles on it. If you find what I’ve found in my web search, the cost of repair is staggering, especially for retirees. I hope you look into Chevrolet’s problem they’ve been having with the Impala.

Nov 14, 2021

I parked my car at work and worked a full day Saturday the 13th of November. I go out to start my vehicle and 3 warnings appear all at once. Stabilitrak, ABS, and power steering. Reading online I’m not the only one but with only 109,xxx miles it’s kind of BS that there’s obviously an engineering flaw with these vehicles and I probably will give a few car payments worth to get this fixed. I’ve owned this vehicle since 17,xxx miles

Oct 8, 2021

Electrical glitches and full loss of engine power wile driving. Dealer don’t know how to fix it. Very unsafe to drive

Aug 22, 2021

After starting car (and sometimes put in reverse), steering appears locked and message says to get power steering serviced. After putting back in park, power steering starts working. This happened multiple times last few weeks. Took car in to Joe Johnson Chevorlet (Troy OH) for scheduled next morning service. After 2 full days of excusses why they couldn't get to our car, we picked it up and took it to independent service shop. He test drove it and steering was fine. Got car back and next day it happened multiple times again. Took it back to independent to run code, which did not give exact problem. Drove car 1 block and power steering went out turning. Then again 1 block later. It is now parked and afraid to drive it. Chevy seems not to want to work on it and independent does not know what is wrong, said it could take him up to a week to trouble shoot entire system. He hasn't got back to me yet. HELP! Also, parking brake seems to engage by itself overnight. When starting car, sometimes it is on. We never use it. This may be related.

Jan 27, 2021

1. THE DISPLAY SCREEN WENT BLACK WHILE DRIVING USING NAVIGATION. THE FAULT WAS A DEFECTIVE HMI MODULE, GM PART # 84296482 AT A COST OF $1100 (SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT). THE SUDDEN LOSS OF THE SCREEN WAS DISCONCERTING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS SHOULD LEAD TO A RECALL AND REIMBURSEMENT OF THE REPAIR COST. 2. WHEN THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) CAUSES THE BRAKES TO BE APPLIED IT DOES SO VERY SUDDENLY AND IN THE ABS "CHATTERING" MODE EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO COLLISION DANGER. THIS PRODUCES A JOLT TO THE DRIVERS AND OCCUPANTS WHICH IS AN UNEXPECTED AND UNSAFE RESPONSE.

Mileage: 43,000

Nov 23, 2020

WHEN YOU START IT THE SPEED AND RPM' S START JUMPING THE COOLANT GADGET WAVES AT YOU THEN WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE IT BUMPS WHEN YOU DRIVING YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU GOING BECAUSE OF THE GADGET BOUNCING UP AND DOWN TO TOP IT OFF ITS JUMPING THE WHOLE TIME YOU DRIVING IT.

Nov 15, 2020

MY VEHICLE TURNED OFF SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS ONCE AS I WAS DRIVING FREEWAY SPEED APPROXIMATELY 60-65MPH ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF I ATTEMPTED TO PUT IN NATURAL AND RE START THE IGNITION AS THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING WITH NO POWER VEHICLE DID NOT START I MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BREAKED TO STOP AND PLACED THE GEAR SHIFT ON PARK AND TRIED TURNING THE IGNITION ON AND STILL DID NOT TURN ON A FEW ATTEMPTS LATER CAR STARTED. ANOTHER INCIDENT I WAS DRIVING CAME TO A RED LIGHT AS I WAS WAITING FOR MY GREEN LIGHT MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BREAK I PUT THE SHIFT GEAR I TO PARK TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND CAR STARTED

Mileage: 84,000

Sep 14, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR TAILLIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK AND THE INSIDE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WATER INTRUSION IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS MOLD AND AN ABNORMAL ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TO BE DIAGNOSED. IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE TAILLIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPUTER IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY UNDER WATER. ADDITIONALLY, THE SPARE TIRE AND JACK WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIKE ANDERSON CHEVROLET (5333 W IRVING PARK RD, CHICAGO, IL 60641, 773-465-2000) AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

Mileage: 32,000

Jul 27, 2020

SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM HAS FAILED, CAUSING MY DASH BOARD TO STAY OFF OR FLICKER AND AT TIMES MY VEHICLE NOT STARTING.

Mileage: 40,000

Apr 18, 2020

CAR WAS GOING 80 MPH (CRUISE CONTROL) ON THE HIGHWAY, AND IT GLITCHED TURNED ON AND OFF. WE WERE GOING DOWN HILL MOTION CAR SLOWED DOWN BUT CONTINUED ROLLING. WHEN THE CAR GLITCHES BACK ON 1 MINS LATER KICKED BACK ON CAR PICKED BACK UP TO THE 80 MPH ON THE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

Mileage: 76,200

Jan 21, 2020

CONCERNING THE 2016 CHEVROLET IMPALA TRUNK, THERE WERE SEVERAL OCCASIONS OF THE TRUNK BEING FOUND OPENED ON IT'S OWN WHEN NOT IN USE. RECENTLY, THE TRUNK WILL NOT CLOSE OR WILL NOT OPEN. I'VE PURCHASED FUSES TO NO AVAIL AS THEY CONTINUE TO BLOW. CONTACTED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER CARE, THEY LIED AND SAID NO COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN RECEIVED ON ANY MODELS SINCE 2000. THERE ARE AT LEAST 2 OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRUNK ON THE NTHSA SITE. CHEVROLET (ROB) INFORMED ME MY COMPLAINT IS NOW IN THEIR RECORDS. CONCERNING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, DOORS COULD BE HEARD CLICKING WHEN NOT IN USE. MY BATTERY HAS DRAINED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO EROSION. I PURCHASED NEW CABLE WHICH WORKED FINE FOR SOME MONTHS BUT THEN HAD TO PURCHASE NEW BATTERY. THESE ARE OBVIOUS ISSUES GM SHOULD ADDRESS.

Mileage: 100,000

Oct 17, 2019

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE EVERYTHING GOES OUT YOU HAVE NO CONTROL, THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DARK, ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, HAD NO POWER AT ALL

Mileage: 60,000

Aug 31, 2019

WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM WENT OUT AND IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE CAR. SIDE DETACTION, COMPUTER, IGNITION, ETC.

Mileage: 37,000

Aug 29, 2019

CAR WOULD NOT START AND ALL OF MY SENSORS ARE GOING OFF NEEDING TO BE SERVICED. THEN IT GOES AWAY. I DROVE IT THE DAY BEFORE WITH NO PROBLEMS. GO TO MY CAR THE NEXT DAY AND ALL OF MY SENSORS ARE ACTING UP.

Mileage: 76,000

Aug 15, 2019

THE POWER STEERING IS ELECTRIC AND IT'S JUST TURNING OFF WHEN THE CAR MAKES A TURN WITHOUT NOTICE.

Mileage: 69,000

May 27, 2019

SIDE DETECTION MODULE IS FAILING. I RESEARCHED AFTER MY DASHBOARD WON'T TURN ON, AND AFTER READING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER IMPALA OWNERS, IT IS DUE TO THE SIDE DETECTION MODULES NOT WORKING PROPERLY. APPARENTLY WHEN THE MODULES FAIL THEY CAN CAUSE ALOT OF ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. CHEVY OR GM IS NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS, AND I DONT SEE THE NEED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM IN MOST PEOPLE'S IMPALA.

Mileage: 5

Feb 28, 2019

THE WIRING USED IS TASTY TO SQUIRRELS AND MY RIGHT HAND BLINKER WIRING HAS BEEN CHEWED UP TWICE NOW, FIXING IT HAS COST $1000.00 EACH TIME. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME.

Mileage: 30,000

Feb 11, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AT FREEDOM CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (8008 MARVIN D LOVE FWY, DALLAS, TX 75237, (972) 649-0829). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,292. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 57,292

May 17, 2018 Fire

ON APRIL 2ND, 2018, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AROUND 4:50 A.M. DRIVING ON THE 303SB ONLY ABOUT 7 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE I NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO LAG AND STALL OUT, I BEGAN TO NOTICE GREY SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD AND THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. WHILE TRYING TO AVOID TRAFFIC AND AFTER ALMOST BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET MY VEHICLE INTO A SAFE ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ON PROVIDED BY MY AUTO INSURANCE USAA. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE VEHICLE NEVER PROVIDED ANY TYPE OF NOTIFICATION LETTING ME KNOW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. IF MY OIL IS LOW MY VEHICLE TELLS ME SOMETHING, WHEN THE TIRES ARE LOW ON AIR, MY VEHICLE TELLS ME. HOW COME WHEN MY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WHILE IT BEGAN STALLING OUT I STILL RECEIVED NO NOTICE? I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD I GOT HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE SITUATION MAY HAVE ENDED A LOT WORSE. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP AS COVERED UNDER THE USAA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ENDORSEMENT THAT BEING CHEVROLET SANDS. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A REP WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD HAD PRE-EXISTING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE SUCH AS OLD BATTERY ACID THAT HAD OVER TIME ATE AT THE WIRING OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO BLOW OUT. THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP. I MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY IN OUR CARE FOR LESS THAN A YEAR IN A HALF AND THAT WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IT CONTAINED 20,022 MILES AND THAT THE VEHICLE NOW ONLY HAD ABOUT 65,000 MILES. NONE OF THE SECURITY FEATURES EVER TURNED ON THE AUTO STOP FUNCTION DOESN'T OPERATE, THE BATTERY WAS BUILT ON TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION SAFETY ISSUE. THE IGNITION CUT OFF DEVICE DIDN'T WORK.

Mileage: 65,000

May 14, 2018

TAKATA INFLATORS, MY AIR BAG PAT KEEPS COMING ON AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECK AND IT CONTINUES TO COME ON.

Apr 29, 2018

ITS WAS ROUND 9:00 P.M. WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN A TWO LANE ROAD, GOING AROUND A CURVE WHEN ALL MY INTERIOR LIGHTS(DASH BOARD, RADIO, AND GEAR SHIFT LIGHTS)TURN OFF FOR ABOUT THREE SECONDS. THE CAR FELT AS IT WAS COMPLETELY OFF BUT POWERED BACK UP AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE NORMAL.

Mileage: 48,382

Nov 29, 2017

FOR THE PAST 3 MO. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE I HEAR A "POP" NOISE. IT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IN THE MORNING OR THE EVENING WHEN I GET OFF WORK. SOMETIMES IT WILL GO A WEEK OR MORE WITHOUT MAKING THE SOUND. THE SOUND WILL NOT REPEAT ITSELF IF I IMMEDIATELY TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. THE 1ST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SIAD NOTHING WAS WRONG & THEY DIDN'T HEAR THE "POP". THE 2ND TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE EXHAUST SO THEY REPALCED SOME HOSES, THE 3RD TIME, IN WHICH THE "POP" WAS MORE FREQUENT AND LOUDER, THEY SAID IT WAS THE STARTER STICKING. AFTER REPLACING THE STARTER, A WEEK LATER, I STILL HEAR THE "POP" UPON STARTING IT. THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENS. OBVIOUSLY, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS IF THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS THE EXHAUST FIRST & THEN THE STARTER AND IT'S STILL MAKING THE SAME NOISE AFTER SERVICING BOTH SAID PROBLEMS. I AM VERY FRIGHTENED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE 7 MO. AGO MY BUICK PARK AVE CAUGHT FIRE ON ME IN MY GARAGE UPON STARTING IT AND HEARING THE SAME "POP" NOISE. A COWORKER OF MINE HAS THE SAME KIND OF CAR AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM ALMOST SURE WE AREN'T THE ONLY TWO CONSUMERS WHO IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. I PURCHASED THE CARM ON 04/07/2017 AND THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT THE 1ST TO 2ND WEEK IN AUGUST AFTER MY 1ST OIL CHANGE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, TOO MANY CARS ARE CATCHING FIRE AND PEOPLE ARE BEING HURT AND EVEN KILLED.

Mileage: 25,000

Aug 28, 2017

VEHICLE SOMETIMES DOESN'T WANT TO STAR(YOU TURN THE KEY TO START AND IT DOES NOTHING ) ALSO WHEN CAR GOES ON AUTO STOP AND COMES OFF AUTO STOP IT CLUNKS LIKE IF THE CAR HAD BAD MOTOR MOUNTS

Nov 21, 2016 Crash

ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2016 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:20 A.M. I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN A CENTER CITY PARKING GARAGE. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 CAR LENGTHS FROM THE PARKING SPOT. I WAS BACKING MY CAR INTO THE SPOT. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND I REMOVED MY SAFETY BELT AND LOWERED THE WINDOW. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO PROCEED INTO THE LINED PARKING SPOT. THE CAR PROCEEDED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THERE WERE NO OBSTRUCTIONS AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT FULLY DEPRESSED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AND HIT THE BRAKE BUT THE BRAKE DID NOT RESPOND SINCE THIS ALL OCCURRED IN ROUGHLY IN SECONDS AND APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET IN LENGTH. UPON IMPACT A SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN AREA. I HIT MY HEAD AGAINST THE HEADREST AND SLIGHTLY INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. ANOTHER PARKING PATRON SAW THIS ALL PLAY OUT AND CAME TO MY AID. IT WAS A HORRIFIC INCIDENT. I AM THANKFUL AND LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. IT WAS AS IF THE CAR ACTED ON IT'S OWN. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK ALL OF THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR AND THE FLASHER WERE ON. ONSTAR NOTIFIED ME TO ASK IF I WAS OK. I EXPLAINED TO HER WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AFTER TWO HOURS NO ONE CAME TO MY AID DESPITE BEING TOLD SOMEONE WAS DISPATCHED. THE BATTERY WENT DEAD AND IT WAS AT THAT TIME I CONTACTED AAA TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT IS CURRENTLY IN "BRENDAN'S COLLISION, LTD, 210 W. HILLCREST AVENUE, HAVERTOWN, PA. I CONTACTED GM IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THEY TOOK A REPORT. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN JULY 2016 AND HAD 3021 MILES ON IT. IT WAS SURREAL AND I WAS FULLY AWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING DURING THIS WHOLE ORDEAL.

Mileage: 3,021

Aug 1, 2016

WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY OR LOCAL ROADS. MY VEHICLE WOULD WARN ME TO SHIFT INTO PARK TO STOP THE ENGINE. THE AFTER 3 NOTICES IT WOULD SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY.

Mileage: 2,900