At about 70k miles the transmission started to shudder when accelerating. It progressively got worse with time. According to my research this is a common problem with these transmissions and I knew it was only a matter of time before I would need to have the transmission rebuilt. I changed the transmission fluid/filter and added a bottle of Lucas Transmission Fix which greatly helped with the slipping/shuddering. This however, is only a temporary solution. At 110k miles the transmission began having difficulty engaging when cold. You could rev the engine in reverse and drive with little or no movement until engine/transmission heated up. I determined at this time that it was no-longer safe to drive without imminent fear of breaking down and took it to my local transmission shop. They rebuilt the transmission, updated some of the components that were prone to failure and installed a shift kit.

one beautiful summer after noon i was pulling into traffic. when i heard my transmission throwing up parts like a frat boy after a all night drinking binge. so i quickly got it home.( only 2 miles away) just to find out the transmissions differential wanted to break out and see the world like the bubble boy in...Bubble Boy. oh boy was i pissed. after debating about junking the car or selling it off. i decided to repair this problem child of a car. i had the know how. kinda...transmissions where like vagina to me at the age of 11. i knew where they were located...i just didn't know how they worked. after reading up i took out the old differential which looked like hockey players face. all beat up and missing teeth. then put the new one in that i order from a local Chevy dealer. replaced the housing as well. drained the system changed the filter and i was back on the road. this will be the last Chevy i ever buy. if i took this car to the shop for all the problems ive ever had i would of easily spent how i paid for it.

This has been a great car for us with no major problems to report until now: 12/26/2008. At 198k miles I came across Slick 50's "High Mileage Auto Transmission Additive" thinking it might be beneficial for our car's tranny. About three weeks later - here we are stranded on Christmas traveling weekend about 150 miles from home. What's weird about it; it will whine and not move in any gear after you stop. If you turn the car off and restart it, it works and shifts fine until you stop again - weird. I've never had a transmission act like that before. After finding a Norman Bates type Hotel for the night, we were able to get the vehicle towed to an Aamco facility around 01:30 Saturday morning on the 27th. Since they are closed on weekends, I'll have to wait and find out the extent of the damage on Monday. After reading many of the other posts, I'm not feeling very good about the diagnosis. I believe what caused my tranny problem was using the Slick 50 additive. (The retailer had is discounted 80% off of the regular price - They got me: hook, line & sinker) - And now I'm going to pay the price.

I guess I can't complain too hard since the car has almost 200k miles with no major problems. The tranny didn't show any signs of problems and just out-of-blue failed. Now I need to weigh the cost vs. value in getting it fixed. Given car's mileage; if it does need a $2k tranny rebuild, I'll probably nix repairing it and wait for one the local car dealers to offer the $2k trade-in deal on any vehicle whether you have to push, tow or drag it in. The car still has a rust and dent free body, strong engine and many other good parts. I wonder if I would be better off selling it for parts - What does everyone else think?

As for owning another Chevy Impala: I would and will most likely buy another one around February - March 2009, around tax time for the car dealers.

Thanks,

Mark

I really like the car and had no problems but the intake manifold gasket replace at 40,000 miles and it was under warranty. Other minor things like water pump has been replaced but without any warning the transmission just went out. My options were a used one ~50,000 mile ($2000) or factory rebuilt Jasper one 3 yr/100,000 warranty. I was warned that 2000-2003 Impala transmissions have been going out fairly early so I went with the Jasper one. Hopefully the extra $1000 will be a good investment. Either way $3000 on a 8 yr old car was a hard decision.

I received this car from my fathers estate. I gave it to my Son & Daughter in February because they needed a larger car as they were expecting. I had the transmission checked later had the pan dropped and everything replaced. The mechanic said it seemed Ok even though the fluid was a little dark. Well--On March 4, my daughter went into premature labor and had our new grandson three weeks early. They were 25 minutes from the hospital and almost didn't make it. They got there, baby arrived 15 minutes later with the cord around his nexk. Baby & Mom are Fine now. As my Son was going home to get her things for the hospital, the car stopped. My son waited and got it to go the last 10 miles to my home. I gave him my Car, and made an appointment to have the transmission looked at that day. I was told the next day that I needed a Total rebuilt transmission. I cannot believe it!! And I paid for it! I am in process of taking the claim to GM but want to know if it is worth my time. From what I read, they will give me no help. What do you think?

My Impala has been fairly reliable for the last 7 years. I do a lot of driving for my job but its mostly freeway miles. That's why I can't see my tranny going when I've had other cars alot longer and never had a tranny problem with them. I have never done any towing with the car, keep up all the required maint. at the right times. The only downside is living in the Chicagoland area traffic can be a bitch (understatement) and most of the local driving is stop and stop. Other than this I can't see why this piece of major equipment would just go bad!

General Motors wouldn't even talk to me because of the miles on the car (way outside warranty) even to garner some goodwill they said its part of owning a car. Having been a GM person since the get go I'm having a hard time swallowing the $2,300 expense to have it rebuilt. As it is cash is at a "hand to mouth" state, and now its only going to get worse. Now I've had to rent a POS to get around for work (more money) and with my wife's birthday and our 30th anniversary coming up the gift situation is looking bleak.