Car was stranded - had to get it towed. Dealer said the key could not be "read" by the ignition so a new ignition had to be installed. Just poor engineering on GM's part. Where has quality gone in GM vehicles - in the dump!!!
lock cylinder went on cause of worn key and to replace that u need to turn key to on position, couldnt do that obviously, so I had to drill a hole in housing unit poke release button and pull cylinder out. PAIN IN ASS and time consuming.
My son purchased a used 2004 Chevy Impala 6 months ago. Since then, his speedometer doesn't work, his gas gauge doesn't work, and now the security light on his car won't turn off and he can't start his car. To make matters worse, his gear shift is locked and if he needs to have it towed, he'll have to pay extra for it because he can't even put the car into neutral. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS?! I've seen this problem repeated over and over as I read complaints on-line. Chevy, stand behind your name and fix his security switch/ignition problem!!
- Mary H.,
Tinley Park, IL, US
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Shame on you chevy! You know the Impala ignition switch is a pain in the ass and totally defective and wears out at about 75,000 miles or so on ALL Impalas and yet you do nothing to help your customers like replacing them! Still can't figure out why Americans buy foreign cars? My wife got stranded at work today and a tow and very expensive repair bill followed for what I have now discovered is a known problem to all chevy impalas but you have chosen to ignore your customers complaints. Guess were going foreign too! Breaking down when we are so meticulous with our maintenance, especially for something you should have notified your customers about and had these switches replaced, is completely unacceptable!!!!
I'm kind of glad that it happened to me only 2 miles from home. If I would have been any further away I would really be screaming. I had to have the car towed and had to have someone replace the ignition switch. Had to have the switch re keyed to use the same key as the door locks.
just another impala problem lucky for me it happened when i was picking my car up from the chevy dealer and it was solved before i ever left the dealer
The ignition switch completely locks, as if the key is for a different car or something. The repair shop charged over $800 dollars to replace the switch and tumbler and re-code (which they had to do at a dealer-charged me for towing). The problem started a couple of months prior with intermittent regularity. It got progressively worse, ie: took longer and longer to finally turn the key, until one day it just never started again. This always happened at work (with one exception) after sitting in the hot sun (the one exception was also in the hot sun). I have read on other forums that some think there is a problem with this car handling the heat. That sounds fishy to me.
Anyway, that was about a year ago and the problem is starting again. Just whenever, put in the key and it won't turn from the "OFF" position. I suppose the same pattern will repeat itself and by sometime around the beginning of the year I'll be out another $800 (though I'll try for a cheaper shop this time). Otherwise, this car is great. Already have over 80,000 miles on her and just the brakes and tires have been replaced. The ignition problem is a major pain in the ass, but I guess I'll just have to deal with it since I like this car so much otherwise.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
It is irritating. If I get the issue fixed, it will come back. It sounds like that's what they're known for!
- John S., Kalamazoo, MI, US