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#BS-2002-CHEIMP-7A56

2002 Chevrolet ImpalaProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 1,077 owners and 7 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
1,077
Crashes
52
Fires
42
Recalls
7
TSBs
448
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,077 complaints, 52 crashes, 42 fires, and 7 recalls. Complaint rate is 4.6x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

passlock problem wont start and security light is on

225 complaints • Severity 8.2/10

$X,XXX
2

intake manifold gasket failure leaking coolant

142 complaints • Severity 7.9/10

$X,XXX
3

wont start intermittently

38 complaints • Severity 8.2/10

$X,XXX
4

traction control activates for no reason

21 complaints • Severity 6.7/10

$X,XXX
5

coolant thermostat sensor problems

19 complaints • Severity 7.5/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the ElectricalHIGH

247 owners reported electrical issues — failures commonly reported around 80K miles.

!Inspect the EngineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

89
0–30K
168
30–60K
194
60–90K
139
90–120K
88
120–150K
100
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (194 reports) • Median: 80K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Electrical (247 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Electrical247 (23%)
Engine120 (11%)
Lights52 (5%)
Exterior Lighting:headlights38 (4%)
Steering37 (3%)
Brakes37 (3%)
Other31 (3%)
Airbags28 (3%)

2002 Chevrolet Impala: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 23% of all reports filed for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala, with 247 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 79,542 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 80K-mile mark.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala, with 120 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Lights Issues

Lights complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala, with 52 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to lights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Exterior Lighting:headlights Issues

Exterior Lighting:headlights complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala, with 38 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to exterior lighting:headlights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

2
01
47
02
68
03
44
04
84
05
78
06
65
07
101
08
98
09
80
10
49
11
40
12
30
13
115
14
50
15
68
16
11
17
11
18
11
19
7
20
3
21
2
22
3
24
6
25
4
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (7 recalls)

02V222000Aug 2002

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

07E021000Apr 2007

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

08E063000Oct 2008

STEERING

DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WELD CONNECTING THE INNER TUBE TO THE OUTER TUBE MAY BE DEFECTIVE.

09E005000Feb 2009

STEERING

DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.

09V116000Apr 2009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

+ 2 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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NHTSA Defect Investigations (2)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

EA02030ClosedOpened Oct 2002 · closed Mar 2004

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

PE06017ClosedOpened May 2006 · closed Oct 2006

ALLEGED HEADLIGHT FAILURE

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The worst model year for the Chevrolet Impala is the 2005 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is accessories - interior.

2002 Chevrolet Impala vs. Class Average (Large Cars)

This vehicle

1,077

Class avg

233

4.6x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical large cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,077 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 7 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 30, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026.

Other Chevrolet Impala Model Years

20202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199619951994199319921991198519831982198119801979197819771976197419731972197119691968196719661965
View all Chevrolet Impala years →

2002 Chevrolet Impala: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2002 Chevrolet Impala?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2002 Chevrolet Impala is related to the electrical, with 247 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2002 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
The 2002 Chevrolet Impala has 1,077 complaints, 52 crash reports, and 42 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 4.6x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2002 Chevrolet Impala problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2002 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
Yes, the 2002 Chevrolet Impala has 7 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Chevrolet Impala problems start?
Based on 778 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 79,542 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2002 Chevrolet Impala data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,077 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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