General Motors recently issued a recall for several different models due to an ignition switch issue similar to the one that plagued 2.7 million of its small cars and resulted in the deaths of 13 motorists. Wrapped up in that recall was the 2006-2014 model year Chevrolet Impala, a car which a GM employee warned the automaker about in 2005 due to a flaw which she considered a serious safety issue, The Detroit News reports.
Laura Andres was driving a 2006 Impala when it suddenly shut off while she was driving about 45 mph. The information was revealed in an email read by Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, during yesterday’s House hearing on GM’s recalls. After the mishap, she forwarded a complaint about the matter through a number of departments within the company before an email titled “Hot Alert for the 2006 Chevy Impala Special” made its way to the same engineer who designed the flawed switch in the Chevrolet Cobalt ,Saturn Ion and other GM small cars, Ray DeGiorgio.
“I think this is a serious safety problem, especially if this switch is on multiple programs,” Andres wrote in the email, which was dated October 2005. “I’m thinking big recall. I was driving 45 mph when I hit the pothole and the car shut off and I had a car driving behind me that swerved around me. I don’t like to imagine a customer driving with their kids in the back seat, on I-75 and hitting a pothole, in rush-hour traffic. I think you should seriously consider changing this part to a switch with a stronger detent.”
After Andres took the car to a GM technician, he mentioned that similar shut offs had occurred in the Pontiac Solstice sports car. DeGirogio dismissed this, saying that the switch used on the Impala and Solstice were not the same and he had never experienced the issue when driving an Impala.
“To reiterate, nearly nine years ago, a GM employee suggested the stalling of a ’06 Impala was a serious safety problem and speculated that a ‘big recall’ was coming,” Upton said during the House hearing. “So when was the recall for the ’06 Impala announced? Two days ago, Monday.”
CEO Mary Barra responded saying the company considers engines stalls a serious safety issue now, but it didn’t in 2004 when the ignition switch recall storm was quietly brewing. Barra pledged that if a stalling issue or similar problem is brought forth in the future, GM will “immediately take action.”
Comments
I received the GM recall letter for my 04 Chevy Impala on Monday Sept. 15 and yesterday, Sept. 17, my car stalled while driving. I was doing 40 miles per hour and suddenly my car shut off. I was able to control the car out of traffic putting it in neutral and coasting to the side of the fast lane. Unfortunately the letter says to make an appointment on Oct. 1, but I had to have my car towed to a garage to have fixed, now. Total I’m out (I have AAA) $280.00 for mechanic and part. Joe
I have a 2005 chevy Impala Vin # 2G1WF52E059183825 . I can not get the key to turn in the ignition switch has their been a recall on this part. Thank you i would like to hear back as soon as possibel.
I have a 2005 Impala. I have had problems in the past with the key not wanting to turn, but eventually it will if I just wait a few seconds. Today it is refusing to turn at all like the key no longer works. I have 3 different keys and neither of them are working. Is this part of the problem or is there something else going on?
I have a 04 Chevy impala cranks but know start try the relearn procedure for 10 min still nothing I’ve looked up my vin # to see if it had been fixed by the dealer while in position of previous owner and it had not been replaced. During my attempts to start my car it’s only started one Time for a minute and a half and shut off I tryed to restart and nothing do I need to repeat the relearn procedure in ten increments for a total of 30 min cause I’ve only done ten min. Also should just buy a new lock cylinder and ignition switch? I really could use some answers I don’t have a ton of money and I’m currently burning a whole in my pocket due to this problem I was the only one working a job due to my daughter having leukemia and now I’m out of work due to my L4 blown out in my back so I’m really trying to fix this problem on my own I really wished GM would step and take of this problem to all vehicles containing this promblem I’ve only had this car a few weeks and already one tow a new battery and still nothing so do I need to indeed purchase a new lock cylinder and igntion switch ? Please any help would be greatly appreciated I’m already dealing with enough with my daughter and my back I don’t need car problems on top of it
I thought the recall was for a whole ignation switch not a stupid key my 2005 impala wont turn over 99 percent of the time I had the so call dealer fix me I thought but got nothing but a key ha ha
I got a recall on my 2005 impala I thought I was getting a complete ignation switch but all I got was a key my car wont turn the key in it 99 percent of the time
I have complain about my impala 2005I put two new starter on it and I put the key in to start it it has grin noise to it and I have remote start my car up it still does I was wonder it could be the temp it been so cold here I love my car alot just want take care of this problem plz answer back and ty
I have a 2005 Chevy impala and I’m have a problem with my car not wanted to start because my security light stay coming on and locking up my ignition leave me stranded for 20 to 30 min and late to work…is this a recall problem… Please respond back as soon as possible
Have a 05 impala dat when key is off it tries to crank repeatedly
My fiance has a 2014 impala and it just started doing the same thing. Did you ever find out what was the problem?
I also have a 2005 Impala with the same issues, no crank no start. I called dealer and the said the recall is only for the “ignition sensor rotation” not for the whole ignition switch… Yup They suck!!!
My niece recently purchased her very first car. She’s a college student and, works full time. Her first car, 2005 Chevy Impala. Everything named in all the previous recalls are the problems she’s been having. Not to mention we call the dealership and they only want to fix the key slot??? Unbelievable that none of the recall repairs have ever been done to this car. Yet, since the whole recall phenomenon has died down they don’t feel obligated to fix these issues free of charge. Someone please reply if you have any insight or knowledge of how to get these dealerships to fix these faulty repairs? These recall repairs not being repaired “free of charge” as stated, can result in a car accident or a fatality… My prayers go out to all you in our quest to get GM to get these repairs resolved or offer some sort of buy back inventive, or a complete replacement. This is far too dangerous!!!
I need input ASAP! I have a 05 Chevy Impala. My battery light came on and about 3 mins later I lost all power to the dash then about 5 mins later I’m going 45 mph and my car cuts off, couldn’t use brake or steering wheel!!!!!!! Luckily my children weren’t with me but this doesn’t make sense. I’ve bought a brand new battery, it’ll start but the security light comes on and then the battery light so I’m afraid to drive it!!!!! Please let me know something
Yep GM Sucks! I have a 2006 Impala for 10 years now and I’ve gone through 9 batteries cuz something in the ignitions switch or harness drains the battery. I’ve brought it into chevy dealers and they’ve changed out the battery as well and a few months later I’m with another dead battery. When I brought my car in for the recall in December of 2014, they drove it in and 10 minutes later called me to the cashier and gave me two new keys and said I was all set, the recall was performed.
I drive a 2010 Impala and while I was driving the car shut down, I had no steering or power. I also have trouble getting the car to start at random times, I have to keep taking the key in and out and then it eventually will start. I have had the recall “fixed” where they insert a small piece of plastic into the key. I do not believe this fixes the problem. If I had been on the highway going 65mph when my car shut off I could have been killed and others injured as well. I took my car to a Chevy dealer and they have no answers for me. If anyone has had the same issues and has been able to get repairs done please let me know what you had to do.
I have/ had a 2005 Impala. Loved the car ‘was driving east on rt 70 doing about 70 mph went over a rough over pass car shot off and no steering. Or brakes
skidded about 100 feet and into guard rail totaled the poor thing and spent 9 days in shock truma. That was 3 yr ago mangled my left leg crippled for life severe concussion and back hurt broken ribs and a Bradley bruised left lung. Not a glass was broken
I have an 05 chevy impala and took it in for recall to be fixed and ever since when turning the key it’s continues to crank like it’s sticking and then starts and now it does nothing no crank nothing except all dash lights flicker and a clicking noise from fuse panel and some light comes on and off.
2006 Chevy impala battery and remote start and other issues but yea what can I do about it?