2002 Chevrolet Impala reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,077
- 18 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 247 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 2
- see below
- Reported harm
- 52 reported crashes · 47 injuries · 42 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#348
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Chevrolet median
+769
median 308 across 473 Chevrolet records
Vs 2000-2004
+824
median 253 complaints in 771 records
Top component share
23%
Electrical System: 247 complaints
What owners report fails — 2002 Chevrolet Impala
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 247
- ENGINE 75
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 48
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 45
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS 38
2 recalls on record for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala
- NHTSA 15V701000 · 2016 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
- NHTSA 14V400000 · 2014 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2002 Chevrolet Impala
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2002 Chevrolet Impala units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
NHTSA has 1,077 consumer complaints on record for the 2002 Chevrolet Impala and 2 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (247 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2002 Chevrolet Impala units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Chevrolet Impala?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (247), engine (75), exterior lighting (48), engine and engine cooling (45). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2002 Chevrolet Impala?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.