2002 Chevy Impala - Key ignition and steering column locked

[Nick]

I can't turn the key in the ignition. The steering wheel is locked in place and the transmission shift is also locked up. After numerous attempts to muscle the steering wheel, etc. it still is locked. Has anyone experienced this? Could it be electrical?

[Valerie]

Same thing happened to our Jeep Cherokee just Saturday (1/6). I've been searching all over the web and cannot find anything that might help. Even the owner's manual has nothing pertaining to this problem. I'm afraid I'll end up having it towed to the nearest repair shop. $$$$$

[Brian]

This has happened to me twice! I had the ignition switch replaced, which fixed the problem (for around 500 bucks. Now 18 months later, the same thing has happened. Muy steering wheel WILL NOT lock, but I cannot turn the key in the ignition at all. HELP!!

[Vince]

Brian,
Yesterday I had the same problem. Ignition key would not turn. Steering wheel did not lock. Car had to be towed to Chevrolet dealer repair. Today (feb 16), I picked the car and the bill $948. Labor $552, part (switch fits on palm)$244. Misc $15, tax $62, tow $75. I think this is high robbery. I have written a letter to the Kendall Chevrolet in Miami, FL and am waiting a reply. I asked why $552 for labor and was told it costs $95 and hour. I can't believe it took 6.4 hours to change a switch. You don't have to take the car apart.

[Marcia]

I have a 2002 Chevy Impala, The first time the ignition switch was replaced, the car was still in warrenty...Now the car is 5 years old and has to be done again for over $400 plus towing,I have driven cars 150,00 miles plus and have never had to replace the switch before.. What is wrong with this product?

[Sylvia]

Marcia wrote:

I have a 2002 Chevy Impala, The first time the ignition switch was replaced, the car was still in warrenty...Now the car is 5 years old and has to be done again for over $400 plus towing,I have driven cars 150,00 miles plus and have never had to replace the switch before.. What is wrong with this product?

Marcia - I have the same car...and having the same problems. I have taken it to two different places and they told me it would be atleast 500.00. I had it repaired at one place and its still having the same problems. I am just as aggravated as you are. This makes me want to NEVER purchase ANOTHER CHEVROLET product - EVER AGAIN. Good luck to you!

[Michael]

Well kids...I seem to have the same problem. Steering wheel will not lock. Car (Intrigue 2002) is in park. Key wont turn. I've tried everything I can think of to get the steering wheel to lock so the key will turn. Good info here...but I'm not looking forward to the diagnosis (let alone the tow).

[Talanda]

I'm so stressed out. I have the same problem like everyone else here. My husband went to work came out of his job and tried to come home and the key would not turn. He had to be picked up at 2:00 am in the morning and leave our car 60 miles away from home. I'm reading all of your issues and think we should all write chevy dealers to do a recall for this. This is not okay, I don't have $500.00 to waste on a car and I don't think any of you do. This is cold blood robbery. Have anyone found another way to fix this problem without coming out of our pockets? If so please respond asap.

[Vanessa]

My Cherokee steering wheel, ignition, and transmission is locked. This happened to me about 6 months ago, needed a tow and ignition replaced. It was about $200 for everything. Now it's happened again, and I hoped to find some tip online to get it unlocked. Oh well! Looks like we'll be calling the mechanic tomorrow.

[Sylvia]

OK Gang...after having the front portion of the ignition switch changed out to a new one $310.00 later, the car still did not run. I had to have it taken to a dealer and have the BCM changed - as everyone else has spoken of. I just got it back today - that was another $365.00. NOW..I am PRAYING that it continues to run considering others have said they did the same thing and the problem eventually began again. I am going to trade off this car as soon as I can. I won't be looking at another Chevy vehicle.

Good LUCK!

[RcdSonora]

I own a Chevy Imapala 2002.

I too have a problem with the car not starting.
My problem is that the
PassLock Security System (factory installed) needs to be reset.

All you do is leave your ingnition key on for 10 minuets this will reset the Passlock system and your car will start. If you let this go with out fixing it which i did. It will sometimes need to be reset 2 times for a total of 20 minuets.

[RcdSonora]

Rcd-- Did your Impala experience start problems any other times and what did you do to get it to start? I have read the previous posts, there seems to be a varity of possible corrective actions. My '02 periodically won't start. Lights come on, everything works, just no response to turning the key on. Come back later and it starts, restarts, etc. You think resetting the Passlock corrects the no start problem? Thanks

[bronx_730]

Ahhh man I just came upstairs in hopes to finding a solutiion to my 2001 chevy impala not starting cause the key wont turn damn by the looks of what im reading this is gonna cost me some money there has to be another simple solution to this bull*(%*!!!!

[RcdSonora]

My 2002 Imapala had no problems starting before the PassLock System malfunctioned. My Impala was side swiped in a parking lot. I believe this is what started my Passlock problem. Though I am not intirely sure now since i have read that other people are having the same problem.

RcdSonora wrote:

Rcd-- Did your Impala experience start problems any other times and what did you do to get it to start? I have read the previous posts, there seems to be a varity of possible corrective actions. My '02 periodically won't start. Lights come on, everything works, just no response to turning the key on. Come back later and it starts, restarts, etc. You think resetting the Passlock corrects the no start problem? Thanks

[Ivonnemil]

2003 Impala would not start. When I turned the key, warning lights came on and windows worked but otherwise the car was dead. Happened on and off.
Solution: Car is not really on Park. Move gear shift back and forth until it clicks and door locks open.

[BADChevy]

The Passlock system is a well known issue within the dealers service depts. I have called every dealership in my town, plus those in a 50 mile radius and each responded exactly the same way when I simply described the issue...battery light then security light then service light come on then passlock system engages. If car is shut off after this occurs it may not restart. Each time I was told one of three things, and all of them are related.

First was your chip needs reprogrammed to repair bad code to the passlock system, not just reset. Second was your BCM module or ignition switch needs replaced, and third was a lovely combo of all the above. "It sounds like the code for the passlock system is bad, thats probably because you need to replace the ignition switch and BCM".

The ignition key reset trick is only temporary. The problem will reoccur. The only real fix is to replace the ignition switch, the BCM, make sure the passlock codes are correct and have new keys cut and pray that it doesn't happen again. Even after doing all this you may still experience problems simply because the entire system itself (the parts) seem to be faulty or become faulty after a short period. Hard impacts that cause severe jolts that can cause the systems to become unstable, dead batteries, baterry replacement all seem to contribute to these systems failures. If you get stranded don't bother with a tow, disconnect the battery, let is sit 10 to 15 minutes, this resets the failed systems just enough to start your car and get you somewhere safe. The lights will come back on and the passlock system will engage (radio will say "locked") but you can at least get to safety.
In the event that this occurs and you aren't driving (like when you need to leave in the morning for work), and the car won't start, again disconnect the battery, let sit, reconnect and start car.
I should warn you though that disconnecting the battery wipes the codes, this means if you disco the battery and then drive it into a service center they won't be able to diagnose the problem. Luckily 99% of the time after reconnection the issue (minus car not starting) reoccurs almost immediately so there will be something there for their diagnostics computer to read.

I hope this helps, for me, I can not afford the repairs as my husband got laid off. Chevrolet refuses to do anything. Three different service centers each want to do at least one of the above fixes. Im not even sure it's worth it as I have read extensively on this problem and it seems to return in anywhere for 60 days to 6 months. Perhaps it's just time to sell it off and return to being a one car family.

[BADChevy]

Im sorry I forgot to add this to the list of "needs replaced" ignition cylinder.

Also this is a post every single Chevy owner should read as GM is very aware of this issue.
Very first post then the third post, which is his followup post...http://www.automotivehe lper.com/topic213098.htm.
I had already called GM customer service before reading it, I hope you all call them too.

[Eregis]

My 2004 Chevy Impala would not start yesterday morning. Could turn the key but no crank. Got the same Security Message that everyone is referencing. Tried all day off and on to start it and after the tow truck driver arrived, we put it in N to push out to get it on the truck and that is when it started. The dealership we towed it to now tells me the fix will be $1,200.00. That is about $500 to replace the starter which they say is bad and then the rest to replace the Pass Key Security Cylinder. This is total robbery! I was told I might be able to get away with replacing just the starter and that the pass key security thing may not happen again, but that this is a pretty common problem with GM products. What choice do I have? I've been saving all year for a vacation in October and now I'll just have to go in to debt to fix a car that isn't even paid for yet. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRR!!!!!!!!!!

[Billy]

i\I just took my ignition out of the car, took it apart and found inside the ignition there is a white plastic tip that fits inside the ignition which keeps the shifter from moving and letting the ignition turn, also make sure you have not pulled the keys out of the ignition to hard which will cause the teeth to miss align and it wont turn..

[Shari in NY]

This happened to me two weeks ago. The tow truck operator couldn't get it into gear and almost couldn't tow me at 9:30 at night with a toddler in the back seat! He instead topok a hammer to the ignition and got it to turn so I brought it directly to the dealer. It was the ignition housing.$450 later, I sold the d!!n car. This was after I spent $550 about 3 months ago replacing the BCM, and $600 last summer on the fuel pump. I bought a Hyundai with a 10 year 100,000 mile warranty. Never a GM again.