NHTSA Opens Investigation Into 2014 Chevy Impalas Over Crash Imminent Braking Issue

A massive investigation has been opened by the NHTSA into the 2014 Chevrolet Impala. The investigation came about after a single complaint about a new 2014 Impala was filed alleging that the forward-collision warning system activated where there was no risk of a collision. The unnamed driver claims that the issue happened at least two times.

According to the compliant, the system activated once bringing the car to a stop and it resumed normal operating shortly thereafter. However, the same driver reports that the next day the collision avoidance system activated again resulting in another car crashing into the rear of the Impala.

Opening the investigation into 60,000 Impalas based on one report of an issue is very different from the years it took for an investigation to be opened into the ignition problem that has plagued many GM cars. Chevrolet's crash imminent braking system is supposed to sense when an accident is likely and apply the brakes if the driver doesn't act fast enough or at all.

The system uses radar to search in front of the car for other vehicles or pedestrians. Chevy isn't the only company to include this sort of optional safety feature in its cars. The 2014 Chevrolet Impala debuted in April of 2012 as Chevrolet's attempt to make the car appeal to consumers more than rental car agencies. Chevy's 2014 Impala went on sale in early 2013.

SOURCE: NYT