Chevrolet Impala reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 2,742 complaints about the Chevrolet Impala with NHTSA since 2010, most often about electrical system and stability control. Chevrolet has filed 20 warranty extensions and 17 service campaigns for it, and there are 17 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Chevrolet Impala? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Impala a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2010 on.
- Owner complaints
- 2,742
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 20
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Service campaigns
- 17
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Safety recalls
- 17
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Impala with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 15 | Other or unspecified (47%) | 0 | 6 |
| 2019 | 28 | Electrical system (32%) | 1 | 4 |
| 2018 | 59 | Other or unspecified (27%) | 1 | 6 |
| 2017 | 116 | Other or unspecified (27%) | 0 | 6 |
| 2016 | 111 | Electrical system (27%) | 0 | 9 |
| 2015 | 300 | Electrical system (32%) | 3 | 16 |
| 2014 | 636 | Electrical system (35%) | 12 | 19 |
| 2013 | 272 | Stability control (40%) | 1 | 8 |
| 2012 | 258 | Electrical system (22%) | 3 | 7 |
| 2011 | 505 | Stability control (26%) | 2 | 6 |
| 2010 | 442 | Electrical system (30%) | 4 | 5 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Impala model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Chevrolet
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Chevrolet filed with NHTSA for the Impala, in its own words. A warranty extension means Chevrolet pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionMay 2024· Body and structure· model years 2017–2020
This service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.
- Warranty extensionJun 2022· Engine and cooling· model years 2020
Special Coverage. Certain vehicles may have a condition that could cause the evaporative emissions purge valve to not fully close.
- Warranty extensionJun 2022· Engine and cooling· model years 2020
Certain vehicles may have a condition that could cause the evaporative emissions purge valve to not fully close.
- Warranty extensionJun 2020· Engine and cooling· model years 2014
Special Coverage - In certain 2014 model year Chevrolet Impala and Malibu vehicles equipped with a 2.5L engine, the rocker arm oil control valve, (OCV), may malfunction.
- Warranty extensionFeb 2020· Equipment and accessories· model years 2014–2017
Special Coverage. Some vehicles may have a condition where the electrical wires leading to the passenger presence sensing mat in the passenger?s front seat, may become disconnected over time, as a result of repeated seat usage.
- Warranty extensionSep 2019· Engine and cooling· model years 2016–2017
N192210240 - Special Coverage Adjustment - Certain vehicles shown above, may have a condition that could cause the evaporative emissions purge valve to not fully close.
- Warranty extensionMay 2019· Seat belts· model years 2014–2017
Special Coverage. On certain vehicles, if a driver repeatedly sits on the seat belt cable cover located at the base of the driver's seat when entering the vehicle, it may cause the seat belt pretensioner to bend sharply over the seat side shield.
- Warranty extensionMay 2019· Equipment and accessories· model years 2016–2018
N182186881 01 - Special Coverage Adjustment. On some vehicles, the evaporator core may become damaged as a result of repeated freeze/thaw cycles without proper drainage of the condensate from the core.
- Warranty extensionApr 2019· Electrical system· model years 2014–2015
N172097060 - Special Coverage Adjustment. Certain vehicles may have a condition where the Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) modules may fail or malfunction due to water intrusion.
- Warranty extensionJun 2018· Fuel system· model years 2015
18029 - Special Coverage. Certain vehicles listed above, may have an inoperative purge solenoid that could lead to excessive fuel vapors entering the combustion chamber from the fuel tank.
- Warranty extensionSep 2017· Seat belts· model years 2014–2015
17306 - Special Coverage. Some vehicles, may have a condition where the rear seatbelt buckle may be difficult to unlatch or may not unlatch when pressing the release button.
- Warranty extensionDec 2016· Engine and cooling· model years 2014
16115 Special Coverage. On some vehicles, a P0014/P0024 (Exhaust Camshaft Position Performance ?
- Warranty extensionJan 2016· Engine· model years 2012–2016
14588C - special coverage (revised labor time). Police patrol vehicles, idling the engine for extended periods of time can prematurely wear the engine-cooling-fan motor.
- Warranty extensionNov 2015· Engine and cooling· model years 2012–2016
14588B - special coverage (revised to add 2016 MY Chevrolet impala).
- Warranty extensionOct 2015· Engine and cooling· model years 2012–2015
14588A - Special Coverage (revised Part Information and Service Procedure sections).
- Warranty extensionOct 2015· Engine and cooling· model years 2010–2011
14582A - Special Coverage (2012 model year Buick Enclave, Lacrosse, Regal; Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles have been removed).
- Warranty extensionSep 2015· Engine and cooling· model years 2010–2011
14582 - Special Coverage. On some 2008 model year (MY) Saturn Outlook; 2008-2009 MY Buick Allure, Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac G8, Pontiac Montana SV6, Pontiac Torrent, and Saturn VUE; 2008-2010 MY Hummer H3 and Pontiac G6; 2008-2011 MY Cadillac CTS, Cadillac…
- Warranty extensionJul 2015· Engine and cooling· model years 2012–2015
14588 - special coverage. On some 2011-2015 Model year chevrolet caprice and 2012-2015 Model year chevrolet impala police patrol vehicles, idling the engine for extended periods of time can prematurely wear the engine-cooling-fan motor.
- Warranty extensionApr 2015· Cruise control and speed control· model years 2010–2011
14636 - special coverage. Some 2009 Model year buick lacrosse and allure vehicles and 2009-2011 Model year chevrolet impala vehicles may have a broken solder connection within the accelerator pedal position (app) sensor.
- Warranty extensionAug 2014· Fuel system· model years 2013
14289 - special coverage. On some vehicles, equipped with E85 flex fuel capability (fhs), the flexible fuel sensor may become inoperative during normal operation due to an electrical failure caused by road salt and other environmental contaminants.
- Service campaignJun 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2018–2020
Amendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners with an opportunity to submit a written notice to GM before filing a lawsuit seeking a vehicle repurchase.
- Service campaignJun 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2018–2020
Amendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners with an opportunity to submit a written notice to GM before filing a lawsuit seeking a vehicle repurchase.
- Service campaignAug 2024· Electrical system· model years 2010–2020
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles.
- Service campaignJun 2018· Engine· model years 2018
18186 - Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain 2018 model year Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Impala and Chevrolet Traverse vehicles, equipped with a 3.6L engine (RPO LFX or LFY), may have a condition where the piston oil control ring may have been damaged during installation.
- Service campaignJun 2017· Electrical system· model years 2015
15086A - Customer Satisfaction Program. On certain passenger cars and light duty trucks, equipped with Gen 10 OnStar®, the embedded phone flash memory chip may become corrupted, causing the OnStar® system to become inoperative.
- Service campaignDec 2016· Electrical system· model years 2016
26180 01 Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles, equipped with a remote trunk release (RPO AB5), may have an incorrect fuse value specified for fuse F66 (Trunk Release) on the Engine Compartment Fuse Block cover.
- Service campaignMar 2016· Electrical system· model years 2010–2016
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
- Service campaignJan 2016· Exterior lights· model years 2014
13426A - customer satisfaction program (revised service procedure and warranty information).
- Service campaignJan 2016· Exterior lights· model years 2014
14047A - customer satisfaction program (revised service procedure).
- Service campaignAug 2015· Electrical system· model years 2011–2015
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Impala model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Electrical system722 (26%)
- Stability control502 (18%)
- Engine390 (14%)
- Steering383 (14%)
- Other or unspecified287 (10%)
- Airbags258 (9%)
- Transmission and drivetrain237 (9%)
- Brakes207 (8%)
Safety recalls
17 recalls cover at least one Impala model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
The front passenger seat frame may contact and damage the wires of the passenger presence sensor module.
Accordingly, the Automatic Occupant Sensing (AOS) system may fail to suppress the front passenger air bag if a child seat is in the front passenger seat.
In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged.
In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged.
In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged.
The affected vehicles may have left the factory with the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) set to "manufacturing mode.
In the event of an accident, the center storage console may not stay latched.
Due to a poor electrical ground connection to the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM), the affected vehicles may have a loss of power steering assist during start up or while driving.
Improperly torqued fasteners may cause the steering intermediate shaft and the steering gear and/or the lower control arm and the lower ball joint to separate.
In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever.
Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles.
This safety recall does not include non-police Chevrolet Impala vehicles.
And 2 more recalls on NHTSA.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- AQ17002Audit query· opened Mar 2017, closed May 2020· Steering· model years 2014
BiCal Chevrolet/Loss of Power Steering
- PE14010Preliminary evaluation· opened Apr 2014, closed Nov 2014· Automatic emergency braking and collision warning· model years 2014
Active Safety System Malfunction
Led to recall 14V541000.
NHTSA's own page for the 2020 Chevrolet Impala has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Chevrolet Impala reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2010 on: 2,742 owner complaints, 20 warranty extensions and 17 service campaigns Chevrolet filed, and 17 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2014 (636), 2011 (505), 2010 (442). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Impala?
Across every model year since 2010, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name electrical system (26%), stability control (18%), engine (14%). Chevrolet has filed 20 warranty extensions covering the Impala, listed on this page.
Which Impala model years have the most complaints?
2014 (636), 2011 (505), 2010 (442). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Impala with each other rather than with other models.
Has Chevrolet extended the warranty on the Impala?
Yes: body and structure (model years 2017–2020); engine and cooling (model years 2020); engine and cooling (model years 2020), and 17 more. A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a Impala?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 17 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.