Chevrolet Impala Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Chevrolet Impala options? We analyzed 10 model years (2011–2020) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Chevrolet Impala has 2,289 owner complaints and 23 safety recalls across model years 2011–2020. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2020 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Chevrolet
- Model
- Impala
- Model years analyzed
- 2011–2020 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 2,289
- Safety recall campaigns
- 23
- Crash-related complaints
- 112
- Fire-related complaints
- 33
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2017 (116 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2020 (15 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Chevrolet Impala: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe CHEVROLET IMPALA has 2,289 NHTSA complaints and 23 recalls on record. 112 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 2,289 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 23 federal recall campaigns
- 112 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
23 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
PARKING BRAKE
PARKING BRAKE
PARKING BRAKE
PARKING BRAKE
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
STEERING
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
AIR BAGS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
AIR BAGS
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2011–2020. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 2,289 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
2,289 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
On XXX | purchased a 2020 Chevrolet Impala, VIN [XXX], from NYS Office of General Services via GovDeals Inventory #200075. OGS Bill of Sale #XXX stated 59,145 miles and Clean Title. Carfax shows: 1. 90,803 miles on 12/16/2024 while in OGS possession 2. Total Loss declared 5/21/2025 3. Accident with rear damage 5/21/2025 not disclosed Actual odometer reading on 7/3/2026: 99,241 miles. OGS rolled back 31,658 miles and sold Total Loss vehicle as Clean Title. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The component is the Evaporative Emission Control System (EVAP) Vapor Canister Purge Valve.The internal diaphragm or solenoid of the factory-installed purge valve has worn out prematurely or became contaminated, locking it permanently into a stuck-open position.The Manifestation or (Symptoms): The stuck-open valve continuously drafts raw fuel vapor and unmetered air into the engine intake manifold. This causes an improper air-fuel mixture, resulting in:Stumbling / Failure to Start Immediately After Refueling (the engine is flooded by gas tank vapors forced in during fill-up).Rough Idling (due to a continuous vacuum leak).Illuminated Check Engine Light tracking Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P0496 (High Purge Flow) or P0442. Yes, it is available for inspection. The vehicle stumbles, hesitates, and fails to restart at busy gas pumps and intersections which places drivers, passengers, and other motorists at an immediate risk of a collision. Yes, the problem has been validated by an professional auto mechanic shop. No, it has not been inspected by anyone else other than the mechanicshop to diagnose the problem, issue. The check engine light came on as I cranked the vehicle up and it started idling. No known symptoms until check engine came on prior to failing. The check engine light first appeared in May 2026 as well as the codes mentioned above.
Seatbelt warning and blinkers have no sound warnings and driver side blind spot warning are not working
2020 Chevrolet Impala Premier purchased July, 2015, mileage: + or - 12 miles I started having hard steering and made several trips to the dealer while under warranty and the dealer could not gen an OBD reading and no on dash reading. Right after the warranty was up and at 5,322 miles they were able to get an OBD reading. Information from the dealer invoice: A multi-point inspection DI1 Multi-Point inspection 716106 CPC B C/S veh is hard to steer at times- acts like it has no electric steering ADV cause: DTC O800 power steering control module low voltage, found while battery sitting over TP test dead cell and low cca 185/535cca EGO1 drivability test 716106 CPC $69.95 1 88866309 $190.00 New Battery Final charge: $317.44 No hard steering for a while, and now at 7,500 + or - miles hard steering is back and becoming harder to steer at times, especially if breaking. I have been to the dealer more often and had wait for the a while to get checked in and by the time he gets to me and someone to drive my car the steering is back to normal again. They told me that without a dash or ODB reading there is nothing they can do. 5 years same problem and never know when it will happen.
I Took My Car To Castle Villa Park On July 8 2025 And Explained To Tony That Check My Car In That It Sound As If It Was A Hub Bearing My Car Was Dropped Off At 7:00 AM Until Around 1:00PM I Was Told I Need A Tire To See If It Was My Hub Bearing Which Didn’t Make Sense To Me So I Ask For A Supervisor I Was Then Inform That They Could Tell If They Switch My Tires Later On I Was Told It Was A Tire Came Took My Car To Firestone This Sat 07/19/2025 I Was Told I Didn’t Need Tires It Is In Fact Both Of My Hub Bearing So I Paid 100.00 Diagnostic Fee To Castle And Risking My Life Driving My Car When They Knew In Fact That It Was My Hub Bearings My Car Is Under Warranty If It Wasn’t They Would Have Fixed It And Charge Me I Am Taking My Car Back Monday I Have Made Several Complaints On This Dealer And Nothing Is Happening This Is Unfair For Consumer To Take Advantage Of Customers
I purchased this vehicle in a CHEVY DEALERSHIP in palatine, IL. [XXX]. 50k miles a chevy impala around 38k total with taxes and all. A month later I had to pay 200 for a diagnostic at the dealership to check an issue with the steering. They said nothing was wrong with it and it was just the floor mat making contact in the floor. When I returned home, I had the same issue occur AGAIN. I retook it and they wanted another 200 dollars. I complained to the seller of this vehicle, and he agreed to waive these 200 dollars. When it was rechecked, it was found out that it actually had to replace the wheel barring's on the front. It was around a 2,000$ job I have the receipts, and I actually didn't pay for anything at the time due to warranty. I also have been up to date with transmission oil, engine oil, fuel injectors, etc to keep the car running smooth. As of 01/2025 I started having issues with the transmission, the gears were very jumpy and very unsafe to drive. I called the dealership and i was told the warranty had a expire a month before. I had to call the bank to find out this telephone number since the dealership never responded back. the number I was looking for was the warranty which my contract that was given from the dealership coincidence didnt have it. I had to reach to the bank and ask for a new contract. I called them and was denied due to the time that has past and was out of luck. I took it to a mechanic for a transmission rebuilt and cost me 3,000 which im still paying off right now. It was repair around [XXX]. Now I have an issue with the power steering. I also have a check engine light now. I am in the process of taking it to the transmission job to look at it but most likely wont get fix. I now have to invest around another 1,500+ for these new jobs. I dont have that much now and its costing me a lot of headaches pain money and time and many more things. GM wont do anything about it and I still have to pay550 a month for this vehicle. IDK.HELP INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Read 14 more owner reports
The contact's friend owned a 2020 Chevrolet Impala E. The contact stated that while her friend was driving at 25 MPH and approaching a curve, he inadvertently lost control of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle left the roadway, rolled, and came to a complete stop with all four wheels facing upwards after colliding with a tree. Though the vehicle rolled on its back no air bags were deployed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard but had yet to be deemed a total loss by the driver's insurance provider. A police report was filed and injuries were reported. The driver refused medical attention from EMS at the time of the accident but stated that he would seek medical evaluation at a later date as he had hit his head on the driver's side door window as a result of the accident, resulting in visible injuries. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.
The back window is leaking and water is getting all on my trunk and ruining my items. Ford did not do a good job of sealing the windows.
I was driving down the highway in anchorage ak I heard a loud bang like a gunshot , when the vehicle was inspected I was told basically Evap, fuel system , fans , electrical , Cadillac converter exploded was the loud bang ! Serious issues have caused the vehicle to be inoperable !
As I was driving my car in the interstate the car started making noises and began to shake and then it stop driving normally. I did my best to move to the curve and then called a towing truck to get the car. The car transmission stopped working properly. I conducted an analysis on this car in the internet and it has been written that the transmission has a manufacturer's defect. Also, the car dealer did a diagnostics test on the vehicle and proved that the transmission is not responding. The car dealer said the repair is not covered. This car is less than 5 years old. I was driving with an unsafe car. Data indicates that the transmission defects with a transmission fluid leak. I was in a dangerous situation while driving the car in the interstate. There were no warning signs and I believe this can be a dangerous situation for other consumers who may have the same car. The dealer and manufacturer does not want to cover the repair of the transmission since they said there has not been any recalls with the car. I want to put this complaint because I was at risk for something I had no control of. I contacted the corporate office and they told me to take it back to get a second diagnostic. In my opinion I have already done the diagnostic and they will not accept it unless is recent. The diagnostic was done in March 2024. Dealer wants me to pay for the repair. The transmission fluid leak is a problem that appears to be from the manufacturer because a transmission's life should last longer. The car has been undriveable.
I was in a car accident on June 20, 2023. I was stopped in traffic and was hit in the rear and pushed into the vehicle in front of me. The air bags detonated but did not deploy. The steering wheel and both front seat side air bags had some coming but the airbag did not deploy.
While driving the RPMs decrease while the speeding is increasing. At time you can feel the car slow down when pushing the accelerator and then it slightly jumps forward. The car can be going 75mphs and the RPMs will be between 0 and 1. This also causes it to lag.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that upon parking the vehicle, the "Power Steering - Drive with Care" message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact then attempted to reverse out of the driveway and excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle. The contact restarted that vehicle two hours later and the vehicle resumed normal operation. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.
The air conditioner tube was off inside the vehicle and caused massive leaking in the carpets. Causing mold to grow excessively under the floor mats, in the carpets, under the seats, etc. Which as a result led to electrical issues. It’s being looked into by a senior member at GM for months now, nothing is being done. Radley Chevy in Fredricksburg Virginia hasn’t done anything for us either. My family is now having respiratory issues due to the mold issue.
The contact rented a 2020 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the headlamps failed to produce adequate lighting while driving. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,433. The VIN was not available.
No one sits in the passenger seat 99% of the time. The passenger airbag warning light is illuminated, and I am uncertain about its proper deployment in a critical situation. The issue remains unverified by a dealership or any other individual. The component has not been subject to any inspection. I do not recall the specific warning message displayed on the dashboard.
2 of 3 Chevy Impala ac compressor has gone out. Auto part supplier confirmed I need the Design 2 compressor connector tab on the right. So far no supplier has it available. Compressor needs to be recalled
Airbags turn off when passenger is seated due to an issue with the sensor in the seat that rubs against the seat frame.
Transmission torque converter shuddered and did not stop after service. Had to replace entire transmission for $5870.68 repair bill.
Jerking while picking up speed, key fob keep saying not detected, Radio feature work but stuck to basic screen I guess electrical problem Brakes is very rough not sure
Showing 20 of 2,289 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Chevrolet Impala
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Chevrolet Impala, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Chevrolet Impala has 2,289 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Chevrolet Impala has 23 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 112 of the Chevrolet Impala's 2,289 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Chevrolet Impala vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Chevrolet Impala vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Chevrolet Impala has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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How does the Chevrolet Impala stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
By state
Check a Chevrolet Impala by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Chevrolet Impala.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Chevrolet Impala reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Chevrolet Impala reliable?
Poor. The Chevrolet Impala has 2,289 NHTSA owner complaints and 23 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Chevrolet Impala years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2017 (116 complaints), 2018 (59 complaints), 2019 (28 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Chevrolet Impala problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (588 complaints); ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) (430 complaints); STEERING (338 complaints).
Does the Chevrolet Impala have recalls?
Yes — 23 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Chevrolet Impala. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.