VinSpectorAI Logo
HomeHow It Works Pricing Vehicle StatsBlog Garage VIN Search Inspection Guide
LoginDemo
Vehicle Stats/Chevrolet/Impala Limited Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Aug 2026Methodology

Chevrolet Impala Limited Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls β€” NHTSA data

Poor reliability signalOur verdict from 1,693 complaints and 0 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used Chevrolet Impala Limited options? We analyzed 3 model years (2014–2016) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

1,693
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
0
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
48
Crash-Related
crash complaints
20
Fire-Related
fire complaints
25
Injuries Reported
across all years
3
Years Analyzed
2014–2016

Free VIN check

Found a Chevrolet Impala Limited? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns β€” 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
NMVTIS official data Instant results No signup for the preview
Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Chevrolet Impala Limited has 1,693 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 2014–2016. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2016 drew the most complaints; 2015 drew the fewest.

Chevrolet Impala Limited β€” key reliability facts
Make
Chevrolet
Model
Impala Limited
Model years analyzed
2014–2016 (3 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
1,693
Safety recall campaigns
0
Crash-related complaints
48
Fire-related complaints
20
Worst model year (by complaints)
2016 (786 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2015 (288 complaints)
Top reported issue area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Β· Data last refreshed Aug 24, 2026

By model year

Chevrolet Impala Limited: 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 β€” lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
2016786 complaints2014619 complaints2015288 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
2015288 complaints2014619 complaints2016786 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β€” lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2016 Chevrolet Impala Limited? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year β€” averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free β†’

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP 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.

20162016 Chevrolet Impala Limited 4 DR FWD
Overall Safety
4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover Risk
4/5
20152015 Chevrolet Impala Limited 4 DR FWD
Overall Safety
4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover Risk
4/5
20142014 Chevrolet Impala Limited 4 DR FWD
Overall Safety
4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover Risk
4/5
How to read NCAP stars
5 stars β€” Excellent
4 stars β€” Good
3 stars β€” Average
2 stars β€” Below average
1 star β€” Poor

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the complaint data suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The CHEVROLET IMPALA LIMITED has 1,693 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. 48 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 1,693 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 0 federal recall campaigns
  • 48 crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • 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
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume β€” popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2014
619
2015
288
2016
786

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

0 recalls found

Safety 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.

No active recalls found in database

No NHTSA recalls were found in our database for this model. Always verify open recalls using your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2014–2016. 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 1,693 NHTSA complaints β€” these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM516 complaints
02
ENGINE355 complaints
03
UNKNOWN OR OTHER296 complaints
04
STEERING217 complaints
05
POWER TRAIN213 complaints
06
SERVICE BRAKES200 complaints
07
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)198 complaints
08
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL184 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

1,693 total

These 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.

SEAT BELTS,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEJul 2025

I am leasing the car out. I’ve been leasing it out for the last three months since March I went delinquent on one of my payments because I have my mechanic look at it and type my VIN number in and they told me that I was recall he couldn’t tell me why I was recall Two days ago, which was Saturday, June 28. The lender called me and told me that the car was recalled. I tried to call him back to discuss what can be done. I have the payment, no response and I don’t have my car and my belongings are in it.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERApr 2025

Transmission control module 158,320 miles

POWER TRAINApr 2025

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the transmission was slipping and unexpectedly downshifted to a lower gear. The contact stated that the vehicle violently shuddered. The contact stated that the check engine and stability control warning lights were illuminated. The contact stopped the vehicle due to the shaking and shuddering and had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the Transmission Control Module and a wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred two more times. The contact had taken the vehicle to the same dealer, and the TCM was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMMar 2025

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while her mother was starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal plastic burning odor and smoke entering the vehicle through the air vents on the center console. The contact stated that a neighbor assisted and became aware that the sun visor vanity mirror on the driver's side was melted off the visor. There was no fire. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,733.

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATSFeb 2025

passenger front seat presence sensor says someone is sitting in the seat even when empty. also seat belt warning light and audible alert is affected. I occasionally have four small children In the vehicle which is concerning because the airbag could go off when a child is sitting in the front seat.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTIONDec 2024

GM has a know issue with the side detection system and refuses to do anything about it even after there service bulletin expired. When this fail it can cause other issues with the dashboard system failure and more. In this case the system would never shutdown draining the battery.

Read 14 more owner reports
PARKING BRAKENov 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, upon starting the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taking to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that unknown sensors needed to be reprogrammed and the codes were cleared. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle the warning lights illuminated again, and the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was not taken back to the independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic tests or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V541000 (PARKING BRAKE); and the contact related the failure to the recall. The failure mileage was 162,000.

POWER TRAINAug 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle downshifted and shuddered abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the torque converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJul 2024

Complete loss of power assist steering resulting in difficulty in steering the vehicle at any speed. DIC messages indicate: loss of power steering, drive with caution, service traction control, and service ABS. ABS and traction control warning lights remain on and illuminated while driving. These indicators occur each time the vehicle is restarted. This problem originally started about two and a half months ago, and the power steering loss, for a while, was intermittent until recently. The vehicle has not been inspected been inspected by mechanics to date. I have researched hundreds of Impalas online with the same problem with a majority of them remaining unresolved and no manufacturer recall being issued. The vehicle mileage is currently 31, 104 miles and is not driven often because of the problem and the fact that I own two other vehicles.

ENGINEMay 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while the vehicle was started, there was a loud clanking sound coming from the engine. Additionally, there was an abnormal gasoline odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was inspected by the contact who became aware of a gasoline leak coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the pressure pump needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with catalytic converter failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERApr 2024

Evaporator core is leaking r134a freon i called gm they theres nothing they can do there is a recall on tge 2016 thru 2018 for the same .you can smell the freon inside the car a recharge ladt only 15 minutes i was told its about $2000.00 to fix it gm knew about the problem but only recalled 2016 to 2018

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGSMar 2024

My service air bag light comes on and passenger airbag remains off while sitting in seat.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTUREFeb 2024

The blind spot warning system stopped working, and yes it is available for inspection upon request. I have heard this leads to further electrical problems and am worried this may compromise my safety if not dealt with. The problem has not been confirmed by a dealer. The component has not been inspected. There was a warning that popped up stating β€œservice side detection system” that appeared randomly on my drive home the other day. I had not hit anything or done anything to the car that might have caused this.

STEERINGFeb 2024

About two years ago I parked in front of a business in Sun City West Arizona. When i came out to leave, my steering wheel would hardly turn. I went home and when I came back with a neighbor, the steering wheel was working as it should. About three weeks ago, I was turning onto a major street in Sun City West, Arizona. I got a notice on the info screen that the power steering was disabled. I had to force the steering just to get around the corner. I drove to a nearby parking lot. The steering took a tremendous amount of effort to turn the steering wheel. I almost hit a semi truck trying to go around a corner. It was very dangerous. After parking and leaving it for a short while, steering returned to normal. On a major highway a serious accident could have happened. I read online that in 2015 General Motors recalled roughly 1.2 million model year 2015 trucks and SUVs globally for a problem with the electric power steering system. GM previously recalled nearly 700,000 model year 2014 pickups for the same problem. My car with the electric power steering problem is a 2015 Chevrolet Impala. I am afraid to drive the car now. It could happen anytime again and cause a wreck.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTUREFeb 2024

The Side Detection System failed. Both rare modules are shorted. The defective module drain out the battery, causing engine start failure. And the defective module may cause fire. I have one side of the modules repaired in three years ago. Now both sides are failed. I had two jump start in the recent month. Every time I start the engine, warning for service of Side Detection System shows up.

LANE DEPARTUREJan 2024

In April 2019, the side detection module was replaced under warranty, at 21,500 miles. The same β€˜issues’ are reappearing, where a warning is illuminated on the side mirror when no cars are present. If the dealer/ mfr replaced the original modules and wiring harness with the same items, this would only delay a reoccurrence. I called Chevy Cust. Sec for assistance, and they said their β€˜recall’ program expired in 2019. The car currently has just 47,000 miles and the the modules should not have failed a second time. There is obviously a design flaw, allowing water penetration, and Chevy did nothing to prevent it.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMOct 2023

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The sunroof sunshade is the specific component that has malfunctioned. It is readily visible and accessible for inspection upon request. A mechanic or technician can visually inspect the sunshade to assess the extent of the damage. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Excessive sunlight in the car causes discomfort or visibility issues to the driver and passengers. Glare from the sun impairs vision causing distraction, and compromising safety, especially during bright and sunny days making it challenging to see the road, traffic signals, and other vehicles clearly. Excessive heat makes the interior uncomfortable and hot. Sunburn. Reduced visibility and distraction can increase the likelihood of accidents affecting the safety of not only the occupants of the car with the torn sunshade but also other drivers and pedestrians on the road. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? .Yes 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? Routine inspections are not conducted by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives for issues like a torn sunshade. However, an insurance representative might assess the damage if I file a claim related to the sunshade issue. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Warning lamps or messages related to the sunroof sunshade are not present in most vehicles.

AIR BAGSSep 2023

Air bag

AIR BAGSSep 2023

Passenger Presence Module is deactivating Passenger airbags intermittently.

AIR BAGSAug 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the air bag warning light fluctuated on and off. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic, but the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The mechanic suggested that the failure might be with the passenger occupant detection system. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 131,002.

Showing 20 of 1,693 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact Chevrolet Impala Limited

These pages show model-year patterns across 3 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 β€” here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Chevrolet Impala Limited, in plain English.

01

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 β€” but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Chevrolet Impala Limited has 1,693 complaints on record across 3 model years.

02

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 Limited has 0 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 48 of the Chevrolet Impala Limited's 1,693 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β€” a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

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.

05

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 β€” simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Chevrolet Impala Limited vehicles on the road β€” not any specific car. Two Chevrolet Impala Limited 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.

07

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 β€” 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 Limited has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

Compare

Buyers also compare

How does the Chevrolet Impala Limited stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.

Toyota Camry reliability Ford F 150 reliability Chevrolet Silverado reliability
Chevrolet Impala Limited vs Toyota CamryChevrolet Impala Limited vs Ford F 150Chevrolet Impala Limited vs Chevrolet Silverado

Explore

Other Chevrolet models

Compare vs Honda Accord
Chevrolet SilveradoChevrolet EquinoxChevrolet MalibuChevrolet TraverseChevrolet ColoradoAll Chevrolet Models

By state

Check a Chevrolet Impala Limited 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 Limited.

VIN check in CaliforniaVIN check in TexasVIN check in FloridaVIN check in New YorkVIN check in PennsylvaniaVIN check in IllinoisVIN check in OhioVIN check in GeorgiaFree VIN check

Research more

Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

All Chevrolet reliability statsSafest car brandsBest value carsMost accident-prone carsVIN check by stateAll vehicle stats

Chevrolet Impala Limited reliability β€” frequently asked questions

Is the Chevrolet Impala Limited reliable?

Poor. The Chevrolet Impala Limited has 1,693 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 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 Limited years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2016 (786 complaints), 2014 (619 complaints), 2015 (288 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 Limited problems?

Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (516 complaints); ENGINE (355 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (296 complaints).

Does the Chevrolet Impala Limited have recalls?

No NHTSA recall campaigns are currently on record for the Chevrolet Impala Limited. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.

VinSpectorAI

The world's most advanced AI-powered vehicle history platform. Comprehensive insights, fraud detection, and smart analysis for any vehicle.

5M+
Reports
50+
Brands
AI
Powered
Check Any VIN Free
Product
  • Free VIN Check
  • Free Recall Check
  • VIN Search
  • VIN Search by State
  • Vehicle Reliability Stats
  • AI Analysis
  • Pricing
Company
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Affiliate Program
Support
  • FAQ
Legal
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy

Β© 2026 VinSpectorAI. All rights reserved.

contact@vinspectorai.com
Made with for car enthusiasts