Chevrolet Impala Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 10,408 consumer complaints across the 24 model years of the Chevrolet Impala (1994–2020) that have at least 5 complaints. 2004 has the most, with 1,073. Across all years, the part named most often is electrical system (3,434 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Impala model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 15 | 54,000 | 0 | 555 | — | Rising |
| 2019 | 28 | 36,338 | 1 | 632 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2018 | 59 | 40,400 | 1 | 882 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2017 | 117 | 45,500 | 0 | 1,110 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2016 | 111 | 55,461 | 0 | 1,294 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2015 | 300 | 59,523 | 3 | 1,659 | 46 · Typical | Falling |
| 2014 | 637 | 60,000 | 12 | 2,030 | 93 · More | Falling |
| 2013 | 272 | 54,000 | 1 | 1,539 | 29 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2012 | 258 | 48,500 | 3 | 1,472 | 59 · Typical | Falling |
| 2011 | 505 | 60,400 | 2 | 1,238 | 76 · More | Falling |
| 2010 | 442 | 72,558 | 4 | 1,187 | 54 · Typical | Falling |
| 2009 | 824 | 75,468 | 5 | 1,064 | 98 · More | Falling |
| 2008 | 810 | 70,000 | 2 | 1,003 | 72 · More | Falling |
| 2007 | 627 | 60,000 | 2 | 932 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 524 | 74,900 | 1 | 803 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 609 | 77,000 | 1 | 536 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 1,073 | 70,000 | 4 | 431 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 695 | 82,000 | 5 | 382 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 795 | 78,000 | 4 | 336 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 742 | 80,000 | 7 | 305 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 818 | 86,000 | 7 | 248 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1996 | 88 | 40,000 | 0 | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 44 | 135,500 | 0 | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 15 | 45,000 | 0 | 1 | — | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Electrical system3,434 33%
- Engine1,262 12%
- Steering1,195 12%
- Air bags955 9.3%
- Brakes933 9.1%
- Transmission and drivetrain926 9.0%
- Other or unknown790 7.7%
- Electronic stability control765 7.5%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2015: “The power steering on my vehicle went out while driving on the epxressway with no advance warning. I received an alert on my dash to service power sterring and that was all. Per the dealership this was caused by a catastrophic internal failure of the steering system when a gear became bound up by a broken suspension line and could have caused a serious accident”
NHTSA complaint #11405735, filed 2021-03, 72,000 miles2000: “I turned the key in my car to start it, there was a very loud pop and the engine started smoking. The engine then caught fire and is totally destroyed. This car had been used 2 days prior with no issues, no safety lights on, no issues driving and it started fine that last time it was driven. The fire department has sent me a report on the cause.”
NHTSA complaint #11299084, filed 2020-01, 188,000 miles2014: “While I was driving on the highway, my vehicle gave me a 'service side detection system' warning. A few more miles down the road, I smelled an electrical smell almost like something was burning. Luckily, I made it home and am taking it to the dealership tomorrow. It was very scary and I'm thankful my 1 year old son wasn't in the car with me at that time.”
NHTSA complaint #11302546, filed 2020-01, 84,500 milesOther Chevrolet models
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8,199 complaintsChevrolet Suburban
8,170 complaintsChevrolet Cobalt
7,672 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology