2007 Chevrolet Impala Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Chevrolet Impala most often write about the rear of the car feeling loose or unstable — swaying, fish-tailing, and rapid inner-edge wear on the rear tires — which many say shows up well before 40,000 miles. Other recurring themes are a steering-column clunk, warped front rotors that make the wheel shake under braking, and intermittent 'reduced engine power' or stalling events that owners link to the throttle system.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Rear end sway and premature inner rear tire wear

   • 76 complaints (12%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (63 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2016

   Complaints describe the rear of the car swaying or fish-tailing, especially on wet, snowy or bumpy roads, along with the inner edge of the rear tires wearing down to the cords early. Owners say alignments were done once or repeatedly and new tires fitted, and several report being told the fix was covered only for police-package cars. Some mention an aftermarket camber kit or rear suspension parts as the remedy they paid for themselves. Mostly reported between roughly 6,000 and 40,000 miles, often noticed on highways or in wet and snowy weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Look at the inner edge of both rear tires for uneven wear, and ask whether any rear alignment or camber correction was done. A test drive on a rough road can reveal rear-end wander.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle performed poorly over 35 MPH on highway with the rear of the vehicle swaying excessively. The tires on the back of the vehicle wore prematurely. I had a dealership look at the vehicle and there was no damage to vehicle suspension. I had to have an alignment and new tires put on the vehicle. I complained to general motors but they were only reimbursing police vehicles for premature rear tire wear.”

   NHTSA complaint #10410601, filed 2011-07, 27,000 miles

   “Vehicle performed poorly over 35 MPH on highway with the rear of the vehicle swaying excessively during snowy or wet conditions. The tires on the back of the vehicle wore prematurely on the inside . I purchased four sets of new back tires in a span of 4 months and had to have two alignments done at separate times because the first didn't initially fix the problem. It came to a point that I was frightened to drive my vehicle during snowy or wet conditions in fear of causing a major accident. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10410710, filed 2011-07, 75,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   'Reduced engine power' message, stalling and limp mode

   • 125 complaints (20%)
   • median 91,860 mi at 7.9 yrs old (101 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2026

   Owners describe the instrument panel showing 'Reduced Engine Power', 'Service Traction Control' or 'Starting Disabled Service Throttle' while driving, with the car slowing sharply or shutting off and then restarting normally after a short wait. Complaints mention throttle body or accelerator pedal replacement, computer reflashes and fuel pump work, with the symptom returning afterward. Some say no cause could be found because the fault is intermittent. Reported from about 69,000 to 200,000 miles, often at highway speed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body or accelerator pedal has been replaced and whether any calibration updates were applied. Note any stored messages or warning lights during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving my vehicle, the traction control light and check engine light came on...then a message stating engine power reduced came on. My car dropped the speed from 60 to 20, on the highway. It happened again a month later and I was told that my accelerator pedal needed to be replaced. This happened again in march of this year, and I was told my fuel pump had gone out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10749566, filed 2015-08, 140,000 miles

   “Had issues with my 2007 Impala 3.9l stalling and reducing power on my wife, and at times almost leaving her in or on the road. I have replaced the throttle body, throttle peddle ( twice ) and had the car flashed at the local GM dealer. Now the car not only reads reduced engine power it read starting disabled service throttle and died while she was driving down a busy highway during rush hour.. Causing her to almost be involved in a bad wreck. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11348559, filed 2020-08, 120,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering column clunk, noise and rack replacement

   • 93 complaints (15%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.3 yrs old (87 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2020

   Owners report a clanking or knocking noise felt and heard in the steering column, sometimes with steering effort that changes or a grinding feel. Complaints describe shaft, rack or tie rod replacement at the dealer, with some noting partial cost assistance and others having the same part replaced more than once. A few describe the rear of the car veering or a tie rod breaking while driving. Commonly reported from just over 10,000 up to about 100,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Turn the wheel while parked and listen for clunks, and ask for service records on steering shaft or rack repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I hit a 6 inch curb at approximately 30 MPH. When the car hit the curb the steering knuckle broke causing the left front tire assembly to come off the car rendering me in no control of the vehicle. I personally feel this broke too easy and should have been able to withstand the impact of a 6 inch curb. If the knuckle would not have broke I would have been able to stay in control of the car and not have caused as much damage that did occur from the tire coming off the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10296059, filed 2009-12, 72,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Impala. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the contact heard a clanking noise in the steering column similar to NHTSA campaign id number: 09e005000 (steering). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they replaced the steering shaft. The manufacturer covered half the cost. The current mileage was 35,000 and the failure mileage was 32,000. Updated 06/16/11”

   NHTSA complaint #10398909, filed 2011-05, 32,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Ignition key stuck, shifter won't leave Park

   • 113 complaints (18%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (84 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2026

   Owners describe the key not coming out of the ignition or the shifter refusing to move out of Park, with the auto-theft or security indicator lit. Complaints mention a broken wire at the brake-transmission shift interlock solenoid or a failed actuator, and shifter or harness replacement as the repair. Some report the key sticking again after the ignition recall work was performed. Reported from about 3,500 to 144,000 miles, with several cases in the 45,000-75,000 mile range.

   Recall 14V3550001 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the engine running, cycle the shifter through gears and confirm the key releases freely; ask whether the ignition recall (14V355000) was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On saturday, november 15, 2014, I took my 2007 Chevrolet Impala ls to hailey's Chevrolet for the electrical ignition / key recall. After my keys were fixed and the two 6mm rings were attached to them, I was driving 25 MPH down the highway, slowed down for another vehicle that was turning; then the service airbag and service tire pressure monitoring system lights illuminated, flickered three times, and have remained on since then. I didn't have any problems with my vehicle; until the recall repairs listed above were performed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10659885, filed 2014-11, 143,000 miles

   “While driving down the street my car began to slow down and the steering wheel started to tighten up. I looked down and noticed that the completely shut off. The ignition key was turned on, the radio still playing, all lights on - but the car was not on. The car was shut down. I then attempted to start the car up and it would not start. Giving me a clicking noise with no alerts on in the car. After a few tries, the car started back up and I parked it back at home. The second time, the car had been sitting for about 45 mins and would not start. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10535842, filed 2013-08, 74,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Front brake vibration and rotor warping

   • 30 complaints (5%)
   • median 15,000 mi at 1.5 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2018

   Complaints describe the front end shaking or pulsing when braking, most noticeably on long downhill grades or when stopping from highway speed, and dealers identifying warped or worn front rotors needing resurfacing or replacement. Several owners say the problem came back after rotors were turned and that they were advised to downshift instead. Most often reported between roughly 10,000 and 35,000 miles.

   What to check: Brake firmly from highway speed on the test drive and feel for steering-wheel shake; ask whether the front rotors have been replaced or resurfaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving with 4 in the car at around 65 MPH went to stop and the wheel started to shake from the rotors warping. Went to the dealer and told them and they told me to shift too 2nd gear. Nowhere in the book have I seen this and is a bad answer if this is the case. This happened a few years ago and still happens on a 4 wheel disk brake vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10606574, filed 2014-06, 12,000 miles

   “Front rotors are warped at 22,000 miles on the car. It appears that the rotors are either undersize, made of poor steel, and or imported from china. There is no reason for the rotors to have failed and be resurfaced. As a mechanic this condition caused a significant safety issue under highway speed braking to a stop. My wife thought it was the road but instead it was a rotor shimmy. I thought the car was going to shimmy apart and brake steering tie rod links at the time it happened. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10248856, filed 2008-11, 23,000 miles

Buying note. Check the rear tires for inner-edge wear and drive the car on a rough road to judge rear stability, since that is the most common complaint. Also confirm the ignition recall was performed and ask for records of any brake rotor, throttle body or steering repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.