2012 Chevrolet Impala Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 8%of 258 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 42,447miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Chevrolet Impala, 8% of the 258 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 42,447 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was hit by another car at intersection near rear door. My car was considered a total (not worth fixing), and I was taken to er hospital by ambulance due to sever neck and shoulder injuries. Released with fracture of neck and fractured right ribs. Not one air bag in front or back released in collision. I knew something was wrong!”
NHTSA complaint #10864986, filed 2016-05, 50,000 miles“While driving on a straight street past an intersection, a car ran the stop sign and hit the right side corner of the passenger door and damaged the right rear wheel causing a 180 spin and sliding into the curb damaging the left wheels and steering doing $10,000 damage. The problem I am writing about is that the airbags did not activate. I have to wonder why and are they going to activate if I have another crash.”
NHTSA complaint #10522054, filed 2013-06, 16,500 miles“May 2013 I purchased a 2012 Impala fully certified by the chevy dealer. On 9/25/2013 I was stopped on I-80 due to traffic. A woman traveling 53 MPH slammed into me causing me to take out the next 3 cars. I filed an investigation with GM to review the vehicle information (which is how I know how fast she was traveling). The airbag light was on, but no airbags deployed, and the seat belt had restrained me only after I violently bounced off of the steering wheel. …”
NHTSA complaint #10617649, filed 2014-07, 41,039 miles“While driving this morning my passenger seat belt warning light was flashing, I was the only one in the car. I had a 20 oz aquafina bottle of water sitting in the passenger seat. The passenger airbag light was illuminated on and car was wanting the seat belt buckled. I have two small children and the thought of the airbag deploying because the seat sensor for the airbag thought there was a person sitting there is very disturbing.”
NHTSA complaint #10460656, filed 2012-06, 2,200 miles“I own a chevy Impala that had an ignition switch recall and an airbag recall. The 2012 Chevrolet Impala that I own caused me to have a severe accident that caused me to suffer major injuries because the airbags didn't deploy. Nhtsa campaign id: 14v355000 recall date: 2014-06-23 summary this defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. …”
NHTSA complaint #11033957, filed 2017-10, 70,000 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 13% |
| 2019 | 5 | 18% |
| 2018 | 6 | 10% |
| 2017 | 17 | 15% |
| 2016 | 16 | 14% |
| 2015 | 29 | 10% |
| 2014 | 44 | 7% |
| 2013 | 19 | 7% |
| 2012 | 20 | 8% |
| 2011 | 37 | 7% |
| 2010 | 103 | 23% |
| 2009 | 232 | 28% |
| 2008 | 50 | 6% |
| 2007 | 49 | 8% |
| 2006 | 47 | 9% |
| 2005 | 33 | 5% |
| 2004 | 31 | 3% |
| 2003 | 39 | 6% |
| 2002 | 47 | 6% |
| 2001 | 47 | 6% |
| 2000 | 80 | 10% |
| 1996 | 1 | 1% |
| 1995 | 1 | 2% |
| 1994 | 1 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2012 Chevrolet Impala
58 complaintsElectronic stability control
54 complaintsSteering
49 complaintsEngine
40 complaintsBrakes
33 complaintsOther or unknown
27 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
27 complaintsSuspension
22 complaintsWheels
19 complaintsFuel system
18 complaintsVehicle speed control
15 complaintsSeat belts
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Chevrolet Impala
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology