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1996 Chevrolet Impala

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 9 of 88 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Visibility complaints

13 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2000
Visibility

CLOGGED HEATER CORE DUE TO DEX-COOL COOLANT IN CAR. TOOK TWO TRIPS TO DEALER TO GET FIXED, AND THEN ONLY AFTER GIVING THEM THE TSB. DEX-COOL COOLANT IS KNOWN FOR CAUSING HEATER CORE BLOCKAGE, BUT GM REFUSES TO ADMIT IT, OR OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE. AS THE WARRANTY ON MANY OF THESE VEHICLES IS WEARING OUT, COST OF THIS CONSTANT FL…

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CLOGGED HEATER CORE DUE TO DEX-COOL COOLANT IN CAR. TOOK TWO TRIPS TO DEALER TO GET FIXED, AND THEN ONLY AFTER GIVING THEM THE TSB. DEX-COOL COOLANT IS KNOWN FOR CAUSING HEATER CORE BLOCKAGE, BUT GM REFUSES TO ADMIT IT, OR OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE. AS THE WARRANTY ON MANY OF THESE VEHICLES IS WEARING OUT, COST OF THIS CONSTANT FLUSHING OF THE CORE IS PUT ON THE OWNER. GM ADVERTISES THE DEXCOOL COOLANT DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED, OR SERVICED FOR 100,000 MILES. THIS PROMISE IS OBVIOUSLY NOT BEING LIVED UP TO, AND THE OWNERS OF THE CARS ARE THE ONES PAYING THE PRICE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #720174

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2000
Visibility

HEATER DOES NOT COME ON DUE TO HEATER CORE BEING CLOGGED. DEALER HAS FLUSHED THE SYSTEM, AND HEATER STILL DID NOT FUNCTION. WATER PUMP REPLACED. APPEARS THAT A CHEMICAL REACTION WITH DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE, OEM STOPLEAK FACTORY TABLETS, AND ALUMINUM AND STEEL COMPONENTS INCLUDING FLOW RESTRICTOR CAUSE CONGEALING OF COOLANT WHICH…

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HEATER DOES NOT COME ON DUE TO HEATER CORE BEING CLOGGED. DEALER HAS FLUSHED THE SYSTEM, AND HEATER STILL DID NOT FUNCTION. WATER PUMP REPLACED. APPEARS THAT A CHEMICAL REACTION WITH DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE, OEM STOPLEAK FACTORY TABLETS, AND ALUMINUM AND STEEL COMPONENTS INCLUDING FLOW RESTRICTOR CAUSE CONGEALING OF COOLANT WHICH CAUSES ACCELERATED LOSS OF HEAT UNTIL COMPLETE BLOCKAGE OF THE HEATER CORE OCCURS. DEX-COOL WAS NOT USED IN PREVIOUS GM MODELS, AND NO HEAT PROBLEMS EXISTED. CONSUMER BELIEVES A RECALL IS IN ORDER. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #858557

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 1999
Visibility

HEATER CORE LEAKING AT 37,000 MILES COSTLY REPAIR GOT SOME ASSISTANCE AFTER I CALLED 800 NUMBER THEN WATER PUMP LEAKING AT 52,000 MILES COSTLY REPAIR AGAIN NO ASSISTANCE THEN ODOMETER LIGHT FAILED AND HAD TO REPLACE COMPLETE SPEEDOMETER HEAD AGAIN VERY COSTLY I HAVE THE POPPING SOUND IN FRONT SUSPENSION HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTH…

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HEATER CORE LEAKING AT 37,000 MILES COSTLY REPAIR GOT SOME ASSISTANCE AFTER I CALLED 800 NUMBER THEN WATER PUMP LEAKING AT 52,000 MILES COSTLY REPAIR AGAIN NO ASSISTANCE THEN ODOMETER LIGHT FAILED AND HAD TO REPLACE COMPLETE SPEEDOMETER HEAD AGAIN VERY COSTLY I HAVE THE POPPING SOUND IN FRONT SUSPENSION HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM MANUFACTURER AS TO A RECALL IS THERE ONE

NHTSA ODI #704385

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA99003 · Coolant Fires

Opened Jan 13, 1999 · Closed Aug 17, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System

There is no summary currently available

PE96001 · Rear Wheel Separation

Opened Jan 4, 1996 · Closed May 31, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM GM INDICATES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF WHEEL SEPARATIONS IS WARRANTED.IN GM'S RESPONSE DATED APRIL 26, 1996, GM STATED THAT:GM HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHIH MAY CONTRIBUTE TO WHEEL SEPARATION.INVESTIGATION AS TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF WHEEL SEPARATIONS IS CONTINUING.THE RESULTS OF THESE FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO ASSESS THE PROBABILITY OF ANY FUTURE INCIDENTS . . .