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2005 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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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

499 reports with mileage · 110 unknown

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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 331 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

39 crash reports13 fire reports22 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

331 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2008
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY IMPALA.. FOR PAST TWO WEEKS MY SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN READING INCORRECTLY. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE DOING 70 MPH BUT IT FELT MORE LIKE 50. THE PROBLEM STOPPED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BUT YESTERDAY.. IT TOOK ANOTHER TURN. I WAS DOING 35MPH BUT THE READING SHOWED 0MPH. IT IS NOW POINTING IN THE UP AND DOWN POSITION A…

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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY IMPALA.. FOR PAST TWO WEEKS MY SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN READING INCORRECTLY. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE DOING 70 MPH BUT IT FELT MORE LIKE 50. THE PROBLEM STOPPED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BUT YESTERDAY.. IT TOOK ANOTHER TURN. I WAS DOING 35MPH BUT THE READING SHOWED 0MPH. IT IS NOW POINTING IN THE UP AND DOWN POSITION AND WILL NOT MOVE. I HAVE CHECKED OTHER FORUMS AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY MANY OTHER IMPALA OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A FACTORY DEFAULT. THERE IS A MAJOR POSSIBILITY FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENTS OCCURRING DUE TO THIS PROBLEM . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249743

85,000 miles · Nov 24, 2008
Electrical System

I OWN A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH APPROX. 86,000 MILES ON IT. MY SPEEDOMETER IS GOING HAYWIRE(NOT CONSISTENT AT ALL) AND I AM UNABLE TO CORRECTLY TELL MY SPEED. I KNOW THERE ARE QUITE A BIT OF OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS A BLOG ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DUE TO THE FACT THAT…

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I OWN A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH APPROX. 86,000 MILES ON IT. MY SPEEDOMETER IS GOING HAYWIRE(NOT CONSISTENT AT ALL) AND I AM UNABLE TO CORRECTLY TELL MY SPEED. I KNOW THERE ARE QUITE A BIT OF OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS A BLOG ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD SON AND MY WIFE WITH ME A LOT. GM SAID THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE FIXED AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN NOT AFFORD IT($500-$800). I JUST HOPE GM WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THIS ISSUE AT FREE OF CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249627

100,000 miles · Oct 29, 2008
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. SPORADICALLY, THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL BECOMES INOPERATIVE AND DISPLAYS INACCURATE READINGS. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE CONTACT CANNOT ACCURATELY MEASURE THE SPEED SHE IS DRIVING. THERE IS ALSO A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. SPORADICALLY, THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL BECOMES INOPERATIVE AND DISPLAYS INACCURATE READINGS. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE CONTACT CANNOT ACCURATELY MEASURE THE SPEED SHE IS DRIVING. THERE IS ALSO A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED OR REMEDIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ODI #10247163

81,579 miles · Oct 24, 2008
Electrical System

TEMPERATURE GAGE IS WORKING ONLY PART TIME, WILL INCREASE ABRUPTLY AND THEN DEGREE JUST AS FAST. LAST WEEK THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUED TO INCREASE PAST THE NUMBERS THEN DECREASED SLOWLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. I FILLED UP WITH GAS AND THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED WORKING AGAIN BUT THE TEMPERATURE GAGE FLOATED BACK AND FORTH. THIS WEEK T…

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TEMPERATURE GAGE IS WORKING ONLY PART TIME, WILL INCREASE ABRUPTLY AND THEN DEGREE JUST AS FAST. LAST WEEK THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUED TO INCREASE PAST THE NUMBERS THEN DECREASED SLOWLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. I FILLED UP WITH GAS AND THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED WORKING AGAIN BUT THE TEMPERATURE GAGE FLOATED BACK AND FORTH. THIS WEEK THE SPEEDOMETER IS ON 90 WHEN THE CAR IS OFF. FILLED UP WITH GAS AGAIN HOPING IT WOULD CORRECT THE SPEEDOMETER AGAIN. INSTEAD THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED TO THE N POSITION AT THE BOTTOM AND WILL MOVE TO 120 OCCASIONALLY. TOOK THE CAR TO REPAIR SHOP, HAD THE SENSOR CHECKED. SENSOR IS FINE. WAS TOLD MANY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND IS A DEFECT WITH THE CLUSTER THAT GM WILL NOT RECOGNIZE. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246648

102,025 miles · Oct 23, 2008
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER GETS STUCK YOU WILL BE ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 65 AND WHEN YOU GET OFF TO STOP IT WILL SAY THAT YOU ARE GOING 65 WHILE YOU ARE SITTING STILL OR IT WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL IT WILL SAY 0 WHILE DRIVING THIS IS A INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ISSUE AND WILL BE AROUND $500.00 TO FIX BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS BEFORE THIS ST…

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THE SPEEDOMETER GETS STUCK YOU WILL BE ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 65 AND WHEN YOU GET OFF TO STOP IT WILL SAY THAT YOU ARE GOING 65 WHILE YOU ARE SITTING STILL OR IT WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL IT WILL SAY 0 WHILE DRIVING THIS IS A INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ISSUE AND WILL BE AROUND $500.00 TO FIX BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS BEFORE THIS STARTED THE GAS GAGE AND TEMP GAGE STARTED TO MESS UP AND BOUNCE AROUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246490

55,399 miles · Oct 22, 2008
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER HAS CEASED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF IT'S STUCK AT 80 MPH AND WILL PEG ITSELF OUT AS THE CAR SPEEDS UP. UPON RESEARCH REPAIR WILL COST 300+ DOLLARS. CAR HAS 55,450 MILES. THIS WILL BE REPAIRED UPON PAYCHECK BEING RECEIVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246441

33,500 miles · Oct 22, 2008
Electrical System

2005 CHEVY IMPALA SS - INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ISSUE. NON WORKING, ERRATIC OR INCORRECT GAUGE INFORMATION. AFFECTING SPEEDOMETER, TEMPERATURE, RPM, AND BOOST GAUGES.*TR

NHTSA ODI #10246434

74,600 miles · Oct 22, 2008
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND WOULD NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT SPEED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD REGISTER 70-80 MPH. MOST RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER REGISTERED MORE THAN 120 MPH, WHICH WAS OFF THE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND WOULD NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT SPEED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD REGISTER 70-80 MPH. MOST RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER REGISTERED MORE THAN 120 MPH, WHICH WAS OFF THE METER. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE SO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COULD BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,545 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,600.

NHTSA ODI #10246347

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2008
Electrical SystemPower Train

MY SPEEDOMETER IS READING 100 MPH WHEN I'M ONLY GOING 40 - 50. WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE SPEEDOMETER MAY MOVE TO 60. IT'S TAKEN UP TO 3 - 4 DAYS TO MOVE BACK DOWN TO THE 0. THEN THE SAME PROCESS WILL START ALL OVER AGAIN. THE CAR ALSO TENDS TO DRIVE SLUGGISH WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING. COULD IT BE THE SPEEDOMETER OR TRA…

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MY SPEEDOMETER IS READING 100 MPH WHEN I'M ONLY GOING 40 - 50. WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE SPEEDOMETER MAY MOVE TO 60. IT'S TAKEN UP TO 3 - 4 DAYS TO MOVE BACK DOWN TO THE 0. THEN THE SAME PROCESS WILL START ALL OVER AGAIN. THE CAR ALSO TENDS TO DRIVE SLUGGISH WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING. COULD IT BE THE SPEEDOMETER OR TRANSMISSION??? I'VE BEEN TOLD TO REPLACE THE CLUSTER IN THE DASH BUT WILL THAT PREVENT THE SLUGGISHNESS ALSO? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245646

61,036 miles · Oct 15, 2008
Electrical System

DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL LEVEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER GOES PAST 120MPH WHILE DRIVING AND CONTINUES CLIMBING UNTIL THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, FUEL GAUGE DOES THE SAME GOES PAST FULL WHEN LESS THAN FULL. THE PROBLEM IS NOT CONSTANT BUT OCCURS MOSTLY IN DAMP OR RAINY WEATHER. I HAVE FOUND THAT BOTH CAN BE RESET SIMP…

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DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL LEVEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER GOES PAST 120MPH WHILE DRIVING AND CONTINUES CLIMBING UNTIL THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, FUEL GAUGE DOES THE SAME GOES PAST FULL WHEN LESS THAN FULL. THE PROBLEM IS NOT CONSTANT BUT OCCURS MOSTLY IN DAMP OR RAINY WEATHER. I HAVE FOUND THAT BOTH CAN BE RESET SIMPLY BY TURNING THE IGNITION KEY ON AND OFF UNTIL WHICH EVERY INSTRUMENT IS ACTING UP GOES BACK TO ZERO. IT 'S MORE OF A NUISANCE THAN ANY THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245602

Official recalls

1

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 3, 2014

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. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.