NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
331 reportsClear category filter64,000 miles · Sep 10, 2007
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 125 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS, THE SPEEDOMETER RESET ITSELF. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED A C…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 125 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS, THE SPEEDOMETER RESET ITSELF. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.
NHTSA ODI #10202374
43,500 miles · Apr 23, 2007
Electrical System
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY IMPALA IT HAS AROUND 44000 MILES. I HAVE HAD IT ABOUT ONE YEAR,ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER DROPPING ME OFF IT WAS ABOUT 2 IN THE MORNING SHE WAS ABOUT 10 MILES FROM THE HOUSE AND THE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT ON HER. SHE GOT THE CAR STOPPED AND AFTER ABOUT 15 MINS THEY CAME BACK ON, SO SHE STAR…
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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY IMPALA IT HAS AROUND 44000 MILES. I HAVE HAD IT ABOUT ONE YEAR,ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER DROPPING ME OFF IT WAS ABOUT 2 IN THE MORNING SHE WAS ABOUT 10 MILES FROM THE HOUSE AND THE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT ON HER. SHE GOT THE CAR STOPPED AND AFTER ABOUT 15 MINS THEY CAME BACK ON, SO SHE STARTED TO GO AGAIN GOT ABOUT 5 MORE MILES AND THEY WENT OUT AGAIN. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINS THEY CAME BACK ON. THERE HAS BEEN NO PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS. THEN AGAIN THE OTHER NIGHT THEY DID THE SAME THING BUT THIS TIME SHE WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE IN THE ROAD (THANK GOD SHE KNEW THE ROAD) NOW SHE ONLY DRIVES THE CAR AFTER DARK IF SHE HAS TO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10188614
44,000 miles · Dec 1, 2006
Electrical System
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER BECAME INOPERABLE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
NHTSA ODI #10174938
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2006
Electrical System
I HAVE HAD STALLING UPON ATTEMPTING TO START MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACT GM & WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING IS DEFECTIVE IN MY CAR. MY CAR HAS BEEN TO A GM SERVICE DEPT. FOR SERVICE MORE THAN 10 TIMES SINCE MAY 2006. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE WITH REGARDS TO ADDRESSING MY VEHICLE'S DEFECT? *NM
NHTSA ODI #10174887
15,509 miles · Sep 19, 2006
Electrical System
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNAL SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH BOARD AND NOTICED THE A/C BLOWER HAD SEIZED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WITH POLICE HELP DISCONNECTED THE A/C BLOWER FUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED OVER LOAD…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNAL SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH BOARD AND NOTICED THE A/C BLOWER HAD SEIZED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WITH POLICE HELP DISCONNECTED THE A/C BLOWER FUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED OVER LOAD CURRENT TO THE BLOWER MOTOR, THE CONTROL MODULE AND THE 30 AMPS FUSE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE BLOWER, CONTROL MODULE AND 30 AMP FUSE HOLDERS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN DUE TO THE LACK OF WARNING SIGNAL IN THE PRESENCE OF A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10168677
22,000 miles · Aug 1, 2006
Electrical SystemFire
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING WHILE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BATTERY AREA, AS FLAMES WERE CLEARLY PRESENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. THE POLICE WERE ON TH…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING WHILE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BATTERY AREA, AS FLAMES WERE CLEARLY PRESENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE EXTREME FIRE DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
NHTSA ODI #10164095
6,884 miles · Jul 20, 2006
Electrical System
REAR WINDOW MOLDING LOOSE WILL NOT STAY IN TACT AFTER REPAIR, DELAYED CRANK-HOLD KEY IN IGNITION FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE STARTING THEN AT TIMES IT WOBBLES THEN CUTS OFF,ELECTRICAL SHOCKING, GOING OVER HUMPS OR TURNING THERE IS CLUNNKING NOISE, PASSENGER SIDE FEELS A LIGHTER WEIGHT WHEN OPERATING,INTERMITTENT CHUGGLE OR HESISTAN…
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REAR WINDOW MOLDING LOOSE WILL NOT STAY IN TACT AFTER REPAIR, DELAYED CRANK-HOLD KEY IN IGNITION FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE STARTING THEN AT TIMES IT WOBBLES THEN CUTS OFF,ELECTRICAL SHOCKING, GOING OVER HUMPS OR TURNING THERE IS CLUNNKING NOISE, PASSENGER SIDE FEELS A LIGHTER WEIGHT WHEN OPERATING,INTERMITTENT CHUGGLE OR HESISTANT WHEN IN LIGHT ACCELERATION,ON STAR SYSTEM COMES ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN KEY IN IGNITION AND THE PUSH IS NOT PUSHED TO ACTIVATE,CAR ONLY HAD 5600 MILES AT TIME OF PURCHASE AND NOW HAS 11300 ONLY HAD THE FOR 5 1/2 MONTHS,ENGINE MAKE A WHIRLING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LIGHT START, TRANSMISSIONS IS NOW STARTING TO HESITATE AS IF IT SHIFTING, WHEN A/C IS ON AND SITTING IN VEHICLE THE CAR MUMBLES AND STOPS WHEN A/C IS TURNED OFF. I'VE SAVED ALLM PAPER WORK FROM SERVICES PERFORMED WHEN PROBLEMS OCCURED AND WILL BE TAKING THE CAR BACK IN AGAIN MON 7-24-06.ALSO HAVE A REFERENCE NUMBER ON FILE WITH GMC CONCERNING THESE DEFECTS.ON STAR MAILED ME A NOTICE CONCERNING SYSTEM ALERT THIS WEEK. I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY IMPALA BASE MODEL. HAD ABOUT 15 OR MORE FAILURES ON THE ASPECT OF DELAYED CRANKING.DEALER STILL CANT SOLVE THE ISSUE TO KEEP ME FROM HAVING TO REPEATEDLY TAKING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION AND SERVICE AS WELL AS RESOLUTION. I PURCHASED THE CAR DEC. 15, 2005. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10162925
29,899 miles · May 28, 2006
Electrical System
THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START THEREFORE YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE KEY SEVERAL SECONDS TO START. THE CAR HAS A ROUGH IDLE. ONLY HAD THE CAR THREE MONTH AND HAVE RETURN IT ABOUT 10 TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUES. I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S NORMAL FOR IT TO RUN THAT WAY. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE GRAND AM ARE THE SAME WAY WITH THE SAME ENGINE BY …
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THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START THEREFORE YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE KEY SEVERAL SECONDS TO START. THE CAR HAS A ROUGH IDLE. ONLY HAD THE CAR THREE MONTH AND HAVE RETURN IT ABOUT 10 TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUES. I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S NORMAL FOR IT TO RUN THAT WAY. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE GRAND AM ARE THE SAME WAY WITH THE SAME ENGINE BY THE DEALER. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10158456
32,000 miles · May 1, 2006
Electrical System
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY IMPALA. ABOUT 2-3 TIMES WEEKLY, MY CAR WILL NOT START PROPERLY. I TURN THE KEY TO CRANK THE VEHICLE, AND IT TURNS OVER WITHOUT FIRING UP. SOMETIMES IT MAY DO THIS ONE TIME, AT OTHERS IT MAY DO IT 4-5 TIMES. IT IS VERY IRRITATING, AND SOUNDS HORRIBLE. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS DAMAGING TO MY VEHICLE IN ANY…
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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY IMPALA. ABOUT 2-3 TIMES WEEKLY, MY CAR WILL NOT START PROPERLY. I TURN THE KEY TO CRANK THE VEHICLE, AND IT TURNS OVER WITHOUT FIRING UP. SOMETIMES IT MAY DO THIS ONE TIME, AT OTHERS IT MAY DO IT 4-5 TIMES. IT IS VERY IRRITATING, AND SOUNDS HORRIBLE. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS DAMAGING TO MY VEHICLE IN ANY WAY OR NOT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 3-4 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY SAY THAT GM HAS INSTALLED A CHIP IN THE IGNITION THAT WILL CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IS TRUE, AND CANNOT GET A RESPONSE FROM GM. I HAVE SENT THEM EMAILS, AND HAVE GOTTEN REPLIES BUT NOTHING THAT HELPS. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD GIVE ME SOME HELP OF ANY KIND. PERHAPS YOU HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM ALREADY AND KNOW OF A SOLUTION. THANKS SO MUCH. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10156540
29,899 miles · Apr 18, 2006
Electrical System
2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA, CAR IDLE IS ROUGH, DELAYED CRANK, MAY BE NECESSARY TO HOLD KEY IN START SEVERAL SECONDS UNTIL START. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10155624
Official recalls
1Jul 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 ↗