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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

25 reports
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114,742 miles · Nov 9, 2015
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,742. UPDATE 01/15/16 MA *TR

NHTSA ODI #10789210

55,000 miles · Aug 4, 2014
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainStructure

OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS I HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS SHIFTING OF THE VEHICLE WHICH SHIFTS VERY HARD. THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS A LOT OF RUST AND NEEDING TO HAVE BODY WORK DONE. NOW WITH A LITTLE OVER 70,000 MILES ON THE CAR IT MIGHT NOT PASS INSPECTION NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THE BODY/FRAME IS SO RUSTED TH…

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OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS I HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS SHIFTING OF THE VEHICLE WHICH SHIFTS VERY HARD. THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS A LOT OF RUST AND NEEDING TO HAVE BODY WORK DONE. NOW WITH A LITTLE OVER 70,000 MILES ON THE CAR IT MIGHT NOT PASS INSPECTION NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THE BODY/FRAME IS SO RUSTED THAT IT WOULD COST MORE TO HAVE IT FIXED THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. THE CAR IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF SO IT IS NOT FOR LACK OF CARETAKING ON MY PART. THE THIRD PROBLEM IS IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS PERIODICALLY WE CAN SMELL GAS IN THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, NOT EXHAUST FUMES - GAS. IT'S AWFUL; NAUSEATING AND UNBEARABLE. THIS SMELL CAN ALSO BE DETECTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WORRY ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE FOR THESE REASONS. ALSO, AT THIS POINT I AM AFRAID TO PARK THE CAR IN OUR ATTACHED GARAGE FOR FEAR IT COULD START A FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10618614

119,000 miles · Apr 1, 2014
EngineFuel System, GasolinePower Train

WHEN THE IMPALA IS AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE THE ENGINE DIES WHEN YOU REMOVE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AS WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN . IF THE ENGINE HAS NOT REACHED NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE THIS DOES NOT OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576466

80,000 miles · Feb 3, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS SMELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562741

165,450 miles · Aug 22, 2013
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

CAR HAS JUST ROLLED OVER TO A LITTLE OVER 165,,000 MILES AND WHEN WE BOUGHT IT AT THE TIME WE DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT AND THEN TURNS OUT A YEAR AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR IT STARTED SMELLING LIKE GAS BIG TIME BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM THEN WHEN I WENT TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO IM…

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CAR HAS JUST ROLLED OVER TO A LITTLE OVER 165,,000 MILES AND WHEN WE BOUGHT IT AT THE TIME WE DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT AND THEN TURNS OUT A YEAR AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR IT STARTED SMELLING LIKE GAS BIG TIME BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM THEN WHEN I WENT TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO IM LIKE THINKING NOW WHAT AND SO WE TAKE IT TO A GARAGE AND THEY SAY OH YOUR ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS RUSTED OUT AND THAT THERE'S A DOLLAR SIZE HOLE NEAR THE FRONT OF THE EXHAUST BUT WE DIDN'T GET IT FIXED BECUZ WE COULDN'T AT THE TIME SO THEY JUST TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT AS IS AND I HAVE BEEN BUT I'VE BEEN NOTICING THAT IT SOUNDS LOUDER AND LOUDER ALMOST LIKE HOW A CAR DOES NOT HAVE AN EXHAUST SYSTEM AND I REALLY DON'T FEEL SAFE BECUZ ITS LOUD AND IT SMELLS LIKE GAS ON THE INSIDE AND IM AFRAID OF IT CATCHING ON FIRE ONE OF THESE DAYS AND AS FOR THE RESISTOR BLOWER MODULE FOR THE A/C AND HEATER WE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THAT THREE TIMES BECUZ IT KEPT GOING OUT AND I REALLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE CAR CATCH ON FIRE BECUZ THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR MODULE ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY AND I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO KEEP FIXING THINGS ON MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536838

90,000 miles · Apr 18, 2013
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train

FROM STOP I WOULD STEP ON THE GAS, AND THE CAR WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL CLUSTER REPLACED $300, AND THE FUEL CONTROL REPLACED (CAR ALWAYS SMELT LIKE GAS) NOW THEY THINK THIS SLAM IS THE TCC VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IS ANYWHERE FROM $600-$900. ALSO THE STEERING KNUCKLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE ON …

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FROM STOP I WOULD STEP ON THE GAS, AND THE CAR WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL CLUSTER REPLACED $300, AND THE FUEL CONTROL REPLACED (CAR ALWAYS SMELT LIKE GAS) NOW THEY THINK THIS SLAM IS THE TCC VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IS ANYWHERE FROM $600-$900. ALSO THE STEERING KNUCKLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE ON SHARP TURNS. WHATS NEXT? ARE ANY OF THESE ISSUES RECALLS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508694

161,500 miles · Feb 7, 2012
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, FUEL GAUGE, AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE GONE COMPLETELY HAYWIRE! THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO HOT AND BUZZES BUT MY CAR IS NO WHERE NEAR HOT. I DON'T KNOW IF MY TANK IS FULL OR EMPTY BECAUSE THE GAUGE IS ALWAYS ON THE BOTTOM. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I'M GOING BECAUSE MY SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK ON 120. THE DEALERS…

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THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, FUEL GAUGE, AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE GONE COMPLETELY HAYWIRE! THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO HOT AND BUZZES BUT MY CAR IS NO WHERE NEAR HOT. I DON'T KNOW IF MY TANK IS FULL OR EMPTY BECAUSE THE GAUGE IS ALWAYS ON THE BOTTOM. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I'M GOING BECAUSE MY SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK ON 120. THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT THEY INSIST ON CHARGING $500 OR MORE TO FIX IT...JUST OWN UP AND DO THE RECALL!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10446940

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2012
Fuel System, Gasoline

STARTED SMELLING GAS WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM CHURCH ON JANUARY 8, 2012. SMELL OF FUMES INTENSIFIED. MUST ROLL DOWN WINDOWS WHENEVER DRIVING. MY EYES BEGAN TO BURN. I PARKED THE CAR WHEN I GOT HOME, AND I COULD SMELL A LOT OF GAS WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. CAR SAT UNTIL MONDAY JANUARY 9, 2012. I STILL SMELLED GAS. MY CAR BEGAN B…

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STARTED SMELLING GAS WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM CHURCH ON JANUARY 8, 2012. SMELL OF FUMES INTENSIFIED. MUST ROLL DOWN WINDOWS WHENEVER DRIVING. MY EYES BEGAN TO BURN. I PARKED THE CAR WHEN I GOT HOME, AND I COULD SMELL A LOT OF GAS WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. CAR SAT UNTIL MONDAY JANUARY 9, 2012. I STILL SMELLED GAS. MY CAR BEGAN BURNING EXTREME AMOUNT OF GAS. CAR SAT UNTIL THE 13TH. I FILLED UP TO A FULL TANK OF GAS. I DROVE 7 MILES TO THE STORE AND 7 MILES BACK. THE CAR BURNED 1/8 TANK OF GAS. LEARNED OF 2005 CHEVY IMPALA RECALL DUE TO FUEL SYSTEM/ FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. RECALL ID# 64377. I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. I DROVE HOME WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN IN 19 DEGREE WEATHER. NOW IT IS SITTING AGAIN DUE TO MECHANIC RECOMMENDATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10443801

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

THE SPEEDOMETER JUST STOPPED WORKING, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT HARD BUT WHEN YOU SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND START IT BACK UP IT STOPS SHIFTING HARD, AND THE CAR STALLS. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10441700

70,000 miles · Dec 28, 2011
Fuel System, GasolineSteering

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, THE SMELL OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE …

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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, THE SMELL OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000. KMJ

NHTSA ODI #10441448

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.