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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

Power Train complaints

52 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2011
Electrical SystemPower TrainVisibility

MY SPEEDOMETER GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT WILL GET STUCK ON 20 MPH CONSTANTLY IT NEVER READS THE CORRECT SPEED BUT MY OTHER GAUGES WORK FINE. MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS/SLIPS HARDER THAN IT SHOULD FROM 1ST INTO 2ED AND 2ND INTO 3RD. MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN I PUSH ON MY WINDOW CONTROLS TO ROLL MY WINDOWS UP OR DOWN. THE HEA…

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MY SPEEDOMETER GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT WILL GET STUCK ON 20 MPH CONSTANTLY IT NEVER READS THE CORRECT SPEED BUT MY OTHER GAUGES WORK FINE. MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS/SLIPS HARDER THAN IT SHOULD FROM 1ST INTO 2ED AND 2ND INTO 3RD. MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN I PUSH ON MY WINDOW CONTROLS TO ROLL MY WINDOWS UP OR DOWN. THE HEAT ONLY BLOWS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR INCLUDING ON THE DEFROST FOR THE FRONT WINDOWS AND THE REAR WINDOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10440497

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2011
Power Train

I AM TRYING TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT A KNOWN DEFECT WITH ALL YEARS OF CHEVY IMPALAS TRANSMISSION'S FAULTY FIRST GEAR OR PRESSURE CONTROL SOLINOID ISSUES. FOR THE LAST YEAR I HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH MY CAR FAILING TO ADEQUATELY SHIFT FROM STARTING OFF TO THE 30 MILE PER HOUR MARK...YOU COULD FEEL MY CAR JERK WHEN IT FINALLY…

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I AM TRYING TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT A KNOWN DEFECT WITH ALL YEARS OF CHEVY IMPALAS TRANSMISSION'S FAULTY FIRST GEAR OR PRESSURE CONTROL SOLINOID ISSUES. FOR THE LAST YEAR I HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH MY CAR FAILING TO ADEQUATELY SHIFT FROM STARTING OFF TO THE 30 MILE PER HOUR MARK...YOU COULD FEEL MY CAR JERK WHEN IT FINALLY SHIFTS. SO I DID WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD HELP AND HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND FILTER CHANGE WHICH ONLY SOLVED THIS ISSUE FOR NOT EVEN A WEEK. I WENT ONTO GM'S WEBSITE AND WAS READING THE FORUMS SPECIFICALLY FOR CHEVY IMPALA TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND THERE WAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE BUT NO OFFER FROM GM TO EVEN LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. MY CAR STARTED TO NOTICEABLY HAVE THIS ISSUE BEFORE EVEN HAVING 100K MILES ON IT AND RIGHT NOW I HAVE 131K MILES. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE WITH MY CAR SINCE I TOOK OWNERSHIP IN 2006. I POSTED MY SAID ISSUE ON FACEBOOK AND ONE OF MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES COMMENTED THAT HE WORKS AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP (HAS FOR 13 YEARS) AND ONLY KNOWS OF THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLINOID ISSUE, SO APPARENTLY GM JUST DOESN'T WANT TO DO THEIR CUSTOMERS RIGHT BY FIXING EVEN THE KNOWN DEFECT OR FOLLOWUP WITH THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS STATED ON THEIR FORUM. I JUST PAID OFF MY CAR AND I FEEL THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY SUCH A LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO FIX A DEFECT ON THEIR PART. I ALSO ASKED A FRIEND OF MINE, THAT OWNS A CHEVY IMPALA, AND THEY TOO HAVE STARTED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUS AS I. PLEASE ASSIST US CONSUMERS IN PROBING INTO FORESAID ISSUES. THANKS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436496

30,000 miles · Jul 22, 2011
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherWheels

THE ONLY EVENT LEADING TO THE FAILURE WAS A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE INVOLVED A PULL TO THE LEFT AND EXCESSIVE HEAT BEING GENERATED FROM THE BACK LEFT TIRE. THE COMPONENT THAT FAILED ENDED UP BEING THE WHEEL BEARING. I HAD A MECHANIC REPLACE IT AND ALSO KEPT THE OLD PART. THE OLD BEAR…

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THE ONLY EVENT LEADING TO THE FAILURE WAS A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE INVOLVED A PULL TO THE LEFT AND EXCESSIVE HEAT BEING GENERATED FROM THE BACK LEFT TIRE. THE COMPONENT THAT FAILED ENDED UP BEING THE WHEEL BEARING. I HAD A MECHANIC REPLACE IT AND ALSO KEPT THE OLD PART. THE OLD BEARING WAS SCORCHED (THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME) AND WARPED. THE BEARING COULD HAVE LOCKED UP HAD IT NOT BEEN REPLACED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10414647

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2005 CHEVY IMPALA: ROUGH SHIFTING, LOST SOME HP, SPEEDOMETER ISN'T WORKING, ENGINE LEAKING OIL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10400567

106,503 miles · Apr 10, 2011
Power Train

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY 2011. CAR HAS OPERATED FINE AND OPERATED FINE EARLIER TODAY. THIS EVENING, AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A QUICK RUN TO THE STORE, I STARTED MY CAR, PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PROCEEDED TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO REVERSE. I COULD NOT GET THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER TO MOVE OUT O…

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I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY 2011. CAR HAS OPERATED FINE AND OPERATED FINE EARLIER TODAY. THIS EVENING, AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A QUICK RUN TO THE STORE, I STARTED MY CAR, PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PROCEEDED TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO REVERSE. I COULD NOT GET THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER TO MOVE OUT OF PARK. IT WAS STUCK. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION TO THIS ISSUE. NOW I'M STRANDED AT HOME WITH NO VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10395419

19,500 miles · Mar 30, 2011
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

3.4LTR 6CYL BASE MODEL HAS HAD MULTIPLE DEFECTIVE SENSATIONS FOR SOME TIME NOW; AMONG THOSE ARE STEERING, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM A STANDING STOP, BRAKING AND ODD NOISES. THIS VEHICLE'S 5 Y/O WITH ONLY 20K MI, OWNED BY ELDERS & USED LOCALLY, I'VE BEEN DRIVING THEM, & NOW I HAVE THIS CAR. THE LEFT OUTTER TIE ROD END …

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3.4LTR 6CYL BASE MODEL HAS HAD MULTIPLE DEFECTIVE SENSATIONS FOR SOME TIME NOW; AMONG THOSE ARE STEERING, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM A STANDING STOP, BRAKING AND ODD NOISES. THIS VEHICLE'S 5 Y/O WITH ONLY 20K MI, OWNED BY ELDERS & USED LOCALLY, I'VE BEEN DRIVING THEM, & NOW I HAVE THIS CAR. THE LEFT OUTTER TIE ROD END HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 20K MI. THE STEERING STILL HAS AN UNSTABLE FEEL WHEN TURNING AND MAKE A METAL TO METAL CLINKING NOISE FROM A DEFECTIVE (& AS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC & NHTSA REPORTS, REPEATEDLY REPORTED) INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THERE SHOULD BE A TOTAL RECALL BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE GM ENGINEERING PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO A CLINKING NOISE OCCASIONALLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STANDING STOP; CAN NOT TELL IF THIS DEFECT IS FROM THE STEERING OR SOMETHING ELSE LIKE THE ENGINE MOUNTS. HAVE NOT YET DISCOVERED THIS SOURCE. FROM A STANDING STOP, THE TRANSMISSION WILL OCCASIONALLY SHIFT ABRUPTLY, EITHER FROM A NEUTRAL DISPOSITION INTO 1ST GEAR OR FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR; THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD & THE OCCUPANTS HEADS ARE WHIPPED BACK. THIS IS SIMILAR TO OTHER REPORTS OF DEFECTIVE POWER TRAIN FUNCTIONALITY I'VE READ ABOUT WITH THIS MODEL. BRAKING, WHEN JUST STARTING A TRIP, HAS AN IMPROPER FEEL AND SOMETIMES SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GRINDING, AS IF THE BRAKE PADS OR ROTORS ARE CRACKED/WORN; THIS IS A SENSATION I'VE HAD WITH VEHICLES HAVING 100,000 MILES, NOT ON A CAR LIKE THIS WITH ONLY 20K MILES. THE CENTER ARM REST'S PAD SUPPORT IS FLIMSY/CHEAP PLASTIC & HAS BROKEN SIMPLY UPON ENTERING & SHIFTING IN THE SEAT. I NOW SEE WHY SO MANY POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE DISCONTINUED THE IMPALA'S IN FAVOR OF THE CHARGER'S, CROWN VIC'S, TAURUS'S AND ESCAPES. THE US GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE SEVERELY FINING GM FOR MARKETING THIS CAR. >>>THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR MANY REASONS<<<

NHTSA ODI #10394596

49,000 miles · Nov 21, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

1. MY FUEL GAUGE QUIT WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. ALL THE OTHER GAUGES KEPT WORKING. THE NEEDLE WAS POINTING DOWN AND WOULD MOVE AT THE BOTTOM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND OFF. I SPENT 400.00 TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHICH APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM AS LISTED ON THE COMPLAINTS SECTION. 2. I PURCHASED A 2005 CH…

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1. MY FUEL GAUGE QUIT WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. ALL THE OTHER GAUGES KEPT WORKING. THE NEEDLE WAS POINTING DOWN AND WOULD MOVE AT THE BOTTOM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND OFF. I SPENT 400.00 TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHICH APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM AS LISTED ON THE COMPLAINTS SECTION. 2. I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEV IMPALA 01/2006 WITH15,00 MILES ON IT. I STARTED TO NOTICE A BIT OF A HARD SHIFTING ON TAKE OFF, ONLY AFTER DRIVING IT IN THE CITY AFTER ABOUT THE 2ND YEAR OF DRIVING. THE PROBLEM NEVER LEFT, IN FACT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE YEARS THAT WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR. THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR IS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND ONLY SEEMS TO DO IT IF YOU DID A A LOT OF START AND STOPPING AND YOU COULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR 10 MIN. OR SO THEN IT WON'T DO IT AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT WOULD GO FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR WEEKS BEFORE IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN OR WILL DO IT SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW. WHEN I HAD THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED I HAD THEM CHECK FOR CODES AND FOUND A P1811.

NHTSA ODI #10367629

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2010
Power Train

2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH THE GM DEALERSHIP *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SOMETIMES SHIFT TOO SLOW OR TOO FAST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CONSUMER THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AA…

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2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH THE GM DEALERSHIP *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SOMETIMES SHIFT TOO SLOW OR TOO FAST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CONSUMER THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AAMCO TRANSMISSION AND THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM WITHIN MINUTES. GM INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THEY WOULD ONLY GIVE HIM $1000.00 TOWARD REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10363308

50,000 miles · Feb 13, 2010
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

SPEEDOMETER GAUGE NOT SHOWING PROPER SPEED SHOWS DOING 100 WHEN PARKED, TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. SPEEDOMETER COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING AND NOW THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT WORKING. SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING 2 YEARS AGO. CRUISE CONTROL HAS WENT OUT SEVERAL TIMES AND NO LONGER WORKS TRANSMISSION STARTED SL…

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SPEEDOMETER GAUGE NOT SHOWING PROPER SPEED SHOWS DOING 100 WHEN PARKED, TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. SPEEDOMETER COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING AND NOW THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT WORKING. SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING 2 YEARS AGO. CRUISE CONTROL HAS WENT OUT SEVERAL TIMES AND NO LONGER WORKS TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AROUND 80,000 MILES. TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON AND STATING THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SERVICE WHEN TRACTION CONTROL WAS NEVER ENGAGED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310176

85,000 miles · Feb 3, 2010
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION, SPEED ODOMETER AND ANTILOCK BRAKE IS FAULTY. CONTACT STATED SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTOR, PADS FOUR TIMES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS JERKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND CONTACT THE WAS TOLD SHE HAS TO PAY THE EXPENSES FOR THESE REPAIRS. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION, SPEED ODOMETER AND ANTILOCK BRAKE IS FAULTY. CONTACT STATED SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTOR, PADS FOUR TIMES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS JERKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND CONTACT THE WAS TOLD SHE HAS TO PAY THE EXPENSES FOR THESE REPAIRS. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ON THE VEHICLE. THE VIN NUMBER IS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10304688

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.