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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

Visibility complaints

15 reports
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140,000 miles · Sep 16, 2022
Visibility

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55-60 MPH, suddenly there was an abnormal wind sound inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the sunroof had detached from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the conta…

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The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55-60 MPH, suddenly there was an abnormal wind sound inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the sunroof had detached from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed of a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #11484788

170,000 miles · Mar 14, 2014
Visibility

A SUDDEN LOUD NOISE BEGAN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 65-70. THE NOISE LASTED A FEW SECONDS FOLLOWED BY A LOUDER LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. I ACTIVATED MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED INTO THE MEDIAN TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. AFTER OPENING THE SLIDING COVER FOR MY VEHICLE'S SUNROOF, I DISCOVERED THE S…

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A SUDDEN LOUD NOISE BEGAN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 65-70. THE NOISE LASTED A FEW SECONDS FOLLOWED BY A LOUDER LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. I ACTIVATED MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED INTO THE MEDIAN TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. AFTER OPENING THE SLIDING COVER FOR MY VEHICLE'S SUNROOF, I DISCOVERED THE SUNROOF WAS MISSING AND HAD FLOWN OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. I DO NOT BELIEVE ANY VEHICLES WERE DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. I AM NOT SURE IF ANY VEHICLES HIT THE SUNROOF AFTER IT FLEW OFF MY VEHICLE. I DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE WEBASTO HOLLANDIA 700 SUNROOF DUE TO THE SUNROOF FLYING OFF VEHICLES. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS RECALL. I WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS RECALL AND TO HAVE THE SUNROOF REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569247

68,000 miles · Oct 24, 2012
Electrical SystemVisibilityFire

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 68K MILES 2005 CHEVY IMPALA. THE CAR WAS PARKED AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE 8 HRS. MY WORK HOURS ENDED AND I STARTED THE CAR TO PROCEED HOME. I PRESSED THE SUNROOF SWITCH TO MAKE IT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN. IT DID NOT OPEN. SMOKE STARTED TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND I NOTICED A FLICKER COM…

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I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 68K MILES 2005 CHEVY IMPALA. THE CAR WAS PARKED AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE 8 HRS. MY WORK HOURS ENDED AND I STARTED THE CAR TO PROCEED HOME. I PRESSED THE SUNROOF SWITCH TO MAKE IT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN. IT DID NOT OPEN. SMOKE STARTED TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND I NOTICED A FLICKER COMING FROM THE HEADLINER. IT WAS A FLAME. I TAPPED THE HEADLINER TO MAKE IT GO OUT AND EXITED THE CAR AND REMOVED MY KEYS FROM THE IGNITION UPON EXITING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482134

68,000 miles · Oct 24, 2012
VisibilityFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF COULD NOT BE OPENED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TRYING TO OPEN THE SUNROOF THE DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HEADLINER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN TRIED TO OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS HOWEVER THEY WERE ALSO INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF COULD NOT BE OPENED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TRYING TO OPEN THE SUNROOF THE DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HEADLINER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN TRIED TO OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS HOWEVER THEY WERE ALSO INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE SMOKE CEASED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER IN REGARD TO THE FAILURE AND A REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED THAT IF HE DID NOT SEE ANY FLAMES, THEN THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #10482117

77,000 miles · Mar 6, 2012
Visibility

THE BACK WINDSHIELD MADE A BIG LOUD EXPLOISION NOISE , WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND LOOKED IT HAD ALL SPIDER CRACKED THE WHOLE WINDSHILD. IT SCARED THE [XXX] RIGHT OUT OF ME. THANK GOD NO CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

NHTSA ODI #10450459

99,542 miles · Jan 3, 2012
Visibility

THE HEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR WILL NOT COME ON BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE BLOWS LIKE A CHAMP. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE DOOR THAT FLOWS COLD AND HOT AIR IS STUCK ON COOL AIR AND SINCE ITS A DUAL AIR VEHICLE ONE SIDE IS BLOWING HOT THE OTHER COLD. I AM VERY SURPRISED THIS IS NOT A RECALL SINCE THERE …

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THE HEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR WILL NOT COME ON BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE BLOWS LIKE A CHAMP. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE DOOR THAT FLOWS COLD AND HOT AIR IS STUCK ON COOL AIR AND SINCE ITS A DUAL AIR VEHICLE ONE SIDE IS BLOWING HOT THE OTHER COLD. I AM VERY SURPRISED THIS IS NOT A RECALL SINCE THERE ARE OVER 1,000 COMPLAINTS ON THIS ONE PART PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS; I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME CHEVY OWNER AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS HAPPEN AFTER DRIVING BUT THIS IS REALLY NOT A DRIVER INDUCED PROBLEM. THANK YOU FROM A VALUED CUSTOMER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10442314

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

58,000 miles · Feb 15, 2011
Visibility

AFTER CLEARING SNOW OFF THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE WIPERS, THEY NO LONGER GO TO THE PARK POSITION. THE WIPERS STOP IN AN UPWARD POSITION BLOCKING YOUR VIEW OF THE ROAD. FOUND BENT STOP TAB ON WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY DUE TO MANY WRITE UPS ON THE WEB. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE GM HAS A FIX FOR IT. I WAS QUOTED $500+ F…

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AFTER CLEARING SNOW OFF THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE WIPERS, THEY NO LONGER GO TO THE PARK POSITION. THE WIPERS STOP IN AN UPWARD POSITION BLOCKING YOUR VIEW OF THE ROAD. FOUND BENT STOP TAB ON WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY DUE TO MANY WRITE UPS ON THE WEB. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE GM HAS A FIX FOR IT. I WAS QUOTED $500+ FOR A REPLACEMENT MOTOR ASSEMBLY. THE MOTOR STILL WORKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10382854

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2010
Visibility

THE WIPERS STICK IN UP POSITION 2005 CHEVY IMPALA CAUSED BY THE WIPERS TRYING TO RUN IF HEAVY SNOW. THE INTERNET SAYS IT IS A LINK BENDING IN THE WIPER MOTOR AREA. GM HAS AN UPDATED PART FOR THE 2005 BUT NOT A RECALL. WHY SHOULD CONSUMERS PAY FOR SAFETY ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314823

120,000 miles · Apr 17, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibilityFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WERE INOPERATIVE AND DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED SPORADICALLY, THE REAR PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT WAS POORLY ILLUMINATED, AND THE BATTERY FAILED SPONTANEOUSLY. WHEN THE FAILURES OCCURED, SH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WERE INOPERATIVE AND DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED SPORADICALLY, THE REAR PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT WAS POORLY ILLUMINATED, AND THE BATTERY FAILED SPONTANEOUSLY. WHEN THE FAILURES OCCURED, SHE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AS IF THE WIRES WERE BURNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10265877

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.