Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
410–25K
8625–50K
11150–75K
9675–100K
113100–150K
52150K+
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
What owners actually said
609 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2014
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER WAITING, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REP…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER WAITING, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10653122
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2014
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFAC…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10652085
149,000 miles · Nov 3, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT DURING COLD WEATHER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY AND THE ALARM SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT DURING COLD WEATHER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY AND THE ALARM SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
NHTSA ODI #10652007
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2014
Electrical System
2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A RECALL AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *TGW THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10649135
120,000 miles · Oct 24, 2014
Exterior Lighting
DRIVING AT NIGHT, I TURNED ON MY HIGH BEAMS AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT. AFTER DRIVING IN THE DARK FOR A WHILE, I SWITCHED THE HEADLIGHTS BACK TO LOW BEAM AND THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO WORK ON LOW BEAM. THE HIGH BEAMS DO NOT WORK AT ALL AT THIS POINT, AND THE HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN I SWITCH TO HIGH BEAMS, WHICH IS A VERY D…
Read full complaint
DRIVING AT NIGHT, I TURNED ON MY HIGH BEAMS AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT. AFTER DRIVING IN THE DARK FOR A WHILE, I SWITCHED THE HEADLIGHTS BACK TO LOW BEAM AND THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO WORK ON LOW BEAM. THE HIGH BEAMS DO NOT WORK AT ALL AT THIS POINT, AND THE HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN I SWITCH TO HIGH BEAMS, WHICH IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10649616
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2014
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY WAS TAMPERED WITH IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND FELT THAT THE REMEDY WOULD…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY WAS TAMPERED WITH IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND FELT THAT THE REMEDY WOULD FAIL TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/16/14*LJ UPDATED 01/15/15*JB
NHTSA ODI #10649234
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2014
Electrical System
2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO GM RECALL #14350. * LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP, SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10648107
190,000 miles · Oct 18, 2014
Electrical System
THE KEY TO MY IMPALA JAMMED AND WOULD NOT TURN. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER TOM GILL BECAUSE I HAD HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL. THEY INFORMED THAT DID NOT KNOW ABOUT A RECALL AFFECTING IGNITIONS FOR CHEVY IMPALAS. I HAD MY CAR REPAIRED BY A LOCK SMITH. I HAVE NOW RECEIVED MY RECALL NOTICE AND THEY INFORM ME THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS.…
Read full complaint
THE KEY TO MY IMPALA JAMMED AND WOULD NOT TURN. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER TOM GILL BECAUSE I HAD HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL. THEY INFORMED THAT DID NOT KNOW ABOUT A RECALL AFFECTING IGNITIONS FOR CHEVY IMPALAS. I HAD MY CAR REPAIRED BY A LOCK SMITH. I HAVE NOW RECEIVED MY RECALL NOTICE AND THEY INFORM ME THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS. GM IS NOT TAKING THIS RECALL SERIOUS. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10648549
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2014
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10644756
109,334 miles · Oct 15, 2014
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
IN MARCH 5 2013 I WAS DRIVING WHILE A DOG RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR NEXT TO ME AND MYSELF CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AS THE OWNER CAME AND GOT HER DOG FROM THE STREET. AS SOON AS THE OWNER GOT THE DOG A CAR DOING 50+MPH IN A 35MPH ZONE WAS TEXTING AND DRIVING AND THE DRIVER DIDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO BRAKE. THE DRIVER REAR ENDED …
Read full complaint
IN MARCH 5 2013 I WAS DRIVING WHILE A DOG RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR NEXT TO ME AND MYSELF CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AS THE OWNER CAME AND GOT HER DOG FROM THE STREET. AS SOON AS THE OWNER GOT THE DOG A CAR DOING 50+MPH IN A 35MPH ZONE WAS TEXTING AND DRIVING AND THE DRIVER DIDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO BRAKE. THE DRIVER REAR ENDED ME SO HARD THAT THE CAR MOVED OVER 15FT. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND ALSO MY SEAT BELTS NEVER LOCKED SO DUE TO THAT MY FACE BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. I SUFFERED A LOT OF INJURIES. BROKE MY LEFT FOOT, REALLY HURT MY NECK AND SHOULDER. IF MY AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED I WOULD NOT OF BEEN BADLY INJURED LIKE I WAS. THE 2005 IMPALA WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. THE IMPACT PUSHED THE TRUNK INTO THE REAR SEATS. *TR
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.
2005 Chevrolet Impala Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year