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
122,000 miles · Jul 7, 2014
Electrical System
THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE SECURITY LIGHT COMING ON. THEN THE TEMP GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. SPORADICALLY WOULD NOT START. I WAITED 15 MINUTES WITH KEY IN THE ON POSITION, WHEN SECURITY LIGHT WENT OFF, TURN OFF AND BACK ON. MOST TIMES THIS WOULD WORK. HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. ONE D…
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THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE SECURITY LIGHT COMING ON. THEN THE TEMP GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. SPORADICALLY WOULD NOT START. I WAITED 15 MINUTES WITH KEY IN THE ON POSITION, WHEN SECURITY LIGHT WENT OFF, TURN OFF AND BACK ON. MOST TIMES THIS WOULD WORK. HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. ONE DAY MY DASHBOARD, AND DOOR CONTROLS JUST WENT HAY WIRE. CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER AT ALL NOW. KEY EASILY SLIDES OUT OF THE ON POSITION. HAVE ALREADY HAD CAR LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. WHEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, IT SEEMS THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS VERY SIMILAR ISSUE. AT THIS POINT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10608806
145,000 miles · Jul 6, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
ESC AND ABS TURN ON AT LOW SPEED USUALLY COMING OUT OF STOPPING POSITION, OR DURING BRAKING. HAVE HAD FRONT WHEELBEARINGS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES TO NO EFFECT. WIRING CHECKS OUT. NO CODES THAT THE MECHANIC CAN DETERMINE WOULD BE CAUSING THIS ISSUE. EVENTUALLY TRACTION AND ABS TURN OFF AND SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHTS COME ON. …
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ESC AND ABS TURN ON AT LOW SPEED USUALLY COMING OUT OF STOPPING POSITION, OR DURING BRAKING. HAVE HAD FRONT WHEELBEARINGS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES TO NO EFFECT. WIRING CHECKS OUT. NO CODES THAT THE MECHANIC CAN DETERMINE WOULD BE CAUSING THIS ISSUE. EVENTUALLY TRACTION AND ABS TURN OFF AND SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHTS COME ON. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR WINTER DRIVING. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10608456
120,000 miles · Jul 4, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)
MY 2005 CHEVY IMPALA INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO START. IT WILL RESTART AFTER WAITING ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES. THIS IS A SIMILAR PROBLEM (POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE) I HAD WITH A PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2000 IMPALA, AND OTHER FRUSTRATED IMPALA OWNERS EXPRESS ONLINE. CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS ARE UNABLE TO PIN POINT THE CAUSE AND GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WA…
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MY 2005 CHEVY IMPALA INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO START. IT WILL RESTART AFTER WAITING ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES. THIS IS A SIMILAR PROBLEM (POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE) I HAD WITH A PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2000 IMPALA, AND OTHER FRUSTRATED IMPALA OWNERS EXPRESS ONLINE. CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS ARE UNABLE TO PIN POINT THE CAUSE AND GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NOT HELPFUL WHEN CONTACTED ON THE MATTER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10608245
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2014
Electrical System
IGNITION NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHILE DRIVING SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON. MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK CAR WON'T START. BATTERY'S PERFECT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10607657
125,000 miles · Jul 1, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System
FUEL STOPPED WORKING. TEMP GAUGE AS WELL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10607268
140,000 miles · Jul 1, 2014
Seat Belts
DRIVERS SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. LOOSE AGAINST DRIVERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10607267
Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 8/19/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING MECHANISM FAILED ALSO. UPDATED 09/5/2014 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10605555
70,000 miles · Jun 23, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
TL ' THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE LOCK SYSTEM RESET ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT T…
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TL ' THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE LOCK SYSTEM RESET ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. JCC
NHTSA ODI #10605187
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2014
Steering
STEERING KNUCKLE IS GOING OUT HAS BEEN POPPING EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. *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
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