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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

What owners actually said

609 reports
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

83,000 miles · Mar 6, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND THE CONTACT RESUMED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND THE CONTACT RESUMED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. *TRW

NHTSA ODI #10567539

70,000 miles · Mar 4, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE BEING EMITTED FROM THE FUEL LINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:07E021000 (FUEL S…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE BEING EMITTED FROM THE FUEL LINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70000.

NHTSA ODI #10566947

85,000 miles · Feb 26, 2014
Steering

I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. IT COMES AND GOES BUT NEVER IS STEADY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566061

85,000 miles · Feb 22, 2014
Power TrainSteering

THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AT STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, TRANNY SHOP SAYS IT IS A SWITCH SOLENOID THAT IS DEFECTIVE IN THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF. IT IS COMMONLY REPORTED BY MANY CONSUMERS OF THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. SEEMS TO SHIFT FINE WHEN DRIVING ON LONGER DRIVES IE. INTERSTATE DRIVING. COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHEN TRYIN…

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THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AT STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, TRANNY SHOP SAYS IT IS A SWITCH SOLENOID THAT IS DEFECTIVE IN THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF. IT IS COMMONLY REPORTED BY MANY CONSUMERS OF THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. SEEMS TO SHIFT FINE WHEN DRIVING ON LONGER DRIVES IE. INTERSTATE DRIVING. COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC FROM STOPPED POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565413

109,000 miles · Feb 14, 2014
Electrical SystemStructureVisibility/wiper

I NOTICED A STRANGE SMELL LIKE MELTING PLASTIC COMING FROM MY PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER. THEY DISCOVERED MY BACK WINDOW DEFROST SHORTED OUT THE FUSE BOX ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. COMPLETELY MELTED IT AND RUINED THE BOX. IF I HAD WAITED ANY LONGER IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE …

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I NOTICED A STRANGE SMELL LIKE MELTING PLASTIC COMING FROM MY PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER. THEY DISCOVERED MY BACK WINDOW DEFROST SHORTED OUT THE FUSE BOX ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. COMPLETELY MELTED IT AND RUINED THE BOX. IF I HAD WAITED ANY LONGER IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564310

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

GAS SMELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562741

50,000 miles · Jan 31, 2014
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. WOULD REGISTER ZERO OR OFF THE SCALE. NEVER CORRECT. WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS YOU WOULD THINK THAT SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE AS THIS IS A NECESSARY INSTRUMENT BUT OBVIOUSLY GM DOESN'T CARE AND NTSB IS TOO BUSY UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562383

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR I NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING IT WOULD SOUND LIKE IT WANTED TO CUT OFF AND EVENTUALLY IT DID EVERY TIME I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. EVENTUALLY IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. HAD TO GET THE FUEL REGULATOR PUMP CHANGED TWICE. THEN MY CAR WAS CLAIMING TO BE OVERHEATING SO I CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT, TEMPERATURE SE…

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WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR I NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING IT WOULD SOUND LIKE IT WANTED TO CUT OFF AND EVENTUALLY IT DID EVERY TIME I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. EVENTUALLY IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. HAD TO GET THE FUEL REGULATOR PUMP CHANGED TWICE. THEN MY CAR WAS CLAIMING TO BE OVERHEATING SO I CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT, TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND FAN RELAYS. BUT MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS READING OUT OF WHACK SAYING MY CAR IS OVERHEATING WHEN ITS NOT. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER MY SPEEDOMETER JUST STARTED ACTING UP AS WELL . IT KEEP MOVING UP ALL AROUND AND SOMETIMES MAY STAY ON ZERO. YESTERDAY IT MADE A COMPLETE 360 AND IS STUCK IT AT THE BOTTOM. A COWORKER WAS JUS TELLING ME ABOUT HER CHEVY TRUCK SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS LAST WEEK AND LITERALLY WITHIN A WEEKS TIME THE EXACT THING HAPPENS TO ME WITH NO WARNING. THERE MUST NEED TO BE A RECALL IF I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO FINISH TYPING CHEVY IMPALA AND SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS AUTOMATICALLY POPS UP!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10561468

100,000 miles · Jan 10, 2014
Visibility/wiper

I HAVE SPUN THE MOTOR IN MY WIPERS 3 TIMES NOW. THE SNOW OR ICE BUILD UP UNDER THE HOOD WHERE THE WIPERS REST. I HAVE HAD IT FIXED 2 TIMES NOW. THIS TIME WIPERS WERE DOING FINE, MADE SURE THAT I HAD NO ICE OR SNOW ON THE WIPERS AS THEY TURN ON (WAKE UP). THEN WHEN I WENT TO SHUT THEM OFF AFTER OUR LAST ICE STORM, THE ICE BUILD U…

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I HAVE SPUN THE MOTOR IN MY WIPERS 3 TIMES NOW. THE SNOW OR ICE BUILD UP UNDER THE HOOD WHERE THE WIPERS REST. I HAVE HAD IT FIXED 2 TIMES NOW. THIS TIME WIPERS WERE DOING FINE, MADE SURE THAT I HAD NO ICE OR SNOW ON THE WIPERS AS THEY TURN ON (WAKE UP). THEN WHEN I WENT TO SHUT THEM OFF AFTER OUR LAST ICE STORM, THE ICE BUILD UP UNDER THE HOOD STOPPED THEM FROM GOING DOWN UNDER THE HOOD, AND MADE THEM SPIN AGAIN. NOW ITS A VISUAL DISTRACTION AS I AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITH THE WIPERS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION ON MY WINDSHIELD. IT MAKES FOR BLIND SPOTS. I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME I CHECKED OUT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND WAS ABLE TO FIND A DIAGRAM ON HOW TO FIX IT FROM SOMEONE ELSE. BUT NOW ITS SPUN SO MANY TIMES I WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC AND ORDER PARTS AND SPEND UNNECESSARY MONEY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559289

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.