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
79,500 miles · Dec 29, 2013
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
AUGUST 2013 INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT, QUICK DECELERATION, FRONTAL CRASH. OTHER DRIVER PULLED INTO TRAFFIC, WITH HER VIEW BLOCKED OF MOVING TRAFFIC APPROACHING HER. ONCE THE TRUCK DRIVING IN FRONT OF ME TURNED SHE WAS STOPPED IN THE ROADWAY. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP MY CAR QUICKLY BUT DID NOT HAVE MORE THAN 4 SECONDS IN WHICH TO ST…
Read full complaint
AUGUST 2013 INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT, QUICK DECELERATION, FRONTAL CRASH. OTHER DRIVER PULLED INTO TRAFFIC, WITH HER VIEW BLOCKED OF MOVING TRAFFIC APPROACHING HER. ONCE THE TRUCK DRIVING IN FRONT OF ME TURNED SHE WAS STOPPED IN THE ROADWAY. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP MY CAR QUICKLY BUT DID NOT HAVE MORE THAN 4 SECONDS IN WHICH TO STOP MY CAR. I IMPACTED THE FRONT END, DRIVER SIDE QUARTER PANEL, AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF A 2005 HONDA CIVIC. THE 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA SHOULDER HARNESS LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. MY BODY PROPELLED FORWARD UPON BRAKING AND I IMPACTED WITH A FULLY EXTENDED SHOULDER HARNESS. THE LENGTH OF THE SHOULDER HARNESS ONLY EXTENDS TO 1.5 INCHES FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, MY BODY CONTINUED TO TRAVEL BEYOND THE EXTENSION OF THE HARNESS CAUSING INJURY TO MY LEFT CLAVICLE, UPPER STERNUM, NECK, SHOULDERS AND RIBS. MY UPPER BODY, STERNUM AND TORSO HIT THE STEERING RESULTING IN WHIPLASH, TO INCLUDE ABDOMINAL, NECK, STERNUM, CLAVICLE, SHOULDER AND SCAPULOTHORACIC INJURIES. MY KNEE HIT THE DASH UNDERNEATH THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10557621
170,000 miles · Dec 24, 2013
EngineFire
MY CAR JUST LOST ALL POWER SO I COASTED TO A STOP. I SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW IT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR STARTED ON FIRE AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10557161
41,500 miles · Dec 22, 2013
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE CRUISE SET TO 65 MPH, THE NEEDLE ON THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO SLOWLY SHOW A DECREASE IN SPEED EVENTHOUGH THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE CAR DID NOT CHANGE. OVER THE NEXT 50 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUED TO DECREASE UNTIL IT WAS BELOW 0 ALTHOUGH THE CARS SPEED STAYED A 65MPH. SINCE THEN SIMI…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE CRUISE SET TO 65 MPH, THE NEEDLE ON THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO SLOWLY SHOW A DECREASE IN SPEED EVENTHOUGH THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE CAR DID NOT CHANGE. OVER THE NEXT 50 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUED TO DECREASE UNTIL IT WAS BELOW 0 ALTHOUGH THE CARS SPEED STAYED A 65MPH. SINCE THEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS APPEARED WITH THE RPM GAUGE WHERE THE NEEDLE SHOWS IT REDLINING EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS IDLING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10556976
74,000 miles · Dec 21, 2013
Electrical System
AFTER SHOPPING, MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR AND THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE WENT FAR TO THE RIGHT WELL BEYOND THE FULL MARK. AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/2 TANK OF GAS. WE NOTED THE MILEAGE FROM THE ODOMETER AND HAVE USED THAT AS A BASIS ON WHEN TO FILL THE CAR. WE CHECKED WITH A GARAGE AND THEY SHOWED US A NOTIFICATION THAT…
Read full complaint
AFTER SHOPPING, MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR AND THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE WENT FAR TO THE RIGHT WELL BEYOND THE FULL MARK. AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/2 TANK OF GAS. WE NOTED THE MILEAGE FROM THE ODOMETER AND HAVE USED THAT AS A BASIS ON WHEN TO FILL THE CAR. WE CHECKED WITH A GARAGE AND THEY SHOWED US A NOTIFICATION THAT HAD COME FROM CHEVROLET THAT THIS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY WITH 2005 CHEVY IMPALAS. THEY SAID IT IS PROBABLY THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER OR THE SENSOR FROM THE FUEL TANK. EITHER REPAIR WOULD COST OVER $500.00. I CHECKED ONLINE AND NOTICED THAT CHEVY SUV'S FROM THAT ERA WERE FIXED FOR FREE IF THEY HAD LESS THAN 120,000 MILES. I ALSO NOTED A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM 2005 CHEVY IMPALA DRIVERS ABOUT THE LACK OF RESPONSE FROM CHEVROLET. IF THAT IS THE CASE AND THEIR IS NO COMPENSATION FOR A MISTAKE MADE BY THE MANUFACTURER, THEN THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHEVY PRODUCT I OR MY FAMILY WILL EVER BUY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10556940
130,000 miles · Dec 10, 2013
Visibility/wiperCrashInjury
WIPERS QUICK WORKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10555526
100,000 miles · Nov 25, 2013
Electrical SystemCrash
DURING A SNOW STORM, TRAVELING WITH TRAFFIC AT A SAFE SPEED. I WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE MY HORN FAILED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ALERT THE OTHER DRIVER THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO MERGE INTO MY LANE. RESULTING IN MY CAR ENTERING THE DITCH TO AVOID A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. I HAVE RESEARCHED 2005 CHEVY IMPALA HORN FAILURE, AND…
Read full complaint
DURING A SNOW STORM, TRAVELING WITH TRAFFIC AT A SAFE SPEED. I WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE MY HORN FAILED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ALERT THE OTHER DRIVER THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO MERGE INTO MY LANE. RESULTING IN MY CAR ENTERING THE DITCH TO AVOID A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. I HAVE RESEARCHED 2005 CHEVY IMPALA HORN FAILURE, AND I HAVE FOUND MANY HAVE BURNED OUT. MY MECHANIC STATES HE BELIEVES IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE HORN ITSELF, THE HORN IS IN AN UNPROTECTED AREA, IT CAN AND WILL "BURN" OUT DUE TO RAIN WATER, SNOW, ETC. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. AS IMPORTANT AS ANY OTHER. THE COST TO REPLACE THE HORN IS OVER $200.00 WITH LABOR BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL LABOR TO GET TO THE HORN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10553731
91,000 miles · Nov 22, 2013
Electrical System
THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES NOW WITH BOTH THE SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE. I START THE CAR AND START DRIVING AND HAPPEN TO LOOK DOWN AND EITHER THE SPEEDOMETER OR THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL BE GIVING A FALSE HIGH READING. SEEING AS THE CAR HAD JUST STARTED IT COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE OVERHEATING. I FIND IF I SHUT THE CAR…
Read full complaint
THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES NOW WITH BOTH THE SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE. I START THE CAR AND START DRIVING AND HAPPEN TO LOOK DOWN AND EITHER THE SPEEDOMETER OR THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL BE GIVING A FALSE HIGH READING. SEEING AS THE CAR HAD JUST STARTED IT COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE OVERHEATING. I FIND IF I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND CYCLE THE KEY FROM OFF TO ON WITHOUT STARTING ENGINE I CAN GET IT TO DROP BACK TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE. I HEAR THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND IT WILL FAIL EVENTUALLY. I DRIVE HIGHWAYS MOSTLY AND NOT KNOWING MY CORRECT SPEED WHEN TRYING TO ENTER AND MERGE WITH TRAFFIC IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10553477
49,528 miles · Nov 7, 2013
Electrical System
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT 45MPH AND SUDDENLY MY SPEEDOMETER AND INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT CRAZY. IT SAID I WAS GOING 120MPH. FURTHERMORE, MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS INACCURATE CAUSING MY CAR TO OVERHEAT. THIS CAUSED THE HEAD GASKETS TO BLOW AND OTHER PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1,900.00 FIXING THIS ISSUE. I WAS TO…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT 45MPH AND SUDDENLY MY SPEEDOMETER AND INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT CRAZY. IT SAID I WAS GOING 120MPH. FURTHERMORE, MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS INACCURATE CAUSING MY CAR TO OVERHEAT. THIS CAUSED THE HEAD GASKETS TO BLOW AND OTHER PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1,900.00 FIXING THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH IS OVER $2,000.00. CHEVROLET KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM YET CHOOSES TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES AS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN WITH CHEVROLET TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES. THANK YOU *TR
NHTSA ODI #10551342
Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2013
Electrical System
SPEEDOMETER GETTING STUCK & NOT REGISTERING PROPERLY. DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO TELL WHAT SPEED THE CAR IS TRAVELING AT. THIS COULD RESULT IN TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS FOR AN OTHERWISE VERY GOOD DRIVING RECORD & COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD. CHEVROLET REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP & FIX THIS ISSUE AS RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WIT…
Read full complaint
SPEEDOMETER GETTING STUCK & NOT REGISTERING PROPERLY. DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO TELL WHAT SPEED THE CAR IS TRAVELING AT. THIS COULD RESULT IN TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS FOR AN OTHERWISE VERY GOOD DRIVING RECORD & COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD. CHEVROLET REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP & FIX THIS ISSUE AS RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL, & YEAR. A FAMILY MEMBER ALSO HAS THE SAME CAR BUT THE BASE MODEL & HIS GAS GAUGE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10551222
130,000 miles · Oct 24, 2013
Electrical System
NOTICED A SMELL AND STARTED SEEING SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. TURNED OFF CAR AND CHECKED TO FIND OUT THE BLOWER MOTOR, RESISTER AND HARNESS MELTED. *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