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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
146,000 miles · May 13, 2013
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE REVERSE INDICATOR LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT CASING WAS FULL OF WATER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ODI #10511725

63,330 miles · May 10, 2013
Power Train

WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDAL FROM A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, I HEAR A GRINDING/ SLIPPING SOUND AND THEN A LOUD POP AND THE CAR JERKS INTO GEAR. THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM 2 WEEKS AGO GAVE ME A 30 DAY OR 1000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR THE PAST 2 DAYS .THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE SYMPTO…

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WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDAL FROM A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, I HEAR A GRINDING/ SLIPPING SOUND AND THEN A LOUD POP AND THE CAR JERKS INTO GEAR. THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM 2 WEEKS AGO GAVE ME A 30 DAY OR 1000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR THE PAST 2 DAYS .THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE SYMPTOM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND HUNDREDS OF ONLINE REPORTS OF THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ADVISE ON RECOURSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511456

75,000 miles · May 4, 2013
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER READ ERADICATE AT ALL SPEEDS. WHEN I WENT TO A MECHANIC HE SAID HE WAS CHANGING 3 TO 5 OF THESE A WEEK. JUST THINK HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OR MAYBE MILLIONS OF VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH NO CLUE AS TO HOW FAST THEY ARE GOING. IT'S NOT JUST THIS MAKE AND MODEL GM HAS A LOT OF TH…

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SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER READ ERADICATE AT ALL SPEEDS. WHEN I WENT TO A MECHANIC HE SAID HE WAS CHANGING 3 TO 5 OF THESE A WEEK. JUST THINK HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OR MAYBE MILLIONS OF VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH NO CLUE AS TO HOW FAST THEY ARE GOING. IT'S NOT JUST THIS MAKE AND MODEL GM HAS A LOT OF THEM. THERE ARE MANY BUSINESSES THAT ARE REBUILDING THESE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS BECAUSE OF THE FAILURES. CHECK IT OUT ON THE INTERNET. WHEN IS GM GOING TO BE MADE TO CORRECT THERE FAULTY PRODUCTS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510652

90,000 miles · Apr 18, 2013
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train

FROM STOP I WOULD STEP ON THE GAS, AND THE CAR WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL CLUSTER REPLACED $300, AND THE FUEL CONTROL REPLACED (CAR ALWAYS SMELT LIKE GAS) NOW THEY THINK THIS SLAM IS THE TCC VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IS ANYWHERE FROM $600-$900. ALSO THE STEERING KNUCKLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE ON …

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FROM STOP I WOULD STEP ON THE GAS, AND THE CAR WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL CLUSTER REPLACED $300, AND THE FUEL CONTROL REPLACED (CAR ALWAYS SMELT LIKE GAS) NOW THEY THINK THIS SLAM IS THE TCC VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IS ANYWHERE FROM $600-$900. ALSO THE STEERING KNUCKLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE ON SHARP TURNS. WHATS NEXT? ARE ANY OF THESE ISSUES RECALLS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508694

118,000 miles · Mar 25, 2013
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER WAS FIRST OFF BY 5 MILES THEN WORKED, FEW MONTHS LATER YOU WOULD BE DRIVING 30 AND IT WOULD SAY 60 THEN IT WOULD WORK FINE AT RANDOM LAST TIME IT ACTUALLY SPUN AROUND AND THE POINTER WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE GEAR INFORMATION. AFTER THAT THE HEAT GAGE WOULD READ AT MAX TEMP BUT THE TEMPERATURE WAS FINE AND THEN IT…

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SPEEDOMETER WAS FIRST OFF BY 5 MILES THEN WORKED, FEW MONTHS LATER YOU WOULD BE DRIVING 30 AND IT WOULD SAY 60 THEN IT WOULD WORK FINE AT RANDOM LAST TIME IT ACTUALLY SPUN AROUND AND THE POINTER WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE GEAR INFORMATION. AFTER THAT THE HEAT GAGE WOULD READ AT MAX TEMP BUT THE TEMPERATURE WAS FINE AND THEN IT TO STOPPED WORKING. REPLACED THE CLUSTER FOR AROUND $350. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504417

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System

FOR SEVERAL MONTHS I HAVE BEEN SMELLING STRONG GAS FUMES. TOOK TO PEP BOYS AND THEY CANNOT FIND ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503518

59,600 miles · Mar 18, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WAS INOPERABLE AND WOULD FAIL MOSTLY WHEN DRIVING DURING EVENING HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER ALSO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WAS INOPERABLE AND WOULD FAIL MOSTLY WHEN DRIVING DURING EVENING HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER ALSO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,600.

NHTSA ODI #10503481

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2013
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LACK OF RECALL ON VEHICLE WITH BAD SENSOR CLUSTERS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INOPERATIVE, DUE TO A BAD SENSOR CLUSTER.

NHTSA ODI #10501501

114,000 miles · Feb 10, 2013
SeatsCrashInjury

MY WIFE WAS SITTING STILL AT A RED LIGHT ON A ROAD WITH A 50MPH SPEED LIMIT. THE OTHER DRIVER DID NOT SEE THE RED LIGHT OR HER CAR & REAR ENDED HER AT FULL SPEED. THE BACK OF HER SEAT SNAPPED ALL THE WAY BACK AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT LODGED UPWARD CAUSING HER THIGHS AND PELVIC AREA TO BE SEVERELY COMPRESSED BETWEEN THE STEERIN…

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MY WIFE WAS SITTING STILL AT A RED LIGHT ON A ROAD WITH A 50MPH SPEED LIMIT. THE OTHER DRIVER DID NOT SEE THE RED LIGHT OR HER CAR & REAR ENDED HER AT FULL SPEED. THE BACK OF HER SEAT SNAPPED ALL THE WAY BACK AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT LODGED UPWARD CAUSING HER THIGHS AND PELVIC AREA TO BE SEVERELY COMPRESSED BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND SEAT WHILE HER HEAD WAS JOSTLED AROUND VIGOROUSLY DUE TO THE LACK OF BACK SUPPORT. HER SEATBELT WAS ON AND WORN PROPERLY. HER BODY WAS THROWN FORWARD THEN SLAMMED BACK HARD. SHE SUSTAINED INJURY AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BRAIN CONTUSION AND SEVERE WHIPLASH BY THE TRAUMA UNIT AFTER BEING RUSHED VIA AMBULANCE TO THE NEAREST LOCAL HOSPITAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10497644

194,000 miles · Feb 1, 2013
Electrical SystemPower Train

SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME. CAR WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING GOING DOWN ROAD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. AFTER PULLING OVER IT WILL START BACK UP. HAVE BEEN PLACED ON DIAGNOSTICS MACHINE AND NO CODES ARE TRIGGERED. WE HAVE REPLACED FUEL FILTER. HAD A TUNE UP DONE. NOTHING IS WORKING AND MECH…

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SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME. CAR WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING GOING DOWN ROAD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. AFTER PULLING OVER IT WILL START BACK UP. HAVE BEEN PLACED ON DIAGNOSTICS MACHINE AND NO CODES ARE TRIGGERED. WE HAVE REPLACED FUEL FILTER. HAD A TUNE UP DONE. NOTHING IS WORKING AND MECHANICS CANT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. VERY DANGEROUS. HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. LAST TIME GOING DOWN MOUNTAIN ON A CURVE WITH NO WHERE TO PULL OVER. LUCKILY NO TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496100

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.