← New search

2005 Chevrolet Impala

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

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
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2012
Unknown Or Other

I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK AND IT CRANKED FINE. I GOT IN IT TO GO HOME AND IT WOULDN'T START. I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT STILL IS HAPPENING. SOME TIME IT CRANKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I JUST WISH SOMEONE WOULD HELP ME FIGURE THIS OUT. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10462478

92,000 miles · Jun 20, 2012
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT DISPLAY THEIR PROPER READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND THE CURRENT…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT DISPLAY THEIR PROPER READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10462397

59,000 miles · Jun 8, 2012
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AFTER ATTEMPTING TO DIM THE HEADLIGHTS, ALL OF THE LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT STATED THAT THE DIMMER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF TH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AFTER ATTEMPTING TO DIM THE HEADLIGHTS, ALL OF THE LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT STATED THAT THE DIMMER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10461005

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2012
Electrical System

HORN WAS WORKING FINE AND IT WAS NICE AND LOUD ALWAYS SOUNDED LIKE A TRACTOR TRAILER HORN. THEN THE HORN STARTED GETTING WEAKER AND SOUNDING LIKE A REGULAR HORN THEN THE HORN JUST QUIT WORKING. THIS HAPPEN WITHIN TWO WEEKS TIME. REPLACED FUSES BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460198

99,901 miles · May 18, 2012
Electrical System

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR TOWED 4 TIMES SINCE MARCH 2012. WHEN THE CAR DECIDES TO START AND IS DRIVEN FOR SHORT DESTINATIONS, IT WILL NOT START. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. GIVES NO WARNING OF IMPENDING DOOM! CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START. ON APRIL 13, 2012 VEHICLE STARTED AFTER HAVING SET IN DRIVEWAY FOR A WEEK OR MORE. I DROVE IT TO N…

Read full complaint

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR TOWED 4 TIMES SINCE MARCH 2012. WHEN THE CAR DECIDES TO START AND IS DRIVEN FOR SHORT DESTINATIONS, IT WILL NOT START. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. GIVES NO WARNING OF IMPENDING DOOM! CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START. ON APRIL 13, 2012 VEHICLE STARTED AFTER HAVING SET IN DRIVEWAY FOR A WEEK OR MORE. I DROVE IT TO NEAREST DEALER, MEROLLIS CHEVROLET. AFTER 7 DAYS, DEALER REQUESTED I PICK-UP VEHICLE BECAUSE IT STARTED EACH DAY AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. FEARFUL OF A REPEAT PERFORMANCE, I DROVE CAR HOME AND PARKED IT. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, CAR FAILED TO START. FOLLOWING DAY 5/7/12, CAR WOULD NOT START. TOWED CAR TO JAMES MARTIN CHEVROLET. THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE BECAUSE IT HAS STARTED DAILY FOR DEALER. OUR WORLD IS TOO DANGEROUS FOR ANYONE TO DRIVE A CAR THAT WILL LEAVE THEM STRANDED FOR UNKNOWN REASON. THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH ISSUE. HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10458938

131,000 miles · May 4, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 131,000.

NHTSA ODI #10457522

45,000 miles · Apr 6, 2012
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN MAKING A TURN IN ANY DIRECTION AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT SELF CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CENTER SENSOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS STILL EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN MAKING A TURN IN ANY DIRECTION AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT SELF CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CENTER SENSOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS STILL EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ONCE THE WHEEL IS TURNED BOUT 20 DEGREES, AND HE REMOVED HIS HANDS, THE WHEEL MOMENTARILY SELF CENTER. UPDATED 06/01/12

NHTSA ODI #10454351

45,000 miles · Apr 5, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHEN SHIFTING 1ST TO 2ND GEAR THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, TRANSMISSION IS THE 2ND ONE I HAVE HAD IN THIS CAR SAMETHING IS HAPPENING TO THIS ONE I HAVE 95000 MILES NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454288

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I PURCHASED A CAR FROM ICARSNOW (704-551-0990) ON SOUTH BLVD IN CHARLOTTE ON OCTOBER 28, 2011. I DROVE THE CAR FOR A WEEK WHEN THE GEARS STARTED SLIPPING AND THE CAR STARTED TO STALL AND JERK THE CAR HAD A 90 DAY WARRANTY SO I CALLED SOUTHERN WARRANTY (704-282-1814) AND THEY HAD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO CARSON AUTOMOTIVE 10940 A E…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED A CAR FROM ICARSNOW (704-551-0990) ON SOUTH BLVD IN CHARLOTTE ON OCTOBER 28, 2011. I DROVE THE CAR FOR A WEEK WHEN THE GEARS STARTED SLIPPING AND THE CAR STARTED TO STALL AND JERK THE CAR HAD A 90 DAY WARRANTY SO I CALLED SOUTHERN WARRANTY (704-282-1814) AND THEY HAD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO CARSON AUTOMOTIVE 10940 A E. INDEPENDENCE BLVD. MATTHEWS NC THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND CONVERTER ON 11/4/11. I PICKED THE CAR UP DROVE FOR A WEEK OR TWO AND THE CAR WAS STILL STALLING AND JERKING. I CALLED CARSON AUTOMOTIVE AND TOOK THE CAR BACK.. I ALSO HEARD A NOISE IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO CARSON AUTOMOTIVE THEY COULD NOT FIND WHY THE CAR WAS STALLING AND JERKING BUT THE SAID THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF A ROD THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED ON 12/27/11. THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE 90 DAY WARRANTY WAS 50/50 WHERE IF ANYTHING MAJOR HAPPEN TO THE CAR THE WARRANTY COMPANY WOULD PAY HAVE AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY HALF. THIS IS NOT HOW IT WAS EXPLAINED BY THE SALESMAN AT ICARSNOW. HE TOLD ME AFTER THE 90 DAY WARRANTY IF ANYTHING HAPPENS MAJOR THAT THE WARRANTY COMPANY AND I WOULD SHARE THE COST. IN ORDER FOR ME TO NOT LOOSE THE MONEY ALREADY PAID ON THE CAR I HAVE TO PAY HALF ON THE ENGINE. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED THE CAR WAS LEAKING ANTI- FREEZE I TOOK THE CAR BACK AGAIN CARSON AUTOMOTIVE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. THE REAR WINDOW REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEFROST WAS NOT ATTACHED AND SPARKED WHEN YOU TOUCHED IT. THERE WAS ALSO A LEAK IN THE TRUNK THAT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. AFTER THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO MOVE UP I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR HIM TO CHECK IT OUT ON 2/25/12. THE PROBLEM WAS POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET DAMAGE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO CARSON AUTOMOTIVE SINCE THEY PUT THE ENGINE IN. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT THE ENGINE BUT A CRACKED RADIATOR. RADIATOR WAS REPLACED ON 2/27/12. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10453154

33,000 miles · Mar 18, 2012
Electrical System

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THIS WOULD BE CLASSIFIED UNDER BUT HERE'S THE DESCRIPTION. THE GAUGES GO HAYWIRE, I.E. THE SPEEDOMETER JUST KEEPS GOING UP EVEN IF YOU SLOW DOWN - UNTIL IT GOES ALMOST ALL THE WAY AROUND AGAIN. IT NORMALLY STOPS AT THE BOTTOM LIKE AT THE 200 DEGREE POSITION IF ON A 360 DEGREE VIEW. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING O…

Read full complaint

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THIS WOULD BE CLASSIFIED UNDER BUT HERE'S THE DESCRIPTION. THE GAUGES GO HAYWIRE, I.E. THE SPEEDOMETER JUST KEEPS GOING UP EVEN IF YOU SLOW DOWN - UNTIL IT GOES ALMOST ALL THE WAY AROUND AGAIN. IT NORMALLY STOPS AT THE BOTTOM LIKE AT THE 200 DEGREE POSITION IF ON A 360 DEGREE VIEW. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON MY CAR SINCE AROUND THE 30K MILEAGE. STARTING JUST LAST WEEK [MARCH 2012], NOW THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING. IT STARTED RUNNING "HOT", [BUT NOT REALLY] SO I IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN MY CAR, CALLED MY MECHANIC, ETC. THE TEMP GAUGE ALSO WENT ALL THE WAY AROUND AND SOMETIMES STAYS THERE, SOMETIMES IT COMES BACK AROUND TO NORMAL. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR, THE TEMP GAUGE WOULD START COMING BACK DOWN IN SEGMENTS - TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH ON/OFF WOULD MAKE THE GAUGES COME BACK DOWN TO NORMAL IN NOTCHES OR SPACED INCREMENTS. NOW I'M RUNNING MY CAR WITHOUT KNOWING THE PROPER SPEED AND ALSO NOT SURE IF MY CAR IS REALLY OVERHEATING OR NOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10452102

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.