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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
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2012
Fuel System, Gasoline

STARTED SMELLING GAS WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM CHURCH ON JANUARY 8, 2012. SMELL OF FUMES INTENSIFIED. MUST ROLL DOWN WINDOWS WHENEVER DRIVING. MY EYES BEGAN TO BURN. I PARKED THE CAR WHEN I GOT HOME, AND I COULD SMELL A LOT OF GAS WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. CAR SAT UNTIL MONDAY JANUARY 9, 2012. I STILL SMELLED GAS. MY CAR BEGAN B…

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STARTED SMELLING GAS WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM CHURCH ON JANUARY 8, 2012. SMELL OF FUMES INTENSIFIED. MUST ROLL DOWN WINDOWS WHENEVER DRIVING. MY EYES BEGAN TO BURN. I PARKED THE CAR WHEN I GOT HOME, AND I COULD SMELL A LOT OF GAS WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. CAR SAT UNTIL MONDAY JANUARY 9, 2012. I STILL SMELLED GAS. MY CAR BEGAN BURNING EXTREME AMOUNT OF GAS. CAR SAT UNTIL THE 13TH. I FILLED UP TO A FULL TANK OF GAS. I DROVE 7 MILES TO THE STORE AND 7 MILES BACK. THE CAR BURNED 1/8 TANK OF GAS. LEARNED OF 2005 CHEVY IMPALA RECALL DUE TO FUEL SYSTEM/ FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. RECALL ID# 64377. I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. I DROVE HOME WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN IN 19 DEGREE WEATHER. NOW IT IS SITTING AGAIN DUE TO MECHANIC RECOMMENDATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10443801

10,400 miles · Jan 11, 2012
Electrical System

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE SPEEDOMETER ADVANCED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE GAUGE, THEN STUCK THERE. THE ONLY WAY I CAN RESET IT IS TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND ON, AND SOMETIMES THAT DOES NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10443502

88,000 miles · Jan 8, 2012
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS CHANGE HARD, MAKES SHUDDER NOISE, WILL SPEED UP AND SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. SPEEDOMETER GOES UP AND DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10442860

99,542 miles · Jan 3, 2012
Visibility

THE HEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR WILL NOT COME ON BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE BLOWS LIKE A CHAMP. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE DOOR THAT FLOWS COLD AND HOT AIR IS STUCK ON COOL AIR AND SINCE ITS A DUAL AIR VEHICLE ONE SIDE IS BLOWING HOT THE OTHER COLD. I AM VERY SURPRISED THIS IS NOT A RECALL SINCE THERE …

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THE HEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR WILL NOT COME ON BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE BLOWS LIKE A CHAMP. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE DOOR THAT FLOWS COLD AND HOT AIR IS STUCK ON COOL AIR AND SINCE ITS A DUAL AIR VEHICLE ONE SIDE IS BLOWING HOT THE OTHER COLD. I AM VERY SURPRISED THIS IS NOT A RECALL SINCE THERE ARE OVER 1,000 COMPLAINTS ON THIS ONE PART PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS; I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME CHEVY OWNER AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS HAPPEN AFTER DRIVING BUT THIS IS REALLY NOT A DRIVER INDUCED PROBLEM. THANK YOU FROM A VALUED CUSTOMER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10442314

82,000 miles · Dec 31, 2011
Electrical System

2005 CHEVY IMPALA. FIRST HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE WOULD ENGAGE WHENEVER THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THIS OCCURRED AT 30,000 MILES. DEALER WARRANTED THIS. AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES THE DISPLAY PANEL INDICATED ERRONEOUS PROBLEMS, IE. TRUCK OPEN WHEN NOT. THE LIGHTS WOULD FLASH OFF AND …

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2005 CHEVY IMPALA. FIRST HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE WOULD ENGAGE WHENEVER THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THIS OCCURRED AT 30,000 MILES. DEALER WARRANTED THIS. AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES THE DISPLAY PANEL INDICATED ERRONEOUS PROBLEMS, IE. TRUCK OPEN WHEN NOT. THE LIGHTS WOULD FLASH OFF AND ON INDICATING ALL KINDS OF ISSUES WHEN NONE EXISTED. ALSO THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO WORK ERRATICALLY. THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD INDICATE SPEEDS OF 30-60 MPH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL DRIVING SPEED. TURNING THE CAR OFF/ON WOULD GRADUALLY LOWER AND RESET THE SPEEDOMETER. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY WITH NO REAL PATTERN. SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. ALSO COULD PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10441956

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

THE SPEEDOMETER JUST STOPPED WORKING, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT HARD BUT WHEN YOU SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND START IT BACK UP IT STOPS SHIFTING HARD, AND THE CAR STALLS. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10441700

87,000 miles · Dec 29, 2011
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER HAS GONE HAYWIRE. YOU CANNOT TELL HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. THE RPM GAUGE IS GOING HAYWIRE AS WELL. IT JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED WITH NO WRITTEN NOTICE FROM WARRANTY COMPANY. THE CLUSTERS ARE THE ROOT OF ALL THE PROBLEMS AND CHEVROLET NEED…

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THE SPEEDOMETER HAS GONE HAYWIRE. YOU CANNOT TELL HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. THE RPM GAUGE IS GOING HAYWIRE AS WELL. IT JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED WITH NO WRITTEN NOTICE FROM WARRANTY COMPANY. THE CLUSTERS ARE THE ROOT OF ALL THE PROBLEMS AND CHEVROLET NEEDS TO RECALL TO REPAIR THE ISSUES DESCRIBED. ANOTHER ALARMING PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 CHEVY IMPALA I OWN IS WHAT IS CALLED THE PASSLOCK PROTECTION. IT ALSO DOES NOT WORK AT TIMES AND I HAD TO FIND OUT WAYS TO BYPASS THE PASSLOCK ON YOUTUBE. THIS COULD TURN INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF YOU NEED TO START YOU CAR IN AN EMERGENCY AND YOU CANT BECAUSE THE PASSLOCK WILL NOT LET YOU TURN ON THE CAR. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO WAIT TEN MINUTES WITH THE KEY IN A CERTAIN POSITION. THAT IS TOTALLY NOT ACCEPTABLE. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10441694

70,000 miles · Dec 28, 2011
Fuel System, GasolineSteering

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, THE SMELL OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE …

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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, THE SMELL OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000. KMJ

NHTSA ODI #10441448

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2011
Electrical SystemPower TrainVisibility

MY SPEEDOMETER GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT WILL GET STUCK ON 20 MPH CONSTANTLY IT NEVER READS THE CORRECT SPEED BUT MY OTHER GAUGES WORK FINE. MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS/SLIPS HARDER THAN IT SHOULD FROM 1ST INTO 2ED AND 2ND INTO 3RD. MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN I PUSH ON MY WINDOW CONTROLS TO ROLL MY WINDOWS UP OR DOWN. THE HEA…

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MY SPEEDOMETER GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT WILL GET STUCK ON 20 MPH CONSTANTLY IT NEVER READS THE CORRECT SPEED BUT MY OTHER GAUGES WORK FINE. MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS/SLIPS HARDER THAN IT SHOULD FROM 1ST INTO 2ED AND 2ND INTO 3RD. MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN I PUSH ON MY WINDOW CONTROLS TO ROLL MY WINDOWS UP OR DOWN. THE HEAT ONLY BLOWS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR INCLUDING ON THE DEFROST FOR THE FRONT WINDOWS AND THE REAR WINDOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10440497

89,000 miles · Dec 7, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringSuspension

MY CHEVY IMPALA BEGAN SHAKING WHEN I ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN ON THE FREEWAY FROM SPEEDS OF 55-65 MILES AN HOUR. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES, BRAKES, AND BALANCED, ALIGNED, ROTATED AND THE SHAKING HAS NOT STOPPED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU NEED TO COME TO A QUICK STOP BECAUSE WHEN YOUR CAR SHAKES LIKE IT'S FALLING APART YOUR FIR…

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MY CHEVY IMPALA BEGAN SHAKING WHEN I ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN ON THE FREEWAY FROM SPEEDS OF 55-65 MILES AN HOUR. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES, BRAKES, AND BALANCED, ALIGNED, ROTATED AND THE SHAKING HAS NOT STOPPED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU NEED TO COME TO A QUICK STOP BECAUSE WHEN YOUR CAR SHAKES LIKE IT'S FALLING APART YOUR FIRST INSTINCT IS TO LET GO OF THE BRAKE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE COME TO DISCOVER THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET IMPALA'S. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP DUMPING MONEY INTO A TEMPORARY SOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10438831

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.