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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
130,000 miles · Jul 26, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD READ INACCURATELY, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY TIME, AND SMOKE COULD BE SEEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD READ INACCURATELY, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY TIME, AND SMOKE COULD BE SEEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL, BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ODI #10415254

30,000 miles · Jul 22, 2011
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherWheels

THE ONLY EVENT LEADING TO THE FAILURE WAS A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE INVOLVED A PULL TO THE LEFT AND EXCESSIVE HEAT BEING GENERATED FROM THE BACK LEFT TIRE. THE COMPONENT THAT FAILED ENDED UP BEING THE WHEEL BEARING. I HAD A MECHANIC REPLACE IT AND ALSO KEPT THE OLD PART. THE OLD BEAR…

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THE ONLY EVENT LEADING TO THE FAILURE WAS A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE INVOLVED A PULL TO THE LEFT AND EXCESSIVE HEAT BEING GENERATED FROM THE BACK LEFT TIRE. THE COMPONENT THAT FAILED ENDED UP BEING THE WHEEL BEARING. I HAD A MECHANIC REPLACE IT AND ALSO KEPT THE OLD PART. THE OLD BEARING WAS SCORCHED (THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME) AND WARPED. THE BEARING COULD HAVE LOCKED UP HAD IT NOT BEEN REPLACED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10414647

42,000 miles · Jul 22, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicTraction Control System

NO EVENTS APPEAR TO LEAD UP TO THE PROBLEM. IT OCCURS RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING, ESPECIALLY DURING BACKUP OPERATIONS. THE ABS SEEMS TO COME ON WHENEVER IT LIKES DURING BRAKING, CAUSING HEAVY LOSS IN STOPPING POWER. THIS CAN OCCUR REGARDLESS OF ROAD CONDITIONS OR SPEED. SIMILAR TO THIS, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM APPEARS TO COME …

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NO EVENTS APPEAR TO LEAD UP TO THE PROBLEM. IT OCCURS RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING, ESPECIALLY DURING BACKUP OPERATIONS. THE ABS SEEMS TO COME ON WHENEVER IT LIKES DURING BRAKING, CAUSING HEAVY LOSS IN STOPPING POWER. THIS CAN OCCUR REGARDLESS OF ROAD CONDITIONS OR SPEED. SIMILAR TO THIS, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM APPEARS TO COME ON DURING ACCELERATION AT RANDOM TIMES, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS OR IN REVERSE. THIS OCCURS ON DRY ROADS FREQUENTLY AND OCCASIONALLY CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO PULL HEAVILY TO ONE SIDE AS NEITHER SIDE IS ACTUALLY SLIPPING. AN ACCIDENT HAS NOT YET OCCURRED BUT CERTAINLY CAN GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE FAILURES. A TSB IS AVAILABLE CONCERNING THE ABS. THIS VEHICLE HAS A WHOPPING 75 TSBS! SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER : 4615 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER : 10023171 *TT

NHTSA ODI #10414642

41,000 miles · Jul 22, 2011
Electrical System

CAR: 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA, V6 3100 ENGINE THE HORN IN THE CAR BEGAN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH FUNCTIONALITY. IT IS UNKNOWN HOW THIS BEGAN EXCEPT THAT THE SOUND OF THE HORN BECAME SOMEWHAT STRANGE TO START. OVER TIME THE HORN FAILED COMPLETELY. THE RESULT OF THIS FAILURE IS A RATHER BIG SAFETY ISSUE GIVEN THE NEED OF …

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CAR: 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA, V6 3100 ENGINE THE HORN IN THE CAR BEGAN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH FUNCTIONALITY. IT IS UNKNOWN HOW THIS BEGAN EXCEPT THAT THE SOUND OF THE HORN BECAME SOMEWHAT STRANGE TO START. OVER TIME THE HORN FAILED COMPLETELY. THE RESULT OF THIS FAILURE IS A RATHER BIG SAFETY ISSUE GIVEN THE NEED OF THE HORN TO WARN OTHER DRIVES AND PEDESTRIANS OF YOUR PRESENCE WHEN THEY ARE UNAWARE. WE NEARLY GOT INTO THREE ACCIDENTS (TWO IN PARKING LOTS, ONE ON ROAD) AS A RESULT OF OUR INABILITY TO HONK AT DRIVERS TO LET THEM KNOW WE WERE THERE. I AM A HANDYMAN/MECHANIC TYPE AND REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE HORN AND ADDED A CUSTOM WATER SHIELD TO PREVENT WATER FROM CORRODING THE HORN. THERE IS A TSB ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS NECESSARY. SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER : 4043 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER : 10020089 *TT

NHTSA ODI #10414635

45,000 miles · Jul 6, 2011
Exterior Lighting

I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY IMPALA IN 2008. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HWY, A VERY TWISTY ROAD . I HAD MY HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRST CURVE MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, I JUMPED THE BRAKE AND FLIPPED THE LEVER BACK AND FORTH AND THEY FINALLY CAME BACK ON LOW BEAM, I ALMOST WREAKED. THE SECOND TI…

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I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY IMPALA IN 2008. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HWY, A VERY TWISTY ROAD . I HAD MY HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRST CURVE MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, I JUMPED THE BRAKE AND FLIPPED THE LEVER BACK AND FORTH AND THEY FINALLY CAME BACK ON LOW BEAM, I ALMOST WREAKED. THE SECOND TIME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY JUST COMING INTO THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN, HEAVY TRAFFIC, I FLIPPED THE LEVER BACK AND FORTH AND THE LOW BEAMS CAME BACK ON. I SPOKE WITH A DEALER WHO SAID THEY HAD NO COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL. IT HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES AND CAN'T BE PINNED TO ANY PARTICULAR TIMES, NOW I DRIVE WITH MY LIGHTS ON LOW ALL THE TIME. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME HAD TO REPLACE THEIR WHOLE STEERING COLUMN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THIS, BUT THE CAR ISN'T SAFE. IT KEEPS DOING IT AND ONE OF THESE TIMES I WILL FORGET AND IT WILL CATCH ME UNAWARE AND I WILL WRECK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410786

60,102 miles · Jul 2, 2011
Suspension

WELD ON FRONT RIGHT STABILIZER BAR FAILED AND IS CRACKED. CAR IS VIBRATING ON RIGHT FRONT SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410318

62,000 miles · Jun 14, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED. THE ENGINE GAUGE ROSE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED. THE ENGINE GAUGE ROSE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TH VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #10406810

112,900 miles · Jun 8, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY CAR OVERHEATS AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. MY CAR IS NOT OLD ENOUGH FOR THIS TO BE A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10405646

59,000 miles · May 14, 2011
Electrical System

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED WITH 59,000 MILES. DROVE IT HOME, PARKED IT FOR 2 DAYS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. RETURNED TO DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY AND INDICATED THE DRAIN WHILE OFF WAS WITH SPECS. TOOK CAR HOME AND WORKED WELL FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. ON THE FOURTH DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOU…

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I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED WITH 59,000 MILES. DROVE IT HOME, PARKED IT FOR 2 DAYS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. RETURNED TO DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY AND INDICATED THE DRAIN WHILE OFF WAS WITH SPECS. TOOK CAR HOME AND WORKED WELL FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. ON THE FOURTH DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10400855

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2005 CHEVY IMPALA: ROUGH SHIFTING, LOST SOME HP, SPEEDOMETER ISN'T WORKING, ENGINE LEAKING OIL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10400567

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.