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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
85,000 miles · Jan 25, 2011
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE, SPEEDOMETER STOPPED AT 55MPH EVEN WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR AND SHUT IT OFF. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND BEGIN DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER WAS GOING UP TO 105 MPH. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS GOING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378689

145,000 miles · Jan 21, 2011
Electrical System

THERE ARE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM LEAVING A MOTORIST STRANDED AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THE FAILURE HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK LEAVING THE DRIVER STRANDED AT WHATEVER LOCATION HE/SHE CUTS THE CAR OFF. SOMETIMES IT WILL BE 5MIN BEFORE THE ALARM WILL RESET AND SOMETIMES IT WILL BE DAYS LEAVING THE MOTORIST…

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THERE ARE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM LEAVING A MOTORIST STRANDED AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THE FAILURE HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK LEAVING THE DRIVER STRANDED AT WHATEVER LOCATION HE/SHE CUTS THE CAR OFF. SOMETIMES IT WILL BE 5MIN BEFORE THE ALARM WILL RESET AND SOMETIMES IT WILL BE DAYS LEAVING THE MOTORIST WITHOUT A VEHICLE. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IN THIS INSTANCE THE ALARM WON'T RESET SO THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE I WAS GIVEN BY A GM DEALERSHIP IS TO HAVE THE SYSTEM DISCONNECTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378221

97,000 miles · Jan 17, 2011
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM HAS QUIT WORKING FOR THE 3RD TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR WINTER DRIVING. 1ST TWO OCCURENCES HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, 70,000 MILES LATER IT HAS HAPPEND AGAIN. IN ALL 3 OCCURENCES IT HAS HAPPENED IN BAD WEATHER: RAINY FOR THE 1ST TWO AND SNOW FOR THE THIRD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376903

78,000 miles · Jan 10, 2011
Exterior Lighting

I WAS DRIVING EARLY MORNING IT THE DARK AND MY HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING ON MY 2005 CHEVY IMPALA. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375458

75,000 miles · Dec 24, 2010
Electrical System

2005 IMPALA, FAILED INSTRUMENT PANEL. LIKE THE OTHER 65+ COMPLAINTS, MY INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN FAILING AT 75,000 MILES. AT FIRST, COULD RESET WITH KEY TO ACC NUMEROUS TIMES, NO LONGER WORKS. UNPLUG BATTERY RESETS, BUT AT ANY TIME STARTS AGAIN. IT SEEMS ESPECIALLY BAD IN COLD WEATHER. WHEN SPEEDOMETER DOES WORK, JUMPS FROM 2…

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2005 IMPALA, FAILED INSTRUMENT PANEL. LIKE THE OTHER 65+ COMPLAINTS, MY INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN FAILING AT 75,000 MILES. AT FIRST, COULD RESET WITH KEY TO ACC NUMEROUS TIMES, NO LONGER WORKS. UNPLUG BATTERY RESETS, BUT AT ANY TIME STARTS AGAIN. IT SEEMS ESPECIALLY BAD IN COLD WEATHER. WHEN SPEEDOMETER DOES WORK, JUMPS FROM 20-40-60 MPH WITH NO CHANGE IN ACTUAL SPEED OF VEHICLE, OR DROPS TO 0. COST IS OVER $500 FROM SHADETREE MECHANIC, $800 DEALERSHIP, WITH NO VEHICLE FOR DAYS. NOW, AT 90,000 THE TEMP GAUGE IS GONE TOO, CONSTANTLY STRAIGHT DOWN, 400+ DEGREES, BUT VEHICLE NOT RUNNING HOT. AM STARTING TO FILL GAS TANK EVEN WHEN NOT NECESSARY, SHOULD BE THE NEXT GAUGE TO FAIL IN THE CLUSTER. UNACCEPTABLE THAT THERE IS NO RECOURSE FOR THE CONSUMER FOR WHAT A $10 PART, WHICH IS WHY IT FAILED IN THE FIRST PLACE. MY GUESS IS, IT ISN'T A PRICEY ENOUGH CAR TO RATE A REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10372321

85,000 miles · Dec 23, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY AND OVER TIME IT STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10372275

131,485 miles · Dec 22, 2010
SteeringSuspension

2005 CHEVY IMPALA TIRE BLEW DUE TO BOWED REAR TIE ROD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10372116

73,000 miles · Nov 29, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY; IT INDICATED INCORRECT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY; IT INDICATED INCORRECT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000. UPDATED 01/19/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED NUMEROUS OF CALLS TO GM A NEW INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS FURNISHED FOR FREE. THE CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR TO INSTALL IT. UPDATED 02/22/11 UPDATED 09/27/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED GM AGREED TO FURNISH THE INSTRUMENT FOR FREE IF HE AGREED TO PAY FOR THE LABOR. THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE SPEEDOMETER. THE CONSUMER AGREED TO PAY FOR THE LABOR AT A COST OF $ 136.00. UPDATED 09/30/11*JB

NHTSA ODI #10368155

92,000 miles · Nov 27, 2010
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS STOPPED WORKING AND NOW THE NEEDLE POINTS STRAIGHT DOWN. THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO JUDGE MY SPEED WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND OTHER MOTORISTS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SITUATION THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN A PART CALLED A CLUSTER WHICH IS A DEALER ITEM AND IS VERY COSTLY TO …

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THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS STOPPED WORKING AND NOW THE NEEDLE POINTS STRAIGHT DOWN. THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO JUDGE MY SPEED WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND OTHER MOTORISTS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SITUATION THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN A PART CALLED A CLUSTER WHICH IS A DEALER ITEM AND IS VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR, THEREFORE MY CAR HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. THIS BAD CLUSTER HAS ALSO CAUSED OTHER SYSTEM PROBLEMS, GAUGES, HEATER, AND TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEMS BECAUSE APPARENTLY THIS PART CONTROLS A LOT OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE GM RECALL THIS CLUSTER AND DO THE RIGHT THING BY REPLACING THESE PARTS AND REPAIRING THESE DANGEROUS CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367995

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2010
Steering

FAX FROM SENATOR MENENDEZ ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE A RECENT CONVERSATION WITH GMC ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA; WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY GM CAN'T BE A VIABLE, HONEST, CONSUMER FRIENDLY MAN'F OF A SAFE CAR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN STOPPING OR MAKING TUR…

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FAX FROM SENATOR MENENDEZ ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE A RECENT CONVERSATION WITH GMC ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA; WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY GM CAN'T BE A VIABLE, HONEST, CONSUMER FRIENDLY MAN'F OF A SAFE CAR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN STOPPING OR MAKING TURNS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THE CONSUMER LEARNED THE PROBLEM WAS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10367557

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.