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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
41,000 miles · May 12, 2010
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, TACHOMETER, STOPPED WORKING @ 41,000 MILES. TACH WORKS ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS YOU CAN'T TELL HOW FAST YOU ARE TRAVELING, AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE UNTIL THE GAS WARNING INDICATOR COMES ON. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330212

78,556 miles · May 10, 2010
Electrical System

MY CHEVY IMPALA GAUGE CLUSTER BEGAN TO WORK INAPPROPRIATELY IN JULY 2007. IT STARTED WITH THE SPEEDOMETER, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING 55MPH BUT WAS REALLY GOING 77MPH. I GOT A TICKET AND THREE DAYS LATER THE NEEDLE STOPPED WORKING. TWO MONTHS LATER THE TEMP NEEDLE AND FUEL NEEDLE STOPPED WORKING. I CO…

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MY CHEVY IMPALA GAUGE CLUSTER BEGAN TO WORK INAPPROPRIATELY IN JULY 2007. IT STARTED WITH THE SPEEDOMETER, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING 55MPH BUT WAS REALLY GOING 77MPH. I GOT A TICKET AND THREE DAYS LATER THE NEEDLE STOPPED WORKING. TWO MONTHS LATER THE TEMP NEEDLE AND FUEL NEEDLE STOPPED WORKING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR HAD CLOSED AND THERE WAS NOT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN THE AREA. IN APRIL, 2010, MY ENTIRE DASH STOPPED WORKING, INCLUDING THE MESSAGE CENTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329699

52,000 miles · May 4, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. SHE WAITED THIRTY MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST BUT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND OCCURRED MORE OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. SHE WAITED THIRTY MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST BUT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND OCCURRED MORE OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.

NHTSA ODI #10328831

103,117 miles · Apr 23, 2010
Electrical System

2005 CHEVORLET IMPALA: THE SPEEDOMETER GAINS/DROPS SPEED AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING MISCALCULATION OF SPEED DURING TRAVEL. AT FIRST, THE SPEEDOMETER RETURNED TO THE ORIGINAL STATE, HOWEVER, AFTER RESETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION, THE UNIT FAILED TO REGISTER SPEED PROPERLY. IT HAS AFFECTED THE MAINTENANCE AN…

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2005 CHEVORLET IMPALA: THE SPEEDOMETER GAINS/DROPS SPEED AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING MISCALCULATION OF SPEED DURING TRAVEL. AT FIRST, THE SPEEDOMETER RETURNED TO THE ORIGINAL STATE, HOWEVER, AFTER RESETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION, THE UNIT FAILED TO REGISTER SPEED PROPERLY. IT HAS AFFECTED THE MAINTENANCE AND PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. ULTIMATELY, THE RPM AND SPEEDOMETER GAUGES, CEASE TO WORK PROPERLY AND THE CAR TENDS TO SKIP BETWEEN AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFTS. ALSO, I RECEIVED A TRAFFIC TICKET IN THE STATE OF NC DUE TO THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTION. IN ORDER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR MY VEHICLE, 2005 CHEVORLET IMPALA (MILEAGE: 103,117K), THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS TO BE UNINSTALLED FROM THE VEHICLE, REBUILT, AND REINSTALLED BACK INTO THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO MY DEALER AND A LICENSED MECHANIC. THIS REPAIR ON AVERAGE RANGES $400-$800 (WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM). ACCORDING TO RESEARCH, SPEEDOMETER FAILURE IS A COMMON BUT EXPENSIVE PROBLEM AMONG 2000-2006 CHEVORLET MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327193

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2010
Structure

WHEN RAINING WATER FILLS PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS AND GOES IN BEHIND DASH. HAS CAUSED THE RADIO TO QUIT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326764

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

STRONG GAS SMELL IN CAR WHILE IDLING AND DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326761

52,000 miles · Apr 19, 2010
Exterior LightingInterior Lighting

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ALL OF THE VEHICLE LIGHTS (INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR) FAILED TO TURN ON WHEN THE SUN WENT DOWN AND IT BECAME DARK. HE TRIED TO USE THE HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM LIGHTS TO TURN THEM ON MANUALLY. HE PU…

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TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ALL OF THE VEHICLE LIGHTS (INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR) FAILED TO TURN ON WHEN THE SUN WENT DOWN AND IT BECAME DARK. HE TRIED TO USE THE HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM LIGHTS TO TURN THEM ON MANUALLY. HE PULLED OVER AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE LIGHTS TURNED ON. IN APRIL 2010, WHILE DRIVING, THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF AGAIN. HE TRIED THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS TURNED BACK ON. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT WAS TOLD UNLESS HE COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEY COULD DO NOTHING TO ASSIST HIM. HE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,947. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

NHTSA ODI #10326386

103,000 miles · Apr 19, 2010
Steering

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE IN A SHAKING MOTION. THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE DEALER ESTIMATED …

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TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE IN A SHAKING MOTION. THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE DEALER ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS $419.00. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ODI #10326301

100,000 miles · Apr 10, 2010
Electrical System

WITH APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES ON 2005 IMPALA SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO FALSELY REPORT VEHICLE SPEED WHEN DRIVING FOR MORE THEN 3 HOURS. THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES. STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324819

89,000 miles · Apr 4, 2010
Electrical System

2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT READS MUCH FASTER THAN YOU ARE ACTUALLY GOING, OFTEN TIMES 40MPH +. THE PROBLEM STARTED ON A LONG TRIP. CYCLING THE IGNITION WOULD BRING IT BACK TO ZERO, BUT THAT NO LONGER WORKS. THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE EVENT THAT TRIGGERS THE PROBLEM. IT CAUSE THE DRIVER TO MAINTAIN…

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2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT READS MUCH FASTER THAN YOU ARE ACTUALLY GOING, OFTEN TIMES 40MPH +. THE PROBLEM STARTED ON A LONG TRIP. CYCLING THE IGNITION WOULD BRING IT BACK TO ZERO, BUT THAT NO LONGER WORKS. THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE EVENT THAT TRIGGERS THE PROBLEM. IT CAUSE THE DRIVER TO MAINTAIN SPEED EITHER WAY TOO SLOW FOR TRAFFIC OR WAY TOO FAST. CREATING UNSAFE CONDITIONS. PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT THE PARTS AND LABOR WILL COST A MINIMUM OF $460.00. BUYING A USED PART IS NOT A VIABLE OPTION SINCE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS CODED TO THE CAR. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH PRODUCES MANY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, YET GM WILL NOT RUN A RECALL ON THIS. THEY RECALLED THE SILVERADO WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323698

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.