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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
48,000 miles · Aug 20, 2009
Wheels

STANDARD DRIVING TO 48000 MILES. RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING START TO MAKE EXCESSIVE NOISE. BEARING WAS REPLACED BEFORE FAILURE. OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281249

37,000 miles · Aug 17, 2009
Electrical System

2005 IMPALA BOUGHT IN 96 W/25K MILES. AFTER 1 YEAR CAR HAD 37K MILES AND STARTED EXHIBITING CRAZY PERFORMANCE ON THE DISPLAY GAUGES. SOMETIMES THE GAS INDICATOR WOULD REFLECT AN EMPTY GAS TANK THOUGH IT WAS NEARLY FULL. THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD REFLECT 35 MILES WHILE THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND OTHER SPEEDS WHEN IN MOTION. THE TEMPER…

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2005 IMPALA BOUGHT IN 96 W/25K MILES. AFTER 1 YEAR CAR HAD 37K MILES AND STARTED EXHIBITING CRAZY PERFORMANCE ON THE DISPLAY GAUGES. SOMETIMES THE GAS INDICATOR WOULD REFLECT AN EMPTY GAS TANK THOUGH IT WAS NEARLY FULL. THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD REFLECT 35 MILES WHILE THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND OTHER SPEEDS WHEN IN MOTION. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD TACK WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT INDICATING EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES. I TRIED TO GET THIS FIXED BUT THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED WHEN TAKEN TO THE SHOP. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS KNOWN FOR THESE ISSUES. NOW THAT I'VE HAD THE CAR A FEW MORE YEARS THE CRAZY MARKINGS ARE MORE FREQUENT. THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BECAUSE I CAN NOT TELL WHEN I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALER AND AFTER A NUMBER OF CALLS TO THE CORP OFFICE BY THE DEALER, GM WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS OTHER THAN CHARGE ME ALMOST $800. WHAT IRKS ME IS THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ON GM TRUCKS BUT NOT ON CARS. SHOULDN'T THAT BE A CLUE? I'LL GO BACK TO NISSAN AS SOON AS I CAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280635

47,832 miles · Jul 31, 2009
Electrical System

MY 2005 IMPALA THAT HAS 47,000 MILES ON IS NOLONGER HAS WORKING SPEEDOMETER,GAS GAUGE OR TEMP GAUGE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO I NOLONGER HAVE CORRECT INFORMATION ON THE SPEED THAT I'M DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I CAN ONLY USE MY EDUCATED GUESS ON HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE AND WILL NOT KNOW THAT MY CAR IS OVERHEATING. TH…

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MY 2005 IMPALA THAT HAS 47,000 MILES ON IS NOLONGER HAS WORKING SPEEDOMETER,GAS GAUGE OR TEMP GAUGE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO I NOLONGER HAVE CORRECT INFORMATION ON THE SPEED THAT I'M DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I CAN ONLY USE MY EDUCATED GUESS ON HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE AND WILL NOT KNOW THAT MY CAR IS OVERHEATING. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND WE WOULDN'T KNOW UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH GM REGUARDING THE INSTURMENT CLUSTER PROBLEM THEY TOLD ME THAT IT HAS ONLY BEEN RECALLED ON TRUCKS . THIS ISSUE THUR A MECHCANIC WILL COST ME $500.00 + TO HAVE FIXED HOWEVER READING COMPLAINTS ONLINE ITS VERY OBVIOUS THAT THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, JUST ABOUT ALL GM'S SEEM TO HAVE THIS ISSUE ( FAULTY STEPPER MOTOR'S ) FIND IT HARD TO BELIVE THAT GM WILL NOT RECALL THIS ISSUE WHEN THE PARTS WILL ONLY BE $15.00 TO REPAIR FOR THE SAFETY OF THERE CUSTOMERS NOR WILL THEY SELL YOU THE STEPPER MOTORS TO FIX THE ISSUE YOURSELF. I FEEL UNSAFE IN MY CAR THAT HAS LOW MILEAGE THAT HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. PLEASE RECOMMEND A RECALL FOR THE CLUSTER SO THAT GM WILL HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS PRODUCTS AND CUSTOMERS SAFETY. I USED TO THINK THAT BUY AN AMERICAN CAR WOULD DO GOOD THINGS FOR OUR COUNTRY HOWEVER NOW THINK THAT AMERICAN COMPANYS COULD CARE LESS ABOUT ITS FELLOW AMERICAN'S THERE SAFETY AND STANDING BEHIND THE PRODUCT THEY SOLD ... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278986

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2009
StructureInjury

I OPENED THE TRUNK OF MY VEHICLE 2005 CHEVY IMPALA, REACHED INSIDE TO GET SOMETHING THE SUSPENSION CYLINDERS THAT HOLDS THE TRUNK UP BROKE & CAME DOWN ON TOP OF ME. CAUSING A HEAD LACERATION & FILLETED MY FOREARM. SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE MADE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS IT WOULD HAVE KILLED A CHILD HAD I BEEN HOLDING ONE. THEY NEED T…

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I OPENED THE TRUNK OF MY VEHICLE 2005 CHEVY IMPALA, REACHED INSIDE TO GET SOMETHING THE SUSPENSION CYLINDERS THAT HOLDS THE TRUNK UP BROKE & CAME DOWN ON TOP OF ME. CAUSING A HEAD LACERATION & FILLETED MY FOREARM. SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE MADE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS IT WOULD HAVE KILLED A CHILD HAD I BEEN HOLDING ONE. THEY NEED TO MAKE THIS A SAFER PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278976

90,815 miles · Jul 31, 2009
Electrical System

DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER. SPEEDOMETER FREQUENTLY LOOSES CALIBRATION AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS CAUSING A MISREADING OF VEHICLE SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278957

106,634 miles · Jul 31, 2009
Electrical System

MY 2005 IMPALA HAS A SECURITY SYSTEM THAT ACTIVATES WITHOUT WARNING NOT ALLOWING ME TO START MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278866

80,335 miles · Jul 28, 2009
Electrical System

2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. FAILING SPEEDOMETER. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR OVER 1 YEAR. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED IT I WAS DRIVING ON A 4 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY AND DUE TO THE SLOW FAILURE OF THE SPEEDOMETER I WAS PASSING EVERYONE THINKING THEY WERE DRIVING SLOW. WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO I REALIZED THAT T…

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2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. FAILING SPEEDOMETER. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR OVER 1 YEAR. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED IT I WAS DRIVING ON A 4 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY AND DUE TO THE SLOW FAILURE OF THE SPEEDOMETER I WAS PASSING EVERYONE THINKING THEY WERE DRIVING SLOW. WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO I REALIZED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY CAR NOT THE OTHER DRIVERS. THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED AFTER I GOT HOME AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. IT HAS SINCE THEN INTERMITTENTLY REAPPEARED. I HAVE NOT TAKEN CORRECTIVE ACTION ON THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I CANNOT AFFORD THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST. RESEARCH INTO A LESS EXPENSIVE REPAIR SOLUTION HAS SHOW ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH GM VEHICLES USING A PARTICULAR STEPPER MOTOR IN THEIR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ONE ONLINE SOURCE STATES THIS PART NUMBER AS X C5 168 . SEEMS TO ME THAT IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE, MONEY OR RESOURCES TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM AND CORRECT IT HAS A SERIOUS INJURY OR CAUSES A DEATH DUE TO EXCESSIVE SPEED. OLDER DRIVERS AND YOUNGER DRIVERS COME TO MIND AS THE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278541

89,000 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Air BagsInjury

ON SATURDAY JULY 18, 2009 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA ON HIGHWAY 10 IN TAWASSEN BRITISH COLUMBIA HEADING EAST BOUND. I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP LIGHT AND WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I HAD NOT STRUCK ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE, NOR HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN IN ANY PRIOR…

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ON SATURDAY JULY 18, 2009 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA ON HIGHWAY 10 IN TAWASSEN BRITISH COLUMBIA HEADING EAST BOUND. I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP LIGHT AND WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I HAD NOT STRUCK ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE, NOR HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN IN ANY PRIOR FRONTAL COLLISIONS. NO MECHANICAL REPAIRS HAVE EVER BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE, AND NO PARTS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED ASIDE FROM BASIC MAINTENANCE (BRAKES, ROTORS, OIL CHANGES, ETC.). LUCKILY, ME AND MY PASSENGERS (2) SUSTAINED NO MAJOR INJURIES (ONLY LIGHT MINOR) AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. I AM FILING THIS IN AMERICA BECAUSE I AM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AND THE VEHICLE IS REGISTERED TO ME IN THE UNITED STATES. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND WITH THE MANUFACTURER (GM, CHEVROLET). GM/CHEVROLET ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH JURISDICTION BETWEEN GM CANADA AND GM USA, AND HAVE YET TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. I AM WRITING THIS TO HELP ME INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND POTENTIALLY SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10277685

60,000 miles · Jun 24, 2009
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER FAILED. THE DIAL GOES STRAIGHT DOWN AND DOES NOT REGISTER CORRECTLY. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER FAILED. THE DIAL GOES STRAIGHT DOWN AND DOES NOT REGISTER CORRECTLY. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #10274820

119,759 miles · Jun 12, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

I WAS SOLD A VEHICLE FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP THAT SUPPOSEDLY HAD A 100+ POINT INSPECTION INCLUDING SAFETY EQUIPMENT. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC, I FOUND THAT THE REAR BRAKES HAD ONLY 10% BRAKE PAD LEFT AND THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPROMISED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273668

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.