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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
50,000 miles · Jan 2, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY DAUGHTER'S 2005 CHEVROLET STOPPED WORKING AT 50'000 MI. WE CALLED CHEVROLET, BUT WERE TOLD SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR.(350 DOLLARS). I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *CN

NHTSA ODI #10213468

14,297 miles · Dec 31, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BUMPING SOUND WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. THE DEALER RESURFACED THE REAR DISC BRAKES AND ROTORS AND REMOVED AND INSTALLED THE FRONT AND REAR DISC PADS UPDATED 01/24/08 *BF. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BUMPING SOUND WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. THE DEALER RESURFACED THE REAR DISC BRAKES AND ROTORS AND REMOVED AND INSTALLED THE FRONT AND REAR DISC PADS UPDATED 01/24/08 *BF. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,297. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING TO BE REIMBURSED $444.90 THE COST OF THE PART TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/24/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10213257

86,000 miles · Dec 28, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT A 2005 IMPALA. WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND I TURN ON THE HEAT I SMELL GASOLINE FUMES INSIDE THE CAR. I CALL GM AND I WAS DIRECTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO SUPERIOR CHEVROLET. THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE COOLANT. IT COST ME $90.00. THE PROBLEM RETURNED A WEEK LATER AFTER I HAVE HAD …

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MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT A 2005 IMPALA. WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND I TURN ON THE HEAT I SMELL GASOLINE FUMES INSIDE THE CAR. I CALL GM AND I WAS DIRECTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO SUPERIOR CHEVROLET. THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE COOLANT. IT COST ME $90.00. THE PROBLEM RETURNED A WEEK LATER AFTER I HAVE HAD THE FILE TO CASE CLOSED. THE CASEWORKER WAS MS GLASKO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10213119

39,000 miles · Dec 10, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD DROP TO ZERO AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD BECOME HOT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND CURRENT MI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD DROP TO ZERO AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD BECOME HOT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000. UPDATED 03/10/08. *LJ THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS LEAKED AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #10211371

14,291 miles · Dec 2, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 14,297 MILES CLAIMING IT WAS ENVIRONMENTAL NOT WORN BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210485

50,500 miles · Nov 27, 2007
Steering

STARTED TO NOTICE "RUMBLING" AND CLICKING NOISES AS WELL AS VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS I MADE SLOW TURNS. CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG FROM MY DESCRIPTION. HE SAYS IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE "UPPER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT" ON SEVERAL CHEVY PRODUCTS, INCLUDING M…

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STARTED TO NOTICE "RUMBLING" AND CLICKING NOISES AS WELL AS VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS I MADE SLOW TURNS. CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG FROM MY DESCRIPTION. HE SAYS IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE "UPPER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT" ON SEVERAL CHEVY PRODUCTS, INCLUDING MY 2005 CHEVY IMPALA WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS SO COMMON THE REPAIR PART IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. I AM GOING TO GET A REPAIR BILL OF AROUND $240. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A NATIONAL RECALL DUE TO THE "KNOWN" ISSUE BY CHEVY. IT IS NOT RIGHT NOW DUE TO THE FACT IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE, YET. I UNDERSTAND PARTS GOING BAD AND DO NOT EXPECT THE MANUFACTURER TO GUARANTEE NOTHING WILL EVER HAPPEN. BUT, WHEN THERE IS A KNOW DEFECT, WHY SHOULD I LEFT HOLDING THE $240 BILL??? THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE THIS AS A RECALL AND SHOULD REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS ACCORDINGLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210101

45,000 miles · Nov 9, 2007
Steering

THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER I MADE A HARD TURN IN MY CAR - BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT, AS WELL AS A FEELING THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE. ALSO, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WOULD MOVE BY TOUCH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE NEW TIE RODS …

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THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER I MADE A HARD TURN IN MY CAR - BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT, AS WELL AS A FEELING THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE. ALSO, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WOULD MOVE BY TOUCH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE NEW TIE RODS BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOSE. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE IMPALA. WHY HAS A RECALL NOT BE INSTITUTED IF THE DEALER IS REPAIRING MORE THAN ONE INSTANCE OF THIS PROBLEM PER WEEK? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208532

6,900 miles · Nov 2, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY ALARM INTERMITTENTLY RESTRICTED THE VEHICLE FROM BEING STARTED. HE NEVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,900.

NHTSA ODI #10207727

35,000 miles · Sep 18, 2007
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 1 AND 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO FELT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (01-02-32001H) REGARDING THIS SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 1 AND 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO FELT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (01-02-32001H) REGARDING THIS SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10203314

64,000 miles · Sep 10, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 125 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS, THE SPEEDOMETER RESET ITSELF. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED A C…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 125 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS, THE SPEEDOMETER RESET ITSELF. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.

NHTSA ODI #10202374

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.