Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
410–25K
8625–50K
11150–75K
9675–100K
113100–150K
52150K+
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
35 miles · Sep 17, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train
1. UNDER CHASSIS CORROSION PROTECTION FAILURE- KEY SUSPENSION AND POWER TRAIN COMPONENTS AFFECTING SAFE OPERATION. 2. FACTORY DID NOT APPLY STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY ANTI CORROSION COATINGS PRIOR TO SHIPMENT. DAMAGE OCCURRED PRIOR TO DEALER RECEIPT. #. FACTORY REP HAS NOT PROVIDED OR APPROVED ANY POSSIBLE REMEDY AT THIS TIM…
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1. UNDER CHASSIS CORROSION PROTECTION FAILURE- KEY SUSPENSION AND POWER TRAIN COMPONENTS AFFECTING SAFE OPERATION. 2. FACTORY DID NOT APPLY STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY ANTI CORROSION COATINGS PRIOR TO SHIPMENT. DAMAGE OCCURRED PRIOR TO DEALER RECEIPT. #. FACTORY REP HAS NOT PROVIDED OR APPROVED ANY POSSIBLE REMEDY AT THIS TIME. PROBLEM WAS OBSERVED AT FIRST OIL CHANGE-25 JULY 05 -FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS ON LIFT AFTER DELIVERY TO CUSTOMER. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10136826
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2005
Power Train
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING THE DESIGN OF THE 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE. THE CONSUMER EXPLAINED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE AND THE BRAKE IS RELEASED THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS. AND WHEN…
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CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING THE DESIGN OF THE 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE. THE CONSUMER EXPLAINED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE AND THE BRAKE IS RELEASED THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS. AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE AND THE BRAKE IS RELEASED THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL FORWARD. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10133454
3,091 miles · Jul 22, 2005
Visibility
DT: THE WAY THAT THE WINDOW SWITCH IS DESIGNED IT CAN EASILY SHUT ON A CHILD'S BODY OR BODY PART. THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SIX MONTHS AGO ON TV. THIS WAS A RENTAL VEHICLE FOR A TRIP FOR VACATION.*AK WHEN THE CONSUMERS SON LEANED HIS HEAD OUT THE WINDOW, HIS ELBOW HIT THE SWITCH, AND THE WINDOW BEGAN TO GO UP. THE CONS…
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DT: THE WAY THAT THE WINDOW SWITCH IS DESIGNED IT CAN EASILY SHUT ON A CHILD'S BODY OR BODY PART. THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SIX MONTHS AGO ON TV. THIS WAS A RENTAL VEHICLE FOR A TRIP FOR VACATION.*AK WHEN THE CONSUMERS SON LEANED HIS HEAD OUT THE WINDOW, HIS ELBOW HIT THE SWITCH, AND THE WINDOW BEGAN TO GO UP. THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SWITCH BE INSTALLED, THE TYPE THAT ONE WOULD HAVE TO PULL IN ORDER TO CLOSE THE WINDOW. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10126665
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2005
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash
2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED BACKWARDS. *MR THE IMPACT CAUSED THE GARAGE DOOR TO POP OPEN AND CRASH BACK DOWN AND TRAPPING THE CONSUMER INSIDE OF THE GARAGE. THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT GM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE FROM PAR…
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2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED BACKWARDS. *MR THE IMPACT CAUSED THE GARAGE DOOR TO POP OPEN AND CRASH BACK DOWN AND TRAPPING THE CONSUMER INSIDE OF THE GARAGE. THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT GM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE FROM PARK, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START THEREFORE THE CONSUMER HAD TO HOLD THE KEY FROM SEVERAL SECONDS WHILE THE STARTER ATTEMPTED TO TURN OVER AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GRIND. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10126886
235 miles · Jun 20, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS, WHEN IT HAD 235 MILES ON IT HAD TO BE TAKEN INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE ENGINE NOISE, "BROKEN ROCKER PIVOT ARM" GOT THE CAR BACK, RAN ROUGH, VEHICLE STALLED OUT AT STOP LITE, RESTARTED OK, REAR WINDOW RUBBER TRIM COMING OFF. CAR NOW HAS 2300-MILES ON IT.
NHTSA ODI #10125984
6,100 miles · May 10, 2005
Power TrainCrashInjury
CAR WAS RUNNING IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE IN PARK. I WENT IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE I FOGOT MY CELL PHONE. ABOUT TWO MINUTES LATER THE CAR CRASHED THROUGH MY FENCE AND I RAN OUTSIDE AND JUMPED IN IT AS WE CRASHED THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR. THE CAR HAD TO BE IN PARK BECAUSE THE DOOR OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED SO IT…
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CAR WAS RUNNING IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE IN PARK. I WENT IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE I FOGOT MY CELL PHONE. ABOUT TWO MINUTES LATER THE CAR CRASHED THROUGH MY FENCE AND I RAN OUTSIDE AND JUMPED IN IT AS WE CRASHED THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR. THE CAR HAD TO BE IN PARK BECAUSE THE DOOR OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED SO IT DROVE STRAIGHT. IT HAS NOW BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 20 DAYS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. GM HASN'T BEEN ANY HELP AND MY INSURANCE CANNOT TOUCH THE CAR UNTIL GM INSPECTS IT. MY RENTAL RUNS OUT IN 8 DAYS.
NHTSA ODI #10120589
537 miles · Apr 27, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DRIVER WAS COMING TO A STOP AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD, AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER PULLED TO THE RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS CONTINUING TO GO, AND THE ENGINE REVVED. VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED AFTER HITTING A TREE. ALSO, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. …
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WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DRIVER WAS COMING TO A STOP AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD, AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER PULLED TO THE RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS CONTINUING TO GO, AND THE ENGINE REVVED. VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED AFTER HITTING A TREE. ALSO, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK *BF *NM
NHTSA ODI #10117060
11,000 miles · Mar 30, 2005
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
I WAS A PASSENGER IN AN 2005 IMPALA, DRIVER REAR ENDED A LARGE TRUCK, I HIT THE WINDSHIELD, NEITHER THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES OR THE AIR BAGS WORKED, ABOUT $8,000 DAMAGE TO IMPALA, NONE TO TRUCK. I DID NOT HAVE SEAT BELT ON.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10116078
50 miles · Dec 21, 2004
Parking Brake
THE PARKING BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE WHEN IT'S PARKED ON AN INCLINE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED. *NM THE PROBLEM OCCURRED HEADING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE, WITH THE RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE SHIFT LEVER IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK UNTIL THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE AGAIN AND SET …
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THE PARKING BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE WHEN IT'S PARKED ON AN INCLINE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED. *NM THE PROBLEM OCCURRED HEADING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE, WITH THE RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE SHIFT LEVER IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK UNTIL THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE AGAIN AND SET THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION. *SC *JB
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.
2005 Chevrolet Impala Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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