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2012 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

204 reports with mileage · 54 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 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports5 fire reports12 injury reports

Engine complaints

40 reports
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11,500 miles · Aug 12, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AFTER HITTING A LARGE BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF A SECOND TIME AGAIN AFTER HITTING A LARGE BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE BOTH AFFECTED. THE CAR RESTARTED. THE DEALER LOOKED AT THE CAR AND COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE CONDITION. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AFTER I REMOVED ALL THE KE…

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THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AFTER HITTING A LARGE BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF A SECOND TIME AGAIN AFTER HITTING A LARGE BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE BOTH AFFECTED. THE CAR RESTARTED. THE DEALER LOOKED AT THE CAR AND COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE CONDITION. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AFTER I REMOVED ALL THE KEYS FROM THE KEY-RING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621617

66,000 miles · Jun 2, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

CAR EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO BUSY HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY LANE, SO BROUGHT CAR TO A HALT BLOCKING ONE LANE. THIS WAS AS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. LATER DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE WAS A LOOSE HOT WIRE TERMINAL CONNECTION TO THE FUSE BOX. IT HAD EITHER VIBRATED LOOSE …

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CAR EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO BUSY HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY LANE, SO BROUGHT CAR TO A HALT BLOCKING ONE LANE. THIS WAS AS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. LATER DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE WAS A LOOSE HOT WIRE TERMINAL CONNECTION TO THE FUSE BOX. IT HAD EITHER VIBRATED LOOSE OR WAS NOT TIGHTENED ADEQUATELY AT TIME OF MANUFACTURE. LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT INTERESTED IN REPORTING THIS EVENT TO THE GM DATA BASE, SO GAVE ME A CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER TO CALL, WHICH I DID. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595615

29,000 miles · Nov 26, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHEN DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE AT LOWER THAN NORMAL DRIVING TEMPERATURE, DRIVER STOPS AT A STOP SIGN AND WITH HARD ACCELERATION THE ENGINE SURGES FROM FULL POWER TO DYING OUT AS THO FUEL STARVED.THIS CONTINUES IN A JERKING ACTION. UNTIL; THE DRIVER REMOVES HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN PRESSES THE GAS FEED AGAIN AT WHICH …

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WHEN DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE AT LOWER THAN NORMAL DRIVING TEMPERATURE, DRIVER STOPS AT A STOP SIGN AND WITH HARD ACCELERATION THE ENGINE SURGES FROM FULL POWER TO DYING OUT AS THO FUEL STARVED.THIS CONTINUES IN A JERKING ACTION. UNTIL; THE DRIVER REMOVES HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN PRESSES THE GAS FEED AGAIN AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE RUNS SMOOTHLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG AS THE ENGINE IS NOW AT NORMAL RUNNING TEMP. DRIVER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM IS IN THE THROTTLE BODY OF THE FUEL SYSTEM --- HELP.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553942

3,360 miles · Aug 20, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineVisibility/wiper

THE ENGINE DIED IN A HARD RAIN,WIPERS QUIT, FLASHERS CAME ON, WINDOWS WENT UP AND DOWN, CD PLAYER QUIT AND RADIO CAME ON, THEN FLASHERS WENT OFF. WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO BACK UP SOAKING THE INSIDE OF THE DOORS.THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND NOW SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I CALLED THE DEALER TWICE AND GOT A RECORDING ASKING ME TO LEAVE …

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THE ENGINE DIED IN A HARD RAIN,WIPERS QUIT, FLASHERS CAME ON, WINDOWS WENT UP AND DOWN, CD PLAYER QUIT AND RADIO CAME ON, THEN FLASHERS WENT OFF. WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO BACK UP SOAKING THE INSIDE OF THE DOORS.THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND NOW SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I CALLED THE DEALER TWICE AND GOT A RECORDING ASKING ME TO LEAVE A BRIEF MESSAGE. IF THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO ANSWER THE PHONE, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO FIX IT? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536430

55,000 miles · Jun 24, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

PURCHASED A GM CERTIFIED VEHICLE. VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHENEVER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. WHEN I WOULD MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD DIE COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR. ONE INSTANCE WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR, THE IGNITION ACTED "STUCK." I ONLY TURNED THE IGNITIO…

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PURCHASED A GM CERTIFIED VEHICLE. VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHENEVER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. WHEN I WOULD MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD DIE COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR. ONE INSTANCE WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR, THE IGNITION ACTED "STUCK." I ONLY TURNED THE IGNITION ONCE AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO CRANK OVER TO RESTART THE CAR ON ITS OWN. THE LAST COUPLE OF INSTANCES WHEN TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT DIED, EVEN WHEN NOT MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. IT WOULD DIE PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO MAIN MOTORS (A GM DEALERSHIP) TO HAVE IT FIXED. THEY SAID THE WIRES WERE WORN THROUGH IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT RUN TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THEY STATED THEY REROUTED THE WIRES. MY BILL WAS ONLY FOR LABOR, NO REPLACEMENT OF PARTS. I ASKED GM TO COVER THIS. THE SERVICE ADVISER TOLD THE FIRST AGENT AT GM THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNESS. THEN THE CASE WAS DIRECTED TO A "DISTRICT SPECIALIST." THE DISTRICT SPECIALIST STATED THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MAIN MOTORS RETRACTED THE STATEMENT THAT IT WAS A DEFECT AND STATED IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR FOR ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO BE WORN THROUGH. NOT A SAFE DESIGN FOR AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO NOT LAST PAST 55000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521550

17,500 miles · Mar 22, 2013
EngineVehicle Speed Control

I STOPPED AT A INTERSECTION,AND PULLED OUT ONTO ANOTHER ROAD,THE CAR BACKFIRED AND QUIT RUNNING ,LEAVING ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION,AND ALMOST GOT HIT. I HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALER AND THEY SAY THE CAR IS OPERATING NORMAL. THIS HAPPENS ALOT WITHIN THIS VEHICLE WHEN ACCELERATING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504163

50 miles · Jan 7, 2013
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, ENGINE VIBRATIONS WERE EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNSURE OF WHAT COMPONENT FAILED OR HOW TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, ENGINE VIBRATIONS WERE EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNSURE OF WHAT COMPONENT FAILED OR HOW TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000. UPDATED 3/14/13 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10491646

11,140 miles · Oct 24, 2012
Engine

I HAVE NOTICED WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STAND STILL THE RPM ARE HIGH AND THE ENGINE IS VERY LOUD AND NOISY. IT SEEMS AS I AM DRIVING WITH A V-8 OR EVEN A DIESEL ENGINE. I AM SURE GM HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE REVIEWED HAS STATED THE SAME THING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THE I…

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I HAVE NOTICED WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STAND STILL THE RPM ARE HIGH AND THE ENGINE IS VERY LOUD AND NOISY. IT SEEMS AS I AM DRIVING WITH A V-8 OR EVEN A DIESEL ENGINE. I AM SURE GM HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE REVIEWED HAS STATED THE SAME THING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THE IDLING OF THE RPMS WHEN YOUR JUST TAKING OFF AT A NORMAL SPEED AND THE REDUCTION OF THE ENGINE NOISE AS WELL. MY 2002 IMPALA WITH 136K MILES ON IT SOUNDED BETTER THAN THIS AND IT NEEDED SOME WORK DONE TO IT. I THOUGHT I WOULD AT LEAST GET THE BEST QUALITY FROM UPGRADING TO SOMETHING MORE UP TO DATE BUT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED. IF YOUR GOING TO PAY GOOD MONEY FOR A VEHICLE YOU SHOULD HAVE A DECENT CAR THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A PIECE OF CRAP. CAN GM GET IT TO WHERE IT IS RUNNING AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482086

7,000 miles · Aug 3, 2012
EngineVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE STARTED VIA NORMAL KEY IGNITION. AFTER HIGH IDLING STOPS FOR WARM UP, VEHICLE STARTS TO HAVE ODOMETER NEEDLE MOVE FROM 500 RPM TO 1000 RPM FOR A STEADY 5 TO TEN MINUTES. IN ADDITION, EVENT OCCURS FREQUENTLY AT LONG STOPS EVEN AFTER CAR WARM. USUALLY, RPM MAY STEADY AT ABOUT 750 OR SO A NORMAL RPM SETTING FOR THIS VEHI…

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VEHICLE STARTED VIA NORMAL KEY IGNITION. AFTER HIGH IDLING STOPS FOR WARM UP, VEHICLE STARTS TO HAVE ODOMETER NEEDLE MOVE FROM 500 RPM TO 1000 RPM FOR A STEADY 5 TO TEN MINUTES. IN ADDITION, EVENT OCCURS FREQUENTLY AT LONG STOPS EVEN AFTER CAR WARM. USUALLY, RPM MAY STEADY AT ABOUT 750 OR SO A NORMAL RPM SETTING FOR THIS VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO KEPT IT FOR A WEEK. NO CORRECTION MADE. DEALER STATE WAITING TO HEAR FROM MANUFACTURER. VEHICLE STILL HAVE PROBLEM HAVING NEEDLE FLUTTER BETWEEN THE RPM MENTIONED CAUSING UNDUE DISTRESS TO ENGINE COMPONENTS. PLEASE ASSIST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469138

10 miles · Mar 31, 2012
Engine

ENGINE MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING. I DROVE ANOTHER ONE AND THE NOISE WAS EVEN WORSE, THAT ONE HAD 15000 MILES ON IT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEM ALL. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS CAR. I DON'T ENJOY HEARING ALL THIS NOISE FROM A NEW CAR. (NOW HAS 6000 MILES ON IT) IF I CAN'T RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM IT W…

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ENGINE MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING. I DROVE ANOTHER ONE AND THE NOISE WAS EVEN WORSE, THAT ONE HAD 15000 MILES ON IT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEM ALL. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS CAR. I DON'T ENJOY HEARING ALL THIS NOISE FROM A NEW CAR. (NOW HAS 6000 MILES ON IT) IF I CAN'T RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM IT WILL BE THE LAST GM CAR I EVER BUY. THE DEALER HAD ME DRIVE ANOTHER NEW 2012 IMPALA WHEN I MENTIONED THE NOISE, IT ALSO SOUNDED THE SAME. GM DEFINITELY DIDN'T ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE PRODUCTION. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10453664

Official recalls

3

14V355000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jun 23, 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) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and 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. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

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 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.

12V377000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Aug 3, 2012

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Chevrolet Impala police vehicles because the front lower control arms may fracture. This safety recall does not include non-police Chevrolet Impala vehicles.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 21, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.

11V398000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections

Aug 5, 2011

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 19, 2011, THROUGH JULY 29, 2011. THE UPPER POWER STEERING HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED SO THAT IT CAN COME IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO AND/OR CONTACT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WITH THE ENGINE ON, HEAT FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY MELT THE POWER STEERING HOSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: POWER STEERING FLUID COULD FLOW ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO ENSURE THAT THE UPPER POWER STEERING HOSE IS ROUTED CORRECTLY AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

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.