IllustrationBoth front seat belts sometimes do not click when buckling up. Sometimes you have to reinsert the metal end into the buckle several times to get it to "click". If it doesn't click you can pull on the strap and it will come out causing a safety issue.
2012 Chevrolet Impala
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Impala years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
460–25K
5825–50K
3850–75K
3175–100K
24100–150K
7150K+
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
Seat Belts complaints
9 reportsTHE RADIO WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO SHOWS A BLANK SCREEN AND DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. MY DOOR CHIMES, IGNITION CHIME, SEAT BELT CHIMES, TURN SIGNAL CHIMES NONE OF THAT WORKS EITHER. NOT SURE IF IT'S AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. HOWEVER I HAD MY BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TESTED. HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE FOR MAYBE 2 MONTHS NOW.
SEAT BELT TENSIONER WAS FOUND TO BE INOPERABLE DURING A DEALERSHIP REPAIR VISIT. DEALER WILL REPLACE IT AT SUBSTANTIAL CHARGE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WITNESSED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WAS DETACHING. THE CONTACT LATER INSPECTED THE REAR SEAT BELT BUCK ASSEMBLIES AND WITNESSED THAT THEY WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WITNESSED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WAS DETACHING. THE CONTACT LATER INSPECTED THE REAR SEAT BELT BUCK ASSEMBLIES AND WITNESSED THAT THEY WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,477. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT BELT FAILED TO LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
I HAVE TRIED PULLING ON EACH FRONT SEAT BELT VERY QUICKLY TO TRIGGER THE MOTION SENSITIVE RETRACTOR TO SEE IF THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WOULD LOCK UP. THEY NO LONGER DO. WHEN THE CAR WAS NEWER, I COULD PULL ON THE RETRACTORS VERY QUICKLY AND THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WOULD LOCK UP AS IF AN OCCUPANT MOVED FORWARD QUICKLY AFTER A CO…
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I HAVE TRIED PULLING ON EACH FRONT SEAT BELT VERY QUICKLY TO TRIGGER THE MOTION SENSITIVE RETRACTOR TO SEE IF THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WOULD LOCK UP. THEY NO LONGER DO. WHEN THE CAR WAS NEWER, I COULD PULL ON THE RETRACTORS VERY QUICKLY AND THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WOULD LOCK UP AS IF AN OCCUPANT MOVED FORWARD QUICKLY AFTER A COLLISION. *TR
MAY 2013 I PURCHASED A 2012 IMPALA FULLY CERTIFIED BY THE CHEVY DEALER. ON 9/25/2013 I WAS STOPPED ON I-80 DUE TO TRAFFIC. A WOMAN TRAVELING 53 MPH SLAMMED INTO ME CAUSING ME TO TAKE OUT THE NEXT 3 CARS. I FILED AN INVESTIGATION WITH GM TO REVIEW THE VEHICLE INFORMATION (WHICH IS HOW I KNOW HOW FAST SHE WAS TRAVELING). THE AIRBA…
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MAY 2013 I PURCHASED A 2012 IMPALA FULLY CERTIFIED BY THE CHEVY DEALER. ON 9/25/2013 I WAS STOPPED ON I-80 DUE TO TRAFFIC. A WOMAN TRAVELING 53 MPH SLAMMED INTO ME CAUSING ME TO TAKE OUT THE NEXT 3 CARS. I FILED AN INVESTIGATION WITH GM TO REVIEW THE VEHICLE INFORMATION (WHICH IS HOW I KNOW HOW FAST SHE WAS TRAVELING). THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON, BUT NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE SEAT BELT HAD RESTRAINED ME ONLY AFTER I VIOLENTLY BOUNCED OFF OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN THIS WAS REPORTED TO GM IT WAS STATED THAT THERE ARE THREE LINES OF DEFENSE IN A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT #1 THE BODY OF YOUR VEHICLE #2 YOUR SEAT BELT #3 AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. 2/3 LINES OF DEFENSE HAD FAILED ME. GM HAD NO CONCLUSION AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND I RECEIVED THE REPORTS FROM THE ENGINEERS. I WAS TRAVELING FAST ENOUGH INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME FOR THE AIRBAGS TO HAVE DEPLOYED, AND THE SEAT BELT SHOULD HAVE RESTRAINED ME. NEARLY A YEAR LATER, I AM GREATFUL THAT ONE LINE OF DEFENSE HAD PREVENTED FURTHER INJURIES, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL FOREVER FEEL THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF. WITH RECENT NEWS INVESTIGATIONS INTO GM'S FAULTY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, CLEARLY THEY CAN LOOK BEYOND JUST THE OLDER MODELS OF IMPALAS. *TR
MY DRIVER SIDE AND BACK SEAT IN THE MIDDLE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT LOCK. I ATTEMPT TO ATTACH THE SEAT BELT AS IT SHOULD BUT WILL NOT LOCK AND IF IT DOES CLICK TO LOCK THE FIRST BUMP (POT HOLE) I HIT IT UNBUCKLES. VERY UNSAFE. *TR
CAR WAS SERVICED (OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION). AFTERWARDS WHEN DRIVING THE CAR 50-60 MPH THERE IS A VIBRATION FELT IN WHEEL AND IN SEAT. TOOK BACK TO DEALER, HAD ALL 4 WHEELS BALANCED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT END, NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS (10-15MPH) WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMP…
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CAR WAS SERVICED (OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION). AFTERWARDS WHEN DRIVING THE CAR 50-60 MPH THERE IS A VIBRATION FELT IN WHEEL AND IN SEAT. TOOK BACK TO DEALER, HAD ALL 4 WHEELS BALANCED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT END, NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS (10-15MPH) WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS IN ROAD; NOTICEABLE WHEN A/C AND RADIO TURNED OFF. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEM, SAYS ITS OPERATING AS DESIGNED, NO NOISE. FRUSTRATING CONSIDERING THESE PROBLEMS WERE NOT PRESENT AT PURCHASE OR AT 30,000 MILES. ADDITIONALLY THE AIRBAG / SEATBELT INDICATOR ILLUMINATES FOR PASSENGER SEAT AT RANDOM TIMES FOR NO REASON. SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A BOTTLE ON THE SEAT WILL MAKE IT ILLUMINATE. *TR
Official recalls
314V355000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.