FRONT WHEEL HUB AND CV AXLE NUT LOOSE. REPLACED FRONT WHEEL HUB PART # 88964168, HUB 6.307 QY* CPOBK. TORQUED RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HUB AND CV AXLE NUT TO SPECIFICATIONS. GMC FACTORY ERROR IN QUALITY CONTROL. *TR
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
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.
Steering complaints
49 reportsWHILE DRIVING IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE MY DASHBOARD WENT COMPLETELY BLACK,THE RADIO WENT OFF AND MY STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN.I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO SIDEWALK THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE THE KEYS WERE IN IGNITION. I TURNED THE KEY AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR IT MADE A TERRIBLE BANGING CLUNKING NOI…
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WHILE DRIVING IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE MY DASHBOARD WENT COMPLETELY BLACK,THE RADIO WENT OFF AND MY STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN.I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO SIDEWALK THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE THE KEYS WERE IN IGNITION. I TURNED THE KEY AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR IT MADE A TERRIBLE BANGING CLUNKING NOISE.I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM WAITED 15 MINUTES LATER THE CAR STARTED.THS REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS I COULD HAVE CAUSED ARE BEEN INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT. I'M VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. I TOOK THE CAR IN LATER TO DEALER THEY KEPT IT UNTIL FRIDAY PROVIDED ME A LOANER THEY CLAIMED THEY DROVE IT AND IT DIDN'T ACT UP. BUT ITS NOT LIKE THEY DROVE IT ALL DAY I'M EXTREMELY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED IN THIS MATTER. I FEEL THEY DISCOUNTED WHAT I SAID.THIS COULD OCCUR WHILE A TEENAGER ARE ELDERLY PERSON IS DRIVING. PLEASE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *TR
IM GOING DOWN THE ROAD MASH ON THE GAS DOING 38 AND THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF CONTROL. I LITERALLY HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. IM DOING 45 TO 50 AND THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING ME RIGHT INTO THE SHOULDER OR INTO OTHER TRAFFIC I HAD TO LAY OFF THE GAS TO GAIN CONTROL OF CAR DOING SUCH LOW SPEED. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME. …
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IM GOING DOWN THE ROAD MASH ON THE GAS DOING 38 AND THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF CONTROL. I LITERALLY HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. IM DOING 45 TO 50 AND THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING ME RIGHT INTO THE SHOULDER OR INTO OTHER TRAFFIC I HAD TO LAY OFF THE GAS TO GAIN CONTROL OF CAR DOING SUCH LOW SPEED. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME. AND WAS BLOWN AWAY.HOW THE SUSPENSION AND CONTROL OF THE CAR WAS NOT IN MY HAND NO MORE. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT ON ONLINE. GM NEEDS TO FIX THIS ITS THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE CAR THAT MESSING UP THE WHOLE CAR.AND IF THERE IS POLICE FLEET OF THESE IMPALAS AND THEY USING THESE IN POLICE CHASES. THE CHASES COULD TURN UGLY. I DROVE AND BUNCH OF POLICE FLEET VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD ONE WHERE I DIDN'T HAVE CONTROL OF IT GETTING INTO HIGH SPEEDS. THE MAIN CAUSE OF THESE IS THAT IMPALA HAS FWD WITH 308 HP ALL UP FRONT WHAT WAS THEY THINKING. IT'LL BE GOOD FRO A DRAG CAR GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. START FROM A STAND STILL AND TRY TO GET UP SPEED FAST. DOING IT WITHOUT CRASHING OR MERGING INTO ANOTHER LANE IS IMPOSSIBLE. GET IN A 2012 CHEVY IMPALA LT WITH 308 HP THEN YOU WILL SEE THE PROBLEM. ALSO EXISTS ON SS MODELS AS WELL. *TR
MY VEHICLE'S STEERING WENT OUT OF NO WHERE AS I WAS PULLING INTO A STORE. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS, AND VERY THICK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO STOP TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. I OPENED THE HOOD AND WAS OVERCOME BY SMOKE. I ENDED UP RESORTING TO CAL…
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MY VEHICLE'S STEERING WENT OUT OF NO WHERE AS I WAS PULLING INTO A STORE. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS, AND VERY THICK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO STOP TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. I OPENED THE HOOD AND WAS OVERCOME BY SMOKE. I ENDED UP RESORTING TO CALLING A TOW TRUCK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THIS WAS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT 3 MONTHS PRIOR. THE CURRENT ISSUE THE DEALER SAID I HAD, WAS THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS EMITTING HEAT AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE HAD BURNED AND LEAKED FLUID ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. I TOW THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP THAT ORIGINALLY REPAIRED IT. THEY CONTACTED MY INSURANCE AND WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE IN THE 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. ON 8/11 A RECALL WAS ISSUED. THIS WAS DUE TO THE POWER STEERING HOSE BEING ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE HEAT WAS BURNING THE HOSES. THIS WAS CAUSING ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 2 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN APRIL 2013 WITH 29K MILES. IT NOW HAS 33K MILES AND THE DIAGNOSIS GIVEN BY THE DEALER IS IDENTICAL TO THE DIAGNOSIS FOR THE RECALL. BUT I AM TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WILL NOT BE FIXED AS IT DID NOT FALL UNDER RECALL AND ARE BLAMING THE REPAIR DONE BY THE COLLISION CENTER. I BELIEVE THEY CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND ARE PUTTING PEOPLE AT A CONTINUED RISK OF HAVING A FIRE START IN THEIR VEHICLE. *JS
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN I NOTICED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER WHILE CHANGING LANES. I TOOK THE OFF-RAMP FROM HWY 515 TO 215 AND HAD TO PULL THE WHEEL HARD TO NEGOTIATE THE RAMP CURVE. I MADE IT HOME AND CALLED CHEVY ON MONDAY. THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK TO PICK IT UP BUT ONCE IT ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP THE STEERING WAS WORK…
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DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN I NOTICED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER WHILE CHANGING LANES. I TOOK THE OFF-RAMP FROM HWY 515 TO 215 AND HAD TO PULL THE WHEEL HARD TO NEGOTIATE THE RAMP CURVE. I MADE IT HOME AND CALLED CHEVY ON MONDAY. THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK TO PICK IT UP BUT ONCE IT ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP THE STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. *TR
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
I RECENTLY READ THAT GENERAL MOTORS ISSUED A RECALL AUGUST 3, 2012 FOR 2008 - 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALAS CONCERNING THE SUSPENSION. RECALL # 12V377000 CONCERNS THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE RECALL MAY FRACTURE. A FRACTURED LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RIS…
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I RECENTLY READ THAT GENERAL MOTORS ISSUED A RECALL AUGUST 3, 2012 FOR 2008 - 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALAS CONCERNING THE SUSPENSION. RECALL # 12V377000 CONCERNS THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE RECALL MAY FRACTURE. A FRACTURED LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THIS RECALL, ACCORDING TO GM, ONLY APPLIES TO POLICE VEHICLES. I AM WRITING THIS MESSAGE TO YOU TO ASK WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE POLICE VEHICLES FROM THE NON POLICE VEHICLES WHICH WOULD EXCLUDE THE NON POLICE VEHICLES FROM THE RECALL. IS THIS THE SAME TYPE OF SITUATION AS THE GM RECALL REGARDING 2007 - 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA CONCERNING DEFECTIVE SPINDLES IN WHEELS WHICH GM IS TRYING TO LIMIT TO POLICE VEHICLES ONLY BUT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO APPLY TO ALL CHEVROLET IMPALAS? THANKS, *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER CAUSING THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN THUMB AND A HEAD CONCUSSION. THE POLICE REPORTED TO TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER CAUSING THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN THUMB AND A HEAD CONCUSSION. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 33,500.
I WAS ROTATING THE TIRES AT HOME. WHEN REPLACING THE WHEELS I STARTED AND SNAGGED THE LUG NUTS BY HAND. I WENT TO TORQUE THE LUG NUTS TO SPECIFICATIONS (100 FOOT POUNDS) USING A TORQUE WRENCH. ONE OF THE RIGHT FRONT LUG NUTS WOULD NOT STOP TURNING WAY BEFORE REACHING THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. AS I CONTINUED TO TURN THE WRENCH, THE S…
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I WAS ROTATING THE TIRES AT HOME. WHEN REPLACING THE WHEELS I STARTED AND SNAGGED THE LUG NUTS BY HAND. I WENT TO TORQUE THE LUG NUTS TO SPECIFICATIONS (100 FOOT POUNDS) USING A TORQUE WRENCH. ONE OF THE RIGHT FRONT LUG NUTS WOULD NOT STOP TURNING WAY BEFORE REACHING THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. AS I CONTINUED TO TURN THE WRENCH, THE STUD SNAPPED OFF. ONE OF THE LUGS/STUDS NEXT TO IT ALSO FELT SUSPICIOUS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD ALL STUDS AND LUGS REPLACED ON THAT WHEEL AS I AM AFRAID THERE MAY BE A BAD BATCH OF STUDS. THE PARTS HAVE BEEN SAVED IF NEEDED FOR TESTING. I WAS A MECHANIC IN THE 1960'S AND HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK ON MY OWN AND FAMILY VEHICLES SINCE THEN. I CAN NOT RECALL EVER SNAPPING A STUD BEFORE. *JB
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.
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