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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

23 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2026
Unknown Or Other

To be able to afford repairs and return it to release date price close to around 27,000 to 28,000 tire got needed air awhile and radiator and the reservoir or holder got replaced still not knowing how to repair the rest with getting the money to for safety standards or requirements wondering if program help getting it repaired a…

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To be able to afford repairs and return it to release date price close to around 27,000 to 28,000 tire got needed air awhile and radiator and the reservoir or holder got replaced still not knowing how to repair the rest with getting the money to for safety standards or requirements wondering if program help getting it repaired and or a new vehicle same company or model not trying to have it be

NHTSA ODI #11722869

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2024
Unknown Or Other

Stability traction control I have had to fix it 3 times once was ball bearing and the other was a wire harness and it has to go in shop again for stability traction issues again also the door blending parts keep failing in my car I have had 3 replaced

NHTSA ODI #11628167

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2023
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

I put my car in reverse and the car turned off and have turn back on. When I try to start it, I don’t hear any fix or crank. Before this happened, my car was slow to change gear or it would will change so fast that my car will lose control and I did not feel safe at all.

NHTSA ODI #11524232

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2023
Unknown Or Other

The stability track light is on and abs. The sensor in the hubs go out even in New hubs. When I'm pulling out onto the road the traction light comes on an makes a grinding noise and the power goes down .I was told it was the stability track chain and the sensor in my right hub.

NHTSA ODI #11501170

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2022
Unknown Or Other

I purchased the vehicle used. Four months after I purchased it the traction control, stabilitrak and reduced engine power light came on. I took it to a certified mechanic, he said the code came back as a faulty battery. He replaced the battery and said everything should be fine. Less than 4 hours the car did the same thing. …

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I purchased the vehicle used. Four months after I purchased it the traction control, stabilitrak and reduced engine power light came on. I took it to a certified mechanic, he said the code came back as a faulty battery. He replaced the battery and said everything should be fine. Less than 4 hours the car did the same thing. I took it back and he said it was the throttle so he cleaned it costing me a total of approximately 350.00. I didn’t have any problems for 2 months. Now it seems to be getting worse and does it almost every time I start the car. The car idles rough and shifts hard if I drive it. Also the traction control light comes on when I turn left and makes a grinding noise. Since the issue I’ve researched and found several complaints regarding the same issue.

NHTSA ODI #11493606

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2022
SteeringUnknown Or Other

When making left turns the car will make a loud grinding noise and will stop momentarily; it says it is due to the traction control on the dash. It is extremely unsafe when making a turn while a car is coming and there's nothing you can do. Also while making left hand turns the wheel will sometimes lock and you can't manually mo…

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When making left turns the car will make a loud grinding noise and will stop momentarily; it says it is due to the traction control on the dash. It is extremely unsafe when making a turn while a car is coming and there's nothing you can do. Also while making left hand turns the wheel will sometimes lock and you can't manually move the steering wheel. You have to turn off the car and wait sometimes 10+ minutes then the wheel will unlock. Now when I go to start my car it starts shaking and making a loud noise and rev low. After about 1 minute it will completely turn off and it will say service Stabilitrak and service traction control.

NHTSA ODI #11451249

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2020
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

JUST BOUGHT CAR HAVEN'T HAD ANY RECALL MAINTENANCE CHECKED BY VIN

NHTSA ODI #11362568

113,000 miles · Sep 28, 2020
Unknown Or Other

THE REAR IMPACT BAR ON MY 2012 IMPALA IS ROTTED OUT, NOT JUST RUSTED, ROTTED. IT OFFERS NO PROTECTION IN A REAR END COLLISION. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND THE REST OF THE CAR IS STILL PRETTY CLEAN WITH VERY MINOR RUST IN THE BODY SEAMS.

NHTSA ODI #11361473

60,000 miles · Aug 11, 2020
Unknown Or Other

THE DOOR BLEND ACTUATORS GO OUT CONSTANTLY. THE CAR HAS THREE OF THEM. WHEN THEY GO BAD, THERE IS A LOUD CLICKING OR KNOCKING SOUND BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AND THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER STOP WORKING. IF IT'S COLD, IT BLOWS COLD AIR AND IF IT'S HOT IT BLOWS HOT AIR. I HAVE REPLACED AT LEAST 20 ACTUATORS. ONCE THEY GO BAD, …

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THE DOOR BLEND ACTUATORS GO OUT CONSTANTLY. THE CAR HAS THREE OF THEM. WHEN THEY GO BAD, THERE IS A LOUD CLICKING OR KNOCKING SOUND BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AND THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER STOP WORKING. IF IT'S COLD, IT BLOWS COLD AIR AND IF IT'S HOT IT BLOWS HOT AIR. I HAVE REPLACED AT LEAST 20 ACTUATORS. ONCE THEY GO BAD, A NEW ONE LAST ONLY A FEW MONTHS, WHICH MEANS THERE IS A DEEPER ISSUE. THE DEALER SAYS CHEVY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IT IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE; HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL, DEALER COULD NOT QUOTE A PRICE BECAUSE THEY WON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG UNTIL THEY GET IN THERE. DEALER SUSPECTS CHEVY WON'T ISSUE RECALL BECAUSE THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND WILL COST THOUSANDS PER CAR TO FIX.

NHTSA ODI #11348561

107,700 miles · May 6, 2020
Unknown Or OtherCrash

CAR LUNGED INTO CAR IN FRONT EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT ON BRAKE. PLACED CAR IN REVERSE AND IT KEPT GOING IN REVERSE VERY FAST UNTIL CAR BACKED UP ONTO A CURB!!! IT WAS AS IF THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK EVEN THOUGH FOOT WAS ON BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11323506

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.