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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

What owners actually said

258 reports
180,000 miles · May 11, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Wheels

MY CHEVROLET IMPALA WAS IN MOTION WHEN MY ABS AND TRAC SENSOR KEEPS COMING ON. NOW IT'S HAPPENING EVERYTIME I DRIVE. IT ALMOST LOCKS ON ME WHEN I'M DRIVING AND IT SCARES ME FOR MY SAFETY OF MY KIDS AND MYSELF IN THE VEHICLE. I LOOKED UP TO TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINS FOR THAT 2012 MODEL…

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MY CHEVROLET IMPALA WAS IN MOTION WHEN MY ABS AND TRAC SENSOR KEEPS COMING ON. NOW IT'S HAPPENING EVERYTIME I DRIVE. IT ALMOST LOCKS ON ME WHEN I'M DRIVING AND IT SCARES ME FOR MY SAFETY OF MY KIDS AND MYSELF IN THE VEHICLE. I LOOKED UP TO TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINS FOR THAT 2012 MODEL. MY LIGHTS WILL FLASH ON AND OFF (TRAC SENSOR AND ABS) AND IT MAKES A WEIRD NOISE

NHTSA ODI #11093432

140,720 miles · May 10, 2018
SteeringSuspensionVehicle Speed Control

HUB ASSEMBLY

NHTSA ODI #11093255

101,000 miles · May 8, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AS THESE 3 MESSAGES, ENGINE MAY LOOSE POWER, SEVERICE TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITRACK. THE ENGINE STARTED SLOWING DOWN & HAD A HIGH PITCHED WHINNY NOISE. AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES THE MESSAGE CHANGED TO ENGINE IIS LOOSING POWER, WOULDN'T GO …

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AS THESE 3 MESSAGES, ENGINE MAY LOOSE POWER, SEVERICE TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITRACK. THE ENGINE STARTED SLOWING DOWN & HAD A HIGH PITCHED WHINNY NOISE. AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES THE MESSAGE CHANGED TO ENGINE IIS LOOSING POWER, WOULDN'T GO OVER 35 MPH AND THE WHINNING BECAME LOUDER AND FASTER. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GM DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. I WAS TOLD THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER UNTIL MAY 15, 2018.

NHTSA ODI #11092418

99,500 miles · May 1, 2018
Steering

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET I NOTICED THE POWER STEERING WAS MUCH HARDER TO TURN.

NHTSA ODI #11091261

85,200 miles · Apr 30, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND AND THE STABILIZER TRACTION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND AND THE STABILIZER TRACTION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,200.

NHTSA ODI #11091080

68,000 miles · Apr 20, 2018
Electrical System

TAKATA RECALL PROBLEMS WITH BLOWER MOTOR IN AC..WAS REPLACED TWICE. ONE SIDE OF VENT IS HOT WHILE OTHER IS COLD. ALSO LOUD TAPPING NOISE AFTER CAR IS SHUT OFF..CONTINUOUSLY EVEN WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. BELIEVE A BAD RELAY NOW THAT I NEED TO REPLACE. MY SISTER CAR ALSO DOES SAME THING SHE HAS A 2006 IMPALA.

NHTSA ODI #11089050

60,300 miles · Apr 10, 2018
Exterior Lighting

2012 IMPALA THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWBEAM HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT, AFTER REPLACING THE BULB IT GOES OUT AGAIN INSTANTLY. SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE I'M GUESSING. CAN BE DANGEROUS AND GETTING PULLED OVER FOR IT BY THE POLICE IS NOT FUN.

NHTSA ODI #11084256

100,000 miles · Mar 26, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A LOCAL …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11081351

70,000 miles · Jan 20, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Wheels

70,000 MILES, STABILTRAK WARNING ON STARTUP AND ENGINE POWER LOSS. ERROR MESSAGE WAS ABOUT A SENSOR, REPLACED THE HUB AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO FIX. SO FAR NO MORE PROBLEMS BUT I'VE SEEN THIS ISSUE COUNTLESS TIMES AND I'M SURPRISED THERE WASN'T A RECALL YET.

NHTSA ODI #11063883

135,000 miles · Jan 17, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WHEN USING E85 FUEL IN MY FLEX FUEL VEHICLE THE CHECK STABILITY CONTROL/REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING IS ACTIVATED. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER AND GM THEY WERE UNABLE TO HELP ME. THERE IS A GM TECHNICAL BULLETIN (PIP5385C) ON THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11063344

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.