9.7

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
144,650 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
  2. unable be fixed (3 reports)
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problem #6

Dec 292016

Impala LS 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 267,000 miles

click to see larger images

started on fire

Tried to start my car and heard a loud bang, saw smoke coming from under the hood, popped the hood and put out small fire, Intake looked like a bomb went off in it.

- ajm3377, Rockville, MO, US

problem #5

Jun 292016

Impala LS 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 158,000 miles

Car was running fine. While driving on Highway got a faint odor of gasoline. Shortly another motorist flagged me that there were flames under car. Pulled over and exited the vehicle. Smoke and flames were seen coming from engine. Car was totaled. Loved the car planned on handing it down to son when he starts driving.

- John R., San Antonio, TX, US

problem #4

Nov 032012

Impala 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,400 miles

I bought the car in Feb of this year (2012) its now the beginning of Nov! Well i have no car NOW! I'm the second owner of this car & the car has always been well maintained! Never neglected! My problems started with the car not wanting to start, have to wait 10mins then it would start so i would be stranded with my kids. that made me pretty mad and gm wont do anything!!

Friday at midnight i took my kids to the car (who were both sleeping & under the age of 5) we were heading to walmart. the car hadn't been started since 3pm that afternoon! Well i remember that when i parked it it said low oil (Pretty sure that's what it was) which it was almost due for a oil change! anyways i popped the hood as soon as i opened it i smelled plastic burning then a small flame. i grabbed my children and ran into the house and called the fire department. local police arrived first and put out the fire! the motor is awful looking! And it was our only car in our household, we cant afford another one right now!!

I called gm and they wont even come investigate it!

Ive seen so many complaints about this car i feel sorry for anyone who owns one even if you take care of it and do everything right it will still backfire.

If anyone knows if i can get something out of this or get some help please let me know.

Thank You

- Rachael C., Greenfield, OH, US

problem #3

Oct 122010

Impala 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,132 miles

was driving on the hwy when the engine caught fire, had to replace the engine at my own cost and then 6 months later I received a recall notice about a defect in the engine which causes it to catch fire. i contacted gm and after countless phone calls a year later they say they won't repay me the cost of the new engine I put in. I will never buy GM again!!!

- Rowan C., Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada

problem #2

Mar 252010

Impala LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,419 miles

My husband went to his shop to check the fluids. He put oil in the motor, went into his shop and when he glanced out the window he could see the fire on the motor. It was fortunate that he was not injured. RCMP was called after he put out the fire. The owner of the tire shop next to his shop came over to make sure that my husband followed proper procedures to prevent any further damage. It ended up not mattering because it could not be salvaged. I am without a car and I don't want to shop for another vehicle. I don't know whether there will be a vehicle out there that is without its issues. Cannot afford a new one. What to do. What a displacement. What a hazard of a vehicle. Thankfully, however, no one was injured. I was planning a road trip. Now stranded.

- oboroowsky, Wainwright, Alberta, Canada

problem #1

Mar 252010

Impala LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,905 miles

I hope that no one else has to deal with such an issue. I have nothing to drive. The insurance payout will hardly cover another vehicle. I don't know what to do. I think back about the times with the interior CD and heating controls that use to get hot on long distance travel. I never thought anything of it. My CD player would quit working at this point. The vehicle is a risk for consumer use and could have been a fatal one at that had I been on the highway.

- oboroowsky, Wainwright, Alberta, Canada