8.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$450
Average Mileage:
78,550 miles
Total Complaints:
42 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (26 reports)
  2. replace cluster (6 reports)
  3. having to purchase a bundle of guages; cost $350 w/installat (3 reports)
  4. just live with it (3 reports)
  5. replace - recall gauge repair (3 reports)
  6. replaced stock alternator for a more powerful one (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Chevrolet dealer.

problem #42

Sep 212020

Impala 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 116,782 miles

It's quite frustrating looking at my dash and seeing the gauges all over the place. I had replaced my thermostat because the gauge was telling me that the temp was out of control and i wasn't getting any heat or A/C. In Oklahoma's past summer this year (2020) it was not pleasant whatsoever.

- Aj P., Guthrie, OK, US

problem #41

Oct 012015

Impala LS 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 159,000 miles

Gauge sticks after wiring the key....someone please recall!!! I'll be there...!!

- silvestri77, Clinton Township, MI, US

problem #40

Jan 042010

Impala DL V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Just before my Chevy Impala was paid off,things started going wrong. First it was the speedometer,then it was the temperature gauge,then the fuel gauge.Then the transmission started slipping,and my husband thought it might be because of the speedometer not working properly, it didn't know when to shift. That sounded far fetched to me but then what do I know.

Then a guy who changed my oil for me this last year did a diagnostic on it because of the check engine light. It said it was either the fuel pump, the fuel sensor, or could be as simple as bad gas. He said the best thing to change first was the sensor because it was easier to replace than the pump. So I had a co-worker help me out. My transmission problem has caused a small leak and I put Stop Slip in it along with regular transmission fluid. Now the passenger side window won't roll down. The check engine light is on all the time now. I couldn't get it registered because I can't get it smogged. I basically live paycheck to paycheck so coming up with the extra cash has been out of the question. And because it wasn't registered and smogged, it was impounded this last October 30th,No Tags! It cost me $600.00 to get it back, $400.00 of which I had to borrow. Still no smog check and my registration is due again in Feb.

When I got this Chevy, it had a nice size front end. It made me feel safe. I had been in an accident in my Ford Mustang just two months before. I was hit by two big rigs. I had no roll bar. It was a convertible and the second trailer from the truck at fault stopped two inches from my driver's door. I didn't want another death trap. I wanted something safe.

I'm writing this because I just found out that there was a recall on ignition switches from NHTSA. GM never sent me a recall notice. I've looked up recalls before and the Chevy Impala was never mentioned. Maybe they should reach beyond the Cobalt and look into other Chevy's. And I was almost tempted to trade this in for a Chevy Volt but I injured my shoulder in Dec. and now I'm out on workers comp. Nothing like having no employment to show for a new car. I need a new career and a better car to get there.

There's my rant. My next complaint is for NHTSA, then it's off to the big fish, GM. I won't hold my breath though,they haven't done right with the Cobalt victims yet. I just hope that my ignition switch doesn't go out and injure me and possibly others.

- Donna R., RANCHO CORDOVA, US

problem #39

Jan 052015

Impala 3.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 148,000 miles

Ever since I got my car in 2006, I have had to just deal with a lot of crap work put into this car. I had to replace a power window motor because it quit working. Had lots of issues with shavings being present in my transmission fluid to the point I was flushing it and replacing the filter yearly. In 2012 I finally had to replace my transmission because it was no longer shifting appropriately. At the dealership, they told me it was a common issues with bad solenoids (not sure how to spell it)...that was over $3K.

Now I took my car in for the ridiculous recall in regards to the key/ignition switch issue. Everything was fine, but then my car sprung a leak. Now I have replaced the sending unit, water pump, and thermostat. After dropping $245 on the repair bill for the water pump...my temp gauge is not working. The shop told me they would have to send it off to be repaired costing over $330.

I swear that I will never buy another Chevy product since the quality sucks. Heck, the buttons to my cruise control and such, or any other dials, cheap ass coating has been scrapping off for years to the point you can't even read what the heck the button control is for.

- Carolyn M., Moorhead, MN, US

problem #38

Mar 162011

Impala 3.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,010 miles

I am so disappointed in this car. Purchased with 20k miles on it and still under warranty. First problem was the pass lock sensor which I replaced and cost over $600. Then my gauges went to hell. First was my gas gauge, then my speedometer went and finally the temperature gauge went wacky. I accidentally discovered if you turn the key on and off repeatedly the gauges will reset themselves but I am not so sure that is a good temporary fix as it may damage the ignition switch. I just cannot afford to have it repaired and am pissed at Chevrolet that they have not issued a recall. My odometer and the trip meter are still working so every time I get gas I set the trip meter so I know how far I have driven and when I might need to gas up again. My need fuel light is still working thank goodness. My speedometer gets stuck at 40 or 60 even when the car is turned off. I judge the speed I am driving by the traffic I am driving in. How do we get Chevrolet to take responsibility and issue a recall?

- icollect22003, Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #37

Feb 132013

Impala 3.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

It was really annoying, but it was about $400 to fix so we just dealt with it. We tried to go with the flow of traffic so we wouldn't speed, and used the trip odometer to keep track of when we needed to fill up the gas tank.

- ssams, Hampton, VA, US

problem #36

Mar 032011

Impala LS 3.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

My dad bought this car in 2005 right off of the lot. No problems at first.. like any new car.

After a couple years the temperature gauge quit working.. I have tried getting it fixed 2 times and spent a good amount of money, and it still to this day won't work.. And now the speedometer doesn't work, along with the transmission, the trunk won't stay closed, the window motor is burnt out, reverse lights have went out twice, tie rods fell off, the rack and pennant ( or however you spell it) went out.. that's not even all of it.. RECALL!!!!!!!

- kylie, Burlington, IA, US

problem #35

Sep 252013

Impala LS 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,780 miles

Scary - I looked down at the speedometer and it showed I was driving 60 MPH in a 40 MPH zone. I started applying the brakes but the speedometer wasn't showing that I was driving slower. In fact, the speed kept increasing until it was showing that I was going 85 MPH as I pulled into my driveway (when I was actually going at little more than crawl speed to try to get the speedometer down. My temperature gauge was also showing hotter anacingd hotter and actually was way past the Hot level and only stopped there because it was hung up on one of the buttons inside the glass. My speedometer stayed at 60plus when it was stopped dead in my driveway overnight and the temperature gauge was also showing as hot as it would go. The temperature gauge stayed there until I had the repair done, but my service station attendant was able to get the speedometer down a little. I could still drive it but was very uneasy about that because it did speed up several more times before I could get it into a repair shop. I tried Firestone and they told me they didn't do that type of repair but they had had quite a few people coming in with this same problem. I was also told this by the repair shop that actually did the work. They told me that they see the problem on more GM cars than just Chevys and on modes other than Impala and other model years. The repair that I had done was replacing the instrument panel cluster.

If this is a very common problem, why hasn't there been a recall and/or offer to repair?

- Charlotte S., Chattanooga, TN, US

problem #34

Jan 252012

Impala 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,000 miles

What that FXXX. I cannot understand why GM or Chevrolet do not recall all this dashboard gauges to be repair. Who the hell assembled this piece of sh*t American made product, a whole bunch of apes. And, yet all the morons working in all of these crap hole factories are in a heart beat willing to go on strike when many of these jobs are send to other international markets. American workers SUCK. My next vehicle would for sure NOT, I repeat NOT be an Ameriocana piece of crap. Do not like my words SUE ME.

Al Maldonado

858-212-3110

- Al M., Diamond Bar, CA, US

problem #33

Jan 012010

Impala V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 175,000 miles

My 19 yr old daughter drives this car. I am constantly reminding her when she leaves the house, to watch her speed. She of course, reminds me that she can't. So, she just goes with the flow of traffic and prays she doesn't get a ticket. So far, so good! It is absolutely ridiculous to think that a company that's had this many complaints and the same ones, that they wouldn't take action, such as a recall and correct the problem.

- kt55, Charlotte, NC, US

problem #32

Feb 142012

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

I am having the same issue like everyone else. I have not had this car for a full year and my speedometer is going haywire. One min. it works and the next it stops. If anyone has the information to the lawsuit, please let me know. If there is no recall that will come out of these complaints I think we should boycott Chevy dealers until they make a recall.

- Sarah C., Cincinnati, OH, US

problem #31

Jan 022012

Impala 3.41

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

2005 Recall is needed by Chevy to repair known issue with gauges

- rick r, Menlo Park, CA, US

problem #30

Nov 242011

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles

My speedometer is broken and has been for about 15K miles now. Ridiculous that a well maintained car has a broken speedometer! I hear that next the gas gauge will break as this is a common problem with this car. That's crap that Chevy hasn't recalled them yet. I love my car...not the mechanical issues!

- Karin B., Fort Mill, SC, US

problem #29

Aug 312011

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,000 miles

click to see larger images

cluster gauges gone haywire/not working

Just as many 2005 Chevy Impala owners have reported, I have NO working fuel, speedometer, or temperature gauges. I am getting real tired of guestimating how fast I'm driving, resetting my trip odometer to zero with each gas fill-up, and hoping I'm not overheating.

The local Reno, NV Chevy dealer wants $600 plus to replace it, but I feel Chevy owes its customers a recall on this widely reported defect.

- redskinsfan, Sparks, NV, American Samoa

problem #28

Nov 032010

Impala 4S 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 129,057 miles

This problem has been a pain because you do not know how much gas you have and at one point the heater gauge was moving to the hot and dinging while driving but the car was not hot. When it is cold, the speed gauge does not work. This car is not even 10yrs old and I have more problems with it than my 19yr old car.

sincerely jamerican1

- jamerican1, Jackson, GA, US

problem #27

Feb 162011

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

I have been advised it may be the cluster that is out on my 2005 Chevrolet Impala. Basically, they should call it a Cluster F*&^. The information I have gathered so far to troubleshoot why I no longer have functioning gauges...such as a speedometer, gas, and random flashing lights appear to be related to this cluster f. In addition, I will no longer purchase any Chevrolet car. When you have 82,000 miles, no spdmter or gas gauge, it is really unacceptable...Buck up Chevy, you know you owe us all a recall.....

- Shannon G., Rice, MN, US

problem #26

Jul 022010

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

Don't know how much gas I have or how fast I'm going Or if my car is going to over heat!!!

- bvicky327, FELLOWS, CA, US

problem #25

Sep 012009

Impala LS 4DR 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

First it was the tach and I decided to let that go. Then the temperature gauge started going nuts. It would not go down to a cold zone when it cooled off so it appears it is hot when it is not. Then the gas gauge started "making" gas. Now it's lying on the speedometer. I put a lot of highway miles on a my car each year so warranty ran out in less than two years. Lots of front-end suspension problems but that's logged as a separate complaint

- ladel, Rolla, MO, US

problem #24

Nov 292010

Impala 6 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,200 miles

This is the first real problem I have had with this automobile. Was driving between Roanoke Va. and Lynchburg, Va. and looked down and the speedometer was doing 30 MPH when I knew that keeping up with the traffic in front of me I should have been doing 55 MPH. This thing started going all over the place and the tachometer was doing the same thing. I just find it very inconvenient and guess I will have to use my GPS to see how fast I am going. Should be a recall on this as many complaints as there are on the web about this particular problem. Think I will write my congressman next.

- Louis S., Troutville, VA, US

problem #23

Apr 032010

Impala LX 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

started with speedometer going nuts, then temp gauge not working, now fuel gauge

- Bob E., Marysville, CA, US

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