10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
75,615 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #18

Jan 272012

Impala

  • 194,000 miles
Speedometer does not work most of the time. Car will shut down without warning going down road. The check engine light does not come on. After pulling over it will start back up. Have been placed on diagnostics machine and no codes are triggered. We have replaced fuel filter. Had a tune up done. Nothing is working and mechanics cant figure out what is wrong. Very dangerous. Has happened many times. Last time going down mountain on a curve with no where to pull over. Luckily no traffic at the time.

- Valhermoso Springs, AL, USA

problem #17

Dec 212012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 122,000 miles
First... my car all of the sudden started leaking like an oil tanker last January 2012, and the ABS/traction control lights came on. Took the car to the Chevy dealership, and had major repair work done on transmission, and engine for leaks. Spent $2100 and was quote $2600 to replace the ABS/traction control modulator for my ABS/traction control to work again. The code they pulled was C1218. Needless to say it has not been repaired yet. A month after spending this money, I had to replace the water pump, and almost a year later I had to replace a plastic elbow from the water pump to my radiator which was another $300. Then this past December 2012, my transmission all of the sudden jerked hard from 1st to 2nd and so on during local driving. Max speed limit is 40mph locally. Took it to Chevy and was told I need a new transmission, so I took it for a second opinion and was told code P1811 was coded for a long shift, but that my transmission was a 1/2 quart low so they filled it with trans additive. They suggested I try a "transmission shop" for them to check because maybe my trans solenoid was bad, which would still cost quite a bit for repair, but not nearly as much as a new transmission. My car has 122,000 long highway miles, not local; stop & go. I do not feel my ABS/traction control, nor my trans should be bad. I maintain my car, and based on my internet searches many people have had the exact same problems with these cars. I emailed Chevy and was basically told this is my problem and no concession was offered on their part to assist me with these repairs. I have been laid off from my job, and returned to school so needless to say cannot afford a new car, but this car is costing more than it is worth. Chevy needs to quit ignoring these problems, and take care of loyal customers before they lose them.

- Fishers, IN, USA

problem #16

Oct 312011

Impala 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
I purchased vehicle Oct 2011, transmission went bad, started steering hard, had it checked by dealer (chev) place. Gave me estimate of $3000. To replace steering. I talked with recall people they finally lowered it to me paying $700.. said the VIN # does not match the recalls Impala. There is large electrical problem makes car shut down going down road. All of this begin 2 weeks after my purchase. Im a senior living off social security, cannot afford even the small amount of fixing this car. I have spoken with Impala owners, they all have the same problems. Im still making payments on this piece of junk. Owe $5000. Bad decision. Do hope you can help me. Thank you.

- Salem, OR, USA

problem #15

Nov 062012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 109,545 miles
I have a chev. Impala ls 2005 it runs good but the transmission jerks and is shifting long. The Chevrolet people know about this and I think that they should be able to replace it at free of charge because when they made them they knew and did not tell anybody until people start coming in complaining about them.

- Grenada, MS, USA

problem #14

Sep 182007

Impala 6-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
When shifting 1st to 2nd gear the transmission shifts hard, transmission is the 2nd one I have had in this car samething is happening to this one I have 95000 miles now.

- Fremont, OH, USA

problem #13

Nov 042011

Impala 6-cyl

  • miles
I purchased a car from icarsnow (704-551-0990) on South blvd in charlotte on October 28, 2011. I drove the car for a week when the gears started slipping and the car started to stall and jerk the car had a 90 day warranty so I called southern warranty (704-282-1814) and they had me to take the car to carson automotive 10940 a E. independence blvd. Matthews nc they replaced the transmission and converter on 11/4/11. I picked the car up drove for a week or two and the car was still stalling and jerking. I called carson automotive and took the car back.. I also heard a noise in the engine. I took the car back to carson automotive they could not find why the car was stalling and jerking but the said the engine needed to be replaced because of a rod the engine was replaced on 12/27/11. That is when I found out that the 90 day warranty was 50/50 where if anything major happen to the car the warranty company would pay have and I would have to pay half. This is not how it was explained by the salesman at icarsnow. He told me after the 90 day warranty if anything happens major that the warranty company and I would share the cost. In order for me to not loose the money already paid on the car I have to pay half on the engine. After the engine was replaced the car was leaking anti- freeze I took the car back again carson automotive could not find anything. The rear window replaced because the defrost was not attached and sparked when you touched it. There was also a leak in the trunk that had to be repaired. After that the temperature gauge started to move up I took the car to my mechanic for him to check it out on 2/25/12. The problem was possible head gasket damage. I took the car back to carson automotive since they put the engine in. They told me that it was not the engine but a cracked radiator. Radiator was replaced on 2/27/12.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #12

Feb 242011

Impala

  • 105,000 miles
Transmission shifts hard and jerks intermittently.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #11

Dec 182008

Impala 6-cyl

  • 88,000 miles
Transmission shifts change hard, makes shudder noise, will speed up and slow down on its own. Speedometer goes up and down.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #10

Jun 082010

Impala

  • miles
The speedometer just stopped working, the transmission shift hard but when you shut off the engine and start it back up it stops shifting hard, and the car stalls.

- Harlem, GA, USA

problem #9

Dec 272010

Impala 6-cyl

  • miles
My speedometer gauge doesn't work it will get stuck on 20 mph constantly it never reads the correct speed but my other gauges work fine. My transmission shifts/slips harder than it should from 1st into 2ed and 2nd into 3rd. My headlights flicker when I push on my window controls to roll my windows up or down. The heat only blows on the passenger side of my car including on the defrost for the front windows and the rear window.

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #8

Nov 172010

Impala 6-cyl

  • miles
I am trying to file a complaint about a known defect with all years of Chevy Impala transmission's faulty first gear or pressure control solinoid issues. For the last year I have experienced issues with my car failing to adequately shift from starting off to the 30 mile per hour mark...you could feel my car jerk when it finally shifts. So I did what I thought would help and had a transmission flush and filter change which only solved this issue for not even a week. I went onto GM's website and was reading the forums specifically for Chevy Impala transmission issues and there was numerous complaints about the same issue but no offer from GM to even look into this issue. My car started to noticeably have this issue before even having 100K miles on it and right now I have 131K miles. I have followed the preventative maintenance schedule with my car since I took ownership in 2006. I posted my said issue on facebook and one of my high school classmates commented that he works at a Chevy dealership (has for 13 years) and only knows of the pressure control solinoid issue, so apparently GM just doesn't want to do their customers right by fixing even the known defect or followup with the numerous complaints stated on their forum. I just paid off my car and I feel that I shouldn't have to pay such a large sum of money to fix a defect on their part. I also asked a friend of mine, that owns a Chevy Impala, and they too have started to experience the same issus as I. please assist us consumers in probing into foresaid issues. Thanks!

- Moorhead, MN, USA

problem #7

Aug 152010

Impala 6-cyl

  • 30,000 miles
The only event leading to the failure was a loud sound coming from the rear left side of the vehicle. The failure involved a pull to the left and excessive heat being generated from the back left tire. The component that failed ended up being the wheel bearing. I had a mechanic replace it and also kept the old part. The old bearing was scorched (the mechanic showed me) and warped. The bearing could have locked up had it not been replaced, resulting in an accident.

- Scranton, PA, USA

problem #6

Nov 102010

Impala

  • miles
2005 Chevy Impala: Rough shifting, lost some hp, speedometer isn't working, engine leaking oil.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #5

Dec 172010

Impala

  • 19,500 miles
3.4ltr 6cyl base model has had multiple defective sensations for some time now; among those are steering, transmission shifting from a standing stop, braking and odd noises. This vehicle's 5 Y/O with only 20K mi, owned by elders & used locally, I've been driving them, & now I have this car. The left outter tie rod end had to be replaced with less than 20K mi. The steering still has an unstable feel when turning and make a metal to metal clinking noise from a defective (& as told by my mechanic & NHTSA reports, repeatedly reported) intermediate steering shaft. There should be a total recall because of this defective GM engineering problem. There is also a clinking noise occasionally when accelerating from a standing stop; can not tell if this defect is from the steering or something else like the engine mounts. Have not yet discovered this source. From a standing stop, the transmission will occasionally shift abruptly, either from a neutral disposition into 1st gear or from 1st to 2nd gear; the car lurches forward & the occupants heads are whipped back. This is similar to other reports of defective power train functionality I've read about with this model. Braking, when just starting a trip, has an improper feel and sometimes sounds like it's grinding, as if the brake pads or rotors are cracked/worn; this is a sensation I've had with vehicles having 100,000 miles, not on a car like this with only 20K miles. The center arm rest's pad support is flimsy/cheap plastic & has broken simply upon entering & shifting in the seat. I now see why so many police departments have discontinued the Impala's in favor of the charger's, crown vic's, Taurus's and escapes. The us government should be severely fining GM for marketing this car. >>>this car needs to be recalled for many reasons<<<

- Glen Ellyn, IL, USA

problem #4

Nov 082010

Impala

  • 49,000 miles
1. my fuel gauge quit working as I was driving to work. All the other gauges kept working. The needle was pointing down and would move at the bottom when the vehicle was turned on and off. I spent $400 to replace the instrument cluster which appears to be a problem as listed on the complaints section. 2. I purchased a 2005 chev Impala 01/2006 with15,00 miles on it. I started to notice a bit of a hard shifting on take off, only after driving it in the city after about the 2nd year of driving. The problem never left, in fact it has gotten worse over the years that we have owned the car. The problem with my car is the transmission shifts hard and only seems to do it if you did a a lot of start and stopping and you could turn the car off and let it sit for 10 min. Or so then it won't do it again. Sometimes it would go for several days or weeks before it would happen again or will do it several times in a row. When I had the instrument cluster replaced I had them check for codes and found a P1811.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #3

Jun 012008

Impala

  • 50,000 miles
Speedometer gauge not showing proper speed shows doing 100 when parked, took car to dealer and was told nothing was wrong with it. Speedometer completely quit working and now the fuel gauge is not working. Speedometer quit working 2 years ago. Cruise control has went out several times and no longer works transmission started slipping around 80,000 miles. Traction control and ABS light is constantly on and stating that it needs to be service when traction control was never engaged.

- Harrodsburg, KY, USA

problem #2

Dec 182008

Impala

  • 112,107 miles
Transmission is faulty. I only have 100,00 miles on an 2005 Chevy Impala, I have to replace the water pump and radiator. Now in December I have to replace the transmission.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #1

Apr 192005

Impala 6-cyl

  • miles
2005 Chevrolet Impala jumped out of park and rolled backwards. The impact caused the garage door to pop open and crash back down and trapping the consumer inside of the garage. The consumer suggested that GM should take responsibility for the defective vehicle. The vehicle also stalled when shifting to reverse from park, the vehicle hesitated to start therefore the consumer had to hold the key from several seconds while the starter attempted to turn over and the vehicle continued to grind.

- Warren, MI, USA