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Chevrolet ImpalaYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 10,439 NHTSA owner complaints across 47 model years, no Chevrolet Impala year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1995, 1996, 2018 and 2019. The Impala has 57 safety recalls on record.

Chevrolet Impala
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009Best years'95 '96 '18 '19Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints10,439Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls571965–2020 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Chevrolet Impala years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Impala median. Tap a year for its full report.

'65'66'67'68'69'71'72'73'74'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'85'87'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2020Not rated–/10015 complaints · 0 recalls2019Best93/10028 complaints · 1 recall2018Best89/10059 complaints · 1 recall2017Best82/100117 complaints · 0 recalls2016Best81/100111 complaints · 0 recalls2015Solid65/100301 complaints · 3 recalls2014Solid48/100638 complaints · 12 recalls2013Best67/100272 complaints · 1 recall2012Solid66/100258 complaints · 3 recalls2011Solid52/100505 complaints · 2 recalls2010Solid56/100442 complaints · 4 recalls2009Caution40/100824 complaints · 5 recalls2008Caution39/100810 complaints · 2 recalls2007Solid44/100627 complaints · 2 recalls2006Solid46/100524 complaints · 1 recall2005Solid46/100609 complaints · 1 recall2004Caution34/1001,074 complaints · 4 recalls2003Solid43/100695 complaints · 5 recalls2002Caution40/100795 complaints · 4 recalls2001Caution40/100742 complaints · 7 recalls2000Caution36/100818 complaints · 7 recalls1999Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1996Best87/10088 complaints · 0 recalls1995Best93/10044 complaints · 0 recalls1994Not rated–/10015 complaints · 0 recalls1993Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1987Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1985Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1983Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall1982Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls1981Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1979Not rated–/1002 complaints · 3 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1977Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1971Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls1969Not rated–/1002 complaints · 4 recalls1968Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1967Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls1966Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1965Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Chevrolet Impala problems

All model years combined: 10,439 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system3438201
Engine1264167
Steering1200123
Air bags957336
Power train93049
Electronic stability control (ESC)76326
Engine and engine cooling67974
Exterior lighting66922
Vehicle speed control65044
30 other systems3818384
57 recalls

Chevrolet Impala recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

96%Disc: caliper18V-576 · 2018–2019 · Aug 30, 2018 · 210,628 vehicles51%Sensor: occupant classification16V-507 · 2009–2010 · Jul 5, 2016 · 289,254 vehicles26%Engine and engine cooling: engine15V-701 · 2000–2004 · Oct 26, 2015 · 1,003,556 vehicles93%Air bags15V-465 · 2014–2015 · Jul 24, 2015 · 5,493 vehicles25%Engine and engine cooling: engine15V-201 · 2004 · Apr 6, 2015 · 330,742 vehicles95%Parking brake15V-202 · 2014 · Apr 6, 2015 · 126 vehicles93%Parking brake15V-085 · 2014 · Feb 11, 2015 · 3,660 vehicles85%Electrical system14V-614 · 2014 · Oct 1, 2014 · 106,307 vehicles97%Parking brake14V-541 · 2014–2015 · Sep 9, 2014 · 205,309 vehicles100%Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive14V-518 · 2014 · Aug 28, 2014 · 5 vehicles98%Structure14V-489 · 2014–2015 · Aug 8, 2014 · 14,940 vehicles96%Steering: electric power assist system14V-450 · 2014 · Jul 23, 2014 · 57,242 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 57 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

11 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Impala

  1. BiCal Chevrolet/Loss of Power SteeringAQ17002 · 2014 · closed May 14, 2020
    No recall
  2. Passenger Air Bag OCS AlgorithmDP14001 · 2008 · closed Mar 7, 2017
    No recall
  3. Active Safety System MalfunctionPE14010 · 2014 · closed Nov 21, 2014
    Led to recall 14V-541
  4. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS - FIRESPE09025 · 2006 · closed Oct 2, 2009
    No recall
  5. ALLEGED HEADLIGHT FAILUREPE06017 · 2001–2003 · closed Oct 25, 2006
    No recall
  6. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02030 · 2000–2002 · closed Mar 9, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-090
  7. INADVERTENT ENGINE STALLINGPE00005 · 2000 · closed Feb 29, 2000
    No recall
  8. COOLANT FIRESEA99003 · 1994–1996 · closed Aug 17, 2000
    No recall
  9. REAR WHEEL SEPARATIONPE96001 · 1996 · closed May 31, 1996
    Led to recall 96V-245
  10. HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILUREPE88027 · 1984–1985 · closed May 11, 1988
    No recall