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1996 Chevrolet Impala

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
88Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3.5

0Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
199315
199444
199588
19961
19972
19984
1999
Compare all Impala years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Visibility
13Steering
12Electrical System
11Power Train
11Engine And Engine Cooling
10
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
9Tires
8Service Brakes, Hydraulic
7Suspension
6Seat Belts
4Wheels
4Unknown Or Other
3Structure
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Air Bags
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Seats
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 9 of 88 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Visibility. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
60,000 miles · Dec 16, 2002
Seat Belts

FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR AND MOTION LOOK-UP DEVICE FAILLED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON REPLACEMENT FOUND THAT THE RETRACTION SPRING HAD WORN THROUGH THE PLASTIC SIDE COVER. FALURE OCCURRED WHEN I LEANED FORWARD AND APPLIED FORCE TO THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS. IF IT HAD OCCURRED IN AN ACCIDENT, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RESTRAINED.

NHTSA ODI #10000133

18,000 miles · Dec 6, 2002
Seat Belts

THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT WAS INOPERATIVE. WHEN SEATBELT WAS EXTENDED OUTWARD, IT WOULD NOT RETRACT. BY ASSUMPTION, CONSUMER TESTED THE BELTS BY SLAMMING ON BRAKES, AND THEY DIDN'T RETRACT. TS CONSUMER ALSO REMOVED THE MOLDING AND FOUND THE RECOIL SPRING WAS PROTRUDING OUT OF HOLE ON THE COVER. *TT *JB

NHTSA ODI #8023867

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605355

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 1997
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT JAMMED IN THE BUCKLE ALONG THE UPPER EDGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #513652

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

2

EA99003 · Coolant Fires

Opened Jan 13, 1999 · Closed Aug 17, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System

There is no summary currently available

PE96001 · Rear Wheel Separation

Opened Jan 4, 1996 · Closed May 31, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM GM INDICATES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF WHEEL SEPARATIONS IS WARRANTED.IN GM'S RESPONSE DATED APRIL 26, 1996, GM STATED THAT:GM HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHIH MAY CONTRIBUTE TO WHEEL SEPARATION.INVESTIGATION AS TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF WHEEL SEPARATIONS IS CONTINUING.THE RESULTS OF THESE FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO ASSESS THE PROBABILITY OF ANY FUTURE INCIDENTS . . .