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2005 Chevrolet Impala

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

499 reports with mileage · 110 unknown

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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 331 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

39 crash reports13 fire reports22 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

331 reports
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120,000 miles · Jul 4, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY 2005 CHEVY IMPALA INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO START. IT WILL RESTART AFTER WAITING ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES. THIS IS A SIMILAR PROBLEM (POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE) I HAD WITH A PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2000 IMPALA, AND OTHER FRUSTRATED IMPALA OWNERS EXPRESS ONLINE. CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS ARE UNABLE TO PIN POINT THE CAUSE AND GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WA…

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MY 2005 CHEVY IMPALA INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO START. IT WILL RESTART AFTER WAITING ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES. THIS IS A SIMILAR PROBLEM (POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE) I HAD WITH A PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2000 IMPALA, AND OTHER FRUSTRATED IMPALA OWNERS EXPRESS ONLINE. CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS ARE UNABLE TO PIN POINT THE CAUSE AND GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NOT HELPFUL WHEN CONTACTED ON THE MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10608245

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2014
Electrical System

IGNITION NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHILE DRIVING SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON. MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK CAR WON'T START. BATTERY'S PERFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607657

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 8/19/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING MECHANISM FAILED ALSO. UPDATED 09/5/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10605555

70,000 miles · Jun 23, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL ' THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE LOCK SYSTEM RESET ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT T…

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TL ' THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE LOCK SYSTEM RESET ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. JCC

NHTSA ODI #10605187

134,000 miles · Jun 22, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

IGNITION HAS GONE OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605024

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2014
Electrical System

IGNITION PROBLEMS. SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL COME ON. OTHER TIMES THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE TROUBLE STARTING AND THE IGNITION DOES NOT CATCH TO START AND TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPT TO SUCCESSFUL START. A FEW TIMES THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED AND AFTER MOVING 500FT OR MORE IT STALLED AND LOST ALL CONTROL OF…

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IGNITION PROBLEMS. SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL COME ON. OTHER TIMES THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE TROUBLE STARTING AND THE IGNITION DOES NOT CATCH TO START AND TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPT TO SUCCESSFUL START. A FEW TIMES THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED AND AFTER MOVING 500FT OR MORE IT STALLED AND LOST ALL CONTROL OF BRAKES AND STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10599055

150,000 miles · May 23, 2014
Electrical System

SECURITY SYSTEM COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START ........... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593723

178,966 miles · May 21, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 IMPALA IN APRIL OF 2014. THERE WAS NO CHECK LIGHT ENGINE ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK, BUT THE LIGHT DID COME ON AND ALSO WITH THE AIRBAGS LIGHT. WHEN BRAKING BOTH LIGHTS WILL DISAPPEAR. AT TIMES OF ACCELERATING, THE LIGHTS WILL APPEAR. ALSO, I HAVE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT IS AFFECTING MY HEADLIGHTS, R…

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 IMPALA IN APRIL OF 2014. THERE WAS NO CHECK LIGHT ENGINE ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK, BUT THE LIGHT DID COME ON AND ALSO WITH THE AIRBAGS LIGHT. WHEN BRAKING BOTH LIGHTS WILL DISAPPEAR. AT TIMES OF ACCELERATING, THE LIGHTS WILL APPEAR. ALSO, I HAVE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT IS AFFECTING MY HEADLIGHTS, RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND MY KEY WILL BARELY TURN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593166

74,711 miles · May 21, 2014
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONS. THIS INCIDENT IS THE THIRD I'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST YEAR. I RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE WIDESPREAD FOR 2000-2005 CHEVROLET IMPALAS. THE SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS 95-110 MPH ALL OF THE TIME FROM A COMPLETE STOP TO A SLOW ROLL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE A FAULTY SPEEDOMETER RE…

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THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONS. THIS INCIDENT IS THE THIRD I'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST YEAR. I RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE WIDESPREAD FOR 2000-2005 CHEVROLET IMPALAS. THE SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS 95-110 MPH ALL OF THE TIME FROM A COMPLETE STOP TO A SLOW ROLL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE A FAULTY SPEEDOMETER READING CAN AND WILL LEAD TO ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592968

100,000 miles · May 19, 2014
Electrical System

FOUND OUT MY HORN STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING. NEARLY GOT IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE I COULDN'T SOUND MY HORN AS WARNING. FOUND OUT FROM SHINEE LA FLEUR AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT CHEVY PUT IN A UPDATE TO COVER THE HORN FROM WATER DAMAGE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL NOT AN UPDATE. THE HORN SHORTED OUT BECAUSE WATER GOT TO…

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FOUND OUT MY HORN STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING. NEARLY GOT IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE I COULDN'T SOUND MY HORN AS WARNING. FOUND OUT FROM SHINEE LA FLEUR AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT CHEVY PUT IN A UPDATE TO COVER THE HORN FROM WATER DAMAGE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL NOT AN UPDATE. THE HORN SHORTED OUT BECAUSE WATER GOT TO THE ELECTRIC PART OF THE HORN. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE SHORTED OUT MY ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BUT LUCKILY IT ONLY SHORTED OUT THE HORN. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $425 FOR THERE MISTAKE. I WOULD LIKE THIS CAR TO BE ON A RECALL FOR POSSIBLE DAMAGE BY WATER BECAUSE THE SHIELD THEY PUT ON NOW PROTECTS IT. WHY WASN'T THIS SHIELD SOLD WITH THE CAR FROM THE BEGINNING. THE TECH STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES EXIST ON ALL THESE CARS BUT CHEVY DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10592482

Official recalls

1

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 3, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.