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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

31 reports
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185,000 miles · Oct 16, 2016
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY IMPALA KEEPS STALLING!!! WHILE DRIVING IT, AND DOESN'T MATTER IF I'M GOING 30 OR 55, JUST STALLS, ITS A DEATH TRAP, BUT THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO DRIVE, AND I HAVE TO HAUL A DISABLED PERSON!!! AM SCARED, HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY REPLACING PARTS THAT IT COULD "POTENTIALLY" BE! AT A LOSS, PLEASE HELP!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10916327

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STOPS AND STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. THE MANIFOLD GASKET, THERMOSTAT, ABS MODULE AND IGNITION WERE REPLACED OVER A PERIOD OF EIGHT YEARS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10846519

98,000 miles · Sep 25, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED TO HOT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND WATER PUMP THREE TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE ALTERNATOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE PREVIOU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED TO HOT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND WATER PUMP THREE TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE ALTERNATOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE FAILURES CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10638855

122,000 miles · Jan 17, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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…

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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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493323

45,000 miles · Apr 5, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454288

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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…

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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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10453154

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

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. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10441700

85,000 miles · Jul 28, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE MALFUNCTIONS, WITH WILD SWINGS IN INDICATED TEMPERATURE, INDICATION OF OVERHEATED TEMPERATURE (WHEN COOLANT IS NOT HOT), OR SOMETIMES EVEN NO READING AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10415511

130,000 miles · Jul 26, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD READ INACCURATELY, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY TIME, AND SMOKE COULD BE SEEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD READ INACCURATELY, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY TIME, AND SMOKE COULD BE SEEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL, BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ODI #10415254

62,000 miles · Jun 14, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED. THE ENGINE GAUGE ROSE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED. THE ENGINE GAUGE ROSE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TH VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #10406810

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.