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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.

About this comparison →
609Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
795
2002694
20031,072
2004609
2005524
2006627
2007810
2008
Compare all Impala years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
331Steering
60Power Train
52Exterior Lighting
49Air Bags
33
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
31Engine
30Service Brakes, Hydraulic
30Fuel System, Gasoline
25Vehicle Speed Control
24Service Brakes
16Visibility
15Fuel/propulsion System
14Unknown Or Other
14Structure
10Electronic Stability Control (esc)
9Seat Belts
7Suspension
7Equipment
6Visibility/wiper
6Tires
4Traction Control System
4Wheels
4Fuel System, Other
3Interior Lighting
3Equipment Adaptive/mobility
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Seats
2Service Brakes, Electric
2Parking Brake
1

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

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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
100 miles · May 21, 2010
Exterior LightingLatches/locks/linkagesStructure

TAILLIGHTS ON VEHICLE FILL WITH WATER AND TRUNK FILLS WITH WATER WHEN IT RAINS. DEALER HAS REPLACED REAR PANEL SEVERAL TIMES...PROBLEM PERSISTED. DEALER 'FIXED' PROBLEM BY DRILLING HOLES IN TAILLIGHTS TO DRAIN, BUT TRUNK STILL FILLS. DEALER REMOVED PLUG FROM TRUNK. TRUNK IS FULL OF MOLD. CONTACTED GMC SEVERAL TIMES, THEY DID A…

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TAILLIGHTS ON VEHICLE FILL WITH WATER AND TRUNK FILLS WITH WATER WHEN IT RAINS. DEALER HAS REPLACED REAR PANEL SEVERAL TIMES...PROBLEM PERSISTED. DEALER 'FIXED' PROBLEM BY DRILLING HOLES IN TAILLIGHTS TO DRAIN, BUT TRUNK STILL FILLS. DEALER REMOVED PLUG FROM TRUNK. TRUNK IS FULL OF MOLD. CONTACTED GMC SEVERAL TIMES, THEY DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. SMELLS REALLY BAD IN SUMMER MONTHS. CANNOT INSERT KEY IN LOCK, PANEL IS ON CROOKED. IT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR DEALER, SHOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME??? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331649

66,000 miles · Aug 27, 2008
Latches/locks/linkages

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CHILD SAFETY LATCH ON THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT DOORS. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S FOUR YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE AND UNLOCKED THE DOOR BECAUSE T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CHILD SAFETY LATCH ON THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT DOORS. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S FOUR YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE AND UNLOCKED THE DOOR BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CHILD SAFETY LOCK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD MAKE A NOTE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10239952

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.