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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

Service Brakes complaints

16 reports
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150,000 miles · Mar 24, 2019
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes

HI I PURCHASED MY IMPALA LAST YEAR USED AND FOR ABOUT THE FIRST 6 MONTHS IT RAN FINE...NOW ELECTRICAL PANEL GOES ON THE FRITZ DIMMING MY LIGHTS AND DASHBOARD...POWER WINDOWS AND MIRRORS NOT WORKING... ALSO ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHTS ON CONSISTENTLY...TRACTION RANDOMLY ACTIVATES AND CAR LIGHTERS JUST STOPPED WORKING. SOMETHING…

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HI I PURCHASED MY IMPALA LAST YEAR USED AND FOR ABOUT THE FIRST 6 MONTHS IT RAN FINE...NOW ELECTRICAL PANEL GOES ON THE FRITZ DIMMING MY LIGHTS AND DASHBOARD...POWER WINDOWS AND MIRRORS NOT WORKING... ALSO ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHTS ON CONSISTENTLY...TRACTION RANDOMLY ACTIVATES AND CAR LIGHTERS JUST STOPPED WORKING. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS SPECIFIC MODEL AND IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. ALSO TURN KEY TO START CAR AND THE CAR DOESN'T START SO I DO THIS 2-3 TIMES TO START CAR UP...REALLY NEEDS TO RECALL ALL 2005 IMPALAS

NHTSA ODI #11191163

140,745 miles · Aug 24, 2018
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING, BRAKED INDEPENDENTLY, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING, BRAKED INDEPENDENTLY, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. ONCE IT WAS RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,745. **TR CONSUMER STATED THE CAR'S BATTERY DRAINS QUICKLY AND WHEN TURNING A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. UPDATED 11/19/18*JB

NHTSA ODI #11122177

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2018
Service BrakesSteeringWheels

TAKATA RECALL: SHUTS OFF ON IT'S OWN WHILE DRIVING WITH LOSS OF CONTROL. LOSS OF STEERING. LOSS OF BRAKES, CAR SHAKES. HEADLIGHTS DIM WHEN SIGNALING FOR TURNS. CAR BEGAN SHAKING WITH LOSS OF CONTROL, BATTERY, AB, AND OTHER SENSOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON. ODOMETER BECAME EXEMPT 2016, BUT SELLER, CACHE VALLEY AUTO SALES, LEWISTON, UT HA…

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TAKATA RECALL: SHUTS OFF ON IT'S OWN WHILE DRIVING WITH LOSS OF CONTROL. LOSS OF STEERING. LOSS OF BRAKES, CAR SHAKES. HEADLIGHTS DIM WHEN SIGNALING FOR TURNS. CAR BEGAN SHAKING WITH LOSS OF CONTROL, BATTERY, AB, AND OTHER SENSOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON. ODOMETER BECAME EXEMPT 2016, BUT SELLER, CACHE VALLEY AUTO SALES, LEWISTON, UT HAS ODOMETER AT 142,221 MILES. THE SELLER REFUSES TO FIX, OR EXCHANGE FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11114013

77,000 miles · Jun 30, 2016
Service Brakes

RECENTLY, I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY 2005 IMPALA AND THE ABS/TRACTION SYSTEM. AT THE BEGINNING, THE "ABS, TRACTION OFF AND SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM" LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. THE ABS AND TRACTION LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON AND THE SERVICE TRACTION WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CAR ALSO MAKES A LOUD "DINGING" SOUND WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON. …

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RECENTLY, I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY 2005 IMPALA AND THE ABS/TRACTION SYSTEM. AT THE BEGINNING, THE "ABS, TRACTION OFF AND SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM" LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. THE ABS AND TRACTION LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON AND THE SERVICE TRACTION WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CAR ALSO MAKES A LOUD "DINGING" SOUND WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON. WHEN I WOULD MAKE A TURN, THE CAR WOULD ALSO MAKE A GRINDING SOUND AND THE SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON. EVENTUALLY, THE TRACTION BEGAN KICKING IN WHEN IT WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP PROPERLY. THIS OF COURSE WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND COMPLAINTS UPON COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY TOLD ME THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM WHICH I FIND HARD TO BELIEVE. I HAVE SPENT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND MONEY TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WANTED ALMOST $4,000 FOR REPAIRS. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO A VERY REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY, LIKE TWO OTHER SHOPS I CHECKED WITH, TOLD ME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS NUMEROUS TIMES IN THESE CARS. THEY ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I SPENT $2,000 HAVING THE WHEEL HUBS, ABS HARNESSES AND BRAKE PRESSURE MODULATOR VALVE REPLACED. THE LIGHTS, ALTHOUGH INTERMITTENT, ARE STILL COMING ON! SOMETIMES IT IS WHEN I TURN THE CAR ON, BACK UP OR EVEN JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 77,000 MILES ON IT AND I FEEL I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TWICE AND THEY ARE STILL ATTEMPTING TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE ONLY MAJOR PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU COULD GIVE ME WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

NHTSA ODI #10881704

148,000 miles · Jun 25, 2016
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

I WAS ACCELERATING AND MERGING ONTO A ROAD AND JUST GOT INTO THE MIDDLE LANE. SUDDENLY THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING EVEN THOUGH I HAD STOPPED PRESSING THE PEDAL. THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AND THE CAR GOT UP TO 70 MPH IN A 55 ZONE. THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO HELP SLOW THE CAR. IN A PANIC I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO…

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I WAS ACCELERATING AND MERGING ONTO A ROAD AND JUST GOT INTO THE MIDDLE LANE. SUDDENLY THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING EVEN THOUGH I HAD STOPPED PRESSING THE PEDAL. THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AND THE CAR GOT UP TO 70 MPH IN A 55 ZONE. THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO HELP SLOW THE CAR. IN A PANIC I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER AND STOP THE CAR. EVEN WHEN I WAS IN PARK, THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTED IT ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. IT DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY PROBLEMS ON THE WAY HOME AFTER THAT. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THERE WERE CARS VERY CLOSE TO ME. I NOTICED THAT MY FLOOR MAT WAS MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL AND WAS UNDER THE ACCELERATOR. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM. I DO OFTEN USE CRUISE CONTROL. I CANNOT REMEMBER IF IT WAS ON AT THE TIME AND I CANNOT REMEMBER IF I WAS ACCELERATING USING THE STEERING WHEEL BUTTON. I DO NOT BELIEVE I WAS AT THE TIME BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL LIKELY WAS ON. ALL I REMEMBER IS IT GOING OUT OF CONTROL. IT SEEMED BEST TO REPORT THE SITUATION. I AM VERY GLAD NOTHING SERIOUS HAPPENED AS IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE. I MAY GET A TICKET FOR SPEEDING THOUGH. I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD EVER BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED TO ME.

NHTSA ODI #10876624

140,000 miles · Dec 15, 2014
Air BagsService BrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 04/10/15*LJ UPDATED 6/26/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10664308

149,000 miles · Sep 12, 2014
Service BrakesTraction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS TRACTION WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ABS INDICATOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE REPAIR WAS MADE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS TRACTION WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ABS INDICATOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE REPAIR WAS MADE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000. UPDATED 10/23/14*CN UPDATED 04/13/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10632712

198,000 miles · Aug 31, 2014
Service BrakesSteering

WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE A COUPLE MONTHS BACK MY CAR ONLY STEER ONE WAY AND I HAD TO STOP ON SIDE OF THE ROAD SO I WENT TO THE SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY RACK AND PINION SO HE REPAIR THAT AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF DRIVING IT MY RACK STARTED LEAKING AGAIN NOW IM STUCK WITH THAT NOT TO MENTION I REPLACE MY 02 SHIFT SENSOR AN…

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WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE A COUPLE MONTHS BACK MY CAR ONLY STEER ONE WAY AND I HAD TO STOP ON SIDE OF THE ROAD SO I WENT TO THE SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY RACK AND PINION SO HE REPAIR THAT AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF DRIVING IT MY RACK STARTED LEAKING AGAIN NOW IM STUCK WITH THAT NOT TO MENTION I REPLACE MY 02 SHIFT SENSOR AND I SUPPOSE TO STOP MY CAR FOR STALL IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR BUT IT STILL DO D THE SAME AND NOW IT GO N TO GEAR AND WON'T MOVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629712

128,000 miles · Jul 11, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES EVEN ON DRIVE EVEN SURFACES. ABS ALSO ENGAGE ON SMOOTH, EVEN AND DRY SURFACES.

NHTSA ODI #10609998

97,252 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, MY GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND MY BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP, BROUGHT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. UPDATED 2/27/15 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10609110

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.