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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

What owners actually said

609 reports
175,555 miles · Apr 21, 2016
EngineFuel/propulsion System

175555 MILES FUEL SMELL AND FUEL LOSS WHEN CAR IS RUNNING. ROUGH START, SOME MISSING. FUEL FILTER FAILED AT FILTER INLET SPRAYING GAS ONTO UNDERBODY OF CAR SO DIDN'T SEE THE FUEL SPILL. REPLACED FILTER AND O RINGS.SQUEALING BELT SOUND AT START UP. SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE, REPLACED TENSIONER AND BELT. NO CHECK ENGINE WAR…

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175555 MILES FUEL SMELL AND FUEL LOSS WHEN CAR IS RUNNING. ROUGH START, SOME MISSING. FUEL FILTER FAILED AT FILTER INLET SPRAYING GAS ONTO UNDERBODY OF CAR SO DIDN'T SEE THE FUEL SPILL. REPLACED FILTER AND O RINGS.SQUEALING BELT SOUND AT START UP. SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE, REPLACED TENSIONER AND BELT. NO CHECK ENGINE WARNINGS, NO ELECTRONIC GAUGES I HAVE THE BASIC IMPALA MODEL. WATCHED THE FUEL GAUGE DROP BY LINES WHILE DRIVING AND SMELLED GAS WHEN SHUT OFF CAR. FIRE HAZARD, AND ENGINE FAILURE IF THE BELT BROKE COMPLETELY..ANOTHER 300$ SPENT

NHTSA ODI #10860661

100,000 miles · Mar 30, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALER WHO ALSO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALER WHO ALSO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WAS TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10852513

100,000 miles · Mar 21, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAM…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10850870

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

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2016
Electrical System

SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START RIGHT AWAY. THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. WE HAVE HAD TO WAIT 10 MINUTES TO TRY AGAIN. TO BYPASS THIS WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN, INSERT THE KEY AND WAIT 5 SECONDS, TURN THE KEY TO ACC AND WAIT ANOTHER 5 SECONDS. THEN WE TURN THE KEY TO START BUT DO NOT TURN …

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SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START RIGHT AWAY. THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. WE HAVE HAD TO WAIT 10 MINUTES TO TRY AGAIN. TO BYPASS THIS WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN, INSERT THE KEY AND WAIT 5 SECONDS, TURN THE KEY TO ACC AND WAIT ANOTHER 5 SECONDS. THEN WE TURN THE KEY TO START BUT DO NOT TURN THE ENGINE UNTIL THE DOOR OPEN WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. THIS WILL GIVE THE VEHICLE A MOMENT TO PASS THE SECURITY ISSUE AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. I HATE DOING THIS EVERY TIME! THERE HAS TO BE A FIX WE CAN ALL AFFORD. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND IN AN EMERGENCY I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO GUESS OR HOPE OR EVEN WASTE 20 SECONDS TO START MY VEHICLE. THIS IS ANNOYING AND IT SHOULD BE FIXED AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. OR AT LEAST PAY HALF OF THE REPAIRS AND DIAGNOSIS. PLEASE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT AN EMERGENCY TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL OR URGENT CARE SHOULD NOT BE DELAYED BY THE WHAT-IFS OF A CAR STARTING PROPERLY OR WASTING 10 MINUTES TO TRY AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10840241

115,000 miles · Feb 3, 2016
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT WORK. GETS STRUCK AND WILL RETURN TO NORMAL IF BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED OR IF CAR IS SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES IN SUCCESSION.

NHTSA ODI #10824120

65,301 miles · Jan 27, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER BEING REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER BEING REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE . THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,301.

NHTSA ODI #10822475

71,400 miles · Jan 19, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR SUBURBAN KIA IN TROY. ON THE THIRD DAY OF DRIVING IT, I NOTICED GASOLINE SMELLS COMING INTO THE CAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK ON 1/18/16 AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THE GAS SMELL COMING INTO THE CAR. I WILL BE TAKING IT BACK ON 1/21/16 WHEN THEY CAN KEEP IT ALL DAY. THE SMELLS CO…

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR SUBURBAN KIA IN TROY. ON THE THIRD DAY OF DRIVING IT, I NOTICED GASOLINE SMELLS COMING INTO THE CAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK ON 1/18/16 AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THE GAS SMELL COMING INTO THE CAR. I WILL BE TAKING IT BACK ON 1/21/16 WHEN THEY CAN KEEP IT ALL DAY. THE SMELLS COME WHEN THE CARE IS IN MOTION. ENOUGH FUMES TO TAKE MY BREATH AWAY. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN.

NHTSA ODI #10821050

75,000 miles · Jan 11, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. A ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE IGNITION TUMBLER HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. A ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE IGNITION TUMBLER HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI #10819332

294,000 miles · Dec 31, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ACCELERATION DECREASED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER FIVE MINUTES, THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE O…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ACCELERATION DECREASED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER FIVE MINUTES, THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE PLATE HAD CARBON BUILD-UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 294,000.

NHTSA ODI #10817178

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.