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2012 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

204 reports with mileage · 54 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 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports5 fire reports12 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

3 reports
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58,168 miles · Feb 23, 2016
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL INJECTORS 1, 3, AND 5 MALFUNCTIONED AND FUEL TRAVELED STRAIGHT THROUGH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE REAR EXHAUST. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT INJECTOR PORTS 1, 3, AND 5 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL INJECTORS 1, 3, AND 5 MALFUNCTIONED AND FUEL TRAVELED STRAIGHT THROUGH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE REAR EXHAUST. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT INJECTOR PORTS 1, 3, AND 5 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,168.

NHTSA ODI #10837671

25,300 miles · Sep 19, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPRO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,300.

NHTSA ODI #10637579

120 miles · Feb 21, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE MAKES A TICKING NOISE OR KNOCKING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING , I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS BEING THAT THIS NOISE STARTED THE NEXT DAY AFTER I HAD THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP . I'M HOPING THIS ISN'T A SAFETY CONCERN BUT IT SURE IS A CUSTOMER DISSATISFACTION. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO ISOLATE THE NOISE AND COULD NOT AN…

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ENGINE MAKES A TICKING NOISE OR KNOCKING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING , I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS BEING THAT THIS NOISE STARTED THE NEXT DAY AFTER I HAD THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP . I'M HOPING THIS ISN'T A SAFETY CONCERN BUT IT SURE IS A CUSTOMER DISSATISFACTION. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO ISOLATE THE NOISE AND COULD NOT AND SAID I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE MANUFACTURER GM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. I'M VERY DEPRESSED ABOUT THIS HAVING SPENT GOOD MONEY ON A NEW CAR JUST TO HAVE IT MAKE MORE NOISE THAT A 40 YEAR OLD CAR , AND THEN BEING TOLD I HAVE TO WAIT TILL SOMEONE COMPLAINS ENOUGH TO SEE IF IT CAN BE FIXED. I BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A NEW ENGINE IN THE IMPALA AND NOW AM WONDERING IF THIS ENGINE IS GOING TO BECOME A PROBLEM FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF. I HAVE READ SOME MAJOR CONCERNS FROM PEOPLE ABOUT THE 06 IMPALA AND HOPE THIS ISN'T WHERE MY CAR IS HEADED. ANY HELP THAT I COULD GET WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATED, THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #10449788

Official recalls

3

14V355000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jun 23, 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) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and 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. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

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 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.

12V377000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Aug 3, 2012

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Chevrolet Impala police vehicles because the front lower control arms may fracture. This safety recall does not include non-police Chevrolet Impala vehicles.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 21, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.

11V398000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections

Aug 5, 2011

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 19, 2011, THROUGH JULY 29, 2011. THE UPPER POWER STEERING HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED SO THAT IT CAN COME IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO AND/OR CONTACT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WITH THE ENGINE ON, HEAT FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY MELT THE POWER STEERING HOSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: POWER STEERING FLUID COULD FLOW ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO ENSURE THAT THE UPPER POWER STEERING HOSE IS ROUTED CORRECTLY AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

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.