LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. THE SOUND IS NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SIDE. IT HAPPENS WHENEVER I UNLOCK THE DOORS OR DO ANYTHING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING CONTROLS. IT GOES ON FOR MINUTES AT A TIME WHEN I FIRST GET IN THE CAR AND HAPPENS ON AND OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING
2012 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Impala years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Unknown Or Other complaints
23 reportsTHERE'S A TICKING SOUND INSIDE THE DASHBOARD AND IT GET LOUDER AND TICK FOR 5 TO 10 MIN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF AND STARTING UP
I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD AND I TOOK A TURN ONTO A DIFFERENT RESIDENTIAL ROAD AND RIGHT AFTER I STARTED TO ACCELERATE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. RIGHT AFTER, THE SERVICE STABILITRAK AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR STARTED SPUTTERING AND WHEN I STARTED TO STOP THE BRAKES LOCKED ON AND OFF AS I C…
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I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD AND I TOOK A TURN ONTO A DIFFERENT RESIDENTIAL ROAD AND RIGHT AFTER I STARTED TO ACCELERATE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. RIGHT AFTER, THE SERVICE STABILITRAK AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR STARTED SPUTTERING AND WHEN I STARTED TO STOP THE BRAKES LOCKED ON AND OFF AS I CAME TO A STOP. IT CONTINUED TO SPUTTER EVERY TIME I ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO LOCK EVERY TIME I HAD TO ENGAGE THEM. I COULD BARELY GET THE CAR TO DRIVE FASTER THAN 25 MPH. ONCE I GOT HOME I POPPED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE SHAKING.
TAKATA RECALL
TAKATA RECALL WHEN ACCELERATING FORWARD FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON BY ITSELF CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP & CAUSES HESITATION. THE GROUND IS NOT WET AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS & HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET REAR ENDED. EVEN WHEN TURNING THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKS ON CAUSING THE SAME REACTION ON DRY PAVEME…
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TAKATA RECALL WHEN ACCELERATING FORWARD FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON BY ITSELF CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP & CAUSES HESITATION. THE GROUND IS NOT WET AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS & HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET REAR ENDED. EVEN WHEN TURNING THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKS ON CAUSING THE SAME REACTION ON DRY PAVEMENT. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR HESITATES & JERKS/JOLTS THEN THE TRACTION LIGHT KICKS ON. THERE ARE NO CODES ON THE DASHBOARD & NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY AREN'T ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND DRIVING WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. IT RISKING MY LIFE, MY CHILDREN'S LIVES & THE LIFES OF OTHERS.AND HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY HAVING THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT WITH NO SOLUTIONS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.
WHEN I START MY CAR UP FROM A COLD START, I HERE A RATTLING NOISE, AND AFTER IT GETS WARM IT GOES AWAY. ITS BEEN DOING THAT EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. AS THE MILES GOT ON THE CAR I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I HAVE 200,000 MILES PLUS
OPENING DRIVER DOOR TICKING SOUND LASTS ABOUT 1 MINUTE AND QUITS TICKING. KEY IS NOT IN IGNITION. SOUND IS COMING FROM DASHBOARD
MY CAR IS CURRENTLY IN SOUTH KOREA WITH ME, BECAUSE I'M STATIONED HERE FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. I'M MOVING BACK TO THE STATES AND MY CAR IS SUPPOSED TO SHIP OFF AUGUST 29TH BUT MY CAR CANNOT SHIP WITH A RECALL STATUS THAT READS INCOMPLETE STATUS WITH THE VPC CENTER. NO DEALERSHIP IN KOREA CAN HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE. MY RECALL IS…
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MY CAR IS CURRENTLY IN SOUTH KOREA WITH ME, BECAUSE I'M STATIONED HERE FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. I'M MOVING BACK TO THE STATES AND MY CAR IS SUPPOSED TO SHIP OFF AUGUST 29TH BUT MY CAR CANNOT SHIP WITH A RECALL STATUS THAT READS INCOMPLETE STATUS WITH THE VPC CENTER. NO DEALERSHIP IN KOREA CAN HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE. MY RECALL ISSUE STATES IF THE KEY RING IS CARRYING ADDED WEIGHT AND THE VEHICLE GOES OFF ROAD OR EXPERIENCES SOME OTHER JARRING EVENT, IT MAY UNINTENTIONALLY MOVE THE KEY AWAY FROM THE "RUN" POSITION. AFTER CALLING THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD A CASE WOULD BE OPENED IN MY SITUATION TO ATTEMPT TO CLOSE OUT THE RECALL DUE TO ME HAVING HE VEHICLE THREE YEARS WITH NO ISSUES RELATED TO THIS. IT HAS BEEN A WEEK AND I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE CONTACTED IN TWO DAYS WITH AN ANSWER. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME IN THIS SITUATION SO THAT MY CAR CAN BE SHIPPED BACK TO AMERICA???
WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAD A 42 MONTH WARRANTY. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER MY PURCHASE I NOTICED THAT THE TIRES (ALL 4) WERE DRY ROTTING. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT WAS FOGGING TO THE POINT IT WAS DIMMING THE HEAD LIGHT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO WHERE I PURCHASED THIS AND THE NAME OF THE CHEVR…
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WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAD A 42 MONTH WARRANTY. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER MY PURCHASE I NOTICED THAT THE TIRES (ALL 4) WERE DRY ROTTING. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT WAS FOGGING TO THE POINT IT WAS DIMMING THE HEAD LIGHT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO WHERE I PURCHASED THIS AND THE NAME OF THE CHEVROLET DEALER WAS TOM BANNEN AND NOW SERRA CHEVROLET. I COMPLAINED TO GENERAL MOTORS IN MICHIGAN AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THIS BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS TO BE SEEN BY THE SERVICE MANAGER WHICH I DID AND WAS TURNED DOWN AGAIN FOR REPAIRS EVEN WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I THEN FILED A COMPLAINT WITH BBB AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES THE JERK AT SERRA CHEVROLET SAID THAT SERRA CHEVROLET WOULD NOT HONOR ANY WARRANTY THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER, TOM BANNEN. I THINK THAT SERRA CHEVROLET IN MADISON, TN. HAS AND WILL RIP OFF OTHER BUYERS WHO HAD THE WARRANTIES FROM TOM BANNEN. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GENERAL MOTORS PRODUCT AND TELL ALL MY RELATIVES AND MANY FRIENDS NOT TO BUY FROM THIS RIP OFF ARTIST.
WHEN A WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN IN THE VEHICLE THERE IS A HORRIBLE VIBRATION INSIDE OF THE CAR THAT ACTUALLY CAUSES A HEADACHE. EVEN IF WE ROLL DOWN TWO IT DOESN'T HELP.
Official recalls
314V355000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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