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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

Wheels complaints

19 reports
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70,000 miles · Jan 20, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Wheels

70,000 MILES, STABILTRAK WARNING ON STARTUP AND ENGINE POWER LOSS. ERROR MESSAGE WAS ABOUT A SENSOR, REPLACED THE HUB AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO FIX. SO FAR NO MORE PROBLEMS BUT I'VE SEEN THIS ISSUE COUNTLESS TIMES AND I'M SURPRISED THERE WASN'T A RECALL YET.

NHTSA ODI #11063883

63,000 miles · Aug 20, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Wheels

ABS LIGHT COMES ON STABILTRAC LIGHT COMES ON BRAKES PULSE AND GRIND ON OCCASION DON'T WANT TO STOP AT TIMES LIKE YOUR ON ICE

NHTSA ODI #10897321

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)WheelsCrash

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AFTER APPLYING BRAKES MADE AWFUL NOISE AND I REAR ENDED A CAR. IT WAS CLEAR, DRY AND SUNNY AT THE TIME AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP. I BELIEVE THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM IS FAULTY. THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR HAS NOW STARTED COMING ON SINCE THE CAR ACCIDENT. THE DEALER THAT THE BODY SHOP TOOK THE CAR TO …

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THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AFTER APPLYING BRAKES MADE AWFUL NOISE AND I REAR ENDED A CAR. IT WAS CLEAR, DRY AND SUNNY AT THE TIME AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP. I BELIEVE THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM IS FAULTY. THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR HAS NOW STARTED COMING ON SINCE THE CAR ACCIDENT. THE DEALER THAT THE BODY SHOP TOOK THE CAR TO AFTER IT FIXED THE FRONT BUMPER SAID IT'S NOT THE TIRE SENSOR THAT'S BAD.

NHTSA ODI #10873680

44,000 miles · Apr 7, 2016
Service BrakesWheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SWITCH TO TRACTION CONTROL MODE. IN ADDITION, AN ABNORMAL SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKES OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SWITCH TO TRACTION CONTROL MODE. IN ADDITION, AN ABNORMAL SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKES OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS WIRING HARNESS AND THE WHEEL HUB WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI #10854132

1,000 miles · Nov 17, 2015
Wheels

THE TIRES CONTINUALLY LOOSE AIR. THE DEALER WAY BACK WHEN SAID TIRES WERE MY EXPENSE. TOOK IT TO DISCOUNT TIRE AND THEY SAID THE RIMS ARE NOT SMOOTH ENOUGH FOR A TIGHT SEAL. I NEED TO ADD AIR EVERY 2 WEEKS WITHOUT FAIL. NOW I'M PAST THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10794056

12,000 miles · Aug 22, 2014
Wheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL MADE A THUD SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE SPARE TIRE SCREWS INSIDE THE TRUNK WERE TIGHTENED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AGAIN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL MADE A THUD SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE SPARE TIRE SCREWS INSIDE THE TRUNK WERE TIGHTENED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AGAIN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #10627474

20,000 miles · Jun 5, 2014
SuspensionWheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING THERE WOULD BE AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPIDER GEAR FAILED. THE VEHICLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING THERE WOULD BE AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPIDER GEAR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI #10596417

40,000 miles · Mar 14, 2014
Wheels

THE FIRST TIME WAS IN DEC. 2013. EVERYTIME I BACKED UP I HEARD A CLUNK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A BAD RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB. I WAS IN LUCK BECAUSE IT WAS COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY MINUS THE 100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. THE CAR ONLY HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE SECOND TIME WAS TODAY,3/14/2014. I WENT IN FOR A ST…

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THE FIRST TIME WAS IN DEC. 2013. EVERYTIME I BACKED UP I HEARD A CLUNK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A BAD RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB. I WAS IN LUCK BECAUSE IT WAS COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY MINUS THE 100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. THE CAR ONLY HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE SECOND TIME WAS TODAY,3/14/2014. I WENT IN FOR A STATE INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RIGHT FRONT HUB WAS BAD. THE WARRANTY COVERED IT AGAIN. THE CAR ONLY HAS 42,190 ON IT. ONLY 2000 MILES BETWEEN OCCURRENCES. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG HERE. ALSO I WAS JUST TOLD OF A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE. DOES THIS INCLUDE MY 2012 IMPALA? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569460

8,486 miles · Jun 15, 2012
SteeringWheels

I WAS ROTATING THE TIRES AT HOME. WHEN REPLACING THE WHEELS I STARTED AND SNAGGED THE LUG NUTS BY HAND. I WENT TO TORQUE THE LUG NUTS TO SPECIFICATIONS (100 FOOT POUNDS) USING A TORQUE WRENCH. ONE OF THE RIGHT FRONT LUG NUTS WOULD NOT STOP TURNING WAY BEFORE REACHING THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. AS I CONTINUED TO TURN THE WRENCH, THE S…

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I WAS ROTATING THE TIRES AT HOME. WHEN REPLACING THE WHEELS I STARTED AND SNAGGED THE LUG NUTS BY HAND. I WENT TO TORQUE THE LUG NUTS TO SPECIFICATIONS (100 FOOT POUNDS) USING A TORQUE WRENCH. ONE OF THE RIGHT FRONT LUG NUTS WOULD NOT STOP TURNING WAY BEFORE REACHING THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. AS I CONTINUED TO TURN THE WRENCH, THE STUD SNAPPED OFF. ONE OF THE LUGS/STUDS NEXT TO IT ALSO FELT SUSPICIOUS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD ALL STUDS AND LUGS REPLACED ON THAT WHEEL AS I AM AFRAID THERE MAY BE A BAD BATCH OF STUDS. THE PARTS HAVE BEEN SAVED IF NEEDED FOR TESTING. I WAS A MECHANIC IN THE 1960'S AND HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK ON MY OWN AND FAMILY VEHICLES SINCE THEN. I CAN NOT RECALL EVER SNAPPING A STUD BEFORE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10461854

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.