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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

What owners actually said

258 reports
36,000 miles · Apr 12, 2017
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT TENSIONER WAS FOUND TO BE INOPERABLE DURING A DEALERSHIP REPAIR VISIT. DEALER WILL REPLACE IT AT SUBSTANTIAL CHARGE.

NHTSA ODI #10972030

63,023 miles · Apr 6, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. MY CAR STARTED TO LOSE SPEED. UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK, THAT TOWED MY VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. AFTER DIAGNOSIS OF MY CAR THE REPAIR GUY, INFORMED ME IT WAS MY MODULE FUEL PUMP FLOW CONTROL. I WANTED TO KNOW MORE SO I GOOGLE THE PROBLEM. I CAME ACROSS A RECALL ON GM SITE,…

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I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. MY CAR STARTED TO LOSE SPEED. UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK, THAT TOWED MY VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. AFTER DIAGNOSIS OF MY CAR THE REPAIR GUY, INFORMED ME IT WAS MY MODULE FUEL PUMP FLOW CONTROL. I WANTED TO KNOW MORE SO I GOOGLE THE PROBLEM. I CAME ACROSS A RECALL ON GM SITE, BULLETIN 14515B. I NOTICED IT WAS A RECALL FOR EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE I WAS HAVING. SO I CALLED CHEVROLET TO SEE WHAT STEPS I NEEDED TO TAKE ON GETTING REIMBURSED FOR AN ISSUE THAT CLEARLY HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON SEVERAL 2012 IMPALA'S. I WAS TOLD,IT WAS A RECALL BUT NOT ON MY 2012 BECAUSE MY VIN # BEGIN WITH A W. I EXPLAIN TO HER THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. ALL 2012 WAS IN PRODUCTION AT THE SAME TIME. I'M PRETTY SURE THEY USED THE SAME PART ON THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOTHING SHE COULD DO. I INFORMED HER I WILL BE FILING A COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ODI #10970851

68,000 miles · Mar 18, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

CAR HAS 68,000 MILES. A FEW DAYS AGO THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH DISABLED REMOTE START. I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS UNTIL I WENT TO GET INTO THE CAR. I'M IN MI AND THIS PAST WEEK HAS BEEN VERY COLD. I JUMPED IN AND DROVE IT TO WORK (LESS THAN 3 MILES). ON THE WAY, THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. NO SURPRISE, AS IT WAS A LITTLE SLIPPER…

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CAR HAS 68,000 MILES. A FEW DAYS AGO THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH DISABLED REMOTE START. I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS UNTIL I WENT TO GET INTO THE CAR. I'M IN MI AND THIS PAST WEEK HAS BEEN VERY COLD. I JUMPED IN AND DROVE IT TO WORK (LESS THAN 3 MILES). ON THE WAY, THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. NO SURPRISE, AS IT WAS A LITTLE SLIPPERY. NO OTHER PROBLEMS. ON WAY HOME FROM WORK: CAR STARTS UP FINE, NO WARNING LIGHTS AT ALL AT START. ITS ABOUT 13* OUT. ALMOST HOME: ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON, THEN RIGHT BEFORE TURNING ON MY ROAD THE STABILIZER LIGHT COMES ON AND REDUCE POWER LIGHT, CAR JERKS AND LOSES POWER LIKE ITS GOING TO STALL OUT. IT MADE IT HOME. NEXT MORNING, ENGINE LIGHT ON BUT NOTHING ELSE HAPPENS. I CALL AROUND AND DEALERSHIP SUGGESTS I BRING IT IN AND HOOK IT UP TO RUN A DIAGNOSTICS FOR $98. I GO OVER TO PARTS STORE AND HAVE THEM RUN IT FIRST. ERROR CODES SHOW UP THAT "DON'T REALLY MEAN ANYTHING" AND THEY RESET THE ENGINE LIGHT. RUNS A COUPLE OF DAYS FINE WITH NO PROBLEMS, LIGHTS COMING ON ETC. TEMP DROPS AGAIN AND REPEAT THE WHOLE PROCESS ALL OVER. I BRING TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME IT NEEDS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND NEW LINES, AFTER THEY ASKED ME IF I RAN E85 IN IT, WHICH I DO BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY SUGGESTED WHEN I BOUGHT IT! I CAN'T AFFORD THE $900 RIGHT NOW AND I PICKED IT UP. I CALLED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO GET ANOTHER ESTIMATE AND I'M TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM (WE'RE SEEING THIS ALL THE TIME. IT'S A PROBLEM WITH RUNNING E85 IN COLD TEMPS). THAT PERSON SUGGESTS I RUN MAO44 AND PREM UNLEADED IN IT AND IT SHOULD RUN FINE FOR A WHILE. I"M ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL, EVEN THOUGH "WE'RE SEEING THIS ALL THE TIME".

NHTSA ODI #10966699

61,000 miles · Mar 7, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE DASHBOARD, CENTER CONSOLE BY THE SHIFTER LEVER, AND FRONT BUCKET SEATS TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE DASHBOARD, CENTER CONSOLE BY THE SHIFTER LEVER, AND FRONT BUCKET SEATS TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED VISIBLE SMOKE IN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD BE SENT TO INVESTIGATE AND DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #10959143

78,000 miles · Feb 2, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD TO REDUCE THE SPEED TO AVOID A REAR END CRASH. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FORCED THE DRIVER INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DRIVER SIDE RIM WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD TO REDUCE THE SPEED TO AVOID A REAR END CRASH. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FORCED THE DRIVER INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DRIVER SIDE RIM WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10949044

17,000 miles · Jan 15, 2017
Steering

WHEN I BACK OUT OF A PARKING STALL OR DRIVEWAY AND STILL HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE, WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE WHEEL TO START TO DRIVE DOWN THE STREET, IT IS LIKE I LOST POWER STEERING AND IT TAKES EVERYTHING IN MY POWER WITH MY HANDS TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. …

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WHEN I BACK OUT OF A PARKING STALL OR DRIVEWAY AND STILL HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE, WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE WHEEL TO START TO DRIVE DOWN THE STREET, IT IS LIKE I LOST POWER STEERING AND IT TAKES EVERYTHING IN MY POWER WITH MY HANDS TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. ALSO WHEN I AM STARTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING STALL WHEN THE CAR IS BARELY MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO LOCK UP WITH NO POWER STEERING AND I HAVE DIFFICULTY TURNING THE WHEEL. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I CAN'T GET THE WHEEL TURNED AND I'M UNABLE TO PARK IN THE STALL. WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS AND WHEN I GO TO TURN, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER IT IS TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, THE POWER STEERING IS VERY STIFF AND SOMETIMES WILL STIFFEN UP TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE A HARD TIME TURNING THE WHEEL. I TOOK INTO THE DEALER IN 12/2016 AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT WHILE THEY DID AN OIL CHANGE TO MY CAR AND THEY SAID ALL FLUIDS WERE FINE AND NOTHING IS WRONG. I HAVE COME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A WRECK WHEN I TRY TO TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL ALL OF A SUDDEN STIFFENS UP SO TIGHT THAT IT TAKES ALL MY STRENGTH AND POWER TO TURN THE WHEEL. IT ACTS LIKE THE WHEEL ISN'T GOING TO TURN. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW. THERE IS SOMETHING DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE STEERING. MY 2012 IMPALA ONLY HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THIS STEERING ISSUE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL WITH THE 2012 IMPALAS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. THERE IS DEFINITELY A POWER STEERING OR OTHER ISSUE THAT IS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO STIFFIN UP SO TIGHT THAT YOU CAN BARELY TURN IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10945418

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING (IN MOTION) ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THIS VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS TWO OTHER TIMES, BUT NOT ON THE EXACT SAME DATE. STEERING WHEEL ALSO LOCKS WHILE TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT ON A BUSY STREET.

NHTSA ODI #10944476

50,000 miles · Dec 24, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

THE ENGINE GOES DEAD WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. NO LIGHTS ON OR ANY OTHER INDICATIONS THAT IT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. WILL NOT RE CRANK. REALIZE THAT IT HAPPENS WHEN MY FUEL SYSTEM IS ABOUT 60 MILES TO EMPTY. AFTER PUTTING GAS IN I CAN CRANK IT RIGHT UP AND GO UNTIL IT HITS AROUND 60 MILES TO EMPTY AND IT W…

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THE ENGINE GOES DEAD WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. NO LIGHTS ON OR ANY OTHER INDICATIONS THAT IT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. WILL NOT RE CRANK. REALIZE THAT IT HAPPENS WHEN MY FUEL SYSTEM IS ABOUT 60 MILES TO EMPTY. AFTER PUTTING GAS IN I CAN CRANK IT RIGHT UP AND GO UNTIL IT HITS AROUND 60 MILES TO EMPTY AND IT WILL GO DEAD AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING, VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY THING TO HAPPEN IN TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN IS STUMPED AS TO WHAT IT IS, THEY HAVE CHANGED ONE PART AND IT DID NOT WORK, ENGINE WENT DEAD ON HIM ALSO WHEN HE TESTED DROVE IT, CAR HAS BEEN THERE FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS NOW AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I NEED MY CAR BACK.

NHTSA ODI #10937362

57,000 miles · Nov 29, 2016
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000.

NHTSA ODI #10928514

70,000 miles · Nov 29, 2016
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN UNSTABLE MOTION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURER RECALL AND NO RECOMMENDED REPAIR SOLUTION TO PREVENT T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN UNSTABLE MOTION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURER RECALL AND NO RECOMMENDED REPAIR SOLUTION TO PREVENT THE FAILURE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS FURTHER TESTED AND DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V377000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10928469

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.