NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
258 reports36,800 miles · Apr 11, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
IN FEB. 2014 STARTED GETTING INTERMITTENT COMPUTER MESSAGES CONCERNING, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILATOR(?) CONTROL, REDUCED ENGINE POWER. MESSAGE OCCURS RANDOMLY, AND STAYS FOR A DAY OR LESS, THEN GOES TO JUST SHOWING THE ENGINE ICON, THEN CLEARS SELF. CAR WAS PURCHASED USED (16000 MILES) FROM DEALER. ERROR CODES…
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IN FEB. 2014 STARTED GETTING INTERMITTENT COMPUTER MESSAGES CONCERNING, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILATOR(?) CONTROL, REDUCED ENGINE POWER. MESSAGE OCCURS RANDOMLY, AND STAYS FOR A DAY OR LESS, THEN GOES TO JUST SHOWING THE ENGINE ICON, THEN CLEARS SELF. CAR WAS PURCHASED USED (16000 MILES) FROM DEALER. ERROR CODES P2138 AND P2122 WERE SHOWING PER DEALER. CAR WAS OWNED IN RENTAL FLEET IN EAST ELMHURST, NY (QUEENS, SEVERELY AFFECTED) DURING HURRICANE SANDY, BUT SHOWED NO SERVICE AS BEING DONE, AFTERWARDS. NEXT ENTRY SHOWED CAR IN UPSTATE NY, ON DEALERS LOT. HAVE BEEN TOLD (3/25/2014) THAT PART WAS ORDERED AND WOULD BE IN IN A COUPLE DAYS. 17 DAYS LATER, TOLD ":PART NOT IN--WILL CALL WHEN HERE" AND REPLACE AT NO CHARGE. STILL WAITING FOR CALL FROM DEALER. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10579215
6,206 miles · Apr 8, 2014
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION REMAINED IN 4TH GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH OR 6TH GEAR AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION REMAINED IN 4TH GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH OR 6TH GEAR AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE "TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE ENGINE" WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AND THE SL-N MODULE WAS REPLACED BUT THE DEFECT WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AND THE "TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE ENGINE" WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE DISABLING LINK SENSOR BEFORE THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,206.
NHTSA ODI #10578285
33,000 miles · Apr 1, 2014
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THE KEY FAILED TO TURN UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
NHTSA ODI #10576122
2,400 miles · Mar 30, 2014
Power TrainSteering
WHILE DRIVING IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE MY DASHBOARD WENT COMPLETELY BLACK,THE RADIO WENT OFF AND MY STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN.I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO SIDEWALK THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE THE KEYS WERE IN IGNITION. I TURNED THE KEY AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR IT MADE A TERRIBLE BANGING CLUNKING NOI…
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WHILE DRIVING IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE MY DASHBOARD WENT COMPLETELY BLACK,THE RADIO WENT OFF AND MY STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN.I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO SIDEWALK THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE THE KEYS WERE IN IGNITION. I TURNED THE KEY AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR IT MADE A TERRIBLE BANGING CLUNKING NOISE.I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM WAITED 15 MINUTES LATER THE CAR STARTED.THS REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS I COULD HAVE CAUSED ARE BEEN INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT. I'M VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. I TOOK THE CAR IN LATER TO DEALER THEY KEPT IT UNTIL FRIDAY PROVIDED ME A LOANER THEY CLAIMED THEY DROVE IT AND IT DIDN'T ACT UP. BUT ITS NOT LIKE THEY DROVE IT ALL DAY I'M EXTREMELY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED IN THIS MATTER. I FEEL THEY DISCOUNTED WHAT I SAID.THIS COULD OCCUR WHILE A TEENAGER ARE ELDERLY PERSON IS DRIVING. PLEASE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10575710
28,200 miles · Mar 20, 2014
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD REST AND THE PANELS LOCATED IN THE FRONT AND REAR SIDES WINDOWS OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE HEADREST HOWEVER THE HEADREST COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD REST AND THE PANELS LOCATED IN THE FRONT AND REAR SIDES WINDOWS OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE HEADREST HOWEVER THE HEADREST COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,200.
NHTSA ODI #10573679
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
39,504 miles · Dec 31, 2013
Power Train
AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE JERKS WHILE SHIFTING. I HAVE EXPERIENCED HEAVY JOLTING, ROUGH SHIFTING, ESPECIALLY DURING LOW SPEEDS. WHILE ON HIGHWAY OR DURING STRONG ACCELERATION, CAR SHIFTS GREAT. MOSTLY THE ISSUES ARE DURING DOWNSHIFTS OR LOW SPEED SHIFTS. TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD A FACTORY RESET MAY HELP ADJUST TO DRIVI…
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AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE JERKS WHILE SHIFTING. I HAVE EXPERIENCED HEAVY JOLTING, ROUGH SHIFTING, ESPECIALLY DURING LOW SPEEDS. WHILE ON HIGHWAY OR DURING STRONG ACCELERATION, CAR SHIFTS GREAT. MOSTLY THE ISSUES ARE DURING DOWNSHIFTS OR LOW SPEED SHIFTS. TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD A FACTORY RESET MAY HELP ADJUST TO DRIVING STYLES. WE BOUGHT CAR USED WITH 35000 MILES. THIS DID NOT HELP. NOT EVEN SURE IF THIS IS AN OPTION. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR ANYTHING. DEALERSHIP CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM. SAYS TRANSMISSION TAKES SOME GETTING USED TO. AWESOME CAR, JUST WISH THIS PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10558049
6,000 miles · Dec 28, 2013
Power Train
AT SPEEDS 15 MPH AND ABOVE AFTER DECELERATING THEN ACCELERATING TRANSMISSION WILL MAKE A NOISE RANGING FROM A CLINK, CLANK, CLUNK TO A BANGING JOLT AS IF THE CAR HAS BEEN REAR ENDED. THE MORE PRESSURE ON ACCELERATION AND THE LOWER THE GEAR THE LOUDER THE NOISE AND THE GREATER THE JOLT. DEALERSHIP STATES TRANSMISSION IS OPERATI…
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AT SPEEDS 15 MPH AND ABOVE AFTER DECELERATING THEN ACCELERATING TRANSMISSION WILL MAKE A NOISE RANGING FROM A CLINK, CLANK, CLUNK TO A BANGING JOLT AS IF THE CAR HAS BEEN REAR ENDED. THE MORE PRESSURE ON ACCELERATION AND THE LOWER THE GEAR THE LOUDER THE NOISE AND THE GREATER THE JOLT. DEALERSHIP STATES TRANSMISSION IS OPERATING PROPERLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10557531
29,000 miles · Nov 26, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE AT LOWER THAN NORMAL DRIVING TEMPERATURE, DRIVER STOPS AT A STOP SIGN AND WITH HARD ACCELERATION THE ENGINE SURGES FROM FULL POWER TO DYING OUT AS THO FUEL STARVED.THIS CONTINUES IN A JERKING ACTION. UNTIL; THE DRIVER REMOVES HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN PRESSES THE GAS FEED AGAIN AT WHICH …
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WHEN DRIVING WITH THE ENGINE AT LOWER THAN NORMAL DRIVING TEMPERATURE, DRIVER STOPS AT A STOP SIGN AND WITH HARD ACCELERATION THE ENGINE SURGES FROM FULL POWER TO DYING OUT AS THO FUEL STARVED.THIS CONTINUES IN A JERKING ACTION. UNTIL; THE DRIVER REMOVES HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN PRESSES THE GAS FEED AGAIN AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE RUNS SMOOTHLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG AS THE ENGINE IS NOW AT NORMAL RUNNING TEMP. DRIVER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM IS IN THE THROTTLE BODY OF THE FUEL SYSTEM --- HELP.. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10553942
35,118 miles · Oct 30, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering
IM GOING DOWN THE ROAD MASH ON THE GAS DOING 38 AND THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF CONTROL. I LITERALLY HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. IM DOING 45 TO 50 AND THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING ME RIGHT INTO THE SHOULDER OR INTO OTHER TRAFFIC I HAD TO LAY OFF THE GAS TO GAIN CONTROL OF CAR DOING SUCH LOW SPEED. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME. …
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IM GOING DOWN THE ROAD MASH ON THE GAS DOING 38 AND THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF CONTROL. I LITERALLY HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. IM DOING 45 TO 50 AND THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING ME RIGHT INTO THE SHOULDER OR INTO OTHER TRAFFIC I HAD TO LAY OFF THE GAS TO GAIN CONTROL OF CAR DOING SUCH LOW SPEED. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME. AND WAS BLOWN AWAY.HOW THE SUSPENSION AND CONTROL OF THE CAR WAS NOT IN MY HAND NO MORE. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT ON ONLINE. GM NEEDS TO FIX THIS ITS THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE CAR THAT MESSING UP THE WHOLE CAR.AND IF THERE IS POLICE FLEET OF THESE IMPALAS AND THEY USING THESE IN POLICE CHASES. THE CHASES COULD TURN UGLY. I DROVE AND BUNCH OF POLICE FLEET VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD ONE WHERE I DIDN'T HAVE CONTROL OF IT GETTING INTO HIGH SPEEDS. THE MAIN CAUSE OF THESE IS THAT IMPALA HAS FWD WITH 308 HP ALL UP FRONT WHAT WAS THEY THINKING. IT'LL BE GOOD FRO A DRAG CAR GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. START FROM A STAND STILL AND TRY TO GET UP SPEED FAST. DOING IT WITHOUT CRASHING OR MERGING INTO ANOTHER LANE IS IMPOSSIBLE. GET IN A 2012 CHEVY IMPALA LT WITH 308 HP THEN YOU WILL SEE THE PROBLEM. ALSO EXISTS ON SS MODELS AS WELL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10550290
Official recalls
3Jun 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.
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.
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 ↗