2005 Chevrolet Impala Electrical System Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jun 16, 2026 · 331 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 331 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Impala, 54% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 80,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “instrument cluster” (10% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Instrument cluster: mentioned in 32 of 331 complaints (10%)
  • Ignition switch: mentioned in 19 of 331 complaints (6%)

How much does it cost to fix?

Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the 2005 Chevrolet Impala at $770, and half of them between $530 and $1,050.

Based on 36 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.

At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?

Based on 277 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles4 · 1%
10k–25k miles5 · 2%
25k–50k miles47 · 17%
50k–75k miles72 · 26%
75k–100k miles60 · 22%
100k–150k miles59 · 21%
150k+ miles30 · 11%

How serious are the reports?

Of 331 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 8 a fire, 1 an injury.

Chevrolet Impala electrical system complaints by model year

Peak: 2004, with 681 complaints
1995: 619951996: 112000: 18720002001: 2252002: 30520022003: 2642004: 68120046812005: 3312006: 12420062007: 1282008: 22120082009: 2242010: 13220102011: 952012: 5820122013: 522014: 22120142015: 962016: 3020162017: 152018: 1120182019: 92020: 32020

n = 3,429 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearElectrical System complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2020 Impala320%—
2019 Impala932%35,700
2018 Impala1119%51,300
2017 Impala1513%42,000
2016 Impala3027%45,691
2015 Impala9632%59,523
2014 Impala22135%66,000
2013 Impala5219%60,000
2012 Impala5822%55,000
2011 Impala9519%78,000
2010 Impala13230%78,000
2009 Impala22427%82,559
2008 Impala22127%85,000
2007 Impala12820%84,200
2006 Impala12424%85,000
2005 Impala33154%80,000
2004 Impala68163%68,750
2003 Impala26438%98,740
2002 Impala30538%82,162
2001 Impala22530%100,000
2000 Impala18723%98,000
1996 Impala1113%92,500
1995 Impala614%—

When owners reported it

Peak: 2014, with 57 complaints
2006: 9200692007: 442008: 532008532009: 52522010: 472010472011: 27272012: 132012132013: 17172014: 572014572015: 25252016: 132016132017: 552018: 2201822019: 332020: 3202032024: 11

n = 331 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (1)

Electrical system:ignitionJul 3, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V400000 · 5,877,718 vehicles

Problem: 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) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel became inoperable. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle…

Received Dec 30, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11633118

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet impala. The contact stated that the speedometer failed to read accurately. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the speedometer provided inaccurate speeds. The contact stated that the speedometer provided speeds exceeding 120 mph. A dealer…

Received Sep 23, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11360794

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet impala. The contact stated the vehicle was serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 14v400000 (electrical system) however, the failure occurred. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the key dislodged from the ignition. Additionally, on several…

Received Jul 10, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11338695
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala (2014–2020) in Stuttgart. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2005 Chevrolet Impalas have electrical system problems?

No. NHTSA has 331 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2005 Chevrolet Impala (54% of the 609 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2005 Chevrolet Impala electrical system?

Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do electrical system problems start?

The median reported mileage is 80,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Impala?

Owners report a typical cost of $770 (half paid between $530 and $1,050), from 36 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.

What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Impala?

The most frequent phrase is “instrument cluster”, in 32 of 331 complaints, followed by “ignition switch” (19).

Other 2005 Chevrolet Impala problems

See all 2005 Chevrolet Impala problems or electrical system problems across all Impala years.