Chevrolet Impala Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 669 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Chevrolet Impala across 23 model years. The 2002 model year has the most (123). The words owners use most often: “turn signals” (16% of reports).
- 669exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 12mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $770typical repair cost reported by owners
- 48%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Turn signals: mentioned in 106 of 669 complaints (16%)
- High beams: mentioned in 79 of 669 complaints (12%)
- Low beam: mentioned in 75 of 669 complaints (11%)
- Dimmer switch: mentioned in 44 of 669 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical exterior lighting repair on the Chevrolet Impala at $770, and half of them between $660 and $1,050.
Based on 43 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2020), 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 exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 529 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 669 complaints, 12 mention a crash, 10 a fire, 1 an injury.
Chevrolet Impala exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Impala | 1 | 7% | 40,433 |
| 2019 Impala | 1 | 4% | 42,000 |
| 2018 Impala | 4 | 7% | 48,500 |
| 2017 Impala | 6 | 5% | 85 |
| 2016 Impala | 7 | 6% | 30,000 |
| 2015 Impala | 22 | 7% | 24,300 |
| 2014 Impala | 44 | 7% | 15,000 |
| 2013 Impala | 5 | 2% | 19,165 |
| 2012 Impala | 8 | 3% | 60,300 |
| 2011 Impala | 5 | 1% | 41,908 |
| 2010 Impala | 6 | 1% | 99,000 |
| 2009 Impala | 9 | 1% | 76,000 |
| 2008 Impala | 4 | 0% | 149,000 |
| 2007 Impala | 15 | 2% | 72,021 |
| 2006 Impala | 11 | 2% | 93,000 |
| 2005 Impala | 49 | 8% | 75,500 |
| 2004 Impala | 104 | 10% | 85,096 |
| 2003 Impala | 103 | 15% | 77,524 |
| 2002 Impala | 123 | 15% | 77,000 |
| 2001 Impala | 73 | 10% | 73,020 |
| 2000 Impala | 67 | 8% | 93,500 |
| 1996 Impala | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1995 Impala | 1 | 2% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Exterior lighting:brake lights; electrical system
Model years: 2014
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Risk: If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The lighting is unsafe at night, the light does not light up the road so you can safely see what is is front of you, ITs a major design flaw in the light housing, upgraded to a brighter bulb does not help.
Purchased aftermarket headlight assembly via Amazon. Wiring harness overheats during normal use, causing connector damage/melting. This is the third unit with an identical defect within one month â seller/manufacturer has replaced twice but the problem recurs. Poses fire/electrical hazard. [XXX]…
I have always kept my Impala in my garage until recently I started keeping my grandson a few days a week. When I am at that home my car is parked in a driveway open to the elements. About a month after starting I notice that my car started having what I would describe as an electronic issue. The…
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that water was entering the rear tail lamps, causing the amplifier and radio to fail to operate. The contact was concerned that the failure could cause an electrical fire. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined…
First battery needed replaced every year then few weeks ago with no warning light or messages that battery was dieing the battery died again it was replaced then it started reving up and down on its own while driving so it goes faster then slower on its own when it feels like it.. TPS wont show…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Impalas have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 669 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Chevrolet Impala. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Impala exterior lighting?
Yes: 1 safety recall list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the Chevrolet Impala?
Owners report a typical cost of $770 (half paid between $660 and $1,050), from 43 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Chevrolet Impala?
The most frequent phrase is “turn signals”, in 106 of 669 complaints, followed by “high beams” (79).
Other Chevrolet Impala problems
- Electrical System problems (3,429)
- Engine problems (1,263)
- Steering problems (1,198)
- Air Bags problems (955)
- Power Train problems (928)
- Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems (763)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (673)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (646)
See all Chevrolet Impala problems.