Chevrolet Impala Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 928 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Chevrolet Impala across 25 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (108). The words owners use most often: “traction control” (10% of reports).
- 928power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 37mention a crash
- 20mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,400typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%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.
- Traction control: mentioned in 92 of 928 complaints (10%)
- Engine power: mentioned in 82 of 928 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Chevrolet Impala at $2,400, and half of them between $1,350 and $3,900.
Based on 31 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2026), 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 power train problems happen?
Based on 704 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 928 complaints, 37 mention a crash, 7 a fire, 20 an injury.
Chevrolet Impala power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Impala | 2 | 13% | — |
| 2019 Impala | 5 | 18% | 69,935 |
| 2018 Impala | 11 | 19% | 84,650 |
| 2017 Impala | 12 | 10% | 88,357 |
| 2016 Impala | 16 | 14% | 64,240 |
| 2015 Impala | 16 | 5% | 81,681 |
| 2014 Impala | 39 | 6% | 59,930 |
| 2013 Impala | 33 | 12% | 48,000 |
| 2012 Impala | 27 | 10% | 32,000 |
| 2011 Impala | 64 | 13% | 70,300 |
| 2010 Impala | 67 | 15% | 68,000 |
| 2009 Impala | 68 | 8% | 97,000 |
| 2008 Impala | 91 | 11% | 80,500 |
| 2007 Impala | 80 | 13% | 73,000 |
| 2006 Impala | 108 | 21% | 80,000 |
| 2005 Impala | 52 | 9% | 88,000 |
| 2004 Impala | 47 | 4% | 64,000 |
| 2003 Impala | 30 | 4% | 86,000 |
| 2002 Impala | 36 | 5% | 76,000 |
| 2001 Impala | 57 | 8% | 45,300 |
| 2000 Impala | 52 | 6% | 72,469 |
| 1999 Impala | 1 | 25% | — |
| 1998 Impala | 1 | 50% | 120,000 |
| 1996 Impala | 11 | 13% | — |
| 1995 Impala | 2 | 5% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2014
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the driver may be able to shift the lever to the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Fix: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Buick owners at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC owners at 1-800-462-8782. General Motors' number associated with this recall is 14048.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Impala. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the Stabili-Trak warning light illuminated and the vehicle lost power steering functionality, causing the steering to become extremely firm. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to turn the steering…
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the messages "Stabili-trak" and "Power Steering" displayed on the instrument panel, and the traction control warning light illuminated. Additionally, the transmission display switched from…
The transmission failed, shifting is no longer smooth. It hesitates and shakes the entire car, and the car slows down to almost a crawl uphill. I understand this is an issue with Chevrolet Impalas. So now I have an $8200 bill for a problem I was never told about, and that GM knew that it existed…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact noticed an abnormal sound and the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that the…
The transmission went out while driving. Also the trunk leaks when it rains
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Impalas have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 928 owner complaints about power train 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 power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Chevrolet Impala?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,400 (half paid between $1,350 and $3,900), from 31 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Chevrolet Impala?
The most frequent phrase is “traction control”, in 92 of 928 complaints, followed by “engine power” (82).
Other Chevrolet Impala problems
- Electrical System problems (3,429)
- Engine problems (1,263)
- Steering problems (1,198)
- Air Bags problems (955)
- Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems (763)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (673)
- Exterior Lighting problems (669)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (646)
See all Chevrolet Impala problems.