Chevrolet Impala 2000–2005 problems by year and mileage
8th generation (W-body) · GM W-body (GMX210)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20264,729 complaints, 3,329 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2000 Chevrolet Impala
Close- Median failure report
- 86,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 818
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 2000
- Electrical system187 reports · median 98,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system159 reports · median 75,000 mi
- Steering124 reports · median 60,000 mi
7 recall campaigns name the 2000: Engine and engine cooling — exhaust system; Electrical system — ignition; Engine and engine cooling. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2001 Chevrolet Impala
Close- Median failure report
- 80,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 742
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 2001
- Electrical system225 reports · median 100,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system123 reports · median 75,000 mi
- Steering76 reports · median 40,000 mi
7 recall campaigns name the 2001: Engine and engine cooling — exhaust system; Electrical system — ignition; Engine and engine cooling. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2002 Chevrolet Impala
Close- Median failure report
- 78,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 795
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2002
- Electrical system305 reports · median 82,000 mi
- Exterior lighting123 reports · median 77,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system106 reports · median 75,000 mi
4 recall campaigns name the 2002: Engine and engine cooling — exhaust system; Electrical system — ignition; Engine and engine cooling. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2003 Chevrolet Impala
Close- Median failure report
- 82,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 694
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2003
- Electrical system264 reports · median 98,000 mi
- Exterior lighting103 reports · median 78,000 mi
- Engine88 reports · median 120,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2003: Engine and engine cooling — exhaust system; Electrical system — ignition; Engine and engine cooling. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2004 Chevrolet Impala
Close- Median failure report
- 70,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,072
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2004
- Electrical system681 reports · median 69,000 mi
- Exterior lighting104 reports · median 85,000 mi
- Engine71 reports · median 121,000 mi
4 recall campaigns name the 2004: Engine and engine cooling — exhaust system; Engine and engine cooling — engine; Electrical system — ignition. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2005 Chevrolet Impala
Close- Median failure report
- 77,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 609
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2005
- Electrical system331 reports · median 79,000 mi
- Steering60 reports · median 78,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline52 reports · median 88,000 mi
1 recall campaign names the 2005: Electrical system — ignition. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 2000 reports latest and the 2004 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2000 has had 4 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2000–2005 Chevrolet Impala reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 77,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 157,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 3,329
- Recalls
- 12
Most reported
- Electrical system42.1% of complaints · median 80,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system11.3% of complaints · median 75,000 mi
- Exterior lighting11.0% of complaints · median 81,000 mi
Owners filed 4,729 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000–2005 Chevrolet Impala; the electrical system leads with 42.1% of them, and half of the 3,329 that record an odometer reading came by 77,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 47,000 and 118,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2000–2005 Chevrolet Impala last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2000–2005 Chevrolet Impala, half of the 3,329 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 77,000 miles and 90% by 157,000 miles.
418 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 104 past 200,000 — each one proof that an Impala reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Chevrolet Impala 2000–2005 · 3,329 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 149 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 104 complaints (3.1%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 25,000
- 25%
- 47,352
- Median
- 77,000
- 75%
- 118,000
- 90%
- 157,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 96 | 2.9% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 50 | 1.5% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 45 | 1.4% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 64 | 1.9% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 67 | 2.0% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 70 | 2.1% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 99 | 3.0% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 120 | 3.6% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 137 | 4.1% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 132 | 4.0% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 143 | 4.3% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 131 | 3.9% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 149 | 4.5% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 139 | 4.2% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 142 | 4.3% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 137 | 4.1% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 128 | 3.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 120 | 3.6% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 94 | 2.8% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 109 | 3.3% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 137 | 4.1% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 65 | 2.0% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 71 | 2.1% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 72 | 2.2% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 101 | 3.0% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 77 | 2.3% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 84 | 2.5% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 39 | 1.2% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 54 | 1.6% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 39 | 1.2% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 72 | 2.2% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 33 | 1.0% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 42 | 1.3% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 20 | 0.6% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 31 | 0.9% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 20 | 0.6% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 43 | 1.3% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 24 | 0.7% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 13 | 0.4% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 16 | 0.5% |
| 200,000+ | 104 | 3.1% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Impala problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Chevrolet Impala 2000–2005
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Hydraulic brake circuit297 reports38,00018,000–65,000Hydraulic brake circuit: 297 reports, median 38,000 miles, middle half 18,000 to 65,000 miles.
- Steering409 reports55,00030,000–101,000Steering: 409 reports, median 55,000 miles, middle half 30,000 to 101,000 miles.
- Engine and its cooling system535 reports75,00048,000–109,000Engine and its cooling system: 535 reports, median 75,000 miles, middle half 48,000 to 109,000 miles.
- Electrical system1,993 reports80,00054,000–116,000Electrical system: 1,993 reports, median 80,000 miles, middle half 54,000 to 116,000 miles.
- Exterior lighting519 reports81,00052,000–116,000Exterior lighting: 519 reports, median 81,000 miles, middle half 52,000 to 116,000 miles.
- Airbag system276 reports86,00040,000–125,000Airbag system: 276 reports, median 86,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 125,000 miles.
- Engine403 reports130,00098,000–170,000Engine: 403 reports, median 130,000 miles, middle half 98,000 to 170,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1,993 | 42.1% | 80,000 | 54,000–116,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 535 | 11.3% | 75,000 | 48,000–109,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 519 | 11.0% | 81,000 | 52,000–116,000 |
| Steering | 409 | 8.6% | 55,000 | 30,000–101,000 |
| Engine | 403 | 8.5% | 130,000 | 98,000–170,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 297 | 6.3% | 38,000 | 18,000–65,000 |
| Airbag system | 276 | 5.8% | 86,000 | 40,000–125,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 274 | 5.8% | 64,000 | 37,000–110,000 |
| Fuel system | 153 | 3.2% | 75,000 | 42,000–107,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 142 | 3.0% | 82,000 | 52,000–130,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 77,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 42.1% of complaints (1,993 reports, 1,526 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 54,000 and 116,000 miles.
A single system taking 42.1% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 11.3% of complaints (535 reports, 346 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,000 and 109,000 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 11.0% of complaints (519 reports, 418 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 81,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 116,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 8.6% of complaints (409 reports, 271 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,000 and 101,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 8.5% of complaints (403 reports, 277 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 130,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 98,000 and 170,000 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 6.3% of complaints (297 reports, 200 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 38,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 18,000 and 65,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2000–2005 Impala
Engine 2000–2005
Lower intake manifold gasket failure on the 3.4L and 3.8L V6. The plastic-framed gasket degrades in contact with Dex-Cool coolant, leaking coolant externally and into the oil; often accompanied by upper plenum warping on the 3.8L.
Ignition Switch 2000–2005
Key can rotate out of the run position under load from a heavy key ring or road impact, shutting off the engine and disabling airbags; covered by GM's 2014 ignition-key recall campaign for W-body cars.
Electrical 2003–2005
Turn signal / multifunction switch and body control module faults causing inoperative signals and interior lighting.
Before you buy a 2000–2005 Impala: the 3-minute check
Generated from 3,329 mileage-tagged complaints, 12 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 12 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine on 2000–2005 cars. Lower intake manifold gasket failure on the 3.4L and 3.8L V6. The plastic-framed gasket degrades in contact with Dex-Cool coolant, leaking coolant externally and into the oil; often accompanied by upper plenum warping…
- Check ignition switch on 2000–2005 cars. Key can rotate out of the run position under load from a heavy key ring or road impact, shutting off the engine and disabling airbags; covered by GM's 2014 ignition-key recall campaign for W-body cars.
- Check electrical on 2003–2005 cars. Turn signal / multifunction switch and body control module faults causing inoperative signals and interior lighting.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 47,000 and 118,000 miles, with a median of 77,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the electrical system and the engine and its cooling system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine and its cooling system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 75,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Impala problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi35% below | At 90k mi59% below | At 120k mi76% below | At 150k mi87% below | At 200k mi97% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 54,000–116,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 48,000–109,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Exterior lighting | 52,000–116,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Steering | 30,000–101,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 98,000–170,000 | later | later | in window | in window | earlier |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 18,000–65,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Airbag system | 40,000–125,000 | in window | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Chevrolet Impala 2000–2005 · 3,329 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 35% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 59% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 76% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 87% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 97% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 97%: the remaining 3.1% of reports (104) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2000–2005 Chevrolet Impala recalls (12)
NHTSA records 12 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (4), the engine and its cooling system (3), the fuel system (2). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Oct 2015 · 2000–2004 · Engine and Engine CoolingEngine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were…
What can happen. Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
The free fix. The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket.…
Apr 2015 · 2004 · Engine and Engine CoolingThe leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and…
What can happen. The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge. The…
Jul 2014 · 2000–2005 · Electrical SystemIf the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash…
The defect. 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.…
What can happen. 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.
The free 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.…
Apr 2009 · 2000–2003 · Engine and Engine CoolingIf the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and…
The defect. General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 Buick regal, my 1998-2003 Chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and Impala, my 1998-1999 Oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 Pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8L v6 naturally aspirated engine. Some of these…
What can happen. If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond increasing the risk of an…
The free fix. Dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine’s plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free…
Jun 2004 · 2004 · Service Brakes, HydraulicDepending on whether one or both bolts backs out or fractures, the result can be locking of the affected…
The defect. Certain passenger vehicles were produced with lower than specified torque on both front brake caliper to steering knuckle attachment bolts. With improper torque, the clamp load at the joint may not be adequate to prevent movement between the caliper bracket…
What can happen. Depending on whether one or both bolts backs out or fractures, the result can be locking of the affected wheel during braking and an abrupt steering input in the direction of the locked wheel…
The free fix. Dealers are to tighten both bolts to the specified torque. Owner notification began on june 28, 2004. Owners should contact Chevrolet 1-800-630-2438 or Pontiac 1-800-620-7668.
Feb 2004 · 2000 · Fuel System, GasolineThe backfire can rupture the intake manifold.
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 3800 v6 (l36) engines and certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, the regulators have a much higher than usual rate of fuel leaks. A leak can allow fuel to enter the intake manifold through a vacuum line. If the…
What can happen. The backfire can rupture the intake manifold. The rupture of the intake manifold can displace a fuel line, pulling an injector out of place, and causing a fuel leak and possible fire.
The free fix. Dealers will install new fuel pressure regulators with improved diaphragms. The recall will be conducted in phased mailings. Phase 1 began on june 30, 2004, and phase 2 began on september 30, 2004.…
Feb 2003 · 2003 · Air BagsThis could result in reduced capability of the air bag to protect the driver.
The defect. On certain MINI vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that may not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.
What can happen. This could result in reduced capability of the air bag to protect the driver. Also if the air bag inflator ruptured, pieces of the inflator could strike and injure the vehicle occupants.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on march 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service…
Aug 2002 · 2002–2003 · Air BagsPieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate…
The defect. Certain passenger, MINI vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
What can happen. Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on…
Apr 2001 · 2000–2001 · Fuel System, GasolineIf an ignition source was present, a fire could occur.
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a 3.4L engine and non-antilock braking system (ABS). These vehicles fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 301, "Fuel system integrity." A fuel return line can become severed in a frontal collision…
What can happen. If an ignition source was present, a fire could occur.
The free fix. Dealers will install a brake master cylinder bracket that will maintain positioning of the fuel line in a frontal crash. Owner notification began june 29, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an…
Nov 2000 · 2000–2001 · Air BagsIf the inflator separates, the air bag will not deploy properly during a crash and occupant protection would…
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the driver side impact air bag inflator separates from the air bag module during deployment.
What can happen. If the inflator separates, the air bag will not deploy properly during a crash and occupant protection would be reduced. If is also possible that a separated inflator could be propelled downward and…
The free fix. Dealers will replace the side impact air bag module.
Aug 2000 · 2001 · Air BagsIn a crash, a front seat occupant may receive more serious injuries.
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The air bag sensing and diagnostic modules (sdm) could experience a memory error resulting in the air bags not deploying in a crash situation.
What can happen. In a crash, a front seat occupant may receive more serious injuries.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the sensing and diagnostic module.
Aug 2000 · 2000–2001 · Seat BeltsIn the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and MINI vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load…
What can happen. In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the vehicle's safety belt buckle assembly date codes and, if necessary, will replace any safety belt buckle assembly.
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 4,729 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 235 (5.0%)
- Fires
- 238
- Injury reports
- 174
- Fatality reports
- 3
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Impala problems by model year
The 2004 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,072, most of them about the electrical system, and the 2005 the fewest, 609. A typical year drew about 768.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 818 | 417 | 86,000 | Electrical system (187) | 7 |
| 2001 | 742 | 475 | 80,000 | Electrical system (225) | 7 |
| 2002 | 795 | 570 | 78,000 | Electrical system (305) | 4 |
| 2003 | 694 | 511 | 82,000 | Electrical system (264) | 5 |
| 2004 | 1,072 | 859 | 70,000 | Electrical system (681) | 4 |
| 2005 | 609 | 497 | 77,000 | Electrical system (331) | 1 |
What Impala owners reported
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to approximately 20 MPH, and the instrument panel went black. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and then lost motive power and stalled. The contact…
2004 · 71,000 miles · Electrical system
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 unexpectedly downshifted. There…
2005 · 200,000 miles · Electrical system
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that her husband had entered the vehicle and while the key was in the ignition, the vehicle exploded in the engine compartment. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, or police report filed.…
2001 · 165,000 miles · Engine and its cooling system
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55-60 MPH, suddenly there was an abnormal wind sound inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the sunroof had detached from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic…
2005 · 140,000 miles · Visibility equipment
Built from 3,329 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Impala generations
- Impala 2006–2013 3,415 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system
- Impala 2014–2020 850 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system