Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Chevrolet Impala problems
Owners filed 608 complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Impala with NHTSA between Dec 2004 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (331).
Complaints
608
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
39
Reported by owners
Fires
13
Reported by owners
Injuries
32
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system331
- Steering60
- Power train52
- Exterior lighting49
- Air bags33
- Engine and engine cooling31
- Service brakes, hydraulic30
- Engine30
- Fuel system, gasoline25
- Vehicle speed control24
- Service brakes16
- Fuel/propulsion system14
- Visibility14
- Structure10
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
14
24
29
78
71
78
50
32
32
103
38
20
12
9
4
6
2
0
1
3
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2006 | 24 |
| 2007 | 29 |
| 2008 | 78 |
| 2009 | 71 |
| 2010 | 78 |
| 2011 | 50 |
| 2012 | 32 |
| 2013 | 32 |
| 2014 | 103 |
| 2015 | 38 |
| 2016 | 20 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
331 reports7 crashes8 fires1 related recall
“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 was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.”
Steering
60 reports6 crashes2 related recalls
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 10 MPH, TO MERGE INTO ANOTHER INTERSTATE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A POLE. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND THE HOOD WAS DAMAGED FROM THE CRASH. A STATE TROOPER ASSISTED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE TIRE WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED TO THEIR DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT BACK TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE HAD BEEN PROVIDED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000.”
Power train
52 reports4 crashes
“I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I WAS TRYING TO TURN INTO MY JOB AND I MADE IT ABOUT HALF WAY INTO THE PARKING LOT WHERE PART OF MY CAR WAS STI'LL IN THE ROAD WHEN MY CAR JUST SHIFTED DOWN INTO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO DRIVE SO I ENDED UP HAVING TO BE TOWED INTO THE PARKING LOT BY A YOUNG MAN THAT STOPPED TO HELP GI'VE ME A HAND TO GET MY CAR OUT OF THE ROAD I WAS ON A MAJOR STREET THAT GETS TRAVELSE ALOT AND IT WAS DRIVING JUST FINE UNTIL I WENT TO TURN INTO MY JOB AND IT JUST QUIT SHIFTING PERIOD”
Exterior lighting
49 reports2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BIG BEND CHEVROLET BUICK (LOCATED AT 1424 N YOUNG BLVD, CHIEFLAND, FL 32626, (352) 493-4263) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE CONTACT DID NOT HEED THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. *TT *TR *BF*JB”
Air bags
33 reports20 crashes
“On XXX in [XXX], while at a complete stop, without cause or prior warning, airbags violently deployed causing property damage to the entire instrument panel and windshield, and bodily injuries.”
Engine and engine cooling
31 reports1 crash2 fires
“MY IMPALA KEEPS STALLING!!! WHILE DRIVING IT, AND DOESN'T MATTER IF I'M GOING 30 OR 55, JUST STALLS, ITS A DEATH TRAP, BUT THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO DRIVE, AND I HAVE TO HAUL A DISABLED PERSON!!! AM SCARED, HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY REPLACING PARTS THAT IT COULD "POTENTIALLY" BE! AT A LOSS, PLEASE HELP!!! *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.