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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system331
  2. Steering60
  3. Power train52
  4. Exterior lighting49
  5. Air bags33
  6. Engine and engine cooling31
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic30
  8. Engine30
  9. Fuel system, gasoline25
  10. Vehicle speed control24
  11. Service brakes16
  12. Fuel/propulsion system14
  13. Visibility14
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20041
200514
200624
200729
200878
200971
201078
201150
201232
201332
2014103
201538
201620
201712
20189
20194
20206
20212
20220
20231
20243
20250
20261

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.

03 —Owner reports

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 30, 2024Power train, Electrical systemODI 11633118

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2021SteeringCrash reportedODI 11416500

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2021Power trainODI 11398321

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 20, 2018Exterior lightingODI 11152911

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 16, 2026Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11744464

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10916327
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.