Problems · by component
2006 Chevrolet Impala engine problems
59 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Chevrolet Impala cite engine, 11% of all 544 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
59
11% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal burning odor in the interior of the vehicle. In addition, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, where a valve replacement was performed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not associated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
“According to my obd scanner the components that are failed is the throttle body position sensor circuit A & the throttle body position sensor circuit B. Before this happened the check engine light was on for about a week, when I scanned the vehicle with the obd-II the code for a large leak in the fuel EVAP system came up. One day while driving the vehicle I was stopped at a red light and once the light turned green I pressed the gas and the car started to sputter and move very slow also in the driver information center it intermittently showed the warnings service traction control and speed reduced. I had to pull over when safe to do so. Once I got the vehicle home I ran the scan again and it came up with the throttle body position sensor codes. The part is available for inspection. The safety of me and my passenger were in jeopardy we could've definitely been in an accident because it was so sudden when it happened. I have not taken the car to a dealer but an independent mechanic has looked at it. Vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other than me and an independent mechanic. This was a very scary experience and I have seen many forums with the same issues…”
“AS MANY OTHER 5.3 LITER GM VEHICLES DURING THIS PERIOD, MY CAR HAS BEEN BURNING OIL, FOULING SPARK PLUGS, AND THROWING CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS FOR MANY YEARS DUE TO THIS ALL-TOO COMMON ISSUE. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AND ALL GM VEHICLES WITH THIS MOTOR ISSUE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED. IT POSES A SERIOUS HAZARD WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO PULL OUT INTO THE ROAD AND THE CAR SPUTTERS AND MISFIRES AND YOU HAVE NO POWER BECAUSE OIL IS SEAPING PAST THE RINGS.”
“MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THE PROBLEMS OF NOT GIVING ME CORRECT READINGS FROM THE GAUGES WHEN MY CAR WAS RUNNING HOT IT NEVER DISPLAYED ANY INDICATION THAT IT WAS WHICH CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE IN MY CAR THROWING A ROD I ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCE AND STILL DO WHEN I TURN ON MY SIGNALS MY BRIGHT LIGHTS COME ON AS WELL AS SOMETIMES WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR THE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON BUT WHEN I CLOSE THE DOOR THEY DO MY MOTOR MOUNTS ON MY CAR ARE NOT STABLE THIS WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME IT SHIFTED NOW NOT FROM WEAR AND TEAR BECAUSE I HAD AN INSPECTION DONE ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND RECEIVED A CLEAN BILL OF IMMACULATE CARE AND HEALTH OF THE VEHICLE IN LESS THAN 8 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN IN NOTHING BUT ONE DISASTER AFTER THE NEXT I'M FEELING VERY UNSAFE AND UNSURE OF THIS VEHICLE IT SEEMS AS IF IT'S MOVING FASTER THAN WHAT IS ON THE SPEEDOMETER BECAUSE I HAVE OFTEN HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY FASHION JUST TO STOP I KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL I CAN FORWARD THE BILLS OF THE SAID REPAIRS SO THAT IT WAS SUPPORT MY CLAIM I DO NOT HAVE THEM WITH ME AT THIS TIME BUT MY EMAIL IS [XXX]. *TR”
“AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ACTED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL WOULDN'T GO PASS 45-50 MILES PER HOUR. I WENT TO A AUTOMOTIVE SHOP JUST TO FIND OUT THE CATALYST CONVERTER IT'S VERY DANGEROUS WHY DRIVING IN THE CAR STALLS.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED ON WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.”
Showing 6 of 59 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.