Problems · by component
2006 Chevrolet Impala structure problems
29 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Chevrolet Impala cite structure, 5% of all 544 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
29
5% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE BACK DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE WHEN YOU PULL THE HANDLE FROM THE OUTSIDE IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S ANYTHING CATCHING ON THE INSIDE IT'S JUST LOOSE, IT'S THE SAME WAY FROM THE INSIDE ALSO. I WENT TO THE STORE WHEN I LEFT MY HOUSE I PUT MY DAUGHTER IN HER CAR SEAT ON THAT SIDE THE DOOR OPEN FINE IT SHUT AND LATCHED FINE WHEN I GOT TO THE STORE AND GOT OUT TO GET MY DAUGHTER OUT OF HER CAR SEAT THE DOOR JUST WOULD NOT OPEN IT'S LIKE IT'S LOCKED BUT IT'S NOT LOCKED YOU CAN MOVE THE MECHANICAL LOCK UP AND DOWN FROM THE INSIDE , AND YOU CAN ALSO HIT THE LOCK AND UNLOCK WITH THE KEY FOB AND IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE DOOR JUST WILL NOT OPEN. THIS REALLY CONCERNS ME CONSIDERING IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND THE BACK PASSENGER NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO. THIS COULD BE A VERY BAD SAFETY ISSUE, AND HAS ME EXTREMELY CONCERNED CONSIDERING I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THE BACKSEAT DAILY THIS IS MY DAILY DRIVER”
“I GOT HOME FROM WORK AT 7:15AM THIS MORNING 9-29-2019 I WAS LAYING IN BED WATCHING A MOVIE TRYING TO GO TO SLEEP AND WHEN I FINALLY DOZE OFF MY SON ASKED IF HE COULD GO GET A CHARGER OUT OF THE CAR SO HE WENT OUT TO THE CAR AND WHEN HE OPENED THE DOOR HE SAID SMOKE HIT HIM IN HIS FACE HE IMMEDIATELY RAN BACK IN THE HOUSE YELLING 'MOM YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE SO I RAN DOWN THE STAIR AND WENT OUTSIDE AND THATS ALL YOU SEE IS SMOKE MY CAR WAS ON FIRE I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 THEY GOT THE FIRE PUT OUT AND THE FIREMAN AND THE POLICE OFFICER SAID MY FIRE STARTED FROM MY STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE AFTER THE FACT THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT THE FIREMAN SAID HE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS THROWING SPARKS STILL SO THEY SAID THAT'S WHAT CAUSED MY CAR TO CAUGHT ON FIRE I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO I HAVE 4 KIDS AND THAT WAS OUR TRANSPORTATION THAT'S HOW MY KIDS GOT TO SCHOOL AND THAT'S HOW I GOT TO WORK I'M LOST I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO I NEED TRANSPORTATION I'M A SINGLE PARENT WITH 4 KIDS IT WILL NOT LET ME MARK EVERYTHING BUT EVERY IN THE CAR IS BURNT MY CD PLAYER 13' SUBWOOFER SPEAKERS THAT WAS IN THE TRUNK MY AMP”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN PROMPTED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE DOOR WAS DISASSEMBLED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,490.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MOTORS IN THE DOORS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE INTERSTATE INTO THE MEDIAN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A BOLT FELL OUT THE VEHICLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE AFFECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 258,000.”
Showing 6 of 29 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.