Problems · by component

2010 Chevrolet Impala electrical system problems

132 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Impala cite electrical system, 30% of all 442 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
132
30% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the check air bag and service air bag warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V507000 (Air Bags, Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 6, 2026Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11716297
“The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off and unattended in a parking lot. After about ten minutes, the contact was unlocking the vehicle and noticed fire inside the vehicle near the front of the vehicle near the radio and heater. The contact used a water bottle from the back seat to attempt to extinguish the fire. The fire was extinguished by a bystander using a fire extinguisher. There were no warning lights prior to the failure. There were no reported injuries. There was no police report filed, airbag deployment, or crash involved. The vehicle was towed to her residence. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 188,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 18, 2025Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11667688
“The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound while starting and while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the grinding sound persisted after turning off the vehicle on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where unknown actuators located behind the dashboard were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 4, 2024Electrical systemODI 11592334
“About a week ago I got in my car and started driving. as I started going down the road the passengers side alarm for the seatbelt kept going off and I noticed the passenger side airbag had turned on as well. I was in my car alone and had nothing sitting in the passengers seat nor a passenger in my car. That was the first time it lasted my whole drive to work (about 13 miles) but made me think of past times my vehicle had done that as well A few weeks before that the same thing happened and I had to connect the seatbelt to make it stop. I didn’t think much of it at first and thought it was a one-off kinda thing till it became a pattern of sorts. This morning I started my car and the dash kept telling me to “service airbags” I just bought my vehicle from national auto sales in Spokane Washington the previous February of this year (2022) and only drive to work (13 miles) and back for the most part. Seeing the “service airbag” light on in my car was concerning because I don’t know what that means. As I looked further into things I found a recall for my vehicle for the passenger side airbags malfunctioning, recall #36110 to replace wiring in the seat. So I called GM…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 18, 2022Electrical system, Air bags, SeatsODI 11489697
“there is a known issue with the shift lock release. the cable will fail in many 2006-2013 impala's. the vehicle will not get out of park. another well known issue is the blend door actuator. it is a noise that comes from the dash/heating/cooling due to chevy using cheap plastic parts.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 20, 2021Steering, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11444490
“Service stabilitrak message displayed and reduced engine power to 0 mph while driving. Throttle body, Accelerator pedal position sensor (whole pedal assembly), and ecm replaced. Issue continues. P2138, P2122, P2127 codes present. Stonebriar chevrolet incompetent to resolve.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2021Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 11434416

Showing 6 of 132 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

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. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Electrical systemReported Jun 23, 2014NHTSA 14V355000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.