Problems · by component
2012 Chevrolet Impala power train problems
27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Impala cite power train, 10% of all 258 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
27
10% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Stability control light comes on which puts the engine in restricted power ABS and brake light comes on front driver side brake continuously holds on when trying to accelerate”
“The car has been in the shop twice within 6 months having it. It was towed twice, once for transmission issues and having no power to it at all then it back in the shop for warning lights. I also had it in the shop for about an hour to have a new tire put on it after loosing air. It had to be towed back home for all the brakes being shot and I'm now having an issue with the rear left caliper having a slow leak, the rear left sway bar is also broken in half. The whole entire car has issues and the leasing company and dealership refuse to do anything to help along with not helping me get the payment down. After one thing gets fixed, another thing happens. The suspension is getting bad and has been like that since my fiance and i got the car. The dealership said everything was new and fixed. We had 2 kids in the car and their safety was put at risk as well as others that got in the car. The car is getting to be a death trap for me. the warning lights that were coming on were Service Stabilitrak, Service Brake Assist, Service Trac Control and Service Brake System. These were coming on after I had the car in the shop for the transmission issue. Those lights are now…”
“I HAVE HAD MAJOR FAILURE OF ALL OF THE MAIN FUNCTION COMPONENTS OF THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION. MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE REPLACED, THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS, LL 4 WHEELBEARING ASSEMBLY, SWAY BAR LINKS, CONTROL ARMS, CV AXLES. I HAVE TO REPLACE BRAND NEW TIRES EVERY 6,000 10,000 MILES BECAUSE THE MECHANICAL FAILURES ARE WEARING ON THE RUBBER SO RAPIDLY AND AL WAS AND UNEVENLY. I HAVE NEVER NOT HAD A N ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE PUT MORE MONEY IN REPAIRS THEN THE PAYMENT, WHICH ARE MORE THAN WHAT I OWE STILL ON THE REMAINDER (FINANCED). ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION IS FALILING RAPIDLY. I HAVE REPORTED PRIOR ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS DATE. I CANNOT JUSTIFY REPAIRING, MAINTENANCE OR EMERGENCY, A VEHICLE THAT IS LESS THAN THE VALUE OF THE REPAIR COST. GM SHOULD BE ASHAMED AND PUNISHED FOR SUCH CRIMES AGAINST CONSUMERS.”
“WHEN ACCELERATING FORWARD FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON BY ITSELF CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP & CAUSES HESITATION. THE GROUND IS NOT WET AT ALL ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKS ON CAUSING THE SAME REACTION ON DRY PAVEMENT. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR HESITATES & JERKS/JOLTS THEN THE TRACTION LIGHT KICKS ON. THERE ARE NO CODES ON THE DASHBOARD & NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.”
“USED CAR PURCHASED WITH APPROX. 72,000 MILES. MAJOR PROBLEMS BECAME APPARENT AT 73,000 MILES APPROX. GRINDING CLUNKING SQUEALING NOISES WERE 1ST WARNING SIGNS. ALL OF THESE NOISES OCCUR ANYTIME THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, INTERMITTENTLY, BUT EVERYTIME I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE AC/HEATER WENT OUT BECAUSE THE BLOWER MOTOR FAILED. HANDLING WAS HORRIBLE SO REPLACED MOST OF SUSPENSION PARTS BUT ALIGNMENT REPEATEDLY GOES OUT AND MECHANICS ARE IDIOTS SO THEY JUST SAY THEY ARE STUMPED AND SEND ME AWAY. THAT PROMPTED ME TO RESEARCH ON MY OWN. I LOOKED UP THE SYMPTOMS AND HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE HUB BEARINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD SEEING AS HOW I JUST SPENT A FEW GRAND ON OTHER REPAIRS.THEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING WHICH MAKES IT JERK WHEN ACCELERATING, DRIVE VERY SLUGGISH, AND MAKES LOUD NOISES AT IDLE AND IN MOTION. THERE IS MORE PROBLEMS THAT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO LIST. I CONTINUE TO RESEARCH ALL OF THIS VEHICLES COMPLAINTS AND PROBLEMS AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS TIME FOR A REAL RECALL! GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING SUCH A NIGHTMARE OF A CAR. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP FOR $10,000 ONE YEAR AGO AND STILL…”
“MY VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM LOSS OF POWER WHEN MAKING A SQUARE TURN AKA A VERY SHARP TURN. IT ONLY HAPPENS WITH LEFT TURNS. THE PROBLEM IS WEAR OF A CABLE NEAR THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WHICH CONTROLS THE ANTILOCK BRAKES AND/OR THE TRACTION CONTROL / STABILITRAK FEATURE. THE WEARING IS SUCH THAT WHEN TURNING SHARPLY TO THE LEFT, THE WORN CABLE SUFFERS INTERMITTENT CONNECTIVITY LOSS. THAT LOSS OF CONNECTIVITY TRIGGERS TRACTION CONTROL TO BRIEFLY SEVER POWER TO THE FRONT TIRES. I HAVE FOUND THAT MANUALLY TURNING OFF TRACTION CONTROL PREVENTS THIS PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING. I COULD REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM RELIABLY. IT NEARLY ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN MOVING FROM A PARKED POSITION INTO THE ROADWAY, AND WHEN LEAVING A PARKING LOT AFTER REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE PROBLEM IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS WHEN I AM MAKING LEFT TURNS ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC - I HAVE LOST POWER ONCE IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC BUT THANKFULLY THE OTHERS DRIVERS WERE AWARE ENOUGH TO STOP BEFORE COLLISION. BECAUSE OF THIS I ALWAYS TURNED OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL FOR ALL DRIVING TRIPS. I FOUND ONLINE SIMILAR REPORTS OF OTHER 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA OWNERS.”
Showing 6 of 27 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.