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Research · Large Cars

2013 Chevrolet ImpalaRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 272 owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Impala. Most complaints involve electronic stability control (esc) (108) and electrical system (52). The EPA rates it 22 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
22mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
4of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
1campaigns
Latest Jun 2014
Owner complaints
272
Top: electronic stability control (esc)
Fuel cost / yr
$2,850est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

1 NHTSA campaign · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

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 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

272 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 2012 – Sep 2026
  1. Electronic stability control (esc)108
  2. Electrical system52
  3. Service brakes51
  4. Steering34
  5. Power train33
  6. Engine30
  7. Wheels23
  8. Vehicle speed control20
  9. Air bags19

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

By model year

Complaints for each Impala model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2000829
2001747
2002808
2003722
20041,073
2005608
2006544
2007627
2008810
2009824
2010442
2011505
2012258
2013272
2014638
2015301
2016890
2017117
201859
201928
202015
Crashes reported
16
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
12
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electronic stability control (esc)

108 reports2 crashes
“STABILTRAK ABS TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ALL COME ON VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND POWER IS REDUCED. RESEARCHED AND FOUND 100'S OF REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE IMPALA AND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN THE LIGHT TRUCK AND SUV MODELS. FIX IS RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE IF YOUR MECHANICALLY / ELECTRICALLY INCLINED AS INVOLVES SPLICING IN A NEW WIRE HARNESS FOR THE ABS SENSOR. SAID HARNESS IS ABOUT $20 IT SHORTS OUT DUE TO INSUFFICIENT GAUGE OF WIRE USED ON ORIGINAL FACTORY INSTALL. REPLACE HARNESS HAS MUCH STURDIER GAUGE FROM WHAT MY RESEARCH SAYS. REPAIR SHOP QUOTED $700 TO REPAIR GLAD I TOLD THEM TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. THEY HAVE A FLEET OF IMPALAS AS LOANERS SO THEY KNOW THEY ARE GOUGING PEOPLE WHEN THEY SAY REPLACE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY ABS SENSOR AND WIRING HARNESS WHEN THEY KNOW IT'S THE ABS SENSOR PERIOD. CHEVY NEEDS TO DO A RECALL. ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION AFTER TURNING OR GOING OVER A BUMP WIRING THAT HAS BEEN WORE THRU DUE TO PLACEMENT OF WIRING IN A HIGH FRICTION AREA, WIRE WEARS THROUGH COATING EXPOSES WIRING THAT SHORTS OUT AND SENDS CODES TO COMPUTER CONCERNING ABS STABILTRAK AND TRACTION ASSIST CAUSES VEHICLE TO BEHAVE ERRATICALLY OTHERS HAVE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 12, 2020Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11354544

Electrical system

52 reports4 crashes
“While driving vehicle warning light service stabilitrak....reduced engine power comes on. Vehicle then slows and can not drive over 20 to 30 mph. This has occurred randomly at highway speeds while driving on interstate in traffic. Sudden reduction caused traffic to have to slow quickly and almost caused a collision.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2024Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11583554

Service brakes

51 reports3 crashes
“Driving home on 9/3/22 I began to turn into a curve in the road at which time the brake light on dash came on and felt as though one wheel in the rear locked up.2 seconds later It caused my car to spin uncontrollable down the road and slide into ditch however I slid into a field entrance and it caused my car to roll more then once and landed on passenger side. Airbags did not deploy at any time during this accident.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2022Air bags, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11485784
All 2013 Impala problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Large Cars
Engines
3.6L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Impala
Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI · Front-Wheel Drive
182822$2,850414
Impala
Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI; FFV · Front-Wheel Drive
182922$2,850410
  • Impala
    Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI
    18 city · 28 hwy · $2,850/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Impala
    Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI; FFV
    18 city · 29 hwy · $2,850/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
Overall rating
4/ 5
4 of 5
Chevrolet Impala 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
4 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
11.3%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 7053
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2013 Impala questions

How many recalls does the 2013 Chevrolet Impala have?

1 safety recall as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2013 Chevrolet Impala problems?

Owners filed 272 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electronic stability control (esc) (108), electrical system (52), service brakes (51). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2013 Chevrolet Impala get?

The EPA rates the 2013 Chevrolet Impala at 22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

How safe is the 2013 Chevrolet Impala?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2013 Chevrolet Impala 4 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026