Problems · NHTSA complaints
2013 Chevrolet Impala problems
Owners filed 272 complaints about the 2013 Chevrolet Impala with NHTSA between Oct 2012 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is electronic stability control (esc) (108).
Complaints
272
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
16
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electronic stability control (esc)108
- Electrical system52
- Service brakes51
- Steering34
- Power train33
- Engine30
- Wheels23
- Vehicle speed control20
- Air bags19
- Suspension17
- Traction control system17
- Tires9
- Fuel/propulsion system8
- Exterior lighting5
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
2
37
33
62
47
26
27
17
7
4
3
2
2
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 37 |
| 2015 | 33 |
| 2016 | 62 |
| 2017 | 47 |
| 2018 | 26 |
| 2019 | 27 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
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…”
Electrical system
52 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“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.”
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.”
Steering
34 reports1 crash
“I have driving on highway [XXX] heading back home to yucca valley from oceanside driving in the left lane my steering wheel locked up my vehicle swerved let into a street sign and thr vehicle proceeded to turn right swerving on the road losing control of the vehicle my airbag never deployed and my riverside tire as well the drives haft fell off the vehicle and now my car is completely totaled luckily there were no other vehicles involved but there was another person in the car with me when the incident occurred, we both he whiplash. Incident occurred in Morongo Valley near road runner mobile home trailer park in morngo valley”
Power train
33 reports3 crashes
“while waiting to make a left turn when traffic cleared I pressed the gas pedal and heard a loud grinding noise and the car would not move for 2 or 3 seconds and suddenly moved. Very dangerous. Car forums have many of the same incidents with great difficulty in resolving this problem and after several years no answers. This is life threatening issue.”
Engine
30 reports2 crashes
“My 2013 Impala Ltz Service Traction Control, Service Stabilitrack, Engine power reduced problem lights came on the dash. Almost had an accident I want to know why the 2013 model of impala has not had any recalls as the 2010 models with same issues..... My vehicle has the same major issue and need to be addressed & Recalled...... The 2013 Chevrolet impala LTZ Need to be Recalled to fix this issue for the safety of my family and the families on the road and Highways........ I can't express more the need of recall for my vehicle!!!!! I attached documents on the pervious 2010 model recall that had the same issues.... If you think Chevrolet dealership fixed the problem on the 2013 impala model it didn't work cause I have same issues!!!!!”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.