Home · 2012 Chevrolet Impala Limited · Complaints

What 258 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Impala Limited

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (258)Crash / fire / injury (27)Electrical system (58)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (54)Steering (49)Engine (40)Brakes (33)Transmission & drivetrain (27)Suspension (22)Airbags (20)Wheels (19)Fuel system (18)

Newest first · 258 complaints · page 9 of 11

Aug 20, 2014Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10626823

Aug 19, 2014SteeringElectrical systemSpeed controlEngineCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ODI 10626467

Aug 16, 2014Tires

I BOUGHT A 2012 IMPALA .2 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT FROM DEALER HAD TIRE GO DOWN FROM BUBBLE ON SIDEWALL. A MONTH LATER SAME THING. HAD BLOW OUT WITH 3 COUPLE DAYS AGO. WENT AND BOUGHT NEW SET AND FOUND OUT 4TH TIRE HAD BUBBLE.NOW I HATE I BOUGHT ANOTHER SET OF GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2. HOW CAN I GET MY MONEY BACK K FROM GOODYEAR OR NEW TIRES

NHTSA ODI 10625740

Aug 12, 2014Electrical systemEngine

THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AFTER HITTING A LARGE BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF A SECOND TIME AGAIN AFTER HITTING A LARGE BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE BOTH AFFECTED. THE CAR RESTARTED. THE DEALER LOOKED AT THE CAR AND COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE CONDITION. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AFTER I REMOVED ALL THE KEYS FROM THE KEY-RING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10621617

Aug 8, 2014SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

REPLACED FRONT WHEEL DRIVE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RIGHT SIDE TRANSAXLE SEAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10621022

Aug 1, 2014Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULTY TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING LINE WAS LOOSE AND WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ UPDATED 12/3/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10618223

Jul 30, 2014Electrical systemAirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

MAY 2013 I PURCHASED A 2012 IMPALA FULLY CERTIFIED BY THE CHEVY DEALER. ON 9/25/2013 I WAS STOPPED ON I-80 DUE TO TRAFFIC. A WOMAN TRAVELING 53 MPH SLAMMED INTO ME CAUSING ME TO TAKE OUT THE NEXT 3 CARS. I FILED AN INVESTIGATION WITH GM TO REVIEW THE VEHICLE INFORMATION (WHICH IS HOW I KNOW HOW FAST SHE WAS TRAVELING). THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON, BUT NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE SEAT BELT HAD RESTRAINED ME ONLY AFTER I VIOLENTLY BOUNCED OFF OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN THIS WAS REPORTED TO GM IT WAS STATED THAT THERE ARE THREE LINES OF DEFENSE IN A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT #1 THE BODY OF YOUR VEHICLE #2 YOUR SEAT BELT #3 AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. 2/3 LINES OF DEFENSE HAD FAILED ME. GM HAD NO CONCLUSION AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND I RECEIVED THE REPORTS FROM THE ENGINEERS. I WAS TRAVELING FAST ENOUGH INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME FOR THE AIRBAGS TO HAVE DEPLOYED, AND THE SEAT BELT SHOULD HAVE RESTRAINED ME. NEARLY A YEAR LATER, I AM GREATFUL THAT ONE LINE OF DEFENSE HAD PREVENTED FURTHER INJURIES, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL FOREVER FEEL THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF. WITH RECENT NEWS INVESTIGATIONS INTO GM'S FAULTY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, CLEARLY THEY CAN LOOK BEYOND JUST THE OLDER MODELS OF IMPALAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10617649

Jul 25, 2014Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MATERIAL OF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SEVERELY ROTTED AND SEPARATED FROM THE METAL INTERIOR OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 09/16/14*LJ UPDATED 01/13/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10616358

Jul 9, 2014Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIGOROUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CALIPER FAILED AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE CALIPER ON THE REAR DRIVERS BRAKE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,073. UPDATED 09/02/14*LJ UPDATED 09/23/15*JB

NHTSA ODI 10609304

Jul 3, 2014Steering

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,341.

NHTSA ODI 10608057

Jun 29, 2014AirbagsBrakesCrash1 injury

ON JUNE 28,2014 WHILE DRIVING DOWN HOUSTON TX BELTWAY. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY CAR HIT A CEMENT GUARD RAIL AND BRAKES FAIL AS WELL AS NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10606876

Jun 19, 2014Seat belts

MY DRIVER SIDE AND BACK SEAT IN THE MIDDLE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT LOCK. I ATTEMPT TO ATTACH THE SEAT BELT AS IT SHOULD BUT WILL NOT LOCK AND IF IT DOES CLICK TO LOCK THE FIRST BUMP (POT HOLE) I HIT IT UNBUCKLES. VERY UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10604651

Jun 17, 2014Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR HIGHWAY SPEED WAS 65MPH, AT THAT RATE OF SPEED MY VEHICLE WAS PICKING UP SPEED AND WHEN I WENT TO PRESS ON MY BRAKES, IT WAS IF I WAS DRIVING ON ICE AND MY CAR WAS SKIDDING. TWO DAYS LATER I STOPPED FOR GAS AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START, AFTER MY 3RD ATTEMPT, IT STUTTERED HARD TIME TURNING OVER. ONCE IT DID I TURNED IT OFF BUT THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. I DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES. VERY SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR BACK HOME BECAUSE I'M OUT OF TOWN. MY LIGHTS SAYS I HAVE LOW RIGHT TIRE PRESSURE BUT I DON'T, IT'S BACK LEFT TIRE FOR SOME ODD REASON. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10598722

Jun 5, 2014SuspensionWheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING THERE WOULD BE AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPIDER GEAR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 10596417

Jun 2, 2014Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

CAR EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO BUSY HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY LANE, SO BROUGHT CAR TO A HALT BLOCKING ONE LANE. THIS WAS AS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. LATER DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE WAS A LOOSE HOT WIRE TERMINAL CONNECTION TO THE FUSE BOX. IT HAD EITHER VIBRATED LOOSE OR WAS NOT TIGHTENED ADEQUATELY AT TIME OF MANUFACTURE. LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT INTERESTED IN REPORTING THIS EVENT TO THE GM DATA BASE, SO GAVE ME A CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER TO CALL, WHICH I DID. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10595615

May 28, 2014Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI 10594591

May 19, 2014Electronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

I WAS DRIVING AND AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN, MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST, AND ABS LIGHT ALL POPPED ON. IT WENT ON AND OFF FOR MANY DAYS AS I WOULD STOP AND THEN RE-START THE CAR. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY TESTED THE FRONT ABS CONNECTOR AND ADJUSTED THE TIMING. LIGHTS AND CODES WENT OFF FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS THEN POPPED BACK ON UPON MAKING A LEFT TURN. IN ADDITION TO THE LIGHTS AND CODES, THE CAR NOW MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE CAR STALLS. I HAVE BEEN AT A LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A TURN WHEN THE CAR WILL STALL AND NOT LET ME TAKE OFF- THE TRACTION CONTROL SYMBOL WILL COME ON AND I WILL BE STUCK TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND A FEW TIMES DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE IN A TIMELY FASHION. I HAVE GONE ON CHEVY IMPALA FORUMS LOOKING FOR OTHER DRIVERS WHO MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ARE THERE ARE A GOOD NUMBER OF THEM. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10592608

May 14, 2014SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

FRONT WHEEL HUB AND CV AXLE NUT LOOSE. REPLACED FRONT WHEEL HUB PART # 88964168, HUB 6.307 QY* CPOBK. TORQUED RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HUB AND CV AXLE NUT TO SPECIFICATIONS. GMC FACTORY ERROR IN QUALITY CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10588296

May 2, 2014AirbagsBody & structureCrash2 injuries

TRACTOR TRAILER HIT A 1/2 SCHOOL BUS WHICH HIT US ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF. PASSENGERS HAD SEVERE INJURIES INCLUDING NECK, ARMS, NERVE, HANDS, SHOULDER DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10586271

May 1, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

FAILED TORQUE CONVERTER. THE TORQUE CONVERTER WOULD SLIP WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD (DRIVE). IT WOULD SLAM INTO DRIVE, GRIN THE GEARS AND CAUSE THE TIRES TO SQUEAK (SPIN). ON APRIL 28, HEDRICK'S CHEVROLET 961 W SHAW, CLOVIS, CA, REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TORQUE CONVERTER, WITH A REMANUFACTURED CONVERTOR, PART NUMBER 17804457 (1), PLUS THE FOLLOWING PARTS:17804457(1)-CORE RETURN, 24264377 (1)- SEAL KIT, 25886620(2)- GASKET,10333578(1) - GASKET, 12609163(1) - GASKET. IT IS A WARRANTY CLOVERED PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10585937

Apr 11, 2014Electronic Stability Control (esc)

IN FEB. 2014 STARTED GETTING INTERMITTENT COMPUTER MESSAGES CONCERNING, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILATOR(?) CONTROL, REDUCED ENGINE POWER. MESSAGE OCCURS RANDOMLY, AND STAYS FOR A DAY OR LESS, THEN GOES TO JUST SHOWING THE ENGINE ICON, THEN CLEARS SELF. CAR WAS PURCHASED USED (16000 MILES) FROM DEALER. ERROR CODES P2138 AND P2122 WERE SHOWING PER DEALER. CAR WAS OWNED IN RENTAL FLEET IN EAST ELMHURST, NY (QUEENS, SEVERELY AFFECTED) DURING HURRICANE SANDY, BUT SHOWED NO SERVICE AS BEING DONE, AFTERWARDS. NEXT ENTRY SHOWED CAR IN UPSTATE NY, ON DEALERS LOT. HAVE BEEN TOLD (3/25/2014) THAT PART WAS ORDERED AND WOULD BE IN IN A COUPLE DAYS. 17 DAYS LATER, TOLD ":PART NOT IN--WILL CALL WHEN HERE" AND REPLACE AT NO CHARGE. STILL WAITING FOR CALL FROM DEALER. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10579215

Apr 8, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION REMAINED IN 4TH GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH OR 6TH GEAR AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE "TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE ENGINE" WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AND THE SL-N MODULE WAS REPLACED BUT THE DEFECT WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AND THE "TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE ENGINE" WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE DISABLING LINK SENSOR BEFORE THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,206.

NHTSA ODI 10578285

Apr 1, 2014Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THE KEY FAILED TO TURN UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA ODI 10576122

Mar 30, 2014SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE MY DASHBOARD WENT COMPLETELY BLACK,THE RADIO WENT OFF AND MY STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN.I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO SIDEWALK THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE THE KEYS WERE IN IGNITION. I TURNED THE KEY AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR IT MADE A TERRIBLE BANGING CLUNKING NOISE.I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM WAITED 15 MINUTES LATER THE CAR STARTED.THS REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS I COULD HAVE CAUSED ARE BEEN INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT. I'M VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. I TOOK THE CAR IN LATER TO DEALER THEY KEPT IT UNTIL FRIDAY PROVIDED ME A LOANER THEY CLAIMED THEY DROVE IT AND IT DIDN'T ACT UP. BUT ITS NOT LIKE THEY DROVE IT ALL DAY I'M EXTREMELY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED IN THIS MATTER. I FEEL THEY DISCOUNTED WHAT I SAID.THIS COULD OCCUR WHILE A TEENAGER ARE ELDERLY PERSON IS DRIVING. PLEASE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10575710

Mar 20, 2014Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD REST AND THE PANELS LOCATED IN THE FRONT AND REAR SIDES WINDOWS OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE HEADREST HOWEVER THE HEADREST COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,200.

NHTSA ODI 10573679

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Chevrolet Impala Limited verdict →