What 258 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Impala

LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. THE SOUND IS NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SIDE. IT HAPPENS WHENEVER I UNLOCK THE DOORS OR DO ANYTHING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING CONTROLS. IT GOES ON FOR MINUTES AT A TIME WHEN I FIRST GET IN THE CAR AND HAPPENS ON AND OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11229316

SINCE 2017, UPON STARTING MY CAR I GET ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ALERT MSGS "SERVICE STABILITRAK", *SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" AND "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" ON MY DASHBOARD. I'VE HAD THE CAR INTO LES SCHWAB AND ERROR CODE DIAGNOSTICS DONE BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER BOTH FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED. THE SAME SERVICE MESSAGES STILL CONTINUE TO APPEAR ON THE DASH. LES SCHWAB HAS CHECKED THE HUB SENSOR WIRES REPEATEDLY AND ALL ERROR CODES AND FIND THEM TO BE OK. THEY FIND THE CAR TO STILL HAVE A CRUNCHING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR, MOST MARKEDLY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT, BUT CAN ALSO BE HEARD WHEN THERE IS A DROP IN ELEVATION, AS WHEN EXISTING A PARKING LOT INTO A SLIGHTLY LOWER ROADWAY. ON JUNE 14,2019, WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND TURNING RIGHT AT A STOPLIGHT, THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED AS HAS WHEN I MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACTED AS THOUGH THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED VERY HARD AND THEN THE CAR HALTED BRIEFLY WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AS THOUGH IT WOULD STALL OUT. I APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR TILL I FORCED THE CAR TO MOVE AROUND THE CORNER AND AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE OF FIGHTING BRAKING RESISTANCE, I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN NORMAL 40 MPH SPEED WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURRED ON DRY PAVEMENT WITH NO PRECIPITATION. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 100 DEGREES. BEST DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH NO ROUGH ROADWAY. LES SCHWAB SAID THE PROBLEM WITH THE HUB SENSOR AND LEFT TURNING IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO THEM AND SAID THEY WISH IT WOULD BE MADE A RECALL ITEM AS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM NOW. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CHEVY IMPALA. LOVE MY CAR BUT WON'T TAKE A CHANCE ON PURCHASING SAME MAKE AND MODEL. I WASN'T SO SURPRISED WHEN RESEARCHING THESE ISSUES ON THE INTERNET TO FIND HUGE NUMBER OF OWNER'S HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11220345

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA,I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS VEHICLE A LOT.ON COMPLAINT WEBSITES,THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BLEND DOORS FOR HEAT AND AIR,YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE DEFROST OR AIR OOR HEAT,THAT IS DANGEROUS FOR ANYBODY TO DRIVE AND YOU CAN GO UP TO CAR AND BADLY TOUCH CAR AND IT STARTS CLICKING AND CLICKING AND DON'T STOP,CHEVROLET REFUSES TO FIX PROBLEM THAT'S THEIR FAULT FOR USING INFERIOR PARTS ,THAT TO ME AND A LOT,A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY CHEVROLET AND GM,DON'T GIVE A [XXX] ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR VEHICLES OR CUSTOMERS,SO IF THIS PROBLEM ISN'T ADDRESSED,I KNOW YOU DON'T CARE BUT I'LL NEVER BUY A CHEVROLET AGAIN,AND I'VE BOUGHT QUITE A FEW CHEVROLET'S,BUT NEVER BEEN TREATED THIS WAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES,THE REASON I KNOW IT'S DANGEROUS IS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CONTROL ANY FUNCTIONS OF THE HEAT AIR OR DEFROST,MY WIFE IS DISABLED AND FOR HER TO HAVE TO GET OUT AND WIPE WINDSHIELD OFF JUST TO DRIVE,AND GOD HELP US IF IT RAINS,WE HAVE TO PULL OVER TO CLEAN WINDSHIELD,IF THAT'S NOT DANGEROUS THEN ANYBODY THAT OWNS ONE OF THESE CARS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11209652

MY CAR'S STABILITRACK, BARAKE ASSIST, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON EVERYTIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THE CAR HESITATES WHEN GIVING GAS MAKING IT FOR A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN GETTING INTO TRAFFIC

NHTSA ODI 11195942

FIRST ITEM,DRIVING STABILITY LIGHT CAME ON TWICE HOW TO GO TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR.SECOND ITEM, PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT ISSUE, REPLACE BULB THREE TIMES CAN'T IDENTIFY PROBLEM WITH THE CONNECTION OR WIRING ISSUE. TO REPLACE BULB, REQUIRES REMOVAL OF FRONT END BUMPER IN ORDER TO COMPLETE PROJECT. PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE NIGHT DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11192727

THE ACTUATOR HAS FAILED IN THE CAR, A SMALL ELECTRICAL MOTOR THAT MOVES THE TEMP DOORS OR THE RECIRCULATION DOOR. WHEN THE ACTUATOR GOES BAD, YOU WILL HEAR A THUMP NOISE FROM UNDER THE DASH THAT IS EXTREMELY LOUD, WHICH IMPEDES THE DRIVER ABILITY TO HEAR EMERGENCY VEHICLES, WHICH IS TRUE A SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE GOOGLED ONLINE AND THERE ARE 5K COMPLAINTS OVERALL. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT WHICH IS NOT SAFE FOR CONSUMER. HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T1733_DS503761 HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/IMPALA/2012/AC_HEATER/KNOCKING_NOISE_IN_GLOVE_COMPARTMENT.SHTML

NHTSA ODI 11191626

NOTIFICATION ON DASH HAS BEEN ON STATING THAT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM WILL NOT DEPLOY. ON STAR HAS ALSO SENT ME DIAGNOSTIC REPORTS STATING THIS IS A URGENT MATTER THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED

NHTSA ODI 11186340

2/16/2019 (SAT 3:30PM) : SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHEN DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY 99 NEAR FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. FELT LIKE NO GAS COMING IN. ENGINE WAS STILL ON, BUT GAS PEDAL SEEMED TO PUMP NO GAS TO THE ENGINE. PUMPING THE GAS PEDAL HAD NO ACCELERATION RESPONSE. SPEED CONTINUED TO DROP ON THE HIGHWAY, VERY DANGEROUS! FINALLY, LUCKILY PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT MISHAP. ENGINE WAS STILL ON WHEN STOPPING BY THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, KIND OF IDLING AT LOW RPM. SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND TRIED TO RESTART IT TO HOPE FOR THE PROBLEM TO GO AWAY. CRANKED A DOZEN TIMES AND COULD NOT TO GET ENGINE TO CONTINUE. FELT LIKE RUNNING OUT OF GAS. 2/17/2019 SUN: THE CAR WAS FINALLY TOWED TO A NEARBY DEALER. 2/18/2019 MON DEALER SERVICE DIAGNOSIS REPORTED BROKEN "FUEL FLOW CONTROL MODULE". THE ESTIMATE OF ITS REPAIR (PART + LABOR) IS NEAR $500 I HAVE ASKED THE REPLACED MODULE TO BE SAVED FOR INVESTIGATION. SUMMARY: SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE FUEL FLOW CONTROL MODULE THAT COMPLETELY CUTS OFF THE FUEL WITHOUT A FAIL-SAFE DESIGN, NOR A WARNING, FOR A PART NOT IN THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE LIST, PARTICULARLY AT LOW MILEAGE (42,000) EXPOSES DRIVERS TO HIGH RISK OF ACCIDENTS ON THE HIGHWAY. ACTION REQUESTED: IT MAY BE A QUALITY-ESCAPED ISSUE ON SUCH A MODULE. FAILSAFE DESIGN IS NEEDED FOR 21 CENTURY HIGHWAY SAFETY. I ASK NHTSA TO REQUEST GM TO INVESTIGATE THIS CASE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF SUCH SUDDEN FAILURE OF FUEL FLOW CONTROL MODULE ON A LOW-MILEAGE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11180992

SERVICE STABILITRAK CAME ON WHEN MERGING ON TO THE FREEWAY, (WHICH INVOLVED A TURN TO GET ON THE ON-RAMP,) SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR COMPLETELY. ALMOST HIT BY A SEMI. I HAVE HAD THE BEARINGS REPLACED BECAUSE OF STABILITRAK LIGHT. HOW HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED? MY FRIEND AND I ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY SENSORS OR WHATEVER IT IS WITH THESE CRAP BEARINGS. I WAS TOLD HOW THE BEARINGS ARE MADE WITH THE SENSORS BEING PLACED IN A COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS SPOT BY AUTO PARTS STORES. SAW PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH THIS VEHICLE. SAME ISSUE. HOW HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE WITH THIS?

NHTSA ODI 11173380

WHILE DRIVING AT NO MORE THAN 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY THE CONTROL ARM GAVE OUT AND IT CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. THEN IT HIT THE BARRIER WALL AND THE 2 TIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE BLEW ON CONTACT. TOWED TO MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THAT THE TIE RODS ALSO WENT OUT. THE BRAKES AND SHOCKS AND STRUTS WERE NEW AND IT IS REGULARLY IN THE SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIRS. THIS IS INEXCUSABLE AND THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY RECALLED AND TAKEN OUT OF CIRCULATION.

NHTSA ODI 11166797

CHECK ENGINE, FUEL TANK WILL NOT FILL, CAR RUNS OK

NHTSA ODI 11166310

SERVICE STABILITRAK - REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE TO THE APPROPRIATE SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11165421

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT PRESSURE(?) SWITCH IN SEAT FOR AIR BAG, CONSTANTLY GOES OFF INDICATING THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING THERE, WHEN IN FACT THERE IS NO ONE OR A PIECE OF PAPER ON THE SEAT. IT STARTED OUT AS A RARE OCCURRENCE BUT IS NOW PRETTY MUCH SWITCHING ON ALL THE TIME, EITHER AT CAR START UP OR IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. IF IT DIDN'T DINGLE, WARNING THE PASSENGER ISN'T BUCKLED IT WOULDN'T BE A HUGE DEAL, BUT STILL WOULDN'T NEED IT TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THERE ISN'T A PASSENGER.

NHTSA ODI 11154159

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PREMIER NISSAN OF METAIRIE (504-455-5800, LOCATED AT 6636 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD, METAIRIE, LA 70003) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE SEVEN DIFFERENT FAILURE CODES WERE LOCATED, INCLUDING THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL RELAY. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE PARTS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI 11154271

WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS AND ACCELERATING LOOSE THE TRACTION CONTROL (STABILIZER TRACTION CONTROL DISPLAY) AND CAN NOT ACCELERATE MOMENTARILY. MOST OF THE IMES ITS HAPPENING WHEN TURNING LEFT (SLOW SPEED) OR ACCELERATING FROM STOPPED POSITION (RED LIGHT)

NHTSA ODI 11151772

MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11150859

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO SHERMAN ELGIN HOSPITAL TO RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR BACK, NECK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED BY THE POLICE TO AN UNKNOWN LOT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,564.

NHTSA ODI 11150090

TAKATA RECALL MY STABILITY TRACK SENSOR IS CONSTENTLY COMING ON OVERPOWERING MY DRIVING AND MESSING MY DRIVING UP. IT HAPPENS WITH NO CONDITIONS WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I ALSO HAD THE ENGINE SHUT OFF ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE REPLACED MANY THINGS THAT I WAS TOLD CAN BE CAUSING THIS. THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11140010

THE RADIO WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO SHOWS A BLANK SCREEN AND DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. MY DOOR CHIMES, IGNITION CHIME, SEAT BELT CHIMES, TURN SIGNAL CHIMES NONE OF THAT WORKS EITHER. NOT SURE IF IT'S AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. HOWEVER I HAD MY BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TESTED. HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE FOR MAYBE 2 MONTHS NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11138835

TAKATA RECALL MY CAR FEEL LIKE ITS LOOSING POWER WHEN I START IT UP AND THE IGNITION HOUSING NEED TO BE REPLACE

NHTSA ODI 11133514

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 OWE $8,600. JUST HAD THE CAR APPRAISED AT $3,000, SO I AM UPSIDE DOWN $5,500. I CANNOT TRADE IT IN, CANNOT AFFORD PERPECTUALLY REPAIRING AND WOULD NOT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS NO END. IT IS PARKED NOW BECAUSE I CANNOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE, SO I CANNOT GET TO WORK AND MAY HAVE TO HAVE IT REPOSSESED. THIS IS NOT RIGHT!

NHTSA ODI 11132050

THERE'S A TICKING SOUND INSIDE THE DASHBOARD AND IT GET LOUDER AND TICK FOR 5 TO 10 MIN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF AND STARTING UP

NHTSA ODI 11132026

CAR MAKES GRINDING NOISE AND STOPS AFTER MOVING WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN AT A FULL STOP

NHTSA ODI 11120413

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST, ABS, AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GARBER CHEVROLET (1700 N. SAGINAW RD, MIDLAND, MI 48640) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE RECHARGED AND A LOOSE GROUND CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000. **TR CONSUMER STATED SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL-SERVICE STABILIZER-SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST CAME ON AND CAR STOPPED DEAD COMPLETELY- CAR KEY IN ON POSITION AND CAR IN DRIVE. HAD NO POWER AT ALL- HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK MY DOOR TO GET OUT. THEY HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO GARAGE WITH MY KEYS STUCK IN IT. FLASHERS AND NOTHING WORKED. LUCKILY NO ONE SMASHED INTO ME AND IF OUT ON A MAIN HIGHWAY GOING AT A HIGHER SPEED I WOULDN'T BE HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS. THE CAR IS FIXED BUT MY FEARS OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN ARE IMMENSE. UPDATED 10/31/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11114499

WHEN DRIVING SUDDEN JERKS OF EXTRA POWER THEN SOMETIMES LOWER POWER/ ALOT OF CLICKING WHEN IM NOT IN THE CAR AND EVERYTIME I OPEN THE DOOR OR TURN OFF THE CAR. LIGHTA FLICKER WHEN ROLLING THE WINDOWS UP OR DOWN AND JUST WHEN THEY WANT RO

NHTSA ODI 11113401