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2013 Chevrolet Impala
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
270 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 19, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems dominate (40% of complaints, typically reported near 32k miles).
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#101 of 368Among the 2013 models with a matured record, the 2013 Chevrolet Impala ranks #101, scoring higher than 72% of them. See the 2013 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2013 Chevrolet Impala 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 11%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2013 Chevrolet Impala, plotted where owners report it happening.
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
40%108 complaints · typically near 32k mi
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ELECTRONIC STABILI-TRAC WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE…”
Brakes
20%53 complaints · typically near 50k mi
“MY BRAKE CATCHES WHILE DRIVING AND UNDER DASH BOARD MAKES NOISE AND WHEN YOU TURN ON THE HEATER IT MAKES NOISE AND ALL MY DASH BOARD HAZARDS LIGHT ARE ON AND WANT GO O…”
Electrical system
19%52 complaints · typically near 44k mi
“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 ran…”
Steering
13%34 complaints · typically near 44k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“WHEELS DRAG HESITATE WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A PARKED POSITION, HAS DONE THIS SINCE ABOUT A MONTH OF PURCHASING THIS CAR FROM DEALERSHIP. *TR”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 6 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 270 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 16 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Electrical System · 14V355000
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.
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Chevrolet before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2013 Chevrolet Impala. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report electronic stability control (esc) problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 32k miles). Has this car shown any electronic stability control (esc) symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report brakes problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 50k miles). Has this car shown any brakes symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2013 Chevrolet IMPALA beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2013? See how every Impala model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2013 Chevrolet Impala against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.