Home · 2013 Chevrolet Impala · Complaints

What 270 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Impala

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 (270)Crash / fire / injury (16)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (108)Brakes (53)Electrical system (52)Steering (34)Transmission & drivetrain (33)Engine (30)Wheels (23)Speed control (20)Airbags (19)Suspension (17)

Newest first · 270 complaints · page 1 of 11

Jul 17, 2025SteeringAirbagsCrash2 injuries

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 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11674400

Jan 23, 2025Visibility & wipers

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that for the past nine years, the blower fan had been replaced several times. The contact stated that prior to the failures, the blower fan was making abnormal tapping and clicking sounds. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The independent mechanic determined that the fan and heater needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired after every service appointment; however, the contact stated that eventually the fan and heater failed and had to be replaced. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11637984

Sep 15, 2024Driver assistance

Service Stabilitrak traction light comes on and front left side on car makes noise when turn sterring wheel to left and ABS light comes on when this light comes on.

NHTSA ODI 11614680

Apr 17, 2024Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel system

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.

NHTSA ODI 11583554

Aug 16, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

TFP Switch(Sensor) 4 Circuit Low Voltage

NHTSA ODI 11538954

Apr 4, 2023Electrical systemVisibility & wipersEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the driver 's side power master door lock switch was inoperable. The messages "Monitor Tie System" and "Monitor Battery System" were displayed. The contact stated that the windshield wipers were operating at a slower speed than needed. On other occasions, the windshield wipers and the horn would engage independently, and the windshield wipers would operate faster than needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the ECM needed to be reprogrammed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and she was unable to release the key from the ignition switch. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V355000 (Electrical System). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,366.

NHTSA ODI 11515441

Feb 23, 2023Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

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!!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11508808

Sep 22, 2022AirbagsBrakesDriver assistanceCrash1 injury

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.

NHTSA ODI 11485784

Aug 9, 2022Transmission & drivetrainEngine

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.

NHTSA ODI 11478426

Jul 10, 2022Wheels

Consistent problems/issues with the Traction Control turning off randomly while driving the vehicle. Which causes the car to almost stall, have issues accelerating, make a grinding/scraping noise until we manually turn the traction control off. Most of the issues/sounds stop shortly after turning it off, but car still has issues accelerating and feels like it’s going to stall.

NHTSA ODI 11473251

May 31, 2022Equipment

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Impala equipped with an OEM jack, Part Number: 13500018. The contact stated while jacking up the vehicle to change a tire, the jack folded and caused the vehicle to fall. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11466788

Nov 16, 2021Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsCrash2 injuries

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that her vehicle would fail to start up after multiple attempts without warning. The contact stated that while her fiance was driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle shut off without warning which cause him to crash into a ravine. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact and her fiance suffered minor scrapes and bruises but did not seek medical attention. A police report was filed at the scene. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it was deemed a total loss. The dealer was contacted about the incident and was informed that they could not pick up the vehicle to perform an investigation. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was unknown

NHTSA ODI 11440640

Oct 2, 2021Engine

The stabilitytak light came on and vehicle won’t drive more then 15mph or it turns of by it self Ms

NHTSA ODI 11435236

Jul 16, 2021

Stolen vehicle

NHTSA ODI 11425128

Mar 1, 2021SuspensionElectrical systemEngine

DAYS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2013 CHEVY IMPALA LTZ 2 YEARS AGO FROM FIRST CAR IN BAKERSFIELD I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. AS I WOULD DRIVE IT , IT STARTED TO AUTOMATICLY BRAKE ON ITS OWN AND LOSE TRACTION SPEED. BLOWS WHITE SMOKE ALL THE TIME IT IS RUNNING EVEN WHEN PARKED. I HAVE MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING THE CAR SHAKES SLOT. I HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $5000 IN REPAIRS AND NO IMPROVEMENT WHAT SO EVER!

NHTSA ODI 11398487

Feb 19, 2021Electrical systemEngine

WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE AND FRICTION CAUSES ELECTRICAL MISFIRES THAT AFFECT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, FROM DEACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN OVER THE ENGINE TO START. I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE FOR OVER 4 YEARS AND GM NOR ANY SAFETY COMMISSION WILL DO ANYTHING IN TERMS OF A RECALL. THIS COMPLAINT IS THE ONLY RECOURSE THAT I HAVE IN ORDER TO NOTIFY PUBLIC OF THE ISSUE. THIS IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING AS IT CAN CAUSE SAFETY HAZARD ON ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11396968

Jan 21, 2021Suspension

SHAKES AND FEELS AS THOUGH THE TIRE MAY COME OFF WHILE DRIVING. SHAKES WHEN YOU GO A CERTAIN SPEED AND SLOW DOWN. REPLACED TIRES AND HAD ALIGNMENT CHECK AND CAR STILL DOES THE SAME THING.

NHTSA ODI 11389156

Jan 8, 2021AirbagsSeat beltsBrakes

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 OFF WIPER RADIO FRONT SEAT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE AND THE SHOP I TOOK IT TO TOLD ME TO CONTACT YOU BECAUSE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11387101

Nov 23, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

ABLE TO SHIFT GEAR POSITIONS BUT THE INDICATED SHIFT POSITION DOES NOT REPRESENT THE GEAR POSITION THE VEHICLE IS IN. WHEN I STOP AND PARK THE VEHICLE, I AM ABLE TO SHIFT THE LEVER TO THE "PARK" POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE IS NOT ACTUALLY IN PARK POSITION. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE EMERGENCY BREAK ON. VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN PARK WHEN GEAR IS IN PARK POSITION. THE LIGHTEST TOUCH WILL KNOCK GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND CAR ROLLS AWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11376049

Oct 5, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel systemCrash1 injury

I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR SHOWS NO MISFIRES UNTIL TODAY AND ITS THE FUEL CONTROL MODULE BUT IT RESETS AND GOES AWAY THEN BACK AGAIN LIKE ITS REMOTE CONTROL. WHILE STATIONARY BATTERY IS FAIR/ ALTERNATOR FAIR

NHTSA ODI 11362953

Sep 19, 2020Fuel system

MY CAR KEEPS TURNING OFF ON ME WHILE IM DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11360011

Sep 12, 2020Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

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 REPORTED CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL AND NOT RESTART UNTIL PROBLEM CORRECTED. I'M SURE THEY ARE GOUGED FOR A THOUSAND $ OR MORE. WET ROAD CONDITIONS,EXTREME HEAT OR COLD,LEFT TURN WHILE BACKING, JARRING BUMPS, ALL TRIGGER THE DASH TO LIGHT UP LIKE CHRISTMAS TREE DINGING ALARM GOES OFF STEERING SHUDDERS POWER IS REDUCED. IT'S A HUGE DISTRACTION AND SAFETY CONCERN FOR SO MANY TO BE EXPERIENCING GM SHOULD STAND UP AND TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11354544

Sep 7, 2020Body & structure

DRIVER'S SIDE BACK DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM WILL BECOME STUCK, AND DOOR WILL REMAIN LOCKED DESPITE ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK IT WITH THE KEY FOB OR MANUALLY. FIRST NOTICED WHEN THE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK AFTER BEING PUT IN PARK AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES. OTHER DOORS UNAFFECTED, AND REAR PASSENGERS WERE ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE VIA PASSENGER SIDE BACK DOOR. ONLY SOLUTION APPEARS TO BE REMOVING THE INTERIOR DOOR PANELING TO ACCESS THE LOCKING MECHANISM. THIS WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR A PERIOD OF TIME (VARIES) BUT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11353577

Aug 19, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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 JERKED AND SHUDDERED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE ALSO RECURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REVERSED. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHUDDERED AT SPEEDS EXCEEDING 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

NHTSA ODI 11350200

Aug 4, 2020Electrical system

FAULTY WIRING HARNESS FOR THE STABLE LINK SYSTEM FRONT DRIVER SIDE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON ALONG WITH THE STABLE LINK SYSTEM AND LOSE POWER TO THE ENGINE AND SHUT DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11343123

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Working with the data? Download all 270 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

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 2013 Chevrolet Impala verdict →