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)

19 of 270 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters

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

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

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

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

Mar 2, 2020Electrical systemAirbagsCrash

2013 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEYS BEING WEIGHTED COULD CAUSE THE IGNITION TO SWITCH OUT OF POSITION. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11315316

Dec 26, 2019AirbagsCrash1 injury

THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I WAS THE MIDDLE CAR IN A THREE CAR COLLISSION

NHTSA ODI 11291350

Sep 3, 2019AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 72 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT NODDED OFF AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE AND LANDED UPRIGHT ON ITS WHEELS. ALL OF THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A COMPRESSION FRACTURE TO THE BACK AND BRUISES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND THEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED HIGHT CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (29 MADISON AVE, SKOWHEGAN, ME 04976, (877) 617-0562) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE, BUT THEY DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-5465890807. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,600. *TR*JB

NHTSA ODI 11252847

Apr 29, 2019Airbags

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MILES AN HOUR ON A HIGHWAY ALL SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH NO COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI 11204299

Mar 7, 2019AirbagsCrash2 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE PRECEDING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN ITEM ON THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE RIGHT ARM. A PASSENGER ALSO RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES TO THE NOSE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED, BUT NO FIRE WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO A SALVAGE LOT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11184889

Dec 31, 2018Electrical systemAirbags

"TAKATA RECALL" MY VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH HAS WENT OUT AND MY " SERVICE AIR BAG " LIGHT HAS CAME ON AS WELL. I SEARCHED MY VIN NUMBER ON THIS SITE AND "0 RECALLS" SHOWS UP AS A RESULT. HOWEVER ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS THAT WAS ONCE RECALLED ARE BOTH IN TACT ON MY VEHICLE. IN ADDITION TO, I RECENTLY SEARCHED "IGNITION SWITCH RECALL" ON THE RECALL LIST AND "CHEVY IMPALA 2013 " CAME UP AS RESULT AND THAT IS CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IM DRIVING AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM IM HAVING. I REACHED OUT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED SAID MY VEHICLE ISN'T LISTED FOR RECALLS HOWEVER LIKE STATED BEFORE I HAVE THAT SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. TO ADD MORE INFORMATION DEALERSHIP EVEN INFORMED THAT THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED BUT THE PROBLEM HAD JUST BEGUN.

NHTSA ODI 11164149

Oct 29, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ODI 11040987

Jun 14, 2017AirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER DOOR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 10995159

Aug 31, 2016Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES PER HOUR, A TRUCK PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED BUT NOT WITH ENOUGH TIME DUE TO THE TRUCKS RAPID MERGE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 10899731

May 19, 2016Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

NHTSA ODI 10865779

Jan 6, 2016Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.

NHTSA ODI 10818348

Dec 27, 2015Electrical systemAirbags

RIGHT SIDE NO LONGER GETS HEAT AND ACTUATOR HAS GONE BAD CAR TICKS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT SHOW ON THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR FOR PASSENGER DOES NOT GO OUT

NHTSA ODI 10816328

Oct 1, 2015Electrical systemAirbagsSpeed controlEngineCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY SLOWLY. THE ENGINE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE KEY WAS TURNED BACK TO THE ON POSITION AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A BROKEN LEFT HIP BONE, NERVE DAMAGE, AND OTHER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,345. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10778945

Sep 2, 2014AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE SPECIFICS OF THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT SPECULATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA ODI 10630093

Apr 8, 2014Airbags

I SEE TODAY THAT A RECALL HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR IMPALAS UP TO 2010 BUILD YEAR. I HAVE A LOANER CAR FOR THE SATURN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL THAT IS A 2013 IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING MY 93 YEAR OLD MOTHER AROUND, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT TURN ON. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME SHE RODE WITH ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10578153

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 →