Home · 2014 Chevrolet Impala · Complaints

What 630 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 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 (630)Crash / fire / injury (27)Electrical system (220)Steering (137)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (104)Brakes (89)Engine (56)Airbags (43)Lights (43)Lane Departure (40)Transmission & drivetrain (37)Speed control (31)

43 of 630 complaints match · Lights · clear filters · page 2 of 2

Dec 12, 2015Lights

THE HEADLAMPS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE SUB-STANDARD. VISIBILITY IS VERY POOR ON BOTH LOW AND HIGH BEAMS. I REFRAIN FROM DRIVING THIS CAR AT NIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 10809813

Nov 25, 2015Lights

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS MODEL DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH COVERAGE FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THE BEAM DOES NOT SPREAD TO SEE THE SIDE OF THE ROADS OR PROJECT FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO GIVE YOU ENOUGH VISIBILITY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE DEALER SAYS THEY MEET GOVERNMENT STANDARDS. I DON'T DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. IT IS HARD TO DO IN THE WINTER WHEN IT GETS DARK SO EARLY IN THE EVENING.

NHTSA ODI 10806784

Aug 9, 2015Lights

I HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE 2014 -15 CHEVY IMPALA LIGHTING, THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT DO NOT SHINE OR FAN OUT TO SEE WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT ON A DARKENED ROAD THE LIGHTS SEEM TO BE ADJUSTED TO A PIN POINT SETTING STRAIGHT AHEAD. I WAS TUNING LEFT FROM A ROAD TO A UNLIT ROAD THAT WAS TOTALLY BLACK WHEN LOOKING OUT THE LEFT SIDE WINDOW TO TURN WHEN I TURNED I WAS HEADED FOR THE WOODS LUCKILY I WASN'T GOING FAST SO I COULD BACK UP TO TURN TO THE ROAD THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THERE ARE SOME ACCIDENT'S BECAUSE OF THESE HEADLIGHTS THERE COULD BE A PERSON CROSSING A STREET THAT YOU WON' SEE ON A DARK STREET TURN. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE SEEN THE SAME COMPLAINT ODI # 10651739 & OTHERS PLEASE FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE ITS TO LATE THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10747276

May 26, 2015Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD, BUT THE CONTACT COULD STILL READ THE ROAD SIGNS. THE DEALER ELEVATED THE HEADLIGHTS, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,100. MA 08/06/15 UPDATED 10/17/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10721519

Mar 20, 2015Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NEARLY COLLIDED INTO COWS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING THE ROAD EFFECTIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HEADLAMPS WERE WORKING UP TO STANDARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 4/20/15*CN UPDATED 10/9/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10700570

Jan 5, 2015Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD PROPERLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT NIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39.

NHTSA ODI 10670278

Dec 31, 2014Lights

THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH MY 2014 IMPALA IS THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD VERY WELL. THE LIGHT BEAM IS NARROW PROJECTING STRAIGHT OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR. VERY LITTLE ILLUMINATION TO THE SIDES OF THE ROAD. THIS COMPLAINT MAY SOUND TRIVIAL BUT LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT I'M NOT CHEVY BASHING. THIS IMPALA IS A BEAUTIFUL CAR, I LOVE IT EXCEPT FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR ME. IF I HAD TAKEN A TEST DRIVE AT NIGHT I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR. HARD TO TEST DRIVE AT NIGHT IN JULY. I EXPECTED MUCH BETTER LIGHTING ON A CAR LIKE THIS. A HALOGEN BULB IN A WELL DESIGNED AND POISONED FIXTURE WORKS GREAT. I COPIED THE ABOVE FROM A PRIOR COMPLAINT. I REALLY LIKE THE CAR AND THE NEW DESIGN. I WAS LOOKING ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF I COULD UPGRADE THE HEADLIGHTS( BETTER BULB OR SOMETHING ELSE) BECAUSE I TOO THOUGHT THAT THE LUMINATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS WAS SUB PAR. I FOUND THIS COMPLAINT SITE AND WANTED TO STATE MY DISSATISFACTION ALSO. THANKS. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10669430

Dec 3, 2014Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BEAM, BOTH ON HIGH AND LOW BEAMS, ARE VERY NARROWLY FOCUSED SO THAT THE AREA IMMEDIATELY TO THE FRONT AND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND OBJECTS LOCATED THERE CANNOT BE SEEN MAKING DRIVING AT NIGHT ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN STRAIGHT HIGHWAYS AN UNNERVING EXPERIENCE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES IT REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK BOTH TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND TO PEDESTRIANS WHO MIGHT BE OUTSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS' NARROW FOCAL RANGE. THE DEALER STATED THEY HAD NO COMPLAINTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10661892

Nov 19, 2014Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED WATER IN THE FRONT HEADLIGHT BEAMS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BEAMS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10659226

Oct 31, 2014Lights

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS WITH STANDARD HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHT BEAM, BOTH ON HIGH AND LOW BEAMS, IS VERY NARROWLY FOCUSED SO THAT THE AREA IMMEDIATELY TO THE FRONT AND SIDE OF THE CAR -- AND OBJECTS LOCATED THERE -- CANNOT BE EASILY SEEN. THE LIGHTS WORK REASONABLY WELL ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, BUT WHEN EXECUTING A TURN THE PATH OF THE CAR IS IN NEAR DARKNESS AS THE LIGHTS POINT A NARROW BEAM TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TURNING RADIUS. THIS MAKES DRIVING AT NIGHT ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN STRAIGHT HIGHWAYS AN UNNERVING EXPERIENCE AND I BELIEVE REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK BOTH TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS, AND TO PEDESTRIANS WHO MIGHT BE OUTSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS' NARROW FOCAL RANGE. NOTE THAT THE HEADLIGHT DESIGN IS UNUSUAL FOR A HALOGEN UNIT IN THAT IT USES A SHUTTER TO SWITCH BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW BEAM, A FEATURE MORE COMMONLY FOUND WITH HID LIGHTS. BY COMPARISON, OUR 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU, WITH SEPARATE REFLECTOR BASED HALOGEN LOW AND HIGH BEAMS, DOES A MUCH BETTER (I BELIEVE MUCH SAFER) JOB OF ILLUMINATING A BROAD AREA IN FRONT OF AND TO SIDES IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I THINK THAT GM MUST ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ON AN OTHERWISE FINE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10651739

Oct 8, 2014Lights

THIS WAS OUR FIRST TIME DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT AND WE WERE ON A COUNTRY ROAD WITH NO LINES. WE KNEW THERE WAS A STOP SIGN THERE SOMEWHERE THE SIGN WAS PARTIALLY HIDDEN BY A TREE BRANCH BUT WE COULD SEE NEITHER BECAUSE THE LIGHTS DID NOT REFLECT HIGH ENOUGH AND TO EACH SIDE (HIGH BEAMS AND LOW BEAMS DID NOT MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE)) AND WE DROVE ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND INTO A DITCH RESULTING IN MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT BUMPER. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC COMING ON THE CROSS STREET. SINCE THEN WE HAVE DONE MINIMAL NIGHT DRIVING BUT ALWAYS HAVE HAD TROUBLE SEEING ON ROADS WITH NO LINES AND ESPECIALLY SEEING TO MAKE BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT TURNS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND DISAPPOINTING AS WE LIKE THE CAR OVERALL BUT WE CANNOT DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. WE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH US BUT NOW WE KNOW THAT IT IS THE CAR . *TR

NHTSA ODI 10643391

Sep 29, 2014Lights

THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH MY 2014 IMPALA IS THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD VERY WELL. THE LIGHT BEAM IS NARROW PROJECTING STRAIGHT OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR. VERY LITTLE ILLUMINATION TO THE SIDES OF THE ROAD. THIS COMPLAINT MAY SOUND TRIVIAL BUT LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT I'M NOT CHEVY BASHING. THIS IMPALA IS A BEAUTIFUL CAR, I LOVE IT EXCEPT FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR ME. IF I HAD TAKEN A TEST DRIVE AT NIGHT I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR. HARD TO TEST DRIVE AT NIGHT IN JULY. I EXPECTED MUCH BETTER LIGHTING ON A CAR LIKE THIS. A HALOGEN BULB IN A WELL DESIGNED AND POISONED FIXTURE WORKS GREAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10639693

Aug 7, 2014Transmission & drivetrainLights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30.

NHTSA ODI 10620645

Jun 25, 2014Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND OPERATING THE HEAD LIGHTS, BOTH THE LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE FAR ENOUGH IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO SEE ON COMING VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NO DEFECT WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. PAM

NHTSA ODI 10605855

Jun 4, 2014Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. WHEN THE CONTACT USED THE HIGH BEAMS, THE LIGHT WAS POINTING UPWARD INSTEAD OF EYE LEVEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAMS REMAINED POINTED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHICH DISPLAYED VERY POOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE COMPLIANT WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO LIGHTING ON THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. SO, WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A STREET IT BECAME A GUESSING GAME AS TO WHERE THE CURB WAS. UPDATED 08/14/14 UPDATED 08/29/14*LJ UPDATED 09/17/2014 *JS UPDATED 11/20/14*CN THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/17/15*JB UPDATED 8/30/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10596117

Mar 4, 2014Electrical systemLights

HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WILL NOT ACTIVATE. THE INDICATOR LIGHT TURNS ON ONLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10566939

Jan 7, 2014Lights

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE TOO DIM CAUSING HIS VISIBILITY TO BE REDUCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING UP TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000. PM

NHTSA ODI 10558877

Jan 6, 2014Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT ILLUMINATION TO THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURING SPECIFICATIONS AND THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ALTER THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,100. UPDATED 2/5/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS POINTED INWARD AND DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHT TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED ONLY AFTER THE TURN WAS COMPLETED THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED THE ROADWAY. ALSO, THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE WEAK. UPDATED 02/06/14 THE CONSUMER STATED THE LACK OF ADEQUATE LIGHT TO THE SIDES BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT IS A SERIOUS URGENT SAFETY ISSUE. HE ALMOST ENDED UP RUNNING OFF THE ROAD AND INTO SOME TREES, DUE TO THE INADEQUATE LIGHT. WHEN MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS, THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT LIGHT THE ARC OF THE TURN TO THE SIDES. UPDATED 02/24/14 THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS POINTED INWARD AND DID NOT PROVIDED ADEQUATE LIGHT TO THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 07/23/14

NHTSA ODI 10558685

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Working with the data? Download all 630 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 2014 Chevrolet Impala verdict →