Home · 2016 Chevrolet Impala · Complaints

What 110 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 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 (110)Crash / fire / injury (12)Electrical system (30)Engine (20)Airbags (16)Steering (16)Transmission & drivetrain (16)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (10)Brakes (8)Body & structure (7)Lights (7)Fuel system (5)

Newest first · 110 complaints · page 2 of 5

Jul 9, 2021SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving out of a parking space, the steering wheel was difficult to maneuver and she heard an abnormal clinking sound coming from the steering wheel. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the front axle needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired, however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with the steering gear needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11424089

May 17, 2021Brakes

My brake assist will come and say “brake assist off”. When pushing brakes my car will skip and the brakes sound crunchy. It’s been almost a couple of weeks of this. I’m concerned safety wise due to the fact it almost didn’t stop. No mechanic shop can help apparently though. Any advice? Please and thank you.

NHTSA ODI 11417470

May 11, 2021Airbags

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON OVER A YEAR NOW AND THE PLACE THAT I JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE SAID THAT I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT. I BELIEVE MY AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. SPECIFICALLY WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I SEE MANY SIMILAR ISSUES ONLINE AND SOME HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND FIXED FOR FREE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CHEVY DEALER I WENT TO SAID THAT CHEVY SAID IT IS NOT PART OF A RECALL AND THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL COST OF REPLACEMENT. OVER $2000.00. I THINK THAT CHEVY NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND COVER IT IN FULL. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM GOES ON AND OFF AT WILL. WORKS AND DOESNT WORK. ESPECIALLY ANY CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE OR A PERSON MOVING AROUND IN THE SEAT MAKES THE WARNING LIGHT GO ON AND OFF. THERE IS DEFINETLY A PROBLEM WITH THEIR SYSTEM AND/OR WIRING.

NHTSA ODI 11416137

May 2, 2021BrakesCrash

ON 27 APRIL 2021 MY SON IN HIS 2016 IMPALA WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL SEIZED AND FAILED TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I ALSO HAVE A 2016 TAHOE THAT WAS RECALL (N192261050) FOR A BRAKE ISSUE. ACCOUNTS OF THE VEHICLES ACTIONS AT TIME OF INCIDENT ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH 2016 TAHOE. WHILE THE 2016 TAHOE HAS UNDERWENT RECALL REPAIR, ITS STILL NOT BRAKING NORMALLY BUT IT DOES STOP ALTHOUGH ROUGHLY. THE DRIVER OF 2016 IMPALA WAS A PASSENGER IN TAHOE THIS PAST WEEKEND AND DURING A ROUGH STOP THE PASSENGER INDICATED "THAT'S WHAT MY CAR SOUNDED LIKE WHEN BRAKES DIDN'T WORK." I'VE REPORTED THE ISSUE TO INSURANCE COPY ASKING THEY THOROUGHLY INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND ALSO REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ODI 11414782

Mar 10, 2021EngineFuel system

MY CAR JUST STOPS ON MY WHILE I'M WAITING AT A LIGHT.CAR JUST SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY AND IT DOESN'T TURN ON RIGHT AWAY AFTER I PUT GAS CAR SHAKES AND HAVE TO PRESS GAS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO TURN BACK ON

NHTSA ODI 11400080

Feb 9, 2021Visibility & wipers

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY A LOUD EXPLOSION MADE MY PASSENGER'S AND ME GET STARTLED FOLLOWED BY A RINGING IN OUR EARS. IT CROSSED MY MIND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS GETTING SHOT AT. UPON INSPECTION THERE WAS NO INTERIOR DAMAGE, HOWEVER WHILE INSPECTING THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE THERE WAS DAMAGE ON THE SUNROOF OF THE VEHICLE. THE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED IN AN UPWARDS POSITION AS IF IT HAS EXPLODED OR DAMAGE CAME FROM THE INSIDE OUT. CLOSER EXAMINATION DID NOT PROVIDE A REASON OR FOREIGN OBJECT THAT COULD HAD CREATED THE DAMAGE. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AND/OR WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF EYES TO FALL ON ANY OF THE PASSENGERS OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11395344

Feb 2, 2021Engine

THE LEFT SIDE (RADIATOR SIDE) CATALYTIC CONVERTER DEVELOPS HAIRLINE CRACKS AND EVENTUALLY BREAKS FROM THE FLANGE ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE. IF IT BREAKS, IT FALLS FORWARD AND GETS CAUGHT IN THE FAN, POSSIBLY CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE. APPEARS THAT CRACKS DEVELOP DUE TO LACK OF STRENGTH FROM THIN METAL AND POSSIBLE STRESS OF WEIGHT AT GIVEN POINT, WHICH IF UNNOTICED, THE CONVERTER WILL BREAK.

NHTSA ODI 11394258

Jan 27, 2021Electrical systemDriver assistance

1. THE DISPLAY SCREEN WENT BLACK WHILE DRIVING USING NAVIGATION. THE FAULT WAS A DEFECTIVE HMI MODULE, GM PART # 84296482 AT A COST OF $1100 (SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT). THE SUDDEN LOSS OF THE SCREEN WAS DISCONCERTING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS SHOULD LEAD TO A RECALL AND REIMBURSEMENT OF THE REPAIR COST. 2. WHEN THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) CAUSES THE BRAKES TO BE APPLIED IT DOES SO VERY SUDDENLY AND IN THE ABS "CHATTERING" MODE EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO COLLISION DANGER. THIS PRODUCES A JOLT TO THE DRIVERS AND OCCUPANTS WHICH IS AN UNEXPECTED AND UNSAFE RESPONSE.

NHTSA ODI 11390228

Dec 29, 2020SteeringEngine

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER CAME ON, MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY START SLOWING DOWN AND I COULDN'T GO OVER 19 MPH !! VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE AND GM HAS FAILED TO TAKE CARE THE PROBLEM!!

NHTSA ODI 11385486

Dec 4, 2020Lane Departure

SIDE DETECTION FAILURE. MANY OTHER MODELS 2014-2017 ARE COVERED UNDER GM N172097060 - SPECIAL COVERAGE SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT MODULE WATER INTRUSION. OUR 2016 IS NOT, BUT DOES HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11377926

Dec 3, 2020Fuel system

I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW, AND NOW IT HAS JUST OVER 24,400 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL RAILS ON THE CAR 4 TIMES. LAST TIME WAS JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND UP AND DIED COMPLETELY, CAR WOULD THEN TURN OVER BUT NOT FIRE, SO WAS STRANDED ALONG SIDE THE HIGHWAY WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME OUT. I HAD IT REPLACED THE FIRST TIME AT 9991 MILES ON 12-14-17, THEN AGAIN AT 20798 MILES ON 11-20-19, THEN 21074 ON 2-15-20, THEN AT 24111 ON 9-9-20. YES I KNOW IT IS UNDER WARRANTEE AT THIS TIME, BUT GETTING REALLY ANNOYING NOT BEING ABLE TO TRUST THAT NEW OF A VEHICLE TO GO ANY DISTANCE AND NOT KNOWING IF WILL LEAVE SIT STRANDED ALONG SIDE THE ROAD WAITING FOR A TOW AGAIN OR NOT. I HAVE EMAILED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE ARE EMAILING ME A COPY OF ALL THE PAPERWORK, JUST HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT FROM THEM YET TO ATTACH IT, BUT THE HAVE IT ALL AT SCHWIETERS CHEVROLET OF WILLMAR.

NHTSA ODI 11377816

Nov 23, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemSpeed control

WHEN YOU START IT THE SPEED AND RPM' S START JUMPING THE COOLANT GADGET WAVES AT YOU THEN WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE IT BUMPS WHEN YOU DRIVING YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU GOING BECAUSE OF THE GADGET BOUNCING UP AND DOWN TO TOP IT OFF ITS JUMPING THE WHOLE TIME YOU DRIVING IT.

NHTSA ODI 11376063

Nov 15, 2020Electrical systemEngine

MY VEHICLE TURNED OFF SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS ONCE AS I WAS DRIVING FREEWAY SPEED APPROXIMATELY 60-65MPH ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF I ATTEMPTED TO PUT IN NATURAL AND RE START THE IGNITION AS THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING WITH NO POWER VEHICLE DID NOT START I MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BREAKED TO STOP AND PLACED THE GEAR SHIFT ON PARK AND TRIED TURNING THE IGNITION ON AND STILL DID NOT TURN ON A FEW ATTEMPTS LATER CAR STARTED. ANOTHER INCIDENT I WAS DRIVING CAME TO A RED LIGHT AS I WAS WAITING FOR MY GREEN LIGHT MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BREAK I PUT THE SHIFT GEAR I TO PARK TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND CAR STARTED

NHTSA ODI 11374780

Oct 27, 2020Steering

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT A LOW SPEED SOON AFTER STARTING, A SERVICE WARNING " SERVICE POWERSTEERING DRIVE WITH CARE" APPEARED ON THR DIC. VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER BUT I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER IT TO A SAFE LOCATION PUTTING A LOT OF PHYSICAL PRESSURE ON THR STEERING WHEEL. SWITCHED CAR ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES AND WARNING STILL APPEARED. AFTER REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION AND SPENDING APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES ATTEMPTING TO TROUBLESHOOT, RESTARTED VEHICLE AND WARNING REMOVED AND WAS ABLE TO STEER AGAIN. WOULD'VE BEEN A VERY NASTY SITUATION FOR A NOVICE DRIVER OR ON A BUSIER AND CURVIER ROADWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11366724

Oct 23, 2020Airbags

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG POPPING UP. CREASE ON DASH

NHTSA ODI 11365992

Oct 13, 2020SuspensionBody & structure

WATER LEAK FROM TRUNK. MOLD. DAMAGE CLOTHING CAR SEAT. THE LINE ISN'T SEALING

NHTSA ODI 11364163

Sep 14, 2020Electrical systemBody & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR TAILLIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK AND THE INSIDE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WATER INTRUSION IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS MOLD AND AN ABNORMAL ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TO BE DIAGNOSED. IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE TAILLIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPUTER IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY UNDER WATER. ADDITIONALLY, THE SPARE TIRE AND JACK WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIKE ANDERSON CHEVROLET (5333 W IRVING PARK RD, CHICAGO, IL 60641, 773-465-2000) AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ODI 11354956

Sep 1, 2020Steering

POWER STEERING GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11352440

Jul 29, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SANDY AND BUBBA'S MILTON CHEVROLET (5925 US-90, MILTON, FL 32583) WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HEARTLAND CHEVROLET (501 RTE 291, LIBERTY, MO 64068) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD REACHED OUT TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CALL HER BACK HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS YET TO RECEIVE A CALLBACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.

NHTSA ODI 11342089

Jul 27, 2020Electrical system

SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM HAS FAILED, CAUSING MY DASH BOARD TO STAY OFF OR FLICKER AND AT TIMES MY VEHICLE NOT STARTING.

NHTSA ODI 11341630

Jul 22, 2020Airbags

AIRBAG MAINTENANCE LIGHT WENT ON, WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INSPECTED AND INDICATED IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE THAT DOES RECOGNIZE IF THEIR IS A PERSON OCCUPYING THE SEAT.

NHTSA ODI 11340867

Jul 9, 2020

MY AIR CONDITION BLOWING HOT AIR COST 1700.00 TO REPAIR MY CAR IS A 2016 CHEVROLET IMPALA THEY SAY THE DASH HAS TO COME OUT TO REPLACE PART THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS

NHTSA ODI 11338513

Jul 1, 2020

THE AIR WENT OUT IN MY CAR. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST TIME FOR A RECHARGE, BUT WHEN I WENT TO GET IT REPAIRED I WAS TOLD I HAD A LEAK. SADLY AND VERY EXPENSIVE, I GOT THE A/C KIT(ALL COMPONENTS) REPLACED AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN! I WAS TOLD THAT THE IMPALA, AND CAMARO HAD A RECALL ON THE EVAP CORE. I HAVE A 2004 BLAZER AND THE AIR STILL WORKS IN IT! I AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED RIGHT NOW AS I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN ONE RECALL FIXED AND THIS ONE ISN'T LISTED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COSTLY REPAIR FOR A 4 YEAR OLD CAR!!! I ALSO OWN A 1980 IMPALA. I LOVE CHEVROLET BUT I THINK I GOT A BAD ONE😭 *TR

NHTSA ODI 11332006

Jun 25, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngineCrash

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS TURNING ON. AND THE CAR HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING. I TOOK IT TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT HAS TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT MULTIPLE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330904

Jun 17, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngine

THESE IMPALAS ARE DOWNSHIFTING ON GEARS 2/3 AND WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT IS NOT SHIFTING AS THEY SHOULD THIS IS FROM MULTIPLE AUTO SHOPS AND CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS IN DEARBORN AND DETOUR MICHIGAN ARE AWARE AND BOTH ARE STAYING THEY ARE GETTING ALOR IF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE I AM. NOT ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE 4000 JUST SITTING AROUND I AM ALSO NOT WORKING DUE TO COVID I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR 15 MONTHS WHEN THIS ISSUES STARTED GM AND CHEVROLET NEED TO DO A RECALL TO CHECK AND REPLACE AND PROVIDE LOANER VEHICLES AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329355

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Working with the data? Download all 110 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 2016 Chevrolet Impala verdict →