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)

16 of 110 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters

Jun 1, 2026Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact noticed an abnormal sound and the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that the instrument cluster displayed a blank screen. The contact attempted to shift the gear shifter, however the gear shifter failed to shift as intended. The contact stated after several attempts, the gear shifter shifted as intended. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was taken where it was diagnosed with a failed transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced or rebuilt. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. In addition, the contact was informed that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the failure was not covered under the unknown recall. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 11741316

Oct 28, 2025Transmission & drivetrain

Between 25mph and 35mph transmission will " lose " gearing and start revving when I'm stuck in traffic, causing a safety concern/risk. Have to stop the car completely and let her cool down below half operating temp for the transmission to rekick into gear. Happens Everytime after driving through cities, ATF has a slight gray tinge to it but no burning smell

NHTSA ODI 11696147

Nov 25, 2024Transmission & drivetrain

Transmission failure 2nd time in car at 101,000 miles

NHTSA ODI 11627156

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

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

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

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

Apr 21, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngine

VEHICLE BEGIN TO JERK WHEN ACCELERATING. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THERE WAS INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THEY ARE UNAWARE OF WHAT CAUSED THE INTERNAL DAMAGE. THIS WAS REPAIRED 9 MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO FLASH A WARNING TO TURN OFF VEHICLE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THERE IS INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. DEALERSHIP ADVISED THEY ARE UNSURE WHAT CAUSED THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11321854

Mar 19, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

MY VEHICLE ONLY HAVING 58,000 MILES WITHOUT NOTICE OR ANY WARNINGS BEGAN TO STALL AND WOULD NOT GO PAST 30 MPH. LATER I ATTEMPTED TO PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND IT HAD NO REVERSE WHAT SO EVER. ALL FLUIDS AND MAINTENANCE WERE UP TO DATE. AFTER CONSULTING WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS IT HAD BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT GOOD

NHTSA ODI 11318710

Jan 31, 2020Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE RPM GOES TO 4 OR 5 WHILE ONLY ATTEMPTING TO DO SPEED LIMING, IT STALLS AND JERKS AS IF SOMEONE IS PULLING ON THE VEHICLE AS I TRY TO ACCELERATE. ON THE EXPRESSWAY, MY VEHICLE STRUGGLES TO HIT 40MPH - 60MPH WITHOUT IT FEELING FORCED AND RPM AT 5. IT STALLS TO REVERSE SOMETIMES AND STALLS TO TAKE OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11306251

Dec 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsSeat belts

WHEN I WAS DRIVING DRIVING ON THE 91 FREEWAY GOING TO WORK AT THE SPEED, APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STOP OR IT WAS STUCK IN THE WRONG GEAR. MY HUSBAND WAS TOLD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE CAR INTO GMC WEEKS LATER THEY FINALLY DECIDED THAT WE COULD BRING THE CAR IN ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD AND THEY TEST DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK AND DID NOT FEEL ANY ISSUES.THAN AROUND OCTOBER I WAS DRIVING AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT POPPING UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND MAKING A BEEPING NOISE AROUND EVERY 2-3 MINUTES OF DRIVING. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR BACK IN TO THE DEALERSHIP(PENSKE CHEVROLET IN CERRITOS AUTO SQUARE) THE TECHNICIAN UNHOOKED THE WIRES FOR THE AIR BAG AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD ORDER THE PART. I WAS INFURIATED!! NOT ONLY WAS I DRIVING A CAR THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN BUT. I HAVE TO PUT MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO HAS BEEN HAVING SEIZURES LIFE IN DANGER AS WELL. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS AS WELL. ONE MONTH LATER THE DEALERSHIP CALLS MY HUSBAND AND SAYS THAT THE PART IS IN FOR THE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAGS HE INSTALLS IT AND CALLS MY HUSBAND AND SAYS THAT THE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE. 2 MONTHS LATER TODAY AND STILL HAVE NO PARTS, NO SOLUTION AND THE CONSTANT RUN AROUND!

NHTSA ODI 11288781

Mar 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING GEAR, VEHICLE DISABLED AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFT IN DRIVE IT PROPELS IN REVERSE. THE ISSUES FIRST OCCURRED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION IN DRIVE ON A BUSY TRAFFIC WAY. AS I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD AND WAS STALKING BUT THE ENGINE REVVED UP.

NHTSA ODI 11183444

May 10, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WAS DRIVING ON THE WAY TO WORK IN THESE LIGHTS CAME ON DON'T KNOW WHY BUT I JUST BROUGHT THIS CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP NOT EVEN MORE THEN 30 DAYS IN THIS COMES ON WTF

NHTSA ODI 11092811

Nov 21, 2016Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemLightsCrash1 injury

ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2016 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:20 A.M. I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN A CENTER CITY PARKING GARAGE. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 CAR LENGTHS FROM THE PARKING SPOT. I WAS BACKING MY CAR INTO THE SPOT. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND I REMOVED MY SAFETY BELT AND LOWERED THE WINDOW. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO PROCEED INTO THE LINED PARKING SPOT. THE CAR PROCEEDED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THERE WERE NO OBSTRUCTIONS AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT FULLY DEPRESSED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AND HIT THE BRAKE BUT THE BRAKE DID NOT RESPOND SINCE THIS ALL OCCURRED IN ROUGHLY IN SECONDS AND APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET IN LENGTH. UPON IMPACT A SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN AREA. I HIT MY HEAD AGAINST THE HEADREST AND SLIGHTLY INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. ANOTHER PARKING PATRON SAW THIS ALL PLAY OUT AND CAME TO MY AID. IT WAS A HORRIFIC INCIDENT. I AM THANKFUL AND LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. IT WAS AS IF THE CAR ACTED ON IT'S OWN. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK ALL OF THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR AND THE FLASHER WERE ON. ONSTAR NOTIFIED ME TO ASK IF I WAS OK. I EXPLAINED TO HER WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AFTER TWO HOURS NO ONE CAME TO MY AID DESPITE BEING TOLD SOMEONE WAS DISPATCHED. THE BATTERY WENT DEAD AND IT WAS AT THAT TIME I CONTACTED AAA TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT IS CURRENTLY IN "BRENDAN'S COLLISION, LTD, 210 W. HILLCREST AVENUE, HAVERTOWN, PA. I CONTACTED GM IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THEY TOOK A REPORT. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN JULY 2016 AND HAD 3021 MILES ON IT. IT WAS SURREAL AND I WAS FULLY AWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING DURING THIS WHOLE ORDEAL.

NHTSA ODI 10927144

Jun 25, 2016Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

I WAS STOPPED AT THE TOP OF THE HILL ON A PRIVATE ROAD. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE. THE BRAKE WAS VERY WEAK AND IT TOOK 50-60 FEET AND ALL OF MY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. AFTER I STOPPED, I REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE HAD TURNED OFF AND THE IGNITION WAS INT HE OFF POSITION. I ROTATED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BACK TO THE START POSITION TO START THE ENGINE. I CONTINUED BACK UP THE HILL NORMALLY AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND ME ON THE HILL OR THEY WOULD'VE BEEN HIT.

NHTSA ODI 10876611

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 →