Home · 2017 Chevrolet Impala · Complaints

What 116 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 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 (116)Crash / fire / injury (9)Engine (21)Airbags (17)Electrical system (15)Transmission & drivetrain (12)Steering (10)Lights (6)Brakes (4)Fuel system (4)Seats (3)Visibility & wipers (3)

Newest first · 116 complaints · page 2 of 5

Nov 10, 2022Engine

2017 Chevy Impala 3.6L engine exhaust leak at the exhaust manifold / turbo charger. Resulting in exhaust fumes leaking driver/passenger area could cause fire and or damage to engine. Checking on the customer review and complaints page on the internet I have a lot of other complaints even to the point one persons wife developed lung cancer possible related to inhaling the exhaust according to her doctor. Who knows but I had a hard time getting my car to pass NC inspection because of the lake, please advise. As I am hard of hearing and didn't know I had this problem until the local NC Inspection station pointed it out all I knew was I could smell it or something. PS the email is that of my local mechanic, as I don't have one or how to even turn a computer on.

NHTSA ODI 11493135

Sep 26, 2022Steering

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that the instrument panel displayed the Power Steering Failure message. The contact stated that an independent mechanic looked under the hood but found no failure. The vehicle was able to restart with no issues. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11486456

Sep 24, 2022Transmission & drivetrain

Was driving and lost power steering. Message came up stating power steering service drive with caution. Drove straight to dealership.

NHTSA ODI 11486179

Sep 22, 2022

The exhaust manifold cracked, took to shop to see if can weld and was told it is connected to the Cadillac converter. This was putting MAJOY exhaust fumes into car. making myself and children sick. at the shop they said this is VERY COMMON and he is not sure WHY no recall has been placed on this and why they wont fix. In the process of saving to get this fix the car rode rough, stalled, exhaust fumes and sensor's went. I replaced and I am now HAVING this issue AGAIN. Chevrolet needs to get this fixed and a recall should be done. Had this car just for a year and I SWEAR once warrenty went EVERYTHING this

NHTSA ODI 11485836

Jul 29, 2022Airbags

An airbag alert sounds very often, and the passenger airbag indicator shows that it is off. The vehicle has been taken to a dealer and they were not able to find the issue when running the diagnostics. The alarm continues to intermittently sound, and indicator shows the passenger airbag is off. This is of high concern that the airbag most likely will not deploy in case of impact.

NHTSA ODI 11476605

May 31, 2022Steering

As with your recall of braking system to Camaro, Corvette and Cadillac the same exact thing happened to my 2017 Impala. My power steering system failed due to the modular. All said and done was charged $1000 +. My warranty had just ran out. Not the mileage I only had 29,000 miles on the car but it was approximately 4 months after the 3 year warranty. That is totally unacceptable. I could have been killed. How many other complaints have you gotten for faulty power steering systems. Due to this all my warnings on the entire car lit up and a number of check engine and other warning lights came on the dash. Nothing worked and could hardly turn the steering wheel. I would like to be reimbursed the money and aggravation I was put through. I do not have the paperwork to download to you but it can be obtained at Wallace Chevrolet in Port St Lucie, Florida

NHTSA ODI 11466841

Apr 29, 2022

Mechanic confirmed Evaporator Core leak, which is leaking Freon faster than can be put in. Leaking Freon is a safety concern, as well as the resultant lack of Air Conditioning. The car becomes very hot inside, and the Air Conditioning does not blow any cold air, creating potential for overheating, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, etc. in addition to general discomfort.

NHTSA ODI 11462767

Apr 6, 2022Electrical system

A/C Was blowing warm air. Took vehicle to service center for repair. Air compressor was replaced. After 2 days of driving a total of 40 miles, warm air continued to blow. Returned to service center only to find an Evaporator core failure. GM issued a bulletin N182186881 regarding this repair and they advised to file this complaint.

NHTSA ODI 11459864

Apr 5, 2022Engine

Upon after starting the car a noise was coming from front of engine. I took a video and saw fire coming from the front left catalytic converter between the flange and the converter. The converter separated itself from the flange. The car, a 2017 has only 50000 miles on it always garaged and no accidents Luckily caught the converter problem before it completely blew itself off the flange and caused a fire.

NHTSA ODI 11459646

Mar 4, 2022Airbags1 injury

While sitting in my car at a gas station my driver seat air bag went out. With no warning

NHTSA ODI 11455248

Dec 31, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

Vehicle jerks and shakes when I accelerate. Took to dealership stated torque issue in transmission. New transmission needed. Purchased Nov 2020 from same dealership only has 112500 miles. This should be recall.

NHTSA ODI 11445698

Oct 24, 2021Electrical system

Vehicle was driving and operating as normal. I Drove to shopping center, was in store for an hour and came out to a car full of smoke when door opened. There appeared to be a fire that had started and stopped originating from the drivers side door panel.

NHTSA ODI 11437966

Oct 6, 2021

Evaporator core failure; GM issued a bulletin regarding this repair but my 2017 Impala that meets all other criteria for some reason "is not covered" by this; the evaporator core was confirmed to be faulty by a non-dealer mechanic; this released refrigerant into my garage; the bulletin in reference is N182186881; I phoned GM regarding this bulletin and they advised me to file this complaint here

NHTSA ODI 11435740

Sep 21, 2021

Found leaking bright green substance on driveway. AC disabled/blowing air with no cooling affect. After trying to reach Donovan at an 800 number referenced in other complaints that number is now associated with 3M disability program. This is very much a health issue and should be a national recall. The evaporator core must be replaced at no cost to the vehicle owner as this is a known defective part. Freon is dangerous to breathe.

NHTSA ODI 11433777

Jul 1, 2021Engine

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle also failed to start intermittently. Neither the dealer nor manufacturer were made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 11423131

May 14, 2021Engine1 injury

THE CONTACT'S WIFE OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE WOULD SMELL AN ABNORMAL, EXHAUST ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE'S CABIN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, HE HAD HEARD A LOUD NOISE EMIT FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER AND UPON INSPECTION OF THE HOOD, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD BROKEN OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND THEN CALLED EL DORADO CHEVROLET(2300 N CENTRAL EXPY, MCKINNEY, TX 75070) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE ZERO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE; THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA ID NUMBER:10116660 WHICH HE LINKED TO HIS FAILURE. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER AND THE CONTACT HAD LINKED THE PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE EXHAUST ODOR AS THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11416551

May 5, 2021Seat belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT THAT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT MOUNT DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PETERS CHEVROLET BUICK CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM FIAT (4181 US-259, LONGVIEW, TX 75605, (877) 615-3187) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,600.

NHTSA ODI 11415266

Apr 20, 2021Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HOT AIR WAS BLOWING OUT THE VENTS. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BELLAMY STRICKLAND CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (145 INDUSTRIAL BLVD, MCDONOUGH, GA 30253, (770) 954-3000) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN EVAPORATOR CORE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000.

NHTSA ODI 11413077

Apr 12, 2021

AIR CONDITION QUIT BLOWING COLD AIR. TOOK IT TO THE PLACE WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THEY PERFORMED A DYE TEST AND FOUND THAT DYE WAS COMING FROM AC DRAIN FROM FIRE WALL. VERIFIED REFRIGERANT LEAKING FROM EVAPORATOR. JUDGING FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS ON HERE, I BELIEVE THAT THE REPAIRS SHOULD BE FULLY PAID FOR.

NHTSA ODI 11407798

Mar 1, 2021

A/C EVAPORATOR CORE LEAKS ALL THE REFRIGERANT, LEAVE A BIG SPOT OF REFRIGERANT ON MY DRIVEWAY AFTER WE DID RETURN FOR A SHORT TRIP, THE COST IS TOO HIGH TO REPLACE IT AND I THINK WE DESERVE FULL COVERAGE OF PARTS AND LABOR, I HAVE BEEN A GM CUSTOMER ALL MY LIFE AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT ONE OF OUR VEHICLES SHOWS THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11398560

Feb 23, 2021

THE AIR CONDITIONING EVAPORATOR IS LEAKING UNDER NORMAL USE. I WAS TOLD MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED WITH A SPECIAL GM COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT N182186881. MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT. I DID TAKE THE CAR TO A DEALER WHO INSTALLED A DYE AND RECHARGED THE SYSTEM TO DETERMINE WHERE THE A/C LEAK IS.

NHTSA ODI 11397510

Jan 6, 2021Body & structure

TAIL LIGHT GASKET, WATER LEAK INTO THE SPARE COMPONENT.

NHTSA ODI 11386778

Jan 6, 2021Brakes

BRAKE PEDAL SQUEAK WHEN RELEASED.

NHTSA ODI 11386783

Jan 6, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN DRIVING UP HILL AT LOW SPEED A ROUGH CLUCK OCCURS WHEN GEAR CHANGES TAKE PLACE BETWEEN 2ND TO 1ST GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11386789

Dec 21, 2020Engine

BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. INFORMED DEALERSHIP OF LOUD EXHAUST SOUND. ASKED IF THEY COULD CHECK FO AN EXHAUST LEAK. UPON PICKING UP MY VEHICLE I WAS INFORMED THE LOUD EXHAUST WAS DUE TO A CRACK IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I ASKED WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. THEY WERE UNSURE OF CAUSE IT IS NOT A NORMAL ISSUE FOR THE MILEAGE AND AGE OF VEHICLE. THEY DID PROVIDE ME WITH A QUOTE TO REPAIR. I TOOK MY CAR TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT THIS PART WAS FAULTY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT A RECALL COULD BE POSSIBLE AND ADVISED ME TO CONTACT GM.

NHTSA ODI 11384492

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Working with the data? Download all 116 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 2017 Chevrolet Impala verdict →