Chevrolet

Impala (10th)

2006-2016 · Full-Size Sedan · 10 engines
Best Engine ⚠️ Caution (2.7)
5,313 NHTSA Complaints
19 Recalls
86 Fire Reports
317 Crash Reports
Includes data from: IMPALAIMPALA ECO EASSISTIMPALA LIMITED
View all 2 generations of the Chevrolet Impala → 📋 Inspection checklist

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (11.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (11.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (11.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (11.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (11.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
4/5 (11.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No

Engine Reliability Ratings

LZ8

3.9L 6-cyl
⚠️ Caution (2.7)
134 complaints 44.7 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
31
engine
24
steering
21
wheels tires
17
other
14

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (31 complaints)
Engine Issues (24 complaints)
Steering Issues (21 complaints)

L36

3.8L 6-cyl
Avoid (1.9)
55 complaints 13.0 per year
1 fire report 1 fatality
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
20
engine
10
transmission
9
steering
8
safety systems
6

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (20 complaints)
Engine Issues (10 complaints)
Transmission Issues (9 complaints)

LS4

5.3L 8-cyl
Avoid (1.8)
194 complaints 55.3 per year
3 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

transmission
61
electrical
48
engine
36
steering
34
suspension
23

Known Issues

Transmission Issues (61 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (48 complaints)
Engine Issues (36 complaints)

Chevrolet Impala Unidentified Engine

Avoid (1.6)
767 complaints 69.7 per year
9 fire reports 1 fatality
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
250
engine
174
transmission
94
other
78
steering
74

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (250 complaints)
Engine Issues (174 complaints)
Transmission Issues (94 complaints)

LGD

3.9L 6-cyl
Avoid (1.5)
251 complaints 44.7 per year Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV)
2 fire reports 1 fatality
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
107
safety systems
44
engine
44
suspension
33
transmission
27

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (107 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (44 complaints)
Engine Issues (44 complaints)

LZ4

3.5L 6-cyl
Avoid (1.4)
539 complaints 107.8 per year Gasoline
9 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
174
engine
121
safety systems
98
transmission
61
steering
59

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (174 complaints)
Engine Issues (121 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (98 complaints)

LFX

3.6L 6-cyl
Avoid (1.2)
1,256 complaints 241.6 per year Gasoline
16 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
567
steering
256
safety systems
181
brakes
170
engine
120

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (567 complaints)
Steering Issues (256 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (181 complaints)

LZE

3.5L 6-cyl
Avoid (1.0)
1,810 complaints 226.2 per year Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV)
35 fire reports 1 fatality
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
651
engine
362
safety systems
289
steering
211
transmission
202

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (651 complaints)
Engine Issues (362 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (289 complaints)

LKW

2.5L 4-cyl
Avoid (1.0)
159 complaints 73.5 per year Gasoline
8 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
60
engine
37
brakes
23
safety systems
17
exterior
16

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (60 complaints)
Engine Issues (37 complaints)
Brakes Issues (23 complaints)

Same engine used in

LZ9

3.9L 6-cyl
Avoid (1.0)
126 complaints 126.0 per year Gasoline
3 fire reports
View details
Show 14 additional engine variants with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints and aren't included in the main ratings above. Low counts can mean a genuinely clean record, but they can also reflect VIN-decode anomalies in NHTSA data. Treat as informational, not as a confident rating.

LA1

3.4L 6-cyl
Recommended (4.6)
5 complaints 1.2 per year Gasoline
View details

LUK - DI, ALUM, BAS, ECOTEC

2.4L 4-cyl
Recommended (4.3)
3 complaints 2.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
3
safety systems
1
transmission
1
steering
1

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (3 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (1 complaints)
Transmission Issues (1 complaints)

LL0

1.9L 4-cyl
Recommended (4.7)
2 complaints 1.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

suspension
1
engine
1
electrical
1
fuel system
1

Known Issues

Suspension Issues (1 complaints)
Engine Issues (1 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)

L99

6.2L 8-cyl
Recommended (4.7)
2 complaints 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
2
transmission
1

Known Issues

Engine Issues (2 complaints)
Transmission Issues (1 complaints)

Same engine used in

L81

3.0L 6-cyl
Recommended (4.7)
1 complaint 1.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
1
transmission
1

Known Issues

Engine Issues (1 complaints)
Transmission Issues (1 complaints)

2BBL

1.6L 4-cyl
Recommended (4.7)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

transmission
1

Known Issues

Transmission Issues (1 complaints)

Same engine used in

LP2

1.0L 3-cyl
Recommended (4.7)
1 complaint 1.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

brakes
1
steering
1

Known Issues

Brakes Issues (1 complaints)
Steering Issues (1 complaints)

LY8

1.3L 4-cyl
Recommended (4.7)
1 complaint 1.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
1
exterior
1

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)
Exterior Issues (1 complaints)

Same engine used in

3.8-V6-Gas

3.8L 6-cyl
Recommended (4.7)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
1
safety systems
1

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (1 complaints)

L61

2.2L 4-cyl / 170 hp
Recommended (4.7)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

LUU - FFV, E-Flex, FAM 0

1.4L 4-cyl
Recommended (4.7)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Electric
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
1

Known Issues

Engine Issues (1 complaints)

LTG

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo
Recommended (4.7)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
1

Known Issues

Engine Issues (1 complaints)

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Chevrolet Impala regardless of engine variant.

Electrical System Issues (1,952 complaints)
electrical critical
Engine Issues (953 complaints)
engine critical
Safety Systems Issues (697 complaints)
safety_systems critical
Steering Issues (692 complaints)
steering critical
Transmission Issues (497 complaints)
transmission critical

Recalls (19)

16V507000May 6, 2016serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 25, 2008 through February 16, 2010. The front passenger seat frame may contact and damage the wires of the passenger presence sensor module.

15V465000Jul 23, 2015serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 15, 2013, to June 19, 2015, equipped with front vented-heated passenger seats. Accordingly, the Automatic Occupant Sensing (AOS) system may fail to suppress the front passenger air bag if a child seat is in the front passenger seat. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

15V085000Nov 1, 2015serious
Parking Brake

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured November 15, 2012, to May 30, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Systems (FMVSS) No. 135 "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

15V202000Jun 3, 2015serious
Parking Brake

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured March 22, 2013, to May 22, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Systems (FMVSS) No. 135 "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

14V518000Aug 27, 2014serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured April 11, 2013, to June 27, 2013, and 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured May 13, 2013, to November 5, 2013. The affected vehicles may have left the factory with the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) set to "manufacturing mode."

14V450000Jul 22, 2014serious
Steering

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to December 20, 2013. Due to a poor electrical ground connection to the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM), the affected vehicles may have a loss of power steering assist during start up or while driving.

14V355000Jun 22, 2014serious
Electrical System

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

14V092000Feb 20, 2014serious
Powertrain

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

14V541000Sep 8, 2014serious
Parking Brake

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 22, 2014, and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to September 2, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged.

14V489000Aug 7, 2014serious
Structure

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured May 7, 2014, to July 28, 2014. In the event of an accident, the center storage console may not stay latched. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 201, "Occupant Protection In Interior Impact."

14V409000Feb 6, 2014serious
Steering

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro and Chevrolet Impala vehicles. Improperly torqued fasteners may cause the steering intermediate shaft and the steering gear and/or the lower control arm and the lower ball joint to separate.

14V614000Jan 9, 2014serious
Electrical System

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.

13V220000May 23, 2013serious
Electrical System

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

12V377000Mar 7, 2012serious
Suspension

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Chevrolet Impala police vehicles because the front lower control arms may fracture. This safety recall does not include non-police Chevrolet Impala vehicles.

11V398000May 7, 2011serious
Steering

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 19, 2011, THROUGH JULY 29, 2011. THE UPPER POWER STEERING HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED SO THAT IT CAN COME IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO AND/OR CONTACT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WITH THE ENGINE ON, HEAT FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY MELT THE POWER STEERING HOSE.

10V480000Oct 12, 2010serious
Seat Belts

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET IMPALAS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." THE FRONT SAFETY BELT WEBBING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY SECURED TO THE LAP BELT ANCHOR PRETENSIONER MOUNTED TO THE SIDE OF THE SEAT NEAREST THE DOOR.

09E005000Feb 16, 2009serious
Steering

DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.

08V517000Jun 9, 2008cosmetic
Air Bags

GM IS RECALLING 79 MY 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG INFLATOR THAT COULD FRACTURE AT AN INFLATOR TUBE DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

06V419000Oct 30, 2006serious
Fuel System

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK IS MISSING THE ADHESIVE LAYER THAT BONDS THE BARRIER LAYER TO THE OUTER SHELL OF THE FUEL TANK.

Alternatives in Full-Size Sedan

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2006-2016 Chevrolet Impala problems?

The 2006-2016 Chevrolet Impala has accumulated 5,313 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Electrical System, Engine, Safety Systems. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Chevrolet Impala engine is most reliable?

The 2006-2016 Chevrolet Impala was offered with 24 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 3.9L 6-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2006-2016 Chevrolet Impala a good used car?

The 2006-2016 Chevrolet Impala can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 5,313 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006-2016 Chevrolet Impala have?

The 2006-2016 Chevrolet Impala has 5,313 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2006-2016 Chevrolet Impala?

There are 19 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2006-2016 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Chevrolet Impala?

Before buying a used Chevrolet Impala, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Electrical System, Engine, Safety Systems, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Impala?

The 2016 Chevrolet Impala received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 5 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (12.1% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Optional. Lane Departure Warning: Optional. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 5,313 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-23.

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