2006 Chevrolet Impala (gmx 211) Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2006 Chevrolet Impala (gmx 211), grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical625.0%
- Body & structure416.7%
- Visibility312.5%
- Seat belts28.3%
- Engine28.3%
- Transmission28.3%
- Interior & seats28.3%
- Powertrain (other)14.2%
- Airbags14.2%
- Tires & wheels14.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED A 2006 IMPALA GT IN JANUARY. AROUND AUGUST 3, 2006, MY FOB KEY STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED THE DEALER AND SET AN APPOINTMENT FOR SAT. AUG 5. THEY FIXED MY KEY AND AS I WAS LEAVING AN EMPLOYEE INFORMED ME THAT SHE HAD TO GET HER KEY FIXED APPROX. 6 TIMES. MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 2006 AS I WAS WALKING TO MY CAR I TRIED TO UNLOCK MY DOORS AND I COULDN'T; MY KEYS FAILED ONLY 2 DAYS AFTER HAVING IT FIXED. I CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF I COULD BRING IT IN. I WAS INFORMED I HAD TO MAKE AN APPT. I MADE ONE FOR SATURDAY BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO LET ME BRING MY CAR IN AFTER I CAME HOME FROM WORK EVEN THOUGH THEY CLOSED AT 7:00 PM. I TOOK MY CAR IN SATURDAY AND A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TRIED TO FIX IT HIMSELF. HE COULDN'T, SO THEY TOOK IT TO THE BACK. AS I AM WAITING FOR MY CAR, A MAN BOUGHT IN HIS CHEVY COBALT FOR THE SAME REASON, HIS KEYS WOULD NOT WORK. ONCE MY CAR WAS READY THE REP GAVE ME A RECEIPT AND TOLD ME THAT THEY USUALLY DIDN'T FIX KEYS ON THE WEEKENDS...I HAD THEM FIXED THE WEEK BEFORE AND NO ONE SAID ANYTHING, PLUS I HAD AN APPOINTMENT.*JB
THE 2006 IMPALA SINCE THE DAY WE PURCHASED IT HAS A HIGH PITCH EAR PIERCING LOUD NOISE THAT COMES MAINLY FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE SPEAKER AND LAST ABOUT 23 MINUTES. TURNING THE DIRECTIONAL ON EITHER WAY WILL MAKE THE NOISE CUT OFF. OUR VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES NOW AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO REMEDY OR KNOW WHAT IT IS??? WE HAVE ASKED SINCE DAY ONE FOR GM TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL ITEMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON OUR NEW VEHICLE AND WE FEEL WE HAVE A "LEMON". GM REFUSES TO ANSWER US AND DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT KIT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND UPDATED SOFTWARE TO THE RADIO AS WELL. THERE IS RUST UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AS WELL. ALL THESE ISSUES WERE SEEN BY US AND THE SERVICE DEPT 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. WE NEED HELP!!!!! WE FEEL THE SOUND WE ARE HEARING IS SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL WARNING OR DEFECT. THE TURN SIGNAL BEING CONNECTED TO THE PROBLEM INDICATES SUCH. WE HAVE THE NOISE ON TAPE AND GOT A GM SERVICE SUPERVISOR TO WITNESS THE TECHNICAL ISSUE HAPPENING (6-10-06), THE VEHICLE THEN WENT IN FOR THE 5 TIME AND THEY REPLACED THE AMPLIFIER. THE NOISE CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY 6-18-06, THAT WE DROVE IT. IT HAS BEEN IN 5 TIMES NOW SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT 4-15-06 AND WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE 2006 IMPALA SINCE THE DAY WE PURCHASED IT HAS A HIGH PITCH EAR PIERCING LOUD NOISE THAT COMES MAINLY FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE SPEAKER AND LAST ABOUT 23 MINUTES. TURNING THE DIRECTIONAL ON EITHER WAY WILL MAKE THE NOISE CUT OFF. OUR VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES NOW AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO REMEDY OR KNOW WHAT IT IS??? WE HAVE ASKED SINCE DAY ONE FOR GM TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL ITEMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON OUR NEW VEHICLE AND WE FEEL WE HAVE A "LEMON". GM REFUSES TO ANSWER US AND DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT KIT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND UPDATED SOFTWARE TO THE RADIO AS WELL. THERE IS RUST UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AS WELL. ALL THESE ISSUES WERE SEEN BY US AND THE SERVICE DEPT 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. WE NEED HELP!!!!! WE FEEL THE SOUND WE ARE HEARING IS SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL WARNING OR DEFECT. THE TURN SIGNAL BEING CONNECTED TO THE PROBLEM INDICATES SUCH. WE HAVE THE NOISE ON TAPE AND GOT A GM SERVICE SUPERVISOR TO WITNESS THE TECHNICAL ISSUE HAPPENING (6-10-06), THE VEHICLE THEN WENT IN FOR THE 5 TIME AND THEY REPLACED THE AMPLIFIER. THE NOISE CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY 6-18-06, THAT WE DROVE IT. IT HAS BEEN IN 5 TIMES NOW SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT 4-15-06 AND WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. *NM
MY EIGHT YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER HAD CUT HER LEFT LEG JUST ABOVE THE KNEE WHEN ENTERING THE RIGHT REAR DOOR OF THE NEW CHEVROLET IMPALA THAT WE HAD JUST BOUGHT THAT SAME DAY, APRIL 29, 2006. THERE IS A "LATCH PLATE" LOCATED ON THE LOWER DOOR JAMS OF BOTH REAR DOORS AND THEY ARE OPENLY EXPOSED AND HAVE VERY SHARP EDGES. AS SHE WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE, HER LEFT LEG BRUSHED ACROSS THE "LATCH PLATE" CAUSING HER INJURY. SHE REQUIRED EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT AND THREE STITCHES IN HER LEFT LEG. THE DESIGN AND LOCATION OF THIS "LATCH PLATE" MAKE IT DANGEROUS FOR PERSONS ENTERING AND EXITING THE THROUGH THE REAR DOORS OF THIS VEHICLE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
A WEEK AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S WINDOW WAS MAKING SCREECHING SOUND WHEN LOWERED. I TOOK IT BACK ON JULY 3, 2006. THE INSIDE DOOR PANEL WAS REMOVED AND THE ACTUATOR WAS LUBRICATED. LESS THAN A WEEK LATER THE SCREECHING NOISE CAME BACK. I THEN TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT CHEVROLET WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING NEW WINDOW SEALS BUT THEY WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. I WAS TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL MY FIRST OIL CHANGE AND BY THAT TIME THE NEW GASKETS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. *NM
SIDE WINDOWS ARE SCRATCHING WHEN WINDOWS LOWERED AND RAISED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT COMING TO A SUDDEN FALL OUT OF NOWHERE IT WAS THICK PUT MY BRAKES ON THE SLOWDOWN NEXT THING YOU KNOW I'M COMING UP ON THE TREE I LOOKED AT THE SPEEDOMETER 45 MILES AN HOUR BEST TO TRY TO HIT IT HEAD-ON BUT IT'S GOING UP INTO A HILL SO. TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUMPER PASSENGER SIDE PUT A CHAIN ON THE BUMPER TO THE TREE SO I CAN PULL THE BUMPER OUT OF MY TIRE AND PULL MY TRUCK TO SAFETY AND PARKING LOT CROSS STREET AND CALL TOW TRUCK THE TRUCK FRAME WAS BENT 2 IN OUT OF FRAME I HAD A COUPLE BODY SHOPS LOOK AT IT I'LL GET THAT ESTIMATES BUT A LOT OF DAMAGE SWITCH ON FIXING UNLESS YOU FIND SOMETHING WRONG MY BRAKES WHICH I THINK THERE IS KNOWING MY LUCK I GOT ONE OF THOSE BRAKE SENSORS YOU RECALLED
THE 2006 IMPALA SINCE THE DAY WE PURCHASED IT HAS A HIGH PITCH EAR PIERCING LOUD NOISE THAT COMES MAINLY FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE SPEAKER AND LAST ABOUT 23 MINUTES. TURNING THE DIRECTIONAL ON EITHER WAY WILL MAKE THE NOISE CUT OFF. OUR VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES NOW AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO REMEDY OR KNOW WHAT IT IS??? WE HAVE ASKED SINCE DAY ONE FOR GM TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL ITEMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON OUR NEW VEHICLE AND WE FEEL WE HAVE A "LEMON". GM REFUSES TO ANSWER US AND DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT KIT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND UPDATED SOFTWARE TO THE RADIO AS WELL. THERE IS RUST UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AS WELL. ALL THESE ISSUES WERE SEEN BY US AND THE SERVICE DEPT 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. WE NEED HELP!!!!! WE FEEL THE SOUND WE ARE HEARING IS SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL WARNING OR DEFECT. THE TURN SIGNAL BEING CONNECTED TO THE PROBLEM INDICATES SUCH. WE HAVE THE NOISE ON TAPE AND GOT A GM SERVICE SUPERVISOR TO WITNESS THE TECHNICAL ISSUE HAPPENING (6-10-06), THE VEHICLE THEN WENT IN FOR THE 5 TIME AND THEY REPLACED THE AMPLIFIER. THE NOISE CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY 6-18-06, THAT WE DROVE IT. IT HAS BEEN IN 5 TIMES NOW SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT 4-15-06 AND WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE RAN HOT, WHEN I WENT TO CHECK ON IT, I SUFFERED SEVERE BURNS ON THE UPPER PORTION OF MY BODY SENDING ME TO THE HOSPITAL. A WEEK LATER THE VEHICLE DID IT AGAIN AFTER THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWICE. AFTER THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY REPLACED A RELAY SWITCH. THE SECOND TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS INDICATED THE ENGINE DROPPED TO THREE CYLINDERS. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS GOING INTO LIMP MOD DUE TO COMPUTER AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
NEW 2006 CHEVY IMPALA TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE UPON ACCELERATION AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN TRANSMISSION IS COLD. THIS CAUSES HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AFTER STOP SIGNS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS. *JB
CENTER CONSOLE SHIFT BUTTON STICKING, MAKING DIFFICULT TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT COMING TO A SUDDEN FALL OUT OF NOWHERE IT WAS THICK PUT MY BRAKES ON THE SLOWDOWN NEXT THING YOU KNOW I'M COMING UP ON THE TREE I LOOKED AT THE SPEEDOMETER 45 MILES AN HOUR BEST TO TRY TO HIT IT HEAD-ON BUT IT'S GOING UP INTO A HILL SO. TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUMPER PASSENGER SIDE PUT A CHAIN ON THE BUMPER TO THE TREE SO I CAN PULL THE BUMPER OUT OF MY TIRE AND PULL MY TRUCK TO SAFETY AND PARKING LOT CROSS STREET AND CALL TOW TRUCK THE TRUCK FRAME WAS BENT 2 IN OUT OF FRAME I HAD A COUPLE BODY SHOPS LOOK AT IT I'LL GET THAT ESTIMATES BUT A LOT OF DAMAGE SWITCH ON FIXING UNLESS YOU FIND SOMETHING WRONG MY BRAKES WHICH I THINK THERE IS KNOWING MY LUCK I GOT ONE OF THOSE BRAKE SENSORS YOU RECALLED
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRUNK WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE WITH A KEY. THE ONLY ENTRY AVAILABLE WAS BY THE KEY FOB. ALSO, THE RELEASE INSIDE THE TRUNK WOULD NOT BE VISIBLE IF LOCKED IN THE TRUNK. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AND NO REPAIR WAS AVAILABLE. UPDATED 3/17/2006 - *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR FROM A START. TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP WHILE STOPPED THEN JERK INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATE ROUGHLY. DEALER WILL NOT COVER AS IT IS INTERMITTENT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT COMING TO A SUDDEN FALL OUT OF NOWHERE IT WAS THICK PUT MY BRAKES ON THE SLOWDOWN NEXT THING YOU KNOW I'M COMING UP ON THE TREE I LOOKED AT THE SPEEDOMETER 45 MILES AN HOUR BEST TO TRY TO HIT IT HEAD-ON BUT IT'S GOING UP INTO A HILL SO. TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUMPER PASSENGER SIDE PUT A CHAIN ON THE BUMPER TO THE TREE SO I CAN PULL THE BUMPER OUT OF MY TIRE AND PULL MY TRUCK TO SAFETY AND PARKING LOT CROSS STREET AND CALL TOW TRUCK THE TRUCK FRAME WAS BENT 2 IN OUT OF FRAME I HAD A COUPLE BODY SHOPS LOOK AT IT I'LL GET THAT ESTIMATES BUT A LOT OF DAMAGE SWITCH ON FIXING UNLESS YOU FIND SOMETHING WRONG MY BRAKES WHICH I THINK THERE IS KNOWING MY LUCK I GOT ONE OF THOSE BRAKE SENSORS YOU RECALLED
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM FAILED KEY FOBS BECAME INOPERATIVE INCLUDING REMOTE START, ISSUES ARE RELATED GM HAS PLACED TSB. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .