RoadVitals

1966 Chevrolet Impala

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Dec 18, 2009
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Dec 29, 1971
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1966 Chevrolet Impala, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and other / unspecified categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical125.0%
  • Engine125.0%
  • Other / unspecified125.0%
  • Steering125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
71V235000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Dec 29, 1971
6,682,084 units potentially affected
The defect: THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A SEPARATED MOTOR MOUNT MAY ALLOW THE ENGINE TO LIFT, WHICH MAY AFFECT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE, MOMENTARILY INCREASING THROTTLE, POSSIBLY TO FULL THROTTLE.
The risk: UNEXPECTED LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL MAY CAUSE LOSS OFVEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: INSPECT ENGINE MOUNTS AND INSTALL RESTRAINTS WHICH WILL LIMIT ENGINE LIFT AND ELIMINATE POSSIBLE SECONDARY EFFECTS TO THE THROTTLE LINKAGE DUE TO ENGINE MOUNT SEPARATION.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
69V030000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

Feb 28, 1969
2,570,914 units potentially affected
The defect: EXHAUST EMISSIONS (CARBON MONOXIDE) MAY ENTER THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE EXHAUST PIPE IS SUBSTANTIALLY OUT THE DESIGN POSITION, DETERIORATED FROM USE, OR WHEN AN OPENING IN THE BODY DEVELOPS NEAR THE EXHAUST OUTLET AND, AT THE SAME TIME, A NEGATIVE AIR PRESSURE OCCURS IN THE VEHICLE INTERIOR.
The risk: UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, VEHICLE OCCUPANTS MAY EXPERIENCECARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.
The remedy: RESEAL NEARBY BODY JOINTS AND REPLACE THE DRAW PLUG IN THE BODY WHICH WAS USED TO REMOVE SURPLUS BONDERIZING SOLUTION DURING MANUFACTURE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Dec 18, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1966 CHEVROLET IMPALA . HE PURCHASED AN EVERSTART MODEL # 24MS-6 BATTERY . SEVERAL DAYS LATER AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD A SIZZLING SOUND. HE PULLED OVER AND THEN OPENED THE HOOD, AND THE BATTERY EXPLODED IN HIS FACE. THERE WERE NO MAJOR INJURIES. THE STORE THAT SOLD HIM THE BATTERY WAS WALMART. A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO BRING THE BATTERY TO THE STORE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10296359
Incident
Dec 17, 2009
Mileage
85,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 27, 2004

MFGR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE RECALL NUMBER 71V235000 CALLED CHEV, THEY ESTABLISHED A REF# 1-250262940 ON MY BEHALF ON AUG 25. THEY CALLED BACK AND SAID VEHICLE MIGHT NOT BE INVOLVED AND TO CALL HELM INC. CALLED HELM, THEY SAID, CHEV IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE INFO. RUNAROUND. PROVIDED CHEV, KIM THOMAS, CAMPAIGN # 5110000, VIN# 164676D119657 YOUR RECALL# 71V235000. ALL I GOT WAS THEY DO NOT HAVE INFO THAT OLD SO ARE UNSURE. PROVIDED THEM DESCRIPTION OF PART INVOLVE ENGINE LIFT STOP CABLE UNIT. PN# 325875 NOTHING DONE. MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED, ENGINE JUMPED, BUT I STOPPED BEFORE RUNAWAY. NO PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10088692
Incident
Aug 25, 2004
Mileage
51,500 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 30, 1996

ROUTE OF POWER STEERING HOSE CAUSED IT TO BE CUT BY TIE ROD. *DH

NHTSA ID
506842

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Impala by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2020150049.1
2019281052.7
2018591045.3
20171160039.1
20161110041.3
20152993050.3
201463112257.3
20132701038.4
20122583051.6
20115052045.1
20104414048.6
20098245050.4
20088102151.8
20076273051.8
20065242156.2
20056094051.9
20041,0727052.8
20036948157.9
20027957260.4
200174210262.8
200081810263.4
1999400—
1998200—
1997100—
1996881244.9
1995441143.5
1994151142.6
1993210—
1992010—
1991010—
1987100—
1985111—
1984001—
1983320—
1982230—
1981220—
1980030—
1979230—
1978030—
1977131—
1976010—
1974030—
1973010—
1972020—
1971040—
1969240—
1968020—
1967220—
1966Viewing320—
1965030—
1963100—
1958100—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.