RoadVitals

1996 Chevrolet Impala Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
10
Latest Aug 25, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 88 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Chevrolet Impala submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Aug 25, 2014
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10628184
Incident
Jun 4, 2013
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jun 30, 2004

(1) WHILE TRAVELING THRU LAUGHLIN, NV TRAVELING WEST ON HWY 163, CAR ABRUPTLY QUITS. FUEL PUMP FUSE BLOWN. SUSPECT DYING FUEL PUMP. INSTALL NEW FUSE, TRAVEL ANOTHER 30 MILES UP HWY 95...CAR DIES AGAIN. THIS TIME, NO BLOWN FUSE. FUEL PUMP WILL NOT RUN. TOW VEHICLE TO FINAL DESTINATION (LAS VEGAS). (2) PULLED THE TANK, REMOVED THE SENDING UNIT FOR PUMP REPLACEMENT. QUICKLY NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THE FUEL PUMP WIRING INSIDE THE TANK HAD SHORTED OUT. INSULATION BURNT COMPLETELY OFF OF THE PRIMARY PUMP POWER WIRE AND SHORTED INTO THE FUEL QUANTITY GROUND WIRE. CONNECTOR AT TOP OF SENDING UNIT MELTED. (3) REPLACE SENDING UNIT, FUEL PUMP, STRAINER AND FUEL FILTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10079043
Incident
Jun 22, 2004
Mileage
92,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 8, 2002

ALL 3 BATTERIES HAVE LEAKED ACID OUT. HAD A PUDDLE OF ACID ON GARAGE FLOOR, THAT MY 6 YEAR OLD SON ALMOST STEPPED IN BARE FOOTED.*AK

NHTSA ID
756574
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Jun 22, 2000

I BELONG TO AN IMPALA SS CLUB AND SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE NOTICED THAT THE STOCK AC/DELCO (?) 676 BATTERY WOULD SOMETIMES LEAK. MANY COMPLAINED TO GMC BUT NOTHING HAPPENED SO AS PRECAUTION MANY PEOPLE CHANGED OUT THEIR BATTERY SINCE GM WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. NOW WE (THE CLUB) NOTICED THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ON THE CHEVY SUBURBAN AND TAHOE AND YUKON ABOUT THE SAME BATTERY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT LEAST SINCE 1994 WHEN OUR IMPALAS STARTED TO BE MADE. THESE BATTERYS ARE SHODDY. PLEASE TAKE HELP TAKE THEM OFF THE ROAD. I ALREADY SWAPPED OUT MY BATTERY SINCE I DIDN'T WANT ANY ACID SPILLING IN THE ENGINE BAY.*AK

NHTSA ID
724372
ElectricalExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 1, 2000

ALTERNATOR SUDDENTLY STOPPED WORKING. DASH BOARD LIGHT DOESN'T ALLOW CONSUMER TO SEE THE SPEED. HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW FAST HE IS GOING. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS HEADLIGHTS GO DIM. WHEN HE RELEASES GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS, HEADLIGHTS ARE FULL FORCE. *AK

NHTSA ID
855976
Incident
Dec 22, 1999
Electrical
Filed Sep 27, 1999

POSITIVE POST OF BATTERY FORCED OUT FROM INSIDE BATTERY. EXTENSIVE PAINT AND RUST DAMAGE OCCURED. I AM AWARE OF MANY OTHER SUCH CASES WITH DELCO BATTERIES.

NHTSA ID
712293
Incident
Sep 26, 1999
ElectricalFuel systemSteering
Filed Dec 5, 1997

FUEL GAUGE FAILURE DUE TO INTERNAL SHORT IN FUEL SENDER.

NHTSA ID
525843
Incident
Dec 13, 1996
ElectricalFuel systemSteering
Filed Aug 19, 1997

FUEL METER ASSEMBLY (SENDER) FAILED.

NHTSA ID
521159
Incident
Dec 13, 1996
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed May 20, 1997

DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID
517296
Incident
Dec 13, 1996
ElectricalSteeringTransmission
Filed May 21, 1996

OIL COOLER LINES ROUTED SO THEY RUB AGAINST METAL, CAUSING HOLES/LEAK.

NHTSA ID
504656
Incident
May 2, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .