Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Chevrolet Impala submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 61 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.
The 25 most recent of 61, in the owner's own words
WHEN I GO TO TURN ON MY CAR IT DOES NOT TURN ON. IT TAKES A COUPLE TRIES TO GET THE CAR STARTED. ON TOP OF THAT PROBLEM THE CAR IS NOW JOLTING WHEN I ACCELERATE. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY A YEAR AND HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF IT AND BEFOREHAND IT WAS AT A DEALERSHIP. I AM VERY CONCERNED SINCE I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN GOING IN MY CAR AND IT'S MY TRANSPORTATION TO MAKE MY INCOME.
INTERNAL SECURITY SYSTEM FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE, CAR WONT START. SECURITY LIGHT STAYS ON OR FLASHES. CAR STILL WONT START. IT CAN BE HOURS OR EVEN DAYS BEFORE THIS PROBLEM RESETS AND CAR STARTS AND WORKS. BUT THEN WILL SOON FAIL AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF. HAS COASTED ME SEVERAL JOBS, LOSS WORK HOURS, AND EXTRA MONEY I SPENT ON STARTER, BUT CAME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE SECURITY FEATURE CHEVY PUT IN, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, THE AIR BAG OFF AND VARIOUS OTHER WARNING INDICATORS AND GAUGES FLICKERED. ALSO, FOUR MISFIRES OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE JUST PURCHASED WHIC WAS VAVOLINE WHEN PLACED IN VEHICLE ENGINE THERMAL VISCOSITY BREAKDOWN HAPPENED AND ENGINE BLOCK SEIZED. RESTARTED AFTER OIL CHANGE SAME OIL ENGINE BLOCK SEIZED. WITH WHAT I'M READING AND WATCHING THE THIRD OR FOURTH VEHICLE TOWED FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD MAYBE IT'S THE MOTOR OIL. I UNDERSTAND THAT HIGH HEAT BREAKS DOWN RAPIDLY WITH SOY BASED LUBRICANTS. I UNDERSTAND YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO ADMIT THIS OR ARE UNAWARE BUT COULD YOU PLEASE KEEP ON FILE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING, BRAKED INDEPENDENTLY, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. ONCE IT WAS RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,745. **TR CONSUMER STATED THE CAR'S BATTERY DRAINS QUICKLY AND WHEN TURNING A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. UPDATED 11/19/18*JB
I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY ALONG WITH NEW TIRES HOPING THAT ALL THE JERKING WOULD STOP HOWEVER THEY DIDN'T! THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE BAD TIMING OR NOT WANTING TO SHIFT IN RIGHT HEARS
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO DEVELOP A SHUDDER AT 140000 MILES. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET LOOKED AT. THE LAS RESORT WOULD BE TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS ISSUE CAUSES THE CAR TO NOT TAKE OFF RIGHT AWAY OR SHAKE PRETTY BAD MAKING IT SEEM OR FEEL THAT IT WILL STOP, SHUT DOWN, OR JAM UP EVEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE MODEL. IT HAPPENS AT STOP LIGHTS, WHILE RUNNING, AND WHILE TURNING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER BEFORE MANY PEOPLE WASTE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU
MY IMPALA KEEPS STALLING!!! WHILE DRIVING IT, AND DOESN'T MATTER IF I'M GOING 30 OR 55, JUST STALLS, ITS A DEATH TRAP, BUT THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO DRIVE, AND I HAVE TO HAUL A DISABLED PERSON!!! AM SCARED, HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY REPLACING PARTS THAT IT COULD "POTENTIALLY" BE! AT A LOSS, PLEASE HELP!!! *TR
175555 MILES FUEL SMELL AND FUEL LOSS WHEN CAR IS RUNNING. ROUGH START, SOME MISSING. FUEL FILTER FAILED AT FILTER INLET SPRAYING GAS ONTO UNDERBODY OF CAR SO DIDN'T SEE THE FUEL SPILL. REPLACED FILTER AND O RINGS.SQUEALING BELT SOUND AT START UP. SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE, REPLACED TENSIONER AND BELT. NO CHECK ENGINE WARNINGS, NO ELECTRONIC GAUGES I HAVE THE BASIC IMPALA MODEL. WATCHED THE FUEL GAUGE DROP BY LINES WHILE DRIVING AND SMELLED GAS WHEN SHUT OFF CAR. FIRE HAZARD, AND ENGINE FAILURE IF THE BELT BROKE COMPLETELY..ANOTHER 300$ SPENT
2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STOPS AND STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. THE MANIFOLD GASKET, THERMOSTAT, ABS MODULE AND IGNITION WERE REPLACED OVER A PERIOD OF EIGHT YEARS. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ACCELERATION DECREASED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER FIVE MINUTES, THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE PLATE HAD CARBON BUILD-UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 294,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, THE GAUGES PROVIDED INCORRECT READINGS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND THE ABS, CHECK ENGINE, AND MULTIPLE OTHER WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP AND MULTIPLE PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V201000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
ALL GAUGES ON THE CAR STOPPED WORKING 4 YEARS AGO AROUND THE TIME THE PASS LOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT OF MY CAR MANY TIMES. THE VALVE COVER LEAKS OIL WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A FIRE. DRIVING IT RESULTS IN THICK BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE VALVE COVER LEAK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD RESTART AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE UNKNOWN MINOR INJURIES SUSTAINED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT DURING COLD WEATHER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY AND THE ALARM SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE PROBLEM RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE IMPOUND. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY STARTS, RUNS ROUGH/SUB IDLE THEN STALLS. WHEN THE ENGINE STARTS IT SEEMS TO RUN NORMALLY, BUT ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE WOULD STALL AND I WOULD LOOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JEFF WYLER CHEVROLET FOR REPAIRS. THEY HAD THIS VEHICLE FROM JAN 21 - FEB 11, AND REPLACED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AT A COST OF APPROX $435 DOLLARS. WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE THE CONDITIONS REMAINED THE SAME. I SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP (KT AUTOMOTIVE LLC). THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CONDITION WAS CORRECTED (APPROX COST $180 DOLLARS). NOTE; THIS CONDITION EXISTED WITH MULTIPLE OR NO ADDITIONAL KEYS ON MY KEY RING. ON 17SEPT GM RECALL 14350 WAS COMPLETED ON MY KEY(S). GIVEN THE EXPERIENCES DESCRIBED ABOVE, THIS RECALL WILL NOT CORRECT THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED TO HOT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND WATER PUMP THREE TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE ALTERNATOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE FAILURES CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT SECURE AROUND THE OCCUPANTS AT THE POINT OF IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND TWO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,100.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD TO ATTEMPT TO TURN THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
DRIVING 2005 CHEVY IMPALA ON INTERSTATE 95 NORTH WHEN VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY WENT OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL, VEHICLE BOUNCED OFF OF GUARDRAIL AND SPUN AROUND THREE TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP WITH VEHICLE RESTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY IN THE CORRESPONDING DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START, BUT AFTER TWO OR THREE ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AGAIN AND HAD TO BE TOWED FROM ACCIDENT SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE LOSS POWER WITHOUT WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE OPPOSE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SHOULDER INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THERE WAS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION AND IT JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE PERSISTED FOR THE PAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/22/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE AIR CONSDITION IS ON IT SPEEDS THE MOTOR UP AND THE SHIFTS BETTER. WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A RED LIGHT THE VEHICLE WILL GET SLUGGISH. UPDATED 4/6/2015 *JS
SEEMS A LOT OF 2000-2005 IMPALAS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES AS I AM WITH THE DASH INSTRUMENT PANEL AND POSSIBLE ISSUES WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO WAIT 10-15 MINUTES TO CRANK MY CAR WHEN IT WONT START OR DO THE LOCK AND UNLOCK TRICK TO RESET THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. IRONICALLY ENOUGH HAVEN'T HAD ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH NOW HAS AN ACTIVE RECALL. INSTRUMENT PANEL SPEEDOMETER STUCK ON 120 MPH WHILE IN STOP POSITION. ..ALMOST GOT A TICKET OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND BECAUSE I WAS SPEEDING. ..SHOWED THE OFFICER MY SPEEDOMETER THAT WAS SITTING ON 90 MPH AT THE TIME AND HE GAVE ME A WARNING AND TOLD ME TO GET THAT FIXED. *TR
DEFECTIVE VEHICLE KEY SWITCH FORCED VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON SOUTHERN PARKWAY IN ISLIP NY. WE MANAGED TO PUSH VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE IT CURRENTLY IS AWAITING REPAIRS. THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL ON THIS CAR - THERE SHOULD BE! MY FAMILY AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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