RoadVitals

2006 Chevrolet Impala Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
11
Latest May 10, 2025
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.
2%
of 524 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.
2
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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Chevrolet Impala submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 exterior lighting

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

Exterior lightingOther / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)
Filed May 10, 2025

First battery needed replaced every year then few weeks ago with no warning light or messages that battery was dieing the battery died again it was replaced then it started reving up and down on its own while driving so it goes faster then slower on its own when it feels like it.. TPS wont show tire pressure cant relearn tire positions now dash lights works usually then don't bright lights don't work now if automatic light control is on car shakes bad while breaking idles hard uses ALOT of gas now massive amount of heat coming off engine now with no dash light or guage saying temp is going up engine smells kind of bad after driving the car replaced transmission once couple years ago transmission maybe going out again the gear shift locks don't work it slips out of gear and into another gear effortlessly while driving and while parked without pressing the button to move the gear shift clicking or tapping noise started coming from front end only when turning left now does it while.turning and sometimes while.going straight and it's all still happening... theres more but not going into all of it now. DTC code listed 2days ago was listed as: B1000-00 Electronic Control Unit. Searched Google for code and got posts saying ECU needs replaced..updated or reprogrammed and some say BCU needs replaced..upgraded or reprogrammed. Each time I search the code I get a different reason for the code and different meaning. I have a 2006 Chevy Impala SS 5.3L V8 with police package. Car is available for inspection anytime.

NHTSA ID
11660121
Incident
Apr 28, 2025
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 13, 2017

THE CHEVROLET IMPALA I OWN HAS HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR.... THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL AREA IN THE FRONT HAS WENT HAYWIRE ON ME.... I CANNOT SIGNAL, OR TURN MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON AT ANY TIME.... PLUS, IT WILL NOT START FOR ME WHEN I NEED IT TO, I ALWAYS HAVE TO GET A JUMP FROM SOMEONE, & THAT EVEN TAKES BETWEEN 10-20 MINUTES.... THE PLACE THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM, THE REPAIRMEN CANNOT FIX IT RIGHT FOR ME, IT IS NOT FAIR TO PAY ALL THIS MONEY FOR MY CAR, WHICH WILL NOT WORK RIGHT... I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE MY SIGNALS FOR A VERY LONG TIME NOW, IT IS VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME.... I HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON THE STREETS, THE HIGHWAY, EVEN AT WORK AFTER MY SHIFT, IT HAS EVEN STOPPED ON ME WHILE TAKING MY KIDS TO & FROM SCHOOL....

NHTSA ID
10945126
Incident
Dec 20, 2015
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 25, 2015

HEADLIGHTS FLICKER, DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND PARKED. ALSO BATTERY DRAINS EVERY YEAR.

NHTSA ID
10806648
Incident
Nov 1, 2015
Mileage
93,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 21, 2014
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A MEDIAN, ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A IMPOUND LOT. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN AND THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED SHORTLY AFTERWARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID
10627196
Incident
Jun 7, 2013
Mileage
200,000 mi
Body & structureExterior lightingSteering
Filed May 20, 2014
Crash reported

CAR HARD TO STEER AND TURN, HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER DAMAGE THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER, LIGHT, BODY FRAME ON LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10592708
Incident
Mar 19, 2014
Mileage
196,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 20, 2014

FROM TIME TO TIME I HEAR SOME BANGING NOISE LIKE SOMEONE IS IN MY TRUNK OR LIKE IT THE SIDE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT . ALSO MY POWER STEERING MAKE NOISE ALL THE TIME. AND MY DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB COMES LOOSE AND BLOWS OUT A LOT. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING WITH THE CONNECTOR. TO MANY ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10592697
Incident
Mar 13, 2012
Mileage
82,000 mi
EngineExterior lightingPowertrain (other)+3 more
Filed May 22, 2013

2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. SHE EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER, THERE WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. EACH TIME, THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER, SHE WAS INFORMED THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM, AND THEREFORE NO PROBLEM EXISTED. BESIDES THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, THERE WAS A HORRIBLE RATCHETING MACHINE-GUN TYPE NOISE COMING FROM BEHIND THE DASH, WHEN SHE CHANGED THE VENT POSITION. THE LOUD NOISE LASTED FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND WAS ALMOST EAR-PIERCING. ALSO, THE ENGINE MOUNT BROKE, THE WATER PUMP, STEERING AND TIE RODS FAILED, THE ENGINE BURNED EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL, AND THE ENGINE LOW OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE WINDOWS MADE A SCREECHING SOUND, THE SUNROOF WOULD DRAG, THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERED WERE FOGGED AND FADED. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ON. ON APRIL 24, 2013. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP TO HAVE THEM ASSESS THE SAME TRANSMISSION SLIPPING PROBLEM, SHE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING FOR SEVEN YEARS. THEY DROPPED THE TRANSMISSION PAN, AND THEY FOUND FINE METAL, PIECES OF ALUMINUM AND CLUTCH MATERIAL IN THE PAN.

NHTSA ID
10513180
Incident
May 1, 2013
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 21, 2012

THE ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR IS MESSED UP. I TURN TO THE RIGHT AND MY RADIO SHUTS OFF, ALSO IF ITS DARK OUT AND MY LIGHTS ARE ON AND I PUT THE WINDOWS DOWN THE LIGHTS DOWN AS I'M PRESSING THE BUTTON TO PUT THEM DOWN. *JS

NHTSA ID
10452551
Incident
Mar 20, 2012
Exterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 24, 2012

AT THE TIME MY CHEVY HAD 105,000 MILES ON IT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, SO I GOT IT REBUILT IT HASN'T QUITE BEEN A YEAR A NOW THE NEW TRANSMISSION IS STALLING AND NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY AT TIMES. ALSO WHEN USING MY TURN SIGNAL TO TURN JUST AS THE WHEEL STRAIGHTENS UP AND THE TURN SIGNAL TURNS OFF IT TRIGGERS THE HIGH BEAMS TO COME ON, THIS ONLY HAPPENS IF IT'S COLD OUT OR RAINING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10449186
Incident
Dec 1, 2011
Mileage
15 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 22, 2009

HEADLIGHTS SHUT COMPLETELY OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. NO DASH LIGHTS, NO HEAD LIGHTS, NO LIGHTS ANYWHERE AND THEN IN ABOUT 5 SECONDS THEY COME BACK ON. CAR NEVER SHUTS OFF. DANGEROUS!!!!! HAPPENED TO ME DRIVING IN RURAL AREA TWICE IN ONE NIGHT. VERY DARK ROAD...COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING!!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10289421
Incident
Oct 22, 2009
Mileage
115,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 9, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. SHE STATED THAT THE HEADLAMPS ON THE VEHICLE DISENGAGED FROM THE PLASTIC CASING. SHE FELT THAT THE HEADLAMPS WOULD EVENTUALLY CRACK DUE TO BEING EXPOSED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO ASSIST. SHE FELT THAT THIS WAS A COMMON DEFECT FOR VEHICLES OF THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL WITH AT LEAST 30,000 MILES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 36,200.

NHTSA ID
10198995
Incident
Jul 22, 2007
Mileage
36,200 mi

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 .