RoadVitals

2012 Chevrolet Impala Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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.
8
Latest Jan 27, 2024
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.
3%
of 258 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.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Chevrolet Impala submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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 body or structure

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

Body & structureElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Jan 27, 2024

The actuators in the air vents are faulty and I've had to have them repla ed multiple times now. They still continue to make clicking noise sounds and blow cold air in winter/hot air in summer. The trunk deck lid paint is bad. The clear coat has been coming off. Paint all over the car's clear coat has been coming off. There is also some spots where it's down to the metal showing rust/corrosion. Finally, and most seriously, is the car's Traction Control System. It goes off constantly and without warning! It's been doing this randomly, in all types of weather conditions, for some time now. It goes off under normal driving conditions. I barely pull out of a parking space, or make a slow turn, or pull out of a parking lot at a very slow speed and it just goes off. The really dangerous part is that it stalls the car almost to a complete stop, when I've been making a turn well before oncoming traffic, and it stalls almost causing an accident on several occasions now. Most of the incidents are on sunny days where there's no inclement weather! This system is not safe and is unreliable. I've checked many public forums, like Reddit, and there are many other Chevy Impala owners who complain of the same exact problem. Yet Chevy has issued No recalls!? The only recall I've seen close to this is for 2011 year models. Although my car is a 2012, 2011 parts likely were used. If the recall affects 2011 Impalas, then any model that used 2011 parts should be included in this recall. I cannot trust the safety of my car's Traction Control System anymore as it comes on without warning, under no circumstances where it would need to come on. People are in danger with this defect! The car cosmetically, specifically the paint job and the flimsy actuators, are also defective. I've always taken excellent care of my vehicle, regularly having maintenance done at my local Chevy Dealership. Another defect that Chevy had to fix was my fuel pump that went out for no reason! I have receipt for this.

NHTSA ID
11568249
Incident
Jan 8, 2024
Body & structureEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 12, 2021

MY CAR'S ENGINE ALWAYS FEELS LIKE IT'S DRAGGING IN THE FRONT AND SOUNDS REALLY REALLY BAD LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO EXPLODE OR SOMETHING IT MAKES A LOT OF NOISE AND TICKING SOUND AS WELL WHEN I'M DRIVING

NHTSA ID
11402608
Incident
Mar 12, 2021
Mileage
162,500 mi
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+1 more
Filed Aug 29, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COVER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED, THE ENGINE LEAKED TRANSMISSION OIL AND FUEL, AND THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID
10899134
Incident
Oct 14, 2011
Mileage
20,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 20, 2015

TRIM ON PASSENGER DOOR STARTED PEELING OFF CAR WAS NOT IT IN ANY WAY TRIM IS PUT ON WITH 2 PIECES OF WHAT LOOK LIKES DOUBLE SIDED TAPE VERY DISAPPOINTED AFTER SPENDING 18,000 DOLLARS

NHTSA ID
10717450
Incident
Jan 21, 2015
Mileage
40,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed May 2, 2014
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TRACTOR TRAILER HIT A 1/2 SCHOOL BUS WHICH HIT US ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF. PASSENGERS HAD SEVERE INJURIES INCLUDING NECK, ARMS, NERVE, HANDS, SHOULDER DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586271
Incident
Dec 3, 2013
Mileage
22,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 20, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD REST AND THE PANELS LOCATED IN THE FRONT AND REAR SIDES WINDOWS OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE HEADREST HOWEVER THE HEADREST COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,200.

NHTSA ID
10573679
Incident
Jan 21, 2014
Mileage
28,200 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jun 27, 2013
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT STREET PAST AN INTERSECTION, A CAR RAN THE STOP SIGN AND HIT THE RIGHT SIDE CORNER OF THE PASSENGER DOOR AND DAMAGED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAUSING A 180 SPIN AND SLIDING INTO THE CURB DAMAGING THE LEFT WHEELS AND STEERING DOING $10,000 DAMAGE. THE PROBLEM I AM WRITING ABOUT IS THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE. I HAVE TO WONDER WHY AND ARE THEY GOING TO ACTIVATE IF I HAVE ANOTHER CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10522054
Incident
May 2, 2013
Mileage
16,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 27, 2012
1 injury reported

UPON ARRIVING AT A RESTAURANT LOCATION WHERE WE PLANNED TO DINE, MY SPOUSE OPENED THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER DOOR USING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. WHILE PUSHING THE DOOR OPEN SHE RELAXED HER HANDHOLD ON THE HANDLE ALLOWING HER RIGHT HAND PINKIE FINGER TO BECOME CAPTURED BETWEEN THE RETRACTING HANDLE AND THE FLAT AREA WHERE THE HANDLE IS ATTACHED. IT PINCHED HER FINGER AND IT IMMEDIATELY FORMED A BLOOD BLISTER AND WAS VERY PAINFUL. AFTER SHE EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED, I INSPECTED ALL OF THE OTHER DOORS AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO REPLICATE HER TYPE OF INJURY AT ANY OF THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES. I THEN TOOK A PICTURE OF HER INJURY AND THE PROBLEM INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10472704
Incident
Aug 27, 2012
Mileage
26,700 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 .