Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 58 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 58, in the owner's own words
I have about 08/1825 had the throttle body replaced on my vehicle which assisted with the problem temporarily. Then the problem started again 09/20/25 the car act like it’s stalling while driving and can’t see what hear the vehicle is in. The car is not getting any signal to the engine as I have been advised the TCM is faulty. There was a code of U0101.
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.
I put my car in reverse and the car turned off and have turn back on. When I try to start it, I don’t hear any fix or crank. Before this happened, my car was slow to change gear or it would will change so fast that my car will lose control and I did not feel safe at all.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that on three separate occasions, while driving in the rain, the steering wheel seized. Additionally, upon starting the vehicle, the key failed to release from the ignition. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. The VIN was not provided.
I have a 2012 impala that I have had since 2015 and a little while after I got it the engine light came on and it said it was the fuel pump control module requested Mil illumination and evaporated emissions systems leak detected (large leak) and at times the gas tank sparys back at up if you don't let it sit open for a little bit. I have had these issues fixed multiple times and by multiple mechanics who still can't figure out what's going on.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that two days after purchasing the vehicle and driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal clicking sound coming from the dashboard. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the sounds were coming from the heater actuator and it could lead to an air conditioner failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repaired and the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that assistance would not be provided since the vehicle was out of warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY LOUD SOUND COMING FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR CONTROL MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE AIR CONTROL REGULATOR ARM MOTOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
I HAVE A 2012 CHEVY IMPALA, THE TRACTION SERVICE CONTROL AND ABS/STABILITRACK KEEPS GIVING ME ISSUES. I HAVE A GRINDING NOISE, DECREASED POWER AND CAR WILL NEARLY STOP ON YOU FROM TIME TO TIME, PARTICULARLY WHEN TURNING. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, MORE THAN ONE, THEY KEEP TELLING ME THE HARNESS ATTACH TO MY TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM SNAPS. IVE HEARD MY MODEL HAS THIS ISSUE. I SEE NO RECALL FOR MY VIN, BUT I HAVE THE SAME ISSUES.
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON CITY STREETS GOING STRAIGHT WITH A SLIGHT INCLINE THE A/C AND RADIO POWERED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THE DOORS UNLOCKED AND "SERVICE STABILITRAK" FLASHED ON AND OFF THE DASH, THE RADIO POWERED DOWN, AND THE A/C TURNED OFF. AFTER A FEW SECOND EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON AT ALL. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND CHIME ON AND OFF..............CAR RUNS OK BUT CHIME WILL DRIVE YOU CRAZY.............NEED TO TURN IT OFF................
MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA,I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS VEHICLE A LOT.ON COMPLAINT WEBSITES,THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BLEND DOORS FOR HEAT AND AIR,YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE DEFROST OR AIR OOR HEAT,THAT IS DANGEROUS FOR ANYBODY TO DRIVE AND YOU CAN GO UP TO CAR AND BADLY TOUCH CAR AND IT STARTS CLICKING AND CLICKING AND DON'T STOP,CHEVROLET REFUSES TO FIX PROBLEM THAT'S THEIR FAULT FOR USING INFERIOR PARTS ,THAT TO ME AND A LOT,A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY CHEVROLET AND GM,DON'T GIVE A [XXX] ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR VEHICLES OR CUSTOMERS,SO IF THIS PROBLEM ISN'T ADDRESSED,I KNOW YOU DON'T CARE BUT I'LL NEVER BUY A CHEVROLET AGAIN,AND I'VE BOUGHT QUITE A FEW CHEVROLET'S,BUT NEVER BEEN TREATED THIS WAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES,THE REASON I KNOW IT'S DANGEROUS IS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CONTROL ANY FUNCTIONS OF THE HEAT AIR OR DEFROST,MY WIFE IS DISABLED AND FOR HER TO HAVE TO GET OUT AND WIPE WINDSHIELD OFF JUST TO DRIVE,AND GOD HELP US IF IT RAINS,WE HAVE TO PULL OVER TO CLEAN WINDSHIELD,IF THAT'S NOT DANGEROUS THEN ANYBODY THAT OWNS ONE OF THESE CARS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
THE ACTUATOR HAS FAILED IN THE CAR, A SMALL ELECTRICAL MOTOR THAT MOVES THE TEMP DOORS OR THE RECIRCULATION DOOR. WHEN THE ACTUATOR GOES BAD, YOU WILL HEAR A THUMP NOISE FROM UNDER THE DASH THAT IS EXTREMELY LOUD, WHICH IMPEDES THE DRIVER ABILITY TO HEAR EMERGENCY VEHICLES, WHICH IS TRUE A SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE GOOGLED ONLINE AND THERE ARE 5K COMPLAINTS OVERALL. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT WHICH IS NOT SAFE FOR CONSUMER. HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T1733_DS503761 HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/IMPALA/2012/AC_HEATER/KNOCKING_NOISE_IN_GLOVE_COMPARTMENT.SHTML
NOTIFICATION ON DASH HAS BEEN ON STATING THAT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM WILL NOT DEPLOY. ON STAR HAS ALSO SENT ME DIAGNOSTIC REPORTS STATING THIS IS A URGENT MATTER THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED
2/16/2019 (SAT 3:30PM) : SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHEN DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY 99 NEAR FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. FELT LIKE NO GAS COMING IN. ENGINE WAS STILL ON, BUT GAS PEDAL SEEMED TO PUMP NO GAS TO THE ENGINE. PUMPING THE GAS PEDAL HAD NO ACCELERATION RESPONSE. SPEED CONTINUED TO DROP ON THE HIGHWAY, VERY DANGEROUS! FINALLY, LUCKILY PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT MISHAP. ENGINE WAS STILL ON WHEN STOPPING BY THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, KIND OF IDLING AT LOW RPM. SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND TRIED TO RESTART IT TO HOPE FOR THE PROBLEM TO GO AWAY. CRANKED A DOZEN TIMES AND COULD NOT TO GET ENGINE TO CONTINUE. FELT LIKE RUNNING OUT OF GAS. 2/17/2019 SUN: THE CAR WAS FINALLY TOWED TO A NEARBY DEALER. 2/18/2019 MON DEALER SERVICE DIAGNOSIS REPORTED BROKEN "FUEL FLOW CONTROL MODULE". THE ESTIMATE OF ITS REPAIR (PART + LABOR) IS NEAR $500 I HAVE ASKED THE REPLACED MODULE TO BE SAVED FOR INVESTIGATION. SUMMARY: SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE FUEL FLOW CONTROL MODULE THAT COMPLETELY CUTS OFF THE FUEL WITHOUT A FAIL-SAFE DESIGN, NOR A WARNING, FOR A PART NOT IN THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE LIST, PARTICULARLY AT LOW MILEAGE (42,000) EXPOSES DRIVERS TO HIGH RISK OF ACCIDENTS ON THE HIGHWAY. ACTION REQUESTED: IT MAY BE A QUALITY-ESCAPED ISSUE ON SUCH A MODULE. FAILSAFE DESIGN IS NEEDED FOR 21 CENTURY HIGHWAY SAFETY. I ASK NHTSA TO REQUEST GM TO INVESTIGATE THIS CASE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF SUCH SUDDEN FAILURE OF FUEL FLOW CONTROL MODULE ON A LOW-MILEAGE CAR.
THE RADIO WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO SHOWS A BLANK SCREEN AND DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. MY DOOR CHIMES, IGNITION CHIME, SEAT BELT CHIMES, TURN SIGNAL CHIMES NONE OF THAT WORKS EITHER. NOT SURE IF IT'S AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. HOWEVER I HAD MY BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TESTED. HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE FOR MAYBE 2 MONTHS NOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST, ABS, AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GARBER CHEVROLET (1700 N. SAGINAW RD, MIDLAND, MI 48640) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE RECHARGED AND A LOOSE GROUND CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000. **TR CONSUMER STATED SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL-SERVICE STABILIZER-SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST CAME ON AND CAR STOPPED DEAD COMPLETELY- CAR KEY IN ON POSITION AND CAR IN DRIVE. HAD NO POWER AT ALL- HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK MY DOOR TO GET OUT. THEY HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO GARAGE WITH MY KEYS STUCK IN IT. FLASHERS AND NOTHING WORKED. LUCKILY NO ONE SMASHED INTO ME AND IF OUT ON A MAIN HIGHWAY GOING AT A HIGHER SPEED I WOULDN'T BE HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS. THE CAR IS FIXED BUT MY FEARS OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN ARE IMMENSE. UPDATED 10/31/18*JB
WHEN DRIVING SUDDEN JERKS OF EXTRA POWER THEN SOMETIMES LOWER POWER/ ALOT OF CLICKING WHEN IM NOT IN THE CAR AND EVERYTIME I OPEN THE DOOR OR TURN OFF THE CAR. LIGHTA FLICKER WHEN ROLLING THE WINDOWS UP OR DOWN AND JUST WHEN THEY WANT RO
TAKATA RECALL PROBLEMS WITH BLOWER MOTOR IN AC..WAS REPLACED TWICE. ONE SIDE OF VENT IS HOT WHILE OTHER IS COLD. ALSO LOUD TAPPING NOISE AFTER CAR IS SHUT OFF..CONTINUOUSLY EVEN WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. BELIEVE A BAD RELAY NOW THAT I NEED TO REPLACE. MY SISTER CAR ALSO DOES SAME THING SHE HAS A 2006 IMPALA.
I TOOK IN MY WIFE'S 2012 IMPALA INTO THE AUTO MECHANIC ABOUT A MONTH AGO BECAUSE HER DEFROSTER WAS NOT WORKING. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THAT SOMETHING BURNED (I THINK IT WAS A BOX WITH SOME WIRES). HE REPLACED IT WITH A NEW PART AND IT WAS WORKING. LAST WEEK I NOTICED THAT HER REAR DEFROSTER IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. I PLAN ON TAKING IT IN AGAIN BUT IF THEY FIX THE SAME THING I WOULD ASSUME IT WOULD BE AN ONGOING CYCLE OF THIS PROBLEM. I DID DO SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND NOTICED THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET COOPERATION AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS.
I OWN A CHEVY IMPALA THAT HAD AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL AND AN AIRBAG RECALL. THE 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA THAT I OWN CAUSED ME TO HAVE A SEVERE ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED ME TO SUFFER MAJOR INJURIES BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 14V355000 RECALL DATE: 2014-06-23 SUMMARY THIS DEFECT CAN AFFECT THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. UNTIL THIS RECALL IS PERFORMED, CUSTOMERS SHOULD REMOVE ALL ITEMS FROM THEIR KEY RINGS, LEAVING ONLY THE IGNITION KEY. THE KEY FOB (IF APPLICABLE), SHOULD ALSO BE REMOVED FROM THE KEY RING. GENERAL MOTORS LLC (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2009 BUICK LACROSSE, 2006-2011 BUICK LUCERNE, 2000-2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE, 2006-2011 CADILLAC DTS, 2006-2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA, AND 2006-2007 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO VEHICLES. SPECS / REVIEWSFOR SALE SAFETY 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2012 SAFETY 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA RECALLS FEATURES RATING RECALLS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 14V355000 RECALL DATE: 2014-06-23 SUMMARY THIS DEFECT CAN AFFECT THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. CONSEQUENCES IF THE KEY IS NOT IN THE RUN POSITION, THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY. ADDITIONALLY, A KEY KNOCKED OUT OF THE RUN POSITION WILL CAUSE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING, AND POWER BRAKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. REMEDY GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO KEY RINGS AND AN INSERT IN THE KEY SLOT OR A COVER OVER THE KEY HEAD ON ALL IGNITION KEYS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2014. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-521-7300 (BUICK), 1-800-458-8006 (CADILLAC), AND 1-800-222-1020 (CHEVROLET). GM'S NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS 14299. COMPONENT AFFECTED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION NOTES GENERAL MOTORS LLC
I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED IN 2014 WITH ~30,000 MILES, AND IT PRESENTLY HAS ~85,000 MILES. IN THAT TIME I HAVE REPLACED 4 GAS PEDALS BECAUSE THE ALERT TRIGGERED "SERVICE STABILITRAK" TELLS THE TECHNICIAN TO REPLACE THE GAS PEDAL - CLEARLY NOT THE PROBLEM. ESSENTIALLY, WHEN THE DEFECT OCCURS, ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED TO WHERE THE CAR CAN BARELY GET OUT OF ITS OWN WAY WHICH IS REALLY DANGEROUS DURING HIGHWAY RUSH HOUR (WHEN FOLKS DRIVE MORE AGGRESSIVELY) OR PULLING ONTO A ROADWAY FROM A DEAD STOP. IF I POWER THE CAR DOWN AND RESTART IT, THE ERROR WILL USUALLY CLEAR, BUT OFTEN REOCCURS. SINCE IT TENDS TO HAPPEN ON HOT, SUNNY DAYS (TEMP >75F) WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING, IT FEELS LIKE A WIRING PROBLEM. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED REPLACING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, BUT COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT WOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE. BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OVER A SIMILAR ISSUE, IT APPEARS THAT GM HAS A PROBLEM THAT IT IS NOT WILLING TO ADDRESS WITH A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN.
I HAVE ABOUT 72,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THE SERVICE STABILITRAK, SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGES COME ON AND THE ABS AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT ALSO ARE ON. IT HAPPENS WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND ALSO THE ABS KICK IN AND EFFECTS THE STEERING. I HAVE REPLACED THE RIGHT AND LEFT HUB ASSEMBLIES AND IT HAS NOT HELPED NO CODES ARE FOUND WHEN VEHICLE IS SCANNED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. THIS WILL ALL HAPPEN IN DRIVE WAY AND ON CITY ROADS/HIGHWAYS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE DASHBOARD, CENTER CONSOLE BY THE SHIFTER LEVER, AND FRONT BUCKET SEATS TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED VISIBLE SMOKE IN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD BE SENT TO INVESTIGATE AND DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD TO REDUCE THE SPEED TO AVOID A REAR END CRASH. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FORCED THE DRIVER INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DRIVER SIDE RIM WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING (IN MOTION) ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THIS VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS TWO OTHER TIMES, BUT NOT ON THE EXACT SAME DATE. STEERING WHEEL ALSO LOCKS WHILE TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT ON A BUSY STREET.
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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