Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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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 2012 Chevrolet Impala submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 43 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 43, 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.
I have trouble codes that occasionally come up even after vehicle has been serviced. The vehicle used to drive fine. Now it started miss firing. I was told the problem was coming from the engine compartment/sensors. An OBDII diagnosis detects a problem with B Camshaft Position Timing Over Advanced or System Performance Bank 2 (p0024). I fear that without the fix, the miss firing can cause an accident. The engine light is illuminated when this happens.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK AND THE BRAKES TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO STREET SIGN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FALL INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000.
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
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.
ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND CODES FOR TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM WHILE I WAS DRIVING. UNRESOLVED BY DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER; BBB AUTOLINE SAID I SHOULD TURN TO NHTSA.
1ST - 8/11/2018 - 79,653 MILES - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CODE P0411 SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM INCORRECT FLOW DETECTED. DEALERSHIP STATED THE SOLENOID MALFUNCTION CHECK ENGINE CAME BACK ON, CODE P0411, CHEVROLET STATED THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED AND RESET THE CODE. CHEVY'S STATED THE FAULTY SIR INJECTION SOLENOIDS BANK 1 AND 2 WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE P0411. ADVISED ME THAT THE BATTERY TERMINAL MAY BE THE ISSUE AND RECOMMENDED CHANGING IT. RECOMMEND A NEW ALTERNATOR. CHEVY WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY THE CODE P0411 BUT MADE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE ISSUE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN, NO OTHER ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. GM OPENED A TAC CASE. ADVISED BY TAC THAT CARBON BUILDUP IN THE CYLINDER VALVES FROM THE CYLINDER HEADS WAS THE CAUSE. TOLD TO DRIVE VEHICLE FOR A FEW DAYS. WITHIN 3 DAYS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. CHEVY INSTALLED A VEHICLE DATA RECORDER PER THE GM FIELD SERVICE ENGINEER. TEST RESULTS SHOWED BOTH AIR INJECTION CUT OF VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FUTURE ALSO UPDATED ECM CALIBRATION AND PROGRAMMED IT - COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. 6TH VISIT ON 9/3/2019 AT 85970 MILES CHEVROLET ADVISED THE CAUSE IS DUE TO THE LEFT TEMPERATURE CONTROL AND AIR INLET ACTUATORS. 7TH - 9TH TIME, ADVISED BY INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP, THAT EVERYTHING WAS WORKING AS NORMAL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE WAS RESET. ADVISED CAR NEEDS TO BE CALIBRATED AT GM-APPROVED DEALERSHIP. AS OF TODAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. THE FINAL SHOP ADVISED THE ISSUE MAY BE THAT THE SYSTEM WAS NOT CALIBRATED OR JUST NEEDED TO BE CALIBRATED EVERY TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I BELIEVE THAT THOUSANDS OF GM CUSTOMERS ARE PAYING OUT OF POCKET FOR UNNECESSARY P0411 REPAIR WORK.*DT*JB
ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO THE ENGINE STARTING DIESELING (THE ENGINE WILL STILL HAVE COMBUSTION AFTER THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF). DURING A TRIP ON CITY STREETS THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED WHEN DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE STOPPED AGAIN THIS TIME WHILE STOPPED ON A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE AUTOLAB IN PLYMOUTH MI WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED IT WITH ENGINE FLOODING. YOU COULD SMELL THE UNBURNED GASOLINE ON THE TAIL PIPE. HOWEVER NO ERROR CODES WERE REPORTED. AFTER A FEW DAYS IN THE FACILITY AND WITHOUT THE EVEN DUPLICATED I HAD THE CAR BACK. COUPLE WEEKS LATER IT STARTED DIESELING AGAIN SO I WENT BACK TO THE AUTOLAB. THIS TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE INJECTION PUMP AS BEING FAULTY AND THE O2 SENSOR NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE FUELING. THEY REPLACED THE INJECTION PUMP AND SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING WITHOUT PROBLEM. THE LACK OF ERROR REPORTING BY THE OBD AND THE SUDDEN ENGINE STOP WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION MAKES ME FEEL I WAS LUCKY. I USUALLY DRIVE 30 MILE EACH WAY TO MY WORK PLACE. IF THE ENGINE STOPS ON THE HIGHWAY IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS I AM NOT ABLE TO USE THE BRAKES (POWER BRAKES!) OR THE STEERING WHEEL (POWER STEERING) PROPERLY TO TRY TO GET AWAY FROM THE TRAFFIC BEHIND BY GOING TO THE SHOULDER.
SERVICE STABILITRAK CAME ON WHEN MERGING ON TO THE FREEWAY, (WHICH INVOLVED A TURN TO GET ON THE ON-RAMP,) SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR COMPLETELY. ALMOST HIT BY A SEMI. I HAVE HAD THE BEARINGS REPLACED BECAUSE OF STABILITRAK LIGHT. HOW HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED? MY FRIEND AND I ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY SENSORS OR WHATEVER IT IS WITH THESE CRAP BEARINGS. I WAS TOLD HOW THE BEARINGS ARE MADE WITH THE SENSORS BEING PLACED IN A COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS SPOT BY AUTO PARTS STORES. SAW PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH THIS VEHICLE. SAME ISSUE. HOW HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE WITH THIS?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PREMIER NISSAN OF METAIRIE (504-455-5800, LOCATED AT 6636 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD, METAIRIE, LA 70003) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE SEVEN DIFFERENT FAILURE CODES WERE LOCATED, INCLUDING THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL RELAY. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE PARTS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
TAKATA RECALL MY CAR FEEL LIKE ITS LOOSING POWER WHEN I START IT UP AND THE IGNITION HOUSING NEED TO BE REPLACE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL, TRACTION STABILIZER, AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEVER STALLED; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE ISSUE COULD BE DUE TO THE THROTTLE BODY. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL COVERAGE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD MAKE A TURN OR HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL POP SOUND WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT OBSERVED FLUID LEAKING IN THE FRONT MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (HENDRICK CHEVROLET, 100 AUTO MALL DRIVE, CARY, NC, 27511, 919-439-5132) ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER SINCE THEY WERE OUT OF STATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (DAN VADEN CHEVROLET SAVANNAH, 9393 ABERCORN ST, SAVANNAH, GA, 31406) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK, BRAKES/ ROTORS, AND TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. THE STEERING RACK, BRAKES/ROTORS, TIE ROD, AND ALIGNMENT WERE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE NOW SHAKES INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-3209374202. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,800.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE LEFT TURNS AT LESS THAN 5 MPH, IT WOULD SOMETIMES STALL AND DECELERATE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE IF THERE WERE ANY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 01/11/2017*CT *TR
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.
I WAS STANDING IN TRAFFIC AND SMOKE START COMING INSIDE THE CAR FROM ENGINE AND THE ENGINE START ON FIRE THE CAR BURN FROM THE ENGINE OUT ??? AND I FOUND THIS INFORMATION ABOUT SAFETY PROBLEMS AND RECALLS ON THIS CAR MODEL ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS CAR MODEL AND YEAR HAVE FIRE HAZARD PROBLEMS PLEASE REVIEW AND HELP ME TO FOUND ANY ANSWER THANK YOU *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL INJECTORS 1, 3, AND 5 MALFUNCTIONED AND FUEL TRAVELED STRAIGHT THROUGH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE REAR EXHAUST. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT INJECTOR PORTS 1, 3, AND 5 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,168.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE REVVED AND STALLED. AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK SWITCH, THE CODES WERE RESET, AND THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,624. UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ UPDATED 10/26/2017*CN
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HILL ON KALAMAZOOST IN LANSING MICH. MY POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. I PULLED ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN THE CAR INTO A HEDGE OF BUSHED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT STOPPED BEFORE I HIT THEM.
GM SERVICE BULLETIN ID: 3650687. *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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