2017 Chevrolet Impala Engine Problems

I am writing to formally express my deep dissatisfaction regarding a recurring issue with my vehicle’s catalytic converter pipe. At 37,000 miles, the left-hand (front bank) catalytic converter pipe near the cylinder head mounting flange weld failed and was replaced under warranty by GM. Now, at just 88,000 miles, the same pipe has cracked again—at the identical location—and is not being covered by GM, forcing us to pay for repairs out of pocket. This is not simply a case of wear and tear. The failure not only resulted in significant performance issues, but also caused the housing of the fan to melt due to excessive heat exposure, posing a serious safety hazard. This repeated failure clearly indicates a design or manufacturing defect, and I’m appalled that GM has not acknowledged this as a broader issue—despite evidence suggesting this is a known and frequent problem with this vehicle model. In my view, the failure of the same part in the same location twice, within a relatively low mileage span, reflects an unacceptable lack of quality control. It is deeply disappointing that GM has not issued a recall or offered to cover this repair, which is demonstrably caused by the same flaw as before. This situation feels less like responsible customer support and more like an attempt to profit from known issues, leaving loyal customers to shoulder the financial burden. I am requesting immediate reassessment of this case, full coverage for this second repair, and a formal acknowledgment of this defect. I also encourage GM to investigate this issue further and consider issuing a recall to prevent others from experiencing similar damage and expenses.

NHTSA ID

11675052

Incident

Jul 20, 2025

Catalytic converter cracked and is a huge problem with these cars

NHTSA ID

11642382

Incident

Nov 7, 2019

2017 Chevy Impala 3.6L engine exhaust leak at the exhaust manifold / turbo charger. Resulting in exhaust fumes leaking driver/passenger area could cause fire and or damage to engine. Checking on the customer review and complaints page on the internet I have a lot of other complaints even to the point one persons wife developed lung cancer possible related to inhaling the exhaust according to her doctor. Who knows but I had a hard time getting my car to pass NC inspection because of the lake, please advise. As I am hard of hearing and didn't know I had this problem until the local NC Inspection station pointed it out all I knew was I could smell it or something. PS the email is that of my local mechanic, as I don't have one or how to even turn a computer on.

NHTSA ID

11493135

Incident

Nov 8, 2022

Upon after starting the car a noise was coming from front of engine. I took a video and saw fire coming from the front left catalytic converter between the flange and the converter. The converter separated itself from the flange. The car, a 2017 has only 50000 miles on it always garaged and no accidents Luckily caught the converter problem before it completely blew itself off the flange and caused a fire.

NHTSA ID

11459646

Incident

Mar 25, 2022

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle also failed to start intermittently. Neither the dealer nor manufacturer were made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

NHTSA ID

11423131

Incident

Jun 27, 2021

Mileage

20,000 mi

THE CONTACT'S WIFE OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE WOULD SMELL AN ABNORMAL, EXHAUST ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE'S CABIN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, HE HAD HEARD A LOUD NOISE EMIT FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER AND UPON INSPECTION OF THE HOOD, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD BROKEN OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND THEN CALLED EL DORADO CHEVROLET(2300 N CENTRAL EXPY, MCKINNEY, TX 75070) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE ZERO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE; THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA ID NUMBER:10116660 WHICH HE LINKED TO HIS FAILURE. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER AND THE CONTACT HAD LINKED THE PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE EXHAUST ODOR AS THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11416551

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HOT AIR WAS BLOWING OUT THE VENTS. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BELLAMY STRICKLAND CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (145 INDUSTRIAL BLVD, MCDONOUGH, GA 30253, (770) 954-3000) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN EVAPORATOR CORE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000.

NHTSA ID

11413077

Incident

Apr 5, 2021

Mileage

49,000 mi

BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. INFORMED DEALERSHIP OF LOUD EXHAUST SOUND. ASKED IF THEY COULD CHECK FO AN EXHAUST LEAK. UPON PICKING UP MY VEHICLE I WAS INFORMED THE LOUD EXHAUST WAS DUE TO A CRACK IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I ASKED WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. THEY WERE UNSURE OF CAUSE IT IS NOT A NORMAL ISSUE FOR THE MILEAGE AND AGE OF VEHICLE. THEY DID PROVIDE ME WITH A QUOTE TO REPAIR. I TOOK MY CAR TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT THIS PART WAS FAULTY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT A RECALL COULD BE POSSIBLE AND ADVISED ME TO CONTACT GM.

NHTSA ID

11384492

Incident

Dec 7, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

STARTING IN MARCH 2019 THE 2017 CHEVY IMPALA ENGINE WOULD STOP AND WOULDN'T START BACK UP FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. IT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT OR WHENEVER I STOP THE VEHICLE. THEN IN JULY OF 2019 THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. IT WOULDN'T REVERSE OR GO FORWARD. IT WAS IDENTIFIED AS A TRANSMISSION LEAK. ALL THE TRANSMISSION OIL HAD LEAKED OUT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS WHICH THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. MY TRANSMISSION IS DAMAGED BY NOW. A 2017 CHEVY IMPALA SHOULD NOT HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS UNLESS THERE IS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

11373761

Incident

Mar 4, 2019

Mileage

65,000 mi

ONCE DRIVEN,CAR WILL NOT RE-START. THIS WILL HAPPEN RANDOMLY . NO CLICKING,NO DASH LIGHTS, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING; AS IF NO BATTERY IN CAR. HAD IT DIAGOSED IN SHOP TWICE NOW, CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG (CANNOT DUPLICATE NO START). I NOTICED IN CAR COMPLAINTS .COM THAT SOMEONE IN HORN LAKE, MS HAD SMILAR ISSUE WHILE DRIVING ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIUOS SAFETY ISSUE!!!!

NHTSA ID

11363772

Incident

Sep 22, 2020

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND SEEMED AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING MOTIVE POWER. THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,836.

NHTSA ID

11349037

Incident

Aug 13, 2020

Mileage

100,836 mi

I HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHEN I WENT AND CHECKED IT IT WAS A P236 CODE IN A P069E I ALSO WENT TO CHECK IT BECAUSE I NOTICED MY CAR WAS STARTING UP FUNNY

NHTSA ID

11337579

Incident

Jul 5, 2020

Mileage

88,357 mi

INCREASING TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE. STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND NOISE GETTING LOUDER. PER BALE CHEVROLET, IT IS COMING FROM PURGE VALVE AND VALVE IS OPERATING AS NORMAL. I DON'T FEEL THIS IS NORMAL, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WASN'T DOING IT WHEN WE PURCHASED IT.

NHTSA ID

11321855

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

I PURCHASED A 2017 CHEVROLET IMPALA VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2019 AND A FEW MONTH'S AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I IMMEDIATELY STARTED NOTICING THAT THE VEHICLE WOLD STALL AND OR HESITATE TO START EVERY TIME I WOULD PUT GAS IN IT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON UNTIL THIS DAY. I CURRENTLY WORK AT CARMAX AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH SOME MECHANIC'S, AS WELL AS AS READING SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLAINT'S I BELIEVE I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS 2 OTHER BUYER'S THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY FILED A COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS VEHICLE.THE SPARK PLUG TUBES ARE LEAKING AND THE LEAKS ARE CAUSED BY POROUS SPOTS IN THE HEAD CREATED DURING MANUFACTURING. THE SPARK PLUG TUBES ARE PERMANENTLY SEALED INTO THE HEAD AND ARE NOT REPLACEABLE. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY. WE JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND I AM BEING TOLD THAT THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST $3,000-$4,000 TO FIX, WHICH I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER, I SHOULD'NT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR CONSIDERING THE VEHICLE WAS LITERALLY PURCHASED A YEAR AGO AS OF 3 WEEKS AGO. AND THE PROBLEM HAPPENED 3 MONTHS INTO ME HAVING THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11320327

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

44,000 mi

MY 2017 CHEVY IMPALA'S, EQUIPPED WITH A 3.6L V-6 ENGINE, AIR CONDITIONING EVAPORATOR IS DAMAGED AND IS LEAKING REFRIGERANT AND RESULTING IN LOSS OF AIR CONDITIONING. THIS LOSS OF AIR CONDITIONING OCCURS ALL THE TIME-STATIONARY, IN MOTION--THE AIR CONDITIONING NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

11231387

Incident

Jul 7, 2019

Mileage

62,000 mi

RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AGO TOOK IT IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AFTER DRIVING IT FOR SEVERAL MILES AND FILLING THE GAS TANK LOUD EXHAUST SOUND WITH AN ONSTAR DIAGNOSTIC P0151 CODE APPEARED. THINKING THERE WAS WATER IN THE LINE I PURCHASED HEAT TO REMOVE THE MOISTURE WITH NO RESULTS. I PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE HOOD OF THE CAR FOR INSPECTION AND FOUND THE OXYGEN SENSORS LYING IN THE COOLING FANS AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DISCONNECTED FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE PLATE WAS STILL CONNECTED WITH NEW NUTS AND BOLTS BUT THE PART LOOKED RUSTED WHICH SEEM ODD FOR A CAR THIS NEW AS A RESULT OF THE HEAT ESCAPING THE ENGINE BLOCK VIA THE OPENING THE COOLING FANS MELTED. I CHECK FOR RECALLS ON THIS MODEL AND THERE WERE NONE SHOWING VIA SEVERAL SOURCES INCLUDING THE MANUFACTURER'S WEB SITE. THE ISSUE COULD HAVE CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WELL DUE TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURES FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL OPERATE AND DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION SHOWING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHAT SEEMED ODD WAS THE BOLTS WERE SHINY AND THE PLATE WAS DISCOLORED AS SEEN IN ATTACHED PHOTOS. THE WELDS WERE ALSO A CONCERN AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11195313

Incident

Apr 6, 2019

Mileage

5 mi

WE PURCHASED OUR CAR IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018, AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WE STARTED NOTICING THE CAR WOULD HESITATE TO START EVERY TIME AFTER WE WOULD PUT GAS, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY TURNED ON.. SO THEN IN DECEMBER WE TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED THE PURGE VALVE, AND ALSO CHECKED WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY RAN SOME TESTS AND SAID THAT CYLINDER 3 WAS MISFIRING, SO THEY RAN MORE TESTS TO SEE WHAT EXACTLY THE PROBLEM WAS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SPARK PLUG TUBES ARE LEAKING AND THE LEAKS ARE CAUSED BY POROUS SPOTS IN THE HEAD CREATED DURING MANUFACTURING. THE SPARK PLUG TUBES ARE PERMANENTLY SEALED INTO THE HEAD AND ARE NOT REPLACABLE. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY, WE JUST PURCHASED OUR CAR AND THEIR TELLING US THAT THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO COST $3,000 TO 4,000 TO FIX WHICH WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR. PLEASE IF SOMEONE COULD GET BACK WITH ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GET A DIFFERENT CAR SINCE OURS HAD A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WHICH WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR. THANK YOU .

NHTSA ID

11180436

Incident

Dec 20, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BARTON CHEVROLET (845-219-1521, 800 AUTO PARK PL, NEWBURGH, NY 12550) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A PLASTIC BAG WAS SUCKED INTO THE AIR FILTER AND BLOCKED AIR FROM ENTERING THE ENGINE. THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE PLASTIC BAG AND REPLACED THE AIR FILTER. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE REMAINING DEBRIS THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY ACCUMULATED. THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WOULD NOT RECUR, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT RETURN THE CONTACT'S CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,018.

NHTSA ID

11123826

Incident

Aug 15, 2018

Mileage

10,018 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND JERKED FORWARD. IN ADDITION, THE EMISSION SYSTEM AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CREST CHEVROLET (909 W 21ST ST, SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92405, 909-713-6481) WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN VALVE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT NO ONE ANSWERED THE PHONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.

NHTSA ID

11123322

Incident

Aug 24, 2018

Mileage

37,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVORLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXHAUST SMOKE SEEPED INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE ALSO ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND EXTREME PRESSURE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROTOLO CHEVROLET (16666 S HIGHLAND AVE, FONTANA, CA 92336, (909) 333-6924), BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,312.

NHTSA ID

11121103

Incident

Feb 8, 2017

Mileage

35,312 mi

VEHICLE WAS CONDO PARKING AREA IN SPI TEXAS AND LOWELL,IN. MICE CHEWED FUEL IJECTION HARNESS (DISABLING(3 CYL) ON FEB.10,2018 AND AGAIN 10 DAYS LATER HARNESS ( 4CYL) AND FOAM INTAKE MANIFOLD. ALL SOYBEAN BASED WIRES AND FOAM. BOTH REPAIRED AT GILLMAN CHEVY IN HARLIGEN ,TX. THEN ON 6/21/2018 THERE WAS AN EXTREME SAFETY EVENT WITH RODENT DAMAGE TO SOY BASED FUEL LINE ELBOW ON TOP OF FUEL TANK THAT PUMPED OUT 8 GALLONS OF GAS ON TOP OF HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM WITH THE POTENTIAL OF FIRE IN REAR OF CAR IN 10 MILES OF TRAVEL FROM HEBRON,IN TO LOWELL,IN. THE FUEL PUMP SHUTOFF FOR RUN AWAY FUEL PUMP NEVER DEPLOYED THUS CREATING EXTREME HAZARD THAT WAS UNDECTABLE INSIDE VEHICLE.THE FUEL LINE WAS REPAIRED BY SMITH CHEVY IN LOWELL, IN ON 6/21/2018. THE REPAIR BILLS WERE $731.50, $592.10 AND $507.17 RESPECTIVELY FOR A TOTAL OF $1830.72. CHEVY CLAIMS SOY BASED PARTS NOT DESIGN FLAW AND REFUSES WARRANTY CLAIMS AND SAFETY LIABILITY.. ALL MANUFACTURES HAVE SIMILAR SOY BASED DESIGN FLAWS AND REFUSE CLAIMS. PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND SOLVED.

NHTSA ID

11111439

Incident

Jun 21, 2018

Mileage

1,000 mi