Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Chevrolet Impala owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was accelerating and merging onto a road and just got into the middle lane. Suddenly the car kept accelerating even though I had stopped pressing the pedal. The engine was revving and the car got up to 70 MPH in a 55 zone. The brakes did not seem to help slow the car. In a panic I shifted to neutral and was able to pull onto the shoulder and stop the car. Even when I was in park, the engine was still revving. I turned the vehicle off and rested it about 5 minutes and was able to restart it. It did not seem to have any problems on the way home after that. It was an extremely scary and dangerous situation as there were cars very close to me. I noticed that my floor mat was much higher than usual and was under the accelerator. I don't know if that could have contributed to the problem. I do often use cruise control. …
Had to recently replace fuel ejection and other part for fuel leaking and fumes overcoming in car. Now the speedometer, fuel and tack gauge stopped working. GM has not recalled this on the Impala and they are aware this is a problem but will not take responsibility. These issues have been a serious safety hazard for my daughter and cannot drive the car. Every Chevy dealership and parts stores think there is a recall until they look it up. Thats how much they are aware of the issues. Once again ill have to pay approx. 300.00 just for the part. Dorman oe solutions instrument cluster. How can we stop GM from getting away with this! We need help!
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the cruise control was set while the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated that the emergency brake was applied to slow down the vehicle enough to disengage the cruise control setting. The local dealer, richard lucas Chevrolet 1077 us highway south, avenel, nj 07001, was contacted and appointment for diagnostics was scheduled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and they informed the contact to take the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000. Updated 10/25/17
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the speedometer failed to read accurately. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the speedometer provided inaccurate speeds. The contact stated that the speedometer provided speeds exceeding 120 MPH. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
While driving horn sound weak and stopped working I had to take out fuse for the horn because it was just sounding off. Another important issue while driving at night low beam headlights will turn off while driving in the dark. This can cause a serious wreck especially if you are on the highway and could kill someone. Very dangerous situation. Same thing with the horn, someone can pull out in front of you and you cannot blow your horn.
Speed gage is not working correctly. It will work and stop working in rotation. When car in not in movement, it sometimes shows vehicle is going a speed of 60 to 120 miles per hour. When in motion the gage moves from random speed to speed. Sometimes at estimated speed of 60 miles per hour the gage is showing 5 miles per hour or maybe 105 miles per hour.
While driving at approximately 35 MPH driver was coming to a stop and applied the brakes and vehicle lunged forward, and rear ended another vehicle. Driver pulled to the right of the vehicle, and the vehicle was continuing to go, and the engine revved. Vehicle finally stopped after hitting a tree. Also, the air bags deployed.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. While driving less than 70 MPH, the vehicle would not decelerate when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact continued to pump the brakes until the vehicle eventually slowed down. Periodically, while traveling in residential areas or areas where the speed limit is less than 55 MPH, the vehicle will accelerate on its own. The contact would remove his foot from the accelerator pedal and the vehicle acted as if it were stuck in cruise control. The dealer believed that the cruise control May be the cause of the failure. The failure and current mileages were less than 92,500. Updated 11/12/08 updated 11/13/08.
My wife and two children were riding in our 2005 Chevrolet Impala and it suddenly started accelerating uncontrollably. My wife called 911 and told them that she couldn't get the car to stop and the brakes seemed to be locked. The car went uncontrollably for about 3/4 mile, and reached speeds over 90 MPH. She ended up putting the car in neutral to get it to slow down even though the engine was still accelerating. We had it towed to a Chevy dealer, but they didn't find anything wrong with it. If my wife wouldn't have thought to put the car in neutral, my entire family very possibly could have died. Very scary incident!!
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the windshield wipers and cruise control failed to activate. The contact discovered that both functions were not able to be activated at the same time. Either the cruise control or the windshield wipers needed to be activated at a single time in order for either function to operate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Acceleration complaints in other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2005 Chevrolet Impala, 4% of the model year's 609 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Chevrolet Impala acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2005 Chevrolet Impala, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Chevrolet Impala acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.