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 2006 Chevrolet Impala owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
According to my obd scanner the components that are failed is the throttle body position sensor circuit A & the throttle body position sensor circuit B. Before this happened the check engine light was on for about a week, when I scanned the vehicle with the obd-II the code for a large leak in the fuel EVAP system came up. One day while driving the vehicle I was stopped at a red light and once the light turned green I pressed the gas and the car started to sputter and move very slow also in the driver information center it intermittently showed the warnings service traction control and speed reduced. I had to pull over when safe to do so. Once I got the vehicle home I ran the scan again and it came up with the throttle body position sensor codes. The part is available for inspection. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Chevrolet Impala. While driving approximately 66 MPH with the cruise control activated, the contact heard an abnormal noise as the speedometer decreased. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch, landing 80 feet away. The contact also noticed that the axles were fractured. A police report was filed and there were unknown injuries sustained that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14V355000 (electrical system) but did not disclose if the veihcle was included or repaired under the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 56,000. The VIN was unavailable.
This incident first occurred a few weeks ago while driving on the highway I got the engine power reduced message. My car didn't seem to run different and the engine light went off the very next day. Then about 1 week later it happened again but this time my car was acting funny when I needed to accelerate. I was trying to wait until paid day to take it to be checked but I couldn't wait. On Wednesday, April 1, 2015 whenever I stopped at a light or stop sign when it was time to go my car would not accelerate. I made it work OK, but on my break I needed to go take care of some important business and my car just stopped on me while I was making a right hand turn. It would not start up. I could not turn it or anything. My car stalled and I ended up on the wrong side of the road. I was able to push my car out of the way and I had to walk back to work. …
Upon entering my vehicle and waiting for the engine to warm up as it was around -05 degrees f there were no issues to be had. About 15 seconds after leaving my parking spot at my place of employment and 70 feet later my engine started feeling weird, heard a chime and saw my dashboard with the wording "engine power reduced." not knowing what it was and knowing I had no other choice continued driving home. 4 days pass no issue then yesterday when it was 27 degrees f outside again had the car warm up and about same time frame and same distance later the same series of events occurred but this time the RPM was bouncing between 700 and 1100 when I was moving in idle. …
While driving the traction control light came on as well as the check engine light then reduced power so that I was driving at about 5 miles in traffic. Car then stopped and there was no power at all. I put on my hazard lights and turned the car off waited a few minutes and it started and only check engine light remained on. I was fortunate to be almost at a red light when this happened in midtown manhattan so that there was only blaring horns when I couldn't move the car. My mechanic said I need to bring the car in when the lights are on so that he can read the error messages. The check engine light doesn't give him enough information. I haven't driven since as I'm afraid but will drive locally and bring the car to the mechanic as soon as those lights come on again. It has happened before but not when I could bring it to the mechanic.
Received a engine warning symbol and sound/chime and then got the message, "power is being reduced to the engine". My speed of 40 MPH steadily lowered to where I put on my warning lights as cars were piling up behind me. I was able to turn off on a side street where the car stopped. My mechanic has read the codes and replaced indicated parts, but the problem happens again often. Below is a web site url where you can see numerous people reporting the same problem. It is dangerous as it happens to people on interstates where they have no where to get out of traffic. There are more than 22 pages of 100s of reports of this reduced power message at: http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/13406/Chevrolet/Impala/Chevy-Impala-reduced-engine-power-message/p1
I would like it documented that someone is going to be seriously injured or killed all due to a known and reported issued unless Chevy does the right thing and issues a recall immediately! I have a 2006 Impala and while driving on the highway at 70 miles per hour my vehicle dropped down to 15 MPH saying reduced engine power then completely shut off on the highway. Please note my 2 year old son, and 10 year old daughter were in the vehicle with me. I was fortunate enough to make it off to the side without being hit much less killed but other people not May be so fortunate. What is it going to take for a recall to be issued?
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the transmission gears failed to properly change over in drive to accelerate. As a result, the vehicle intermittently decelerated and jerked. There was no warning indicator illuminated. There was also a drastic reduction in engine power. The dealer had not been contacted. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the control pressure solenoid needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The vehicle was not able to be safely driven and was parked. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 129,000.
I was driving my vehicle when it suddenly cut off with an "engine power reduced" sign and the car ultimately shut off completely. The car would not come back on. It had to be towed home and then towed to a Chevy dealership in frankfort, il. The Chevy dealership could not depict the problem and held my car for almost two weeks. The dealership said that it May be something intermittent but failed to fix the issue. The dealership released my car to me and the engine power reduced returned the next day. The car is currently out of commission.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Impala. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,150.
Acceleration complaints in other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2006 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2006 Chevrolet Impala, 8% of the model year's 524 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Chevrolet Impala acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2006 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 2006 Chevrolet Impala acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 94,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury 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.