Most common 2010 Chevrolet Impala problems
Share of the 442 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Impala complaints by model year
Best Impala years: 2020, 2019, 2018. Years to avoid: 2008, 2009, 2004. Compare all years →
2010 Chevrolet Impala recalls (4)
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 25, 2008 through February 16, 2010. The front passenger seat frame may contact and damage the wires of the passenger presence sensor module.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will double wrap the wires with anti-abrasion tape and replace damaged wires as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2016.
Electrical system › Ignition
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.
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.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Chevrolet Impala police vehicles because the front lower control arms may fracture. This safety recall does not include non-police Chevrolet Impala vehicles.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 21, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
GM is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet impalas for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages." the front safety belt webbing May not have been properly secured to the lap belt anchor pretensioner mounted to the side of the seat…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect both front safety belts for proper installation of the anchors to the pretensioners and, if necessary, reinstall the anchors. This service will be performed free of charge.
What 2010 Chevrolet Impala owners say
Electrical system all 132 →
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off and unattended in a parking lot. After about ten minutes, the contact was unlocking the vehicle and noticed fire inside the vehicle near the front of the vehicle near the radio and heater. The contact used a water bottle from the back seat to attempt to extinguish the fire. The fire was extinguished by a bystander using a fire extinguisher. There were no warning lights prior to the failure. There were no reported injuries. There was no police report filed, airbag deployment, or crash involved. The vehicle was towed to her residence. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 188,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound while starting and while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the grinding sound persisted after turning off the vehicle on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where unknown actuators located behind the dashboard were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
Air bags all 103 →
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The air bag warning light intermittently went on and off. The contact stated later that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was later taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a disconnected wiring harness. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under an unknown recall repair. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall associated with the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, she noticed the "Service Air bag System" warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the air bag seat sensor and side-impact sensor to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The manufacturer informed that contact that her VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V507000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 137,700.
Engine & cooling all 93 →
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front-end of the vehicle would lower and the front end was unstable. In addition, the check engine warning light would remain illuminated. The vehicle was also consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The engine fan had failed and the transmission was faulty. No further information was available. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
The car can have moments of power loss where the speedometer suddenly, erratically spikes while the tachometer slightly lags. It almost stalled my vehicle while transmission was in drive while stopped. It feels like dragging when the power loss occurs. This has occurred randomly for the past month, mostly during interstate driving with cruise control operating. It has happened the last six times I have driven, but the previous several times it did not occur. It also occurred in a similar random fashion for the prior two weeks. When it does occur it feels like power drain and deceleration that can last a second and this will occur several times during a twenty minute drive at 70mph. Mechanics at two shops seem confused and don't know where to begin except for a transmission fluid flush. That was completed and the problem has persisted. There are no related error codes. …
2010 Chevrolet Impala engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 29 / 22 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Chevrolet Impala a good car?
Based on 442 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Impala rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Impala at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Chevrolet Impala?
The electrical system — 132 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition. Next are the air bags (103) and engine & cooling (93).
How many recalls does the 2010 Chevrolet Impala have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2010 Chevrolet Impala, the most recent from July 5, 2016 (occupant classification). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Impala?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2019 and 2018. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2009 and 2004. See the full Chevrolet Impala years comparison.
At what mileage do 2010 Chevrolet Impala problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 74,000 miles; 27% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.