Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Chevrolet Impala owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that on various occasions while driving at night, the headlights failed to illuminate properly, and the roadway was not adequately illuminated. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the failure could not be duplicated, and no repairs were completed. The vehicle was then taken to Columbia Chevrolet (9750 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45242) where it was diagnosed that the headlight assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000. The consumer stated he replaced both headlights assemblies.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that he became aware that water was entering through the taillights into the trunk. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the seals and both taillight gaskets to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the contact became aware that the truck was corroded. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 61,617.
I have always kept my Impala in my garage until recently I started keeping my grandson a few days a week. When I am at that home my car is parked in a driveway open to the elements. About a month after starting I notice that my car started having what I would describe as an electronic issue. The seat belt alarm would go off without me ever touching my seat belt. I have also had to replace my tail lights in my vehicle twice since this started. Then when I packed for a trip yesterday I noticed an awful smell in my trunk. I could not find the source, so I took everything out of my trunk and opened the spare tire compartment which was completely filled with water! I found a Product Bulletin on this. Chevrolet #14047. But it is NOT A RECALL. WHY IS THAT? IT IS CLEARLY AN ERROR ON THEIR PART! CAN YOU EXPLAIN PLEASE?
The HID headlight beam of the 2015 Chevrolet Impala lt is very poor. The beam of light in the low setting provides no illumination to the sides of the road, forward illumination is marginal. I contend that when the 2015 Impala lights are on the high or "bright" setting it is comprabale to the low beam setting in my 2012 Impala. In moderate to heavy weather, rain, sleet, snow the headlights offer no assistance, driver is navigating blind, can not even see the lines on the road. I live and drive primarily in a rural area, along with the weather conditions there are many wildlife hazards. I have experienced several close encounters with wildlife and two impacts, one with a deer causing substantial damage to my car. I simply can not see anything until it is directly in front of the car. …
Water leak in trunk due to fail taillight seal that can cause electric issue and mold mildew which is a safety health issue. Https://www.impalaforums.com/threads/2015-ltz-water-in-trunk.1299889/ https://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/345533/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swmzhhaxn5o
The design of the headlights is faulty. The reflectors behind the bulbs do not project sufficient illumination of the road ahead, nor does it illuminate the left and right corners. I estimate that the very dim lights are good for 30-ft ahead at most, and they are so dim that they are almost useless when driving in am and pm hours. Switching to high-beams barely makes a difference. In fact, I always drive with the high beams on when driving in the dark, and have never had an oncoming vehicle flash its lights at me in attempt to get me to swiych to the low-beams. Further, turning corners in the dark is dangerous, as there is virtually no illumination of the corners by the headlights. All of this is exacerbated significantly when the pavement is wet and when it's raining. …
Lt model. Headlights are extremely inadequate such that they represent a hazard when driving on unlit roads. They send forward a focused beam with no light covering the sides or overhead. This makes it very difficult to turn on to a side road because there is no illumination of the road you are turning onto until you have actually made the turn. It is also easy to miss exit ramps. Overhead signs and signs at the sides of exits are usually unreadable. The low beams actually have a shutter covering the top of the bulb (I guess that's what makes them low beams) so objects much above the level of the top of the car are not illuminated. When driving on hilly country roads, the cutoff on top makes the approaching hill just about invisible. When driving in the rain, it is nearly impossible to see lane markings, etc. …
Extremely disappointed and shocked while driving at night for the first time on a country road in this vehicle. The projector beam halogens utterly fail to illuminate the roadway in a manner any competent driver would consider to be adequate or most importantly safe! Dealer of course says this is "factory" and considered normal. I have concluded that this headlight design is adequate for most urban (semi lighted) highway but necessarily dangerous for rural drivers. I will be on the lookout for a newly designed headlamp offering from GM. My fix is to intentionally aim the (low beams) extremely low and just use the (high beams) full time which at least allows all the available light to be utilized with no ill affect to oncoming drivers since the beam is so dim! Oh, also it seems there are no provisions (adjustability) that I can see for side to side aiming?
Side object detection system failed 1st (2/2018). See attachment from engineering at my former employer (gmpg). 2nd issue: dash illumination goes back & forth from normal to extremely bright, dimming inop. 3rd issue safety...when vehicle is started, error messages for airbag, side object detection, front & rear camera-HVAC completely inop. Radio inop-begins working after electric faceplate lifted on radio. HVAC & airbag remain inop. Asked dealership about side object issue- they have no info on this. Additional problems started 2/13/2019. When starting with rke, side object lights in mirror illuminated sitting in a parking lot. They have not illuminated while driving in over a year. No heat or defrost working-big safety issue in winter weather.
The sensors for the blind spot indicators are susceptible to erosion and gunk-invasion, causing the blind spot indicators to quit working. Presently, the drivers side indicator doesn't work at all, and the passenger side indicator stays on all the time, even when the car is parked in my garage. My Chevrolet dealership tells me to replace the box containing the wires for the sensors is $500 per side, and both have quit working, and that the replacement part is the same as the original, which means this will happen again. I am told the box containing the electronics for the sensors is not sealed properly, and that my dealership has replaced a large number of them on these vehicles.
Headlight complaints in other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2015 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the lights of the 2015 Chevrolet Impala, 7% of the model year's 300 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2015 Chevrolet Impala headlight problems?
No. NHTSA lists no lights recall for the 2015 Chevrolet Impala, though it has 3 recalls 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 2015 Chevrolet Impala headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 37,000 miles, and 50% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to lights 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.