Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 7% | — |
| 2019 | 2 | 7% | 3,000 miles |
| 2018 | 7 | 12% | 39,000 miles |
| 2017 | 21 | 18% | 48,000 miles |
| 2016 | 21 | 19% | 70,000 miles |
| 2015 | 19 | 6% | 71,000 miles |
| 2014 | 58 | 9% | 58,000 miles |
| 2013 | 32 | 12% | 48,000 miles |
| 2012 | 43 | 17% | 40,000 miles |
| 2011 | 134 | 27% | 77,000 miles |
| 2010 | 93 | 21% | 78,000 miles |
| 2009 | 199 | 24% | 88,000 miles |
| 2008 | 160 | 20% | 92,000 miles |
| 2007 | 106 | 17% | 89,000 miles |
| 2006 | 86 | 16% | 85,000 miles |
| 2005 | 61 | 10% | 98,000 miles |
| 2004 | 106 | 10% | 100,000 miles |
| 2003 | 168 | 24% | 100,000 miles |
| 2002 | 180 | 23% | 95,000 miles |
| 2001 | 188 | 25% | 90,000 miles |
| 2000 | 229 | 28% | 100,000 miles |
| 1996 | 10 | 11% | — |
| 1995 | 2 | 5% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I was sold a used car w/ undisclosed accidents. Had many issues within first few weeks. Had transmission cooler lines replaced after they burst. Radiator, compressor, condenser, and much more. Then the Airbag light came on. Dealership said connectors were bad. Fixed it. Light came on again.took it in to dealership. They had it for over two weeks. The GM for all the dealerships Told me the vehicle was not unsafe and told me lies. But the service girl confessed she no longer had access to my vehicle or my file and her boss and the Gm had taken over working on it. She then told me they pulled Ford model air bags from my Chevy Impala. Now the light has come on again. I do not feel safe or rust the dealership to fix it properly.
While driving from work the car did a quick jerk and the STABILITRAK, ABS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON ALL AT ONCE. As I pulled into my workplace the car lost power to the engine completely while displaying ACTION REQUIRED ON THE LCD SCREEN. The brake and steering wheel became stiff and it was hard to control the vehicle. It took 10 minutes for me to regain power and control over the vehicle that again after leaving work stopped on the highway.
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.
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.
The contact owned a 2016 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH and turning into a parking lot, the vehicle lost power and there was black smoke coming from the right side of the engine compartment. The contact then parked the vehicle and opened the hood, and there were flames coming from the engine compartment. The Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she was able to drive the vehicle; however, she noticed that smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe was dark blue. The contact stated that upon arriving at her residence, her husband depressed the OnStar On Demand Diagnostic button and the failure was diagnosed as an emission system failure. The contact notified the dealer of the failure and an appointment was scheduled for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 54,922. Consumer stated fluid leaking from underneath the car and steering noise coming from the steering wheel when turning.
The contact owned a 2015 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, turned off, and unoccupied, the front of the vehicle had caught fire. The fire was extinguished by the local fire department. The fire department indicated that the failure may have occurred due to a mechanical malfunction of the vehicle. The vehicle was consumed by the fire. A police report was not filed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 172,000
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while the vehicle was started, there was a loud clanking sound coming from the engine. Additionally, there was an abnormal gasoline odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was inspected by the contact who became aware of a gasoline leak coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the pressure pump needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with catalytic converter failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.
Related recalls (3)
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and gasket.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manufactured April 7, 2003, to…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge.
Engine and engine cooling
General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 Buick regal, my 1998-2003 Chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 Oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 Pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine's plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge.
NHTSA investigations
Inadvertent engine stalling
There is no summary currently available
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Impala years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (229), 2009 (199), 2001 (188), 2002 (180) and 2003 (168) model years. Engine complaints make up 28% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Impala engine problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 15V-701 (manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe, Oct 26, 2015); 15V-201 (engine, Apr 6, 2015); 09V-116 (engine and engine cooling, Apr 8, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Impala engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 87,000 miles; 21% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (96 mentions), followed by the cooling system (82).
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.