Door Lock & Latch complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 2% | 40,000 miles |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% | 72,000 miles |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% | 0 miles |
| 2014 | 1 | 0% | 40,000 miles |
| 2011 | 1 | 0% | 42,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1 | 0% | 90,000 miles |
| 2009 | 22 | 3% | 42,000 miles |
| 2008 | 48 | 6% | 58,000 miles |
| 2007 | 6 | 1% | 73,000 miles |
| 2006 | 9 | 2% | 70,000 miles |
| 2005 | 2 | 0% | 66,000 miles |
| 2004 | 3 | 0% | 60,000 miles |
| 2003 | 12 | 2% | 56,000 miles |
| 2002 | 4 | 1% | 78,000 miles |
| 2001 | 1 | 0% | 90,000 miles |
| 2000 | 5 | 1% | 52,000 miles |
| 1995 | 1 | 2% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that upon open or closing the front driver's side door, he heard an abnormal sound. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard a howling sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a faulty door actuator. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. While attempting to unlock the vehicle, it failed to unlatch. The contact also stated that there was an abnormal burning odor inside the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to NHTSA. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 105,577. The VIN was invalid.
All door locks have stopped working. The doors will not lock or unlock with the remote or with the inside lock buttons on the interior door. Each door has to be manually locked and unlocked. When I purchased the car, when the transmission was placed in gear, the doors would automatically lock. The doors each have to be manually locked and unlocked. The only keyhole on the car is on the drivers door to unlock the car. There are numerous reports of this issue on the internet for the year models 2008 and 2009. The parts alone are $450 to $1,000. This is a major safety issue and should be a recall because: 1. The doors no longer automatically lock when the car is placed in gear. Automatic locks were most likely listed on the window sticker. 2. If a child is locked in the car, the door will not unlock with remote and can only be accessed from the drivers side door. 3. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the door locks malfunctioned. The contact stated that in order to open and close the vehicle they had to manually open the locks through the windows or adjust the seat to manually open the door. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician confirmed that the locks were defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 105,000. Ma 09/25 the consumer stated she was locked inside of the vehicle. Updated 01/28/16
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the front driver's door could not be opened from inside or outside the vehicle. The contact indicated that the locking mechanism would operate when pressing the door lock switch, but the door would remain locked and unable to open. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 124,000. Updated 7/26/18
Tl contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the brakes would squeak very loudly when the brake pedal was depressed. The dealer stated that the brakes were lubricated and should be fine. Two months later, the tire pressure sensor illuminated on the instrument panel. The dealer placed air into the tire and the sensor warning light illuminated again. The dealer stated that the sensor malfunctioned; therefore, it was replaced and recalibrated. The contact then began to hear a rattling noise coming from the rear passenger side. The dealer stated that the bracket for the exhaust manifold malfunctioned and was repaired. The latch mechanism on the driver's side door malfunctioned and caused the door to shake rapidly while in motion. The dealer replaced the door latch. While driving 40 MPH, he suddenly depressed the brake pedal to avoid a crash on the interstate. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Impala. While the vehicle was stationary, the rear passenger door would not unlock when prompted. A dealer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the door was disassembled, but the vehicle was not repaired. There was no diagnosis of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 164,490.
I purchased the 2006 Impala in 11/2006 when stopping the steering and front end shakes and vibrates. 1st the keyless remotes stop working which included my automatic start not working that happened 12/7. I am a trooper so I waited took my car to the Chevy dealer 4/08 and they said there was a recall on the system so they fixed that and my tire monitoring system(which went out again on 12/1/08). My seatbelts wont lock in you have to force it hard several times and then still comes out on both the passenger and drivers side. My rear left door stop wrkg 6/08 1st the door would not close now it does not open at all. On 12/21/08 the power steering went out while driving at 55mph on the expressway. Also the heat stop working and the rear defrost 12/16/08 and it is freezing in chicago. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Impala years have door lock & latch problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (48), 2009 (22), 2003 (12), 2006 (9) and 2007 (6) model years. Door Lock & Latch complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Impala door lock & latch problems?
No. NHTSA lists no locks & latches recall for any Chevrolet Impala model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Impala door lock & latch problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles; 43% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the doors › latch (25 mentions), followed by the trunk lid › lock (7).
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.