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2018 Chevrolet Impala problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
33%
17 of 51 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

33% of relevant owner complaints on the 2018 Chevrolet Impala are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 8 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 29%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2018 Chevrolet Impala have transmission problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 17 of 51 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Impala concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%), and the largest group is filed under power train (11). For comparison, the 2017 scores 37% and the 2019 scores 36%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
17
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
59
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
6 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER16 · 27%
POWER TRAIN11 · 19%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11 · 19%
SERVICE BRAKES8 · 14%
STEERING7 · 12%
ENGINE7 · 12%

The years either side

2010
46%
156 of 441
2011
41%
194 of 505
2012
34%
77 of 258
2013
24%
60 of 272
2014
17%
92 of 636
2015
17%
41 of 300
2016
54%
455 of 890
2017
37%
34 of 116
2018
33%
17 of 59
2019
36%
8 of 28
2020
too few complaints
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2018 Chevrolet Impala

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN06/26/2026
The transmission failed, shifting is no longer smooth. It hesitates and shakes the entire car, and the car slows down to almost a crawl uphill. I understand this is an issue with Chevrolet Impalas. So now I have an $8200 bill for a problem I was never told about, and that GM knew that it existed. So, yes, the issue …

One of 17 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Chevrolet Impala?

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Chevrolet Impala, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper18V576000 · Aug 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2018 Chevrolet Impala? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2018 Chevrolet Impala

Does the 2018 Chevrolet Impala have transmission problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 17 of 51 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Impala concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Chevrolet Impala?

No. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Chevrolet Impala, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Chevrolet Impala years are better?

Among the Chevrolet Impala years we track, the 2014 (17%), the 2015 (17%) and the 2013 (24%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (33%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2018 Chevrolet Impala?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2018 Chevrolet Impala has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.