2018 Chevrolet Impala: engine and transmission complaints
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 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 8 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 29%).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
What owners 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 …
POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS,ENGINE11/16/2024
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. The…
POWER TRAIN10/01/2024
Since vehicle purchase in 2018 there is a shifting problem with the transmission. I have paid for shifter repairs and still the problem exist. While driving the car gets stuck in gear and hard to accelerate. The issue happens at various times without warning. There has been two instances that could have led to potenti…
Three of 17 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (1)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
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 vehicle…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2018 Chevrolet Impala
Ask the seller whether the transmission has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many transmission faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the transmission.
1 recall campaign on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A transmission already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
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.