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Chevrolet Impala: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Chevrolet Impala problems by model year, from 3,520 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2016 (54%, 455 drivetrain complaints), 2010 (46%, 156 drivetrain complaints) and 2011 (41%, 194 drivetrain complaints). 7 of the 10 Chevrolet Impala years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2014 (17%), 2015 (17%) and 2013 (24%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2015 (17%) to 2016 (54%), up 37 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2016 drew the most drivetrain complaints (455 of 1,134 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Chevrolet Impala year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Impala | high | 46% | 156 | 441 | 2/10 | 4 |
| 2011 Impala | high | 41% | 194 | 505 | 3/10 | 2 |
| 2012 Impala | elevated | 34% | 77 | 258 | 6/10 | 3 |
| 2013 Impala | no elevated signal | 24% | 60 | 272 | 8/10 | 1 |
| 2014 Impala | no elevated signal | 17% | 92 | 636 | 10/10 | 12 |
| 2015 Impala | no elevated signal | 17% | 41 | 300 | 9/10 | 3 |
| 2016 Impala | high | 54% | 455 | 890 | 1/10 | 0 |
| 2017 Impala | elevated | 37% | 34 | 116 | 4/10 | 0 |
| 2018 Impala | elevated | 33% | 17 | 59 | 7/10 | 1 |
| 2019 Impala | elevated | 36% | 8 | 28 | 5/10 | 1 |
| 2020 Impala | too few to score | – | 4 | 15 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Chevrolet Impala years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Chevrolet Impala transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the Chevrolet Impala involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 17 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2014 | 14V092000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2014 |
16 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2010 | 10V480000 | seat belts: front: anchorage | 2010 |
| Aug 2011 | 11V398000 | steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections | 2012 |
| Aug 2012 | 12V377000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2010–2012 |
| May 2013 | 13V220000 | electrical system | 2014 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V355000 | electrical system: ignition | 2010–2014 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V409000 | steering | 2014 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V450000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2014 |
| Aug 2014 | 14V489000 | structure | 2014–2015 |
| Aug 2014 | 14V518000 | air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive | 2014 |
| Sep 2014 | 14V541000 | parking brake | 2014–2015 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V614000 | electrical system | 2014 |
| Feb 2015 | 15V085000 | parking brake | 2014 |
| Apr 2015 | 15V202000 | parking brake | 2014 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V465000 | air bags | 2014–2015 |
| Jul 2016 | 16V507000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2010 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V576000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2018–2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Chevrolet Impala
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Chevrolet Impala
What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Impala?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Chevrolet Impala years are the 2016 (54% of relevant complaints, high), the 2010 (46% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2011 (41% of relevant complaints, high). 7 of 10 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Impala?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Chevrolet Impala years are the 2014 (17%), the 2015 (17%) and the 2013 (24%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Chevrolet Impala have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 10 scored years, 1,134 of 3,101 relevant NHTSA complaints (37%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Is the Chevrolet Impala reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 7 of 10 Chevrolet Impala years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 37% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Chevrolet Impala?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Chevrolet Impala years we track, out of 17 in total: 14V092000 (Feb 2014, 2014). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.