2005 Chevrolet Impala: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 609 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (48% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · 1 new complaint in the last 90 days · latest recall Jul 2014
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 609 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“On XXX in [XXX], while at a complete stop, without cause or prior warning, airbags violently deployed causing property damage to the entire instrument panel and windshield, and bodily injuries. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2026
“The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel became inoperable. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Dec 2024
“When traveling down a steep incline the front driver and passenger side airbags went off. There was no collision with anything, also there's no damage to the car aside from the airbags themselves.”Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2024
Show 7 more owner reports
“The car shuts off while driving. Loose power steering hazardous while turning at higher speeds... dangerous for. Vehicles in front or back . The car also jumps or jolts when driving. And looses power causing severe loss of control especially when icy or snow road conditions.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jan 2023
“The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55-60 MPH, suddenly there was an abnormal wind sound inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the sunroof had detached from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed of a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.”Owner report · Visibility · Jun 2022
“I was on my way to work and I was trying to turn into my job and I made it about half way into the parking lot where part of my car was sti'll in the road when my car just shifted down into neutral and would not go back into drive so I ended up having to be towed into the parking lot by a young man that stopped to help gi've me a hand to get my car out of the road I was on a major street that gets travelse alot and it was driving just fine until I went to turn into my job and it just quit shifting period”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2021
“Transmission has hard shifting after engine warms up, only has 44,000 miles on it. Stop and go traffic seems to start the problem faster than highway driving.”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet impala. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the brake fluid warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the brake line was rusted and leaking brake fluid. The mechanic contacted an unknown local dealer for the replacement parts. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 150,886.”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Oct 2020
“When I go to turn on my car it does not turn on. It takes a couple tries to get the car started. On top of that problem the car is now jolting when I accelerate. I've had the car for only a year and have taken excellent care of it and beforehand it was at a dealership. I am very concerned since I have young children going in my car and it's my transportation to make my income.”Owner report · Engine · Jan 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet impala. The contact stated that the battery was drained due to an emergency warning light that remained illuminated after the vehicle was turned off. The emergency light by the radio system comes on and drains the vehicle's battery. The contact also stated that there was an abnormal clicking sound in the steering. The contact stated that the power steering became inoperable while attempting to park the vehicle. The dealer performance chevrolet (3222 beverly pike, elkins, wv 26241, (304) 591-1077) stated the diagnostic fee was $100 per hour. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 134,000. The VIN was invalid.”Owner report · Electrical System · Dec 2019
When filing, owners marked a crash in 39 of these complaints and injuries in 32 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WELD CONNECTING THE INNER TUBE TO THE OUTER TUBE MAY BE DEFECTIVE.
Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.
Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-2492 AND PRESS 5.
How other years compare
Check your exact Impala by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
NHTSA has 609 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The most complained-about area is electrical system (48% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2005 Chevrolet Impala problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 77,540 miles or less.
Does the 2005 Chevrolet Impala have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning steering. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.