Chevrolet Impala recall history
Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the Chevrolet Impala, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.
Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)
At a Glance
Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
Ask About This Model
Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the Chevrolet Impala. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Chevrolet Impala, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
- Coverage spans model years 1963–2020 with 106 recall campaigns and 15174 complaints in NHTSA data.
- Years with the most recall activity: 2014 (12), 2001 (7), and 2000 (7).
- Years with the most complaint volume: 2004 (1372), 2009 (1365), and 2008 (1203).
- Top recall themes: Brakes, Airbags, and Seats and restraints.
- Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Electrical system, Engine, Steering.
- Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
- Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Brakes
12 campaigns · Years: 1973–1974, 1976, 1979–1981, 2004, 2014–2015, 2018–2019These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.
Airbags
8 campaigns · Years: 2000–2003, 2009–2010, 2014–2015These campaigns relate to airbag system components and deployment/airbag readiness issues.
Seats and restraints
7 campaigns · Years: 1971–1972, 1977–1979, 2000–2001, 2009–2010These campaigns relate to seats, belts, airbags restraint integration, or child restraint anchoring components.
Steering and suspension
7 campaigns · Years: 1965, 1974, 1977, 2008–2012, 2014These campaigns relate to steering or suspension components that can affect vehicle control or stability.
Engine and cooling
5 campaigns · Years: 1965–1969, 2000–2004These campaigns relate to engine or cooling components where failures can lead to stalling or overheating risk.
Fuel and emissions
4 campaigns · Years: 1982, 2000–2001, 2007These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.
Electrical
3 campaigns · Years: 2000–2014These campaigns relate to wiring or electrical components that can cause warning lights, loss of function, or fire risk in some cases.
Most Reported Issues
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the Chevrolet Impala in NHTSA complaint data are Electrical system, Engine, Steering.
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.
| Model Year | Recalls | Complaints | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 23 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Steering, Air bags. |
| 2019 | 1 | 33 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Air bags, Power train. |
| 2018 | 1 | 85 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Power train, Engine. |
| 2017 | 0 | 134 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine, Air bags, Electrical system. |
| 2016 | 0 | 176 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine, Air bags. |
| 2015 | 3 | 429 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Steering, Lane departure: blind spot detection. |
| 2014 | 12 | 1011 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Steering, Electronic stability control (esc). |
| 2013 | 1 | 466 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakes, Electrical system. |
| 2012 | 3 | 420 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), Steering. |
| 2011 | 2 | 844 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electronic stability control (esc), Engine, Electrical system. |
| 2010 | 4 | 735 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Air bags, Engine. |
| 2009 | 5 | 1365 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags, Electrical system, Engine. |
| 2008 | 2 | 1203 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine, Steering. |
| 2007 | 2 | 929 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Steering, Engine. |
| 2006 | 1 | 802 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Steering, Power train. |
| 2005 | 1 | 809 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel, Steering. |
| 2004 | 4 | 1372 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel, Engine. |
| 2003 | 5 | 935 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine, Exterior lighting. |
| 2002 | 4 | 1073 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine, Exterior lighting. |
| 2001 | 7 | 959 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine, Engine and engine cooling. |
| 2000 | 7 | 1128 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine, Steering. |
| 1999 | 0 | 4 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Steering: steering wheel/handle bar, Power train:automatic transmission, Air bags. |
| 1998 | 0 | 4 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Steering:rack and pinion, Power train, Steering. |
| 1997 | 0 | 2 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Suspension, Tires. |
| 1996 | 0 | 120 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Steering:hydraulic power assist system, Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core, Tires. |
| 1995 | 0 | 64 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Tires, Electrical system:horn, Visibility:power window devices and controls. |
| 1994 | 0 | 19 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump, Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables, Vehicle speed control. |
| 1993 | 0 | 6 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers, Electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash, Latches/locks/linkages. |
| 1987 | 0 | 1 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Suspension:front:shock absorber. |
| 1985 | 0 | 1 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Tires:tread/belt. |
| 1983 | 1 | 3 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:anchorage, Structure:body:bumpers, Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal. |
| 1982 | 2 | 2 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:buckle assembly, Electrical system:wiring:front underhood. |
| 1981 | 2 | 2 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:starter assembly, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline. |
| 1980 | 3 | 0 | Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary. |
| 1979 | 3 | 2 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline:carburetor system, Suspension:front:springs:leaf spring assembly:u-bolt, leaf spring to axle. |
| 1978 | 3 | 0 | Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary. |
| 1977 | 3 | 1 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Trailer hitches. |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 | Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary. |
| 1974 | 3 | 0 | Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary. |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 | Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary. |
| 1972 | 2 | 0 | Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary. |
| 1971 | 4 | 0 | Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary. |
| 1969 | 4 | 5 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Suspension:front. |
| 1968 | 2 | 0 | Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary. |
| 1967 | 2 | 2 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Tires:tread/belt. |
| 1966 | 2 | 4 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections, Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan, Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery. |
| 1965 | 3 | 0 | Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary. |
| 1963 | 0 | 1 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Steering:hydraulic power assist:pump. |
| 1958 | 0 | 1 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Tires. |
What to Do Next
- Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
- If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
- If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
Recall Evidence by Year
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved: Engine and engine cooling , Electrical system and Air bags
Other Chevrolet Models
Explore recall and complaint data for other Chevrolet models.
- 3500 2016–2023
- 3500HD 2016–2019
- 4500 2016–2023
- 4500HD 2017–2027
- 4500XD 2017–2027
- 5500HD 2016–2024
- 5500XD 2016–2027
- 6500XD 2017–2027
- 7500XD 2020–2027
- Avalanche 2002–2013
- Aveo 2004–2027
- B7 1991–2002
- Beretta 1985–1996
- Blazer 1981–2027
- Bolt EUV 2022–2023
- Bolt EV 2017–2023
- C6 1981–2009
- C7 1981–2009
- Camaro 1981–2027
- Caprice 1981–1996
- Captiva Sport 2010–2027
- Cavalier 1981–2005
- Celebrity 1984–1990
- Chevette 1981–1987
- Citation 1981–1985
- City Express 2015–2018
- Cobalt 2005–2010
- Colorado 2004–2027
- Corsica 1985–1996
- Cruze 2010–2027
- El Camino 1981–1988
- Equinox 2005–2027
- Express 1997–2027
- G-Series 1981–1996
- GMT-400 1987–2002
- HHR 2006–2011
- Lumina 1990–2001
- Lumina APV 1990–1996
- Malibu 1981–2027
- Malibu Classic 2004–2005
- Metro 1998–2001
- Monte Carlo 1981–2007
- Nova 1985–1988
- Onix 2021–2027
- Optra 2004–2009
- Orlando 2009–2027
- P - Series 1981–1994
- S-10 Pickup 1982–2005
- Silverado 1999–2027
- Silverado HD 2019–2027
- Sonic 2012–2027
- Spark 2008–2027
- SSR 2003–2006
- Suburban 1981–2027
- T-Series 1997–2009
- Tahoe 1995–2027
- Tracker 1995–2020
- Trailblazer 2002–2027
- Traverse 2009–2027
- Trax 2013–2027
- Uplander 2005–2009
- Venture 1997–2005
- Volt 2011–2027
- W4 1981–2027
- W7 1981–2027
⚠️ Important Safety Information
Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.