2005 Chevrolet Impala Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Impala.

20042006
Complaints
809
Crashes
62
Fires
20
Injuries
50
Fatalities
Recalls
1

Worst 2005 Chevrolet Impala Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1218 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:92,048 mi
Crash-related:7
Fires:7
#291 complaints

Instrument Cluster

Avg mileage:87,845 mi
#352 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:83,396 mi
Crash-related:6
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2005 Chevrolet Impala.

Electrical Faults
218
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
7
Avg Miles
92,048
Instrument Cluster
91
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
87,845
Steering Defects
52
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
Avg Miles
83,396
Transmission / Drivetrain
39
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
102,446
Headlight/Taillight Failures
34
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
87,218
Engine Problems
30
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
2
Avg Miles
128,805
Airbags
25
complaints
Crashes
18
Fires
Avg Miles
89,784
Gasoline Fuel System
23
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
82,405
Unintended Acceleration
23
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
113,956
Engine & Cooling
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
80,961
Brakes
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
132,056
Fuel System
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
109,284
Electrical System:Ignition
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
60,079
Automatic Transmission
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
40,479
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
69,823
Electronic Stability Control
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
127,000
Hydraulic Brakes
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
53,506
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
50,562
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
68,029
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
34,084
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
56,174
Electrical System:Horn
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
68,460
Structural Problems
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
88,078
Visibility
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
80,750
Wipers & Visibility
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
124,629
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
117,306
Other Equipment
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
59,969
Seat Belt Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
125,262
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
30,927

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Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2005 Chevrolet Impala. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2005 Chevrolet Impala

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~5,877,718 vehicles.

14V400000Electrical System:ignition
~5,877,718 affected

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.

Other Chevrolet Impala Years

2005 Chevrolet Impala — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2005 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2005 Chevrolet Impala has 809 NHTSA complaints, 62 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 218 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2005 Chevrolet Impala?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (218 complaints, avg 92,048 mi); Instrument Cluster (91 complaints, avg 87,845 mi); Steering Defects (52 complaints, avg 83,396 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2005 Chevrolet Impala?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 90,120 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2005 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Impala include 62 crash-related reports, 20 fire reports, 50 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2005 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 5,877,718 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2005 Chevrolet Impala?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Impala reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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