2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    transmission automatic

    8 unsafe

    8
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, ROUGH SHIFT AND BUCKING BACK AND FORTH. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AT LOW SPEEDS AND IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AS WELL AS HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHEN PASSING."~38,000 mi, complaint #1684060
    • "GEARS SKIPPING AND SHRUDDERING BETWEEN 2ND AND 4TH GEAR. CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED ENGINE MOUNTS REPLACES WHICH WAS A FALSE DIAGNOSE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSING, THEY REVEALED THAT MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR 6200$. I PAID THE…"~71,300 mi, complaint #1697273
    • "The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but was inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle…"~98,000 mi, complaint #2020364
  2. #2

    airbag system

    6 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=8)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH A DEER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDE…"~2,000 mi, complaint #1495254
    • "FREIGHTED: AIRBAG WARNING ON DASH CAME ON, BELLS STARTED MAKING NOSE IN CAR AND GOT ONSTAR ALERT THAT AIRBAG MALFUNCTION TO GET IT TO DEALERSHIP ASAP. EVEN IF PUSH DISMISS BUTTON COMES BACK ON. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND GOT AN APPOINTMENT: TODAY DEALERSHIP SAYS IT…"~62,100 mi, complaint #1678216
    • "ON 16TH JULY 2020 WHILE DRIVING BELL SOUNDS WENT OFF IN MY CAR, ON DASH AIRBAG WARNING CAME ON AND GOT AN ONSTAR ALERT THAT AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. ONSTAR SAID TO GET IT TO DEALERSHIP ASAP. YESTERDAY 20TH JULY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG M…"~62,125 mi, complaint #1678565
    • "The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that recently, the driver’s side air bag deployed while the vehicle was parked and unattended overnight. Prior to the failure, the air bag warning light had illuminated while driving. The local deale…"~116,000 mi, complaint #2118153
  3. #3

    brake hydraulics

    5 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "THE CAR WAS STOPPED ON A PARKING LOT EXIT RAMP. WHEN THE CAR AHEAD OF ME MOVED FORWARD I TOOK MY FOOT OF OF THE BRAKE SO I COULD MOVE FORWARD. WHEN I APPLIED THE BREAK TO STOP, THE BREAKS DID NOT WORK AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME."~17,000 mi, complaint #1622869
    • "IN FEBRUARY 2019 I PURCHASED A 2018 CHEVY IMPALA PREMIER, UPON DRIVING THE CAR I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING LIKE MY 2018 CHEVY CAMARO BUT I CHUCKED IT UP TO THE CAR BEING HEAVIER AND PAID IT NO ATTENTION. FOR MONTHS I HAVE BEEN THINKING THAT MAYB…"~40,000 mi, complaint #1600413
    • "OCTOBER 10TH, I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS LITERALLY AN ENTIRE CAR LENGTH BACK DRIVING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AT 50-55 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP ON THE FREEWAY. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES BUT MY CAR SLID STRAIGHT INTO THE BA…"~47,439 mi, complaint #1611863
    • "I WAS DRIVING AND LADY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT RAIL ROAD TRACK AND I COULDN'T STOP I RAN INTO THE BACK OF HER"~53,000 mi, complaint #1588948
  4. #4

    steering electric assist

    5 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while attempting to straighten the wheels while in the driveway, the contact discovered that the steering wheel was inoperable. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a dealer…"~26,473 mi, complaint #2060764
  5. #5

    ac compressor and refrigerant

    1 unsafe, 1 broken, 2 annoyance

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A STRANGE ODOR WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE INTO CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER (RACEWAY CHEVROLET LOCATED AT [REDACTED ADDRES…"~39,000 mi, complaint #1685907
    • "WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE ON PUBLIC ROADWAY WHILE UTILIZING THE AC FUNCTION, THE AC EVAPORATOR CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED UNDER THE DASH, STARTLING THE DRIVER & PASSENGER, AND EXPOSING THEM TO HIGH LEVELS OF 1234YF REFRIGERANT IN THE ENCLOSED CABIN. THE AC SYSTEM S…"~45,365 mi, complaint #1662995
  6. #6

    engine stall or no start

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "THIS WAS A HERTZ RENTAL CAR I PICKED UP AT THE ORLANDO, FL AIRPORT. JUNE 2, 2019. THERE WAS NO OPERATORS MANUAL IN THE CAR. IT WAS 10 PM AND I HAD TO DRIVE 90 MILES TO MY DESTINATION. ABOUT [REDACTED ADDRESS] TO CHECK OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED TO CLEAR THE…"~28,174 mi, complaint #1577755
  7. #7

    backup camera

    2 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "FROM DECEMBER 22 THRU 27, 2018 I RENTED THIS 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA (CALIFORNIA [REDACTED PLATE]) FROM HERTZ AT THE HOTEL DEL CORONADO, CORONADO, CA. FOR THE FIRST 4 OR 5 BACKUPS THE REVERSE CAMERA DISPLAY WORKED PROPERLY. THAT IS IT CAME ON WHEN I SHIFTED IN…"~10,843 mi, complaint #1538579
  8. #8

    evap system

    1 unsafe, 1 broken, 1 annoyance

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while the A/C was activated during the summer of 2025, the A/C failed to function as intended. The contact stated that hot air was blowing through the vents. No warning lights were illuminated.…"~60,000 mi, complaint #2191858
  9. #9

    lighting exterior

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED SHE NOTICED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE DRIVER'S AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HOUSINGS AND CAUSING THE ILLUMINATION TO BE REDUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER NIMNICHT CHEVROLET L…"~44,000 mi, complaint #1706291
  10. #10

    tire failure

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TIRES-TIRES KEEP LOSING AIR PRESSURE, THEY APPEARED NEW BUT WHEN TESTED PROBLEMS WAS FOUND, THEY WERE WORE TO THE OUTSIDE AS IF ALIMENT WAS NEEDED, NEW TIRES WAS PURCHASED ELECTRICAL/BATTERY-THERE IS A FREQUENT SHUT DOWN OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, WHILE DRIVING…"~52,600 mi, complaint #1609644
  11. #11

    abs module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while reversing slowly, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed and continued rolling backwards. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to depress…"~122,690 mi, complaint #2117155
  12. #12

    adas adaptive cruise

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) ISSUES SCENARIO 1 FIRST DAY I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. AS I WOULD IN ANY OF MY OTHER 100 + CARS I'VE OWNED, I HELD THE CRUISE CONTROL 'SET' BUTTON EXPECTING THE SPEED TO GRADUALLY DECREASE. THE IMPALA MUCH TO MY S…"complaint #1516413
  13. #13

    adas blind spot

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "SIDE DETECTION DEVICE NOT WORKING. CAR WAS PURCHASED IN JUNE AT A REPUTABLE DEALER. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT SAYING THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT THE SENSOR IS CORRODED. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER CASES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. "~50,000 mi, complaint #1607033
  14. #14

    adas collision warning

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "THE FORWARD COLLISION ALERT SYSTEM WHICH IS STATED TO WORK OVER 40 MPH DOES NOT GIVE ADEQUATE WARNING AT ANY SETTING. THE SYSTEM SHOWS A GREEN ICON WHEN FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE ICON CHANGES TO AMBER WHEN FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE EXTREMELY CLOSE (WAY T…"~1,200 mi, complaint #1505437
  15. #15

    battery and charging

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "IF THE CAR HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR LONG PERIOD OF TIME AN HOUR OR MORE WHEN THE AUTO STOP KICKS ON THE WHOLE CAR TURNS OFF. USUALLY AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT. IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE TO LET IT SIT OFF FOR A COUPLE MINUTES AND RESTART AND JERKS HARD…"complaint #1697877
  16. #16

    control module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, WENT TO TOUCH THE HAZARD BUTTON BUT PUSHED THE ENGINE START/ STOP BUTTON INSTEAD. ENGINE SHUT OFF. HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, ENGAGE BRAKE, PUT TRANSMISSION INTO PARK TO BE ABLE TO START CAR. THE HAZARD LIGHTS BUTTON IS WAAAYYY TO CLOS…"complaint #1427899
  17. #17

    heater core and blower

    1 broken

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Ii purchased the car new. at 3 years and 3 months the evaporator core failed dumping the Freon. I realize you stated the A/C is not a safety item but I read many complaint on this vehicle on the internet. I am a retired mechanic and the failure rate for eva…"complaint #1801581
  18. #18

    hv system fault reduced power

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "STABILITRACK AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME WITH A MESSAGE THAT SAID, 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED'. THIS OCCURRED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY SLOWED, BUT I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN A SPEED OF 55 MPH. I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE QU…"~19,820 mi, complaint #1516613
  19. #19

    other

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUES WITH DOOR LOCKS AND TIRES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH 3 WORN TIRES AND A KEY WITH A DEAD BATTERY. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A MOUNTAIN SIDE AND EXTREMELY HEAVY…"complaint #1724187
  20. #20

    power steering hydraulic

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Power steering suddenly went out when driving without any indication as to why. Took to dealership and very expensive to fix. Only had the car for 6 months"complaint #2005301
  21. #21

    stability and traction control

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "While driving from work the car did a quick jerk and the STABILITRAK, ABS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON ALL AT ONCE. As I pulled into my workplace the car lost power to the engine completely while displaying ACTION REQUIRED ON THE LCD SCREEN. The brake an…"complaint #1831504
  22. #22

    starter

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "I WENT TO THE STORE AND CAME OUT TO LEAVE. I ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR AND THE RADIO CAME ON, LIGHTS IN THE CAR FLASHED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN I TRIED AGAIN. THEN IT STARTED MAKING A CLICKING SOUND."complaint #1607631
  23. #23

    steering rack mechanical

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REVERSING THE VEHICLE AND PLACING THE GEAR SHIFTER IN DRIVE, THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENED AS THE "POWER STEERING, DRIVE WITH CARE" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE…"~74,000 mi, complaint #1698193
  24. #24

    tpms

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Tire pressure sensor system receiver (part of keyless entry system) will not collect info from individual tire pressure sensors in tires. Failure of this safety system would not provide and advance warning of low tire pressure."complaint #1927668
  25. #25

    trunk or liftgate

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK WAS CLOSED HOWEVER, FAILED TO LATCH SECURELY AND OPENED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARL BLACK CHEVROLET BUICK GMC ([REDACTED ADDRESS] NW, KENNESAW, GA…"~40,400 mi, complaint #1668269
  26. #26

    wheel bearing

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "THIS IS THE SECOND 2018 CHEVY IMPALA I'VE HAD AND THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTED. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS GRIND RIDICULOUSLY, AND I'M ONLY AT 48K MILES NOW. INITIALLY I REPORTED THIS ISSUE WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER 36K MFG WARRANTY AND NATUR…"complaint #1664673

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for CHEVROLET IMPALA directly.