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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
75,159 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Chevrolet Impala electrical problems

electrical problem

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2005 Chevrolet Impala Owner Comments (Page 6 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #118

May 012012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Speedometer and temperature on the instrument cluster read eradicate at all speeds. When I went to a mechanic he said he was changing 3 to 5 of these a week. Just think hundreds of thousands or maybe millions of vehicles on the road with no clue as to how fast they are going. It's not just this make and model GM has a lot of them. There are many businesses that are rebuilding these instrument clusters because of the failures. Check it out on the internet. When is GM going to be made to correct there faulty products?

- Menominee, MI, USA

problem #117

Aug 012011

Impala 6-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
From stop I would step on the gas, and the car would slam into gear. I have had to have the electrical cluster replaced $300, and the fuel control replaced (car always smelt like gas) now they think this slam is the tcc valve in the transmission which is anywhere from $600-$900. Also the steering knuckle makes a loud noise on sharp turns. Whats next" are any of these issues recalls"

- New Era, MI, USA

problem #116

Sep 032012

Impala

  • 118,000 miles
Speedometer was first off by 5 miles then worked, few months later you would be driving 30 and it would say 60 then it would work fine at random last time it actually spun around and the pointer was all the way down to the gear information. After that the heat gage would read at max temp but the temperature was fine and then it to stopped working. Replaced the cluster for around $350.

- Elysain, MN, USA

problem #115

Jul 182012

Impala

  • 59,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the instrument panel cluster was inoperable and would fail mostly when driving during evening hours. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed a diagnostic test but to no avail. The dealer also could not duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified and advised the contact to take the vehicle back to the dealer for another diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 59,600.

- Guiton, GA, USA

problem #114

Oct 032012

Impala

  • 68,000 miles
I am the original owner of a 68K miles 2005 Chevy Impala. The car was parked at my place of employment for the 8 hrs. My work hours ended and I started the car to proceed home. I pressed the sunroof switch to make it automatically open. It did not open. Smoke started to fill the passenger compartment and I noticed a flicker coming from the headliner. It was a flame. I tapped the headliner to make it go out and exited the car and removed my keys from the ignition upon exiting.

- Parma, OH, USA

problem #113

Sep 042012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 86,580 miles
Speedometer wasn't registering any speed at all when car was movin approximately 50 mph. Next day, speedometer was reading approximately 30mph faster than probably traveling (90-100mph) on city streets. Dealer estimates about $275 for parts, and $190 for labor to fix instrumentation panel.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #112

Jun 282012

Impala

  • 107,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala ls. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the speedometer fluctuated continuously. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #111

Jun 102010

Impala

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the gauges on the instrument panel did not display their proper readings. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer did not perform a diagnosis. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 92,000 and the current mileage was 120,000. The VIN was not available.

- Tumwater, WA, USA

problem #110

May 142012

Impala 6-cyl

  • miles
Horn was working fine and it was nice and loud always sounded like a tractor trailer horn. Then the horn started getting weaker and sounding like a regular horn then the horn just quit working. This happen within two weeks time. Replaced fuses but that didn't work.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #109

May 072012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 99,901 miles
I have had this car towed 4 times since March 2012. When the car decides to start and is driven for short destinations, it will not start. Problem is intermittent. Gives no warning of impending doom! cranks but will not start. On April 13, 2012 vehicle started after having set in driveway for a week or more. I drove it to nearest dealer, merollis Chevrolet. After 7 days, dealer requested I pick-up vehicle because it started each day and they could not diagnose. Fearful of a repeat performance, I drove car home and parked it. Several days later, car failed to start. Following day 5/7/12, car would not start. Towed car to james martin Chevrolet. They cannot diagnose because it has started daily for dealer. Our world is too dangerous for anyone to drive a car that will leave them stranded for unknown reason. This is a life and death issue. Help!

- Detroit,, MI, USA

problem #108

Mar 172012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 33,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I'm not sure what this would be classified under but here's the description. The gauges go haywire, I.e. the speedometer just keeps going up even if you slow down - until it goes almost all the way around again. It normally stops at the bottom like at the 200 degree position if on a 360 degree view. This has been happening on my car since around the 30K mileage. Starting just last week [March 2012], now the temperature gauge is starting to do the same thing. It started running "hot", [but not really] so I immediately shut down my car, called my mechanic, etc. The temp gauge also went all the way around and sometimes stays there, sometimes it comes back around to normal. Upon restarting the car, the temp gauge would start coming back down in segments - turning the ignition switch on/off would make the gauges come back down to normal in notches or spaced increments. Now I'm running my car without knowing the proper speed and also not sure if my car is really overheating or not.

- Inwood, WV, USA

problem #107

Dec 242010

Impala

  • 58,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the speedometer and the entire instrument panel failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was advised that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 58,000 and the current mileage was 85,456.

- Abbyville, AL, USA

problem #106

Feb 162012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 140,920 miles
This report is about sudden and repeated headlight electrical system failure in a 2005 Chevrolet Impala sedan, and a request for a nationwide safety recall and repair at GM expense for this issue. After getting in my 2005 Impala sedan at approximately 4:55 pm on 16 February 2012, I started up and drove out on the road then I smelled burning plastic and noticed the headlights (low beam) were out. I tried the high beams and they worked as did the left and right turn signals, the windshield wiper controls and the cruise control functioned. As darkness increased I had to hold the switch in the high beam position so I could see to drive so I could get home. From what I could determine the problem seems to be in the wiring to/from the multifunction light control switch or maybe it is the switch itself on the steering column. The fuses and relays and the all seemed to be in working order but the low beam lights still did not work. This failure is extremely dangerous and happens without warning. This is the second time this has happened to me now. With dealer parts cost for a replacement multifunction light switch at $350 alone, not to mention labor costs and the criticality of lights while driving means this should be a required safety recall item. I have searched mechanical forums on this subject and there are many such occurrences documented, but GM does not seem to think there is a common problem or a reason to investigate and fix the malfunction. This problem is common knowledge at GM dealerships nationwide. Smelling burning plastic is an indication of a serious electrical problem which could lead to an onboard fire in the car in addition to causing injury and or death from a sudden light outage at night. Again, I request a nationwide safety recall and repair be initiated as it appears to be a manufacturing defect and an extreme safety issue.

- Tumwater, WA, USA

problem #105

Jan 182012

Impala

  • 70,000 miles
Several types of GM vehicles (approx 2000-2008) have severe leaking and decay problems like my Chevy Impala shows currently. I noticed early February 2012 when my factory speakers stopped working all together. The radio sound didn't get through, door chimes didn't work, safety and warning chimes didn't make noise, etc. A warning chime didn't signal for me to turn off my lights on a rainy day at a grocery store so that when I came back, I was stranded! this however isn't the big problem. This leak under the cowl seems to be prominent in many other vehicles and allowed gallons to enter in under my rugs, floor mats etc., and travel all over the passenger cabin so that wires were submerged, corroded, mold grew, and airbag sensor hubs became islands. Yes my airbag sensors and wiring are submerged with water! please have GM recall this common problem to fix this! my car smells terrible inside from this (especially in the summer) and more importantly, I am worried that my airbags will malfunction. Thank you.

- Lansdale, PA, USA

problem #104

Jan 202012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 161,500 miles
The temperature gauge, fuel gauge, and speedometer have gone completely haywire! the temperature gauge goes to hot and buzzes but my car is no where near hot. I don't know if my tank is full or empty because the gauge is always on the bottom. I don't know how fast I'm going because my speedometer is stuck on 120. The dealership knows that this is a common problem but they insist on charging $500 or more to fix it...just own up and do the recall!!

- Violet, LA, USA

problem #103

Jan 182012

Impala

  • 128,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. While driving approximately 60 mph, the speedometer reading would not decrease when decelerating. The speedometer reading fluctuated erratically. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.

- Dassel, MN, USA

problem #102

Dec 012011

Impala 6-cyl

  • 10,400 miles
Driving at approximately 60 mph on the freeway, the speedometer advanced to the bottom of the gauge, then stuck there. The only way I can reset it is to turn the ignition off and on, and sometimes that does not work.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #101

Dec 072011

Impala 6-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
2005 Chevy Impala. First had an electrical problem with the ABS brake system. Traction control feature would engage whenever the brake was applied. This occurred at 30,000 miles. Dealer warranted this. At about 80,000 miles the display panel indicated erroneous problems, ie. Truck open when not. The lights would flash off and on indicating all kinds of issues when none existed. Also the speedometer began to work erratically. The speedometer would indicate speeds of 30-60 mph higher than actual driving speed. Turning the car off/on would gradually lower and reset the speedometer. This occurs randomly with no real pattern. Seems to be electrical in nature. Also could present a safety issue.

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #100

Jun 082010

Impala

  • miles
The speedometer just stopped working, the transmission shift hard but when you shut off the engine and start it back up it stops shifting hard, and the car stalls.

- Harlem, GA, USA

problem #99

Aug 102011

Impala

  • 87,000 miles
The speedometer has gone haywire. You cannot tell how fast you are going. The RPM gauge is going haywire as well. It jumps all over the place. Took the car to the dealership but wouldn't you know it the warranty expired with no written notice from warranty company. The clusters are the root of all the problems and Chevrolet needs to recall to repair the issues described. Another alarming problem with the 2005 Chevy Impala I own is what is called the passlock protection. It also does not work at times and I had to find out ways to bypass the passlock on youtube. This could turn into a dangerous situation if you need to start you car in an emergency and you cant because the passlock will not let you turn on the car. Sometimes you have to wait ten minutes with the key in a certain position. That is totally not acceptable.

- Harlingen, TX, USA

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