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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
77,659 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2005 Chevrolet Impala Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #37

Feb 282021

Impala

  • miles

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

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

- Quinlan, TX, USA

problem #36

Oct 152020

Impala

  • 44,000 miles
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.

- Orland Park, IL, USA

problem #35

Oct 152018

Impala

  • 150,000 miles
Hi I purchased my Impala last year used and for about the first 6 months it ran fine...now electrical panel goes on the fritz dimming my lights and dashboard...power windows and mirrors not working... also ABS light and traction lights on consistently...traction randomly activates and car lighters just stopped working. Something is wrong with this specific model and it really needs to be recalled. Also turn key to start car and the car doesn't start so I do this 2-3 times to start car up...really needs to recall all 2005 Impala

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #34

Aug 092016

Impala 6-cyl

  • 140,745 miles

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

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. While driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle decelerated without warning, braked independently, and the steering wheel was out of control and made an abnormal noise. In addition, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road. The contact powered off the engine. Once it was restarted, the vehicle drove normally. In addition, while the gear was in park, the vehicle rolled forward independently. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 140,745. * consumer stated the car's battery drains quickly and when turning a loud knocking sound. Updated 11/19/18

- Earlimart, CA, USA

problem #33

Aug 252016

Impala

  • 196,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. While driving unknown speeds, the transmission would not shift into gear. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 196,000.

- Evansville, IN, USA

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problem #32

Jan 012016

Impala

  • 90,000 miles
From starting position to slowing driving the transmission slips and or jerks into gear heavily. From 1st to 2nd very noticeable.

- Menasha, WI, USA

problem #31

Sep 082016

Impala

  • miles

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

From a stopped position, trying to take off car acts as if I'm neutral and then will suddenly jerk into gear. The automatic hear shifts are rough and delayed. There's very little power or struggle to register when applying gas. When on fwy especially when in slow moving traffic there is a lot of problems with the transmission and slipping, rough gear shifts both up and down. Then the scary part is when driving with my 2 little girls and in regular or heavy traffic and making turns, especially left, I have had the car freeze up on me in the middle of intersections. When I try and accelerate I'm stuck as if I'm neutral and hear the engine revving and finally will violently like pop into gear. It's made me have a lot of safety issues for myself and children. It's very frustrating and problematic. With all these things happening the transmission nor check engine light has appeared, therefore making it tremendously difficult near impossible for me to have it properly diagnosed using scanner and computer reader. Every repair shop has given different "findings" after only a drive around the block. It's a nightmare.

- Gardena, CA, USA

problem #30

Aug 212015

Impala

  • 141,000 miles
Bought the car used 141,000 miles day after I bought it the transmission jerks really hard when taking off. I heard it was a common problem but it will cost $700 or more to fix.

- Idaho Falls, ID, USA

problem #29

Feb 012013

Impala

  • 65,000 miles
Transmission shifts hard and jerks upon take off intermittently.

- Mena, AR, USA

problem #28

Jan 062014

Impala

  • 59,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. While driving at 30 mph, the transmission slipped and suddenly started to jerk violently. The contact mentioned that the vehicle stalled several times. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The technician was not able to duplicate and diagnosed the failure. The vehicle was also taken to an authorized dealer who changed the transmission fluid and the filter. However, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic for further diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000.

- Cookevillle, TN, USA

problem #27

Dec 102014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 131,815 miles

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

As the original and only owner of this vehicle, this is the second iteration of a cracked flex plate. The first event and repair for $661.69 happened with 48,929 miles. The cracks appear to begin at the crankshaft mounting bolts and spread out to the stamped steel cutouts. It is a 3800 series II V-6 driven in normal manner and well maintained. I cannot understand why this happens...cheap flexplate??

- Tuttle, OK, USA

problem #26

Sep 182012

Impala

  • 95,000 miles
First, I had to replace the rack and pinion steering. Could have been the steering knuckle, don't know. Then, I was driving about dusk and the low beams went dark. The car has an automatic switch that moves the headlights from daytime mode to nighttime. Local mechanic called the GM dealer and spoke with a GM mechanic. The GM mechanic told him the turnstalk assembly was defective and that they frequently replaced them on Impala. I paid for both repairs out of pocket. Then, the heater would only work on the passenger side; heater blend door on driver's side was defective. Recently, I had the heater blend door repaired at my expense. Then, I had the transmission rebuilt at my expense. GM would not assist with any of these repairs even though service bulletins existed on all of these issues. Looking at online discussion boards for this car I found all of these issues with numerous owners. The transmission would slip when going from first to second gear and then began bumping in other owners. What a lemon this car has become.

- Oxford, NC, USA

problem #25

Aug 012014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 135,000 miles
When taking off from a stop, the car jerked instead of taking off smoothly. This seemed to happen at low speeds when car is shifting from one gear to another even though it has an automatic transmission. The safety risk here is that acceleration is not effected and a car could potentially hit you from behind especially at a stop sign/light.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #24

Aug 012012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
Over the last 2 years I have experienced numerous problems. The first problem was shifting of the vehicle which shifts very hard. The second problem was a lot of rust and needing to have body work done. Now with a little over 70,000 miles on the car it might not pass inspection next year because the body/frame is so rusted that it would cost more to have it fixed than the car is worth. The car is well taken care of so it is not for lack of caretaking on my part. The third problem is in the last 2 months periodically we can smell gas in the inside of the car, not exhaust fumes - gas. It's awful; nauseating and unbearable. This smell can also be detected outside of the vehicle. I worry about the health and safety of me and my family in this vehicle for these reasons. Also, at this point I am afraid to park the car in our attached garage for fear it could start a fire.

- Sipesville, PA, USA

problem #23

Nov 262013

Impala 6-cyl

  • 119,000 miles
When the Impala is at normal operating temperature the engine dies when you remove your foot off the accelerator as when approaching a stop sign. If the engine has not reached normal operating temperature this does not occur.

- Rusk, TX, USA

problem #22

Mar 142014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 159,345 miles
Driving down the road head wipers on wipers quit for no reason come to the stop sign tried turning it off and on a few times then once you take off the car would not move and then lunged forward and hit the person in front.

- Fenton, MO, USA

problem #21

Feb 012012

Impala 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
The transmission hesitates at stop and go traffic, tranny shop says it is a switch solenoid that is defective in the transmission itself. It is commonly reported by many consumers of this make, model and year. Seems to shift fine when driving on longer drives ie. Interstate driving. Could cause potential safety hazard when trying to pull out into traffic from stopped position.

- Mansfield, OH, USA

problem #20

May 082013

Impala 6-cyl Diesel

  • 63,330 miles
When pressing gas pedal from a stop sign or stop light, I hear a grinding/ slipping sound and then a loud pop and the car jerks into gear. The dealer I bought it from 2 weeks ago gave me a 30 day or 1000 mile power train warranty, it has been at the dealer for the past 2 days.they keep telling me they can't duplicate the symptom. After doing some research I found hundreds of online reports of the exact same symptoms. Please give me some advise on recourse.

- North Las Vegas , NV, USA

problem #19

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 #18

Jan 272012

Impala

  • 194,000 miles
Speedometer does not work most of the time. Car will shut down without warning going down road. The check engine light does not come on. After pulling over it will start back up. Have been placed on diagnostics machine and no codes are triggered. We have replaced fuel filter. Had a tune up done. Nothing is working and mechanics cant figure out what is wrong. Very dangerous. Has happened many times. Last time going down mountain on a curve with no where to pull over. Luckily no traffic at the time.

- Valhermoso Springs, AL, USA

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