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CarComplaints.com Notes: Top complaints for the 2006 Chevy Impala include how the transmission slips, clunks and fails. Or how the power steering knocks and squeals. In other words, this car is a noisy bucket of eventual failure points.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
89,090 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.

2006 Chevrolet Impala engine problems

engine problem

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2006 Chevrolet Impala Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #40

Aug 072021

Impala

  • miles

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

According to my obd scanner the components that are failed is the throttle body position sensor circuit A & the throttle body position sensor circuit B. Before this happened the check engine light was on for about a week, when I scanned the vehicle with the obd-II the code for a large leak in the fuel EVAP system came up. One day while driving the vehicle I was stopped at a red light and once the light turned green I pressed the gas and the car started to sputter and move very slow also in the driver information center it intermittently showed the warnings service traction control and speed reduced. I had to pull over when safe to do so. Once I got the vehicle home I ran the scan again and it came up with the throttle body position sensor codes. The part is available for inspection. The safety of me and my passenger were in jeopardy we could've definitely been in an accident because it was so sudden when it happened. I have not taken the car to a dealer but an independent mechanic has looked at it. Vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other than me and an independent mechanic. This was a very scary experience and I have seen many forums with the same issues from GM cars. Your attention is needed and appreciated.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #39

Mar 292019

Impala

  • 129,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that the transmission gears failed to properly change over in drive to accelerate. As a result, the vehicle intermittently decelerated and jerked. There was no warning indicator illuminated. There was also a drastic reduction in engine power. The dealer had not been contacted. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the control pressure solenoid needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The vehicle was not able to be safely driven and was parked. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 129,000.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #38

Dec 122017

Impala

  • 136,000 miles
I would like it documented that someone is going to be seriously injured or killed all due to a known and reported issued unless Chevy does the right thing and issues a recall immediately! I have a 2006 Impala and while driving on the highway at 70 miles per hour my vehicle dropped down to 15 mph saying reduced engine power then completely shut off on the highway. Please note my 2 year old son, and 10 year old daughter were in the vehicle with me. I was fortunate enough to make it off to the side without being hit much less killed but other people not may be so fortunate. What is it going to take for a recall to be issued?

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #37

Jul 042017

Impala

  • 132,000 miles

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

Car fired a message stating "engine power reduced" car would not accelerate. The vehicle was stationary and being moved from street into driveway when message was prompted

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #36

Jan 222017

Impala 6-cyl

  • 103,000 miles
While driving the traction control light came on as well as the check engine light then reduced power so that I was driving at about 5 miles in traffic. Car then stopped and there was no power at all. I put on my hazard lights and turned the car off waited a few minutes and it started and only check engine light remained on. I was fortunate to be almost at a red light when this happened in midtown manhattan so that there was only blaring horns when I couldn't move the car. My mechanic said I need to bring the car in when the lights are on so that he can read the error messages. The check engine light doesn't give him enough information. I haven't driven since as I'm afraid but will drive locally and bring the car to the mechanic as soon as those lights come on again. It has happened before but not when I could bring it to the mechanic.

- College Point, NY, USA

problem #35

Jun 022016

Impala

  • 59,000 miles
Received a engine warning symbol and sound/chime and then got the message, "power is being reduced to the engine". my speed of 40 mph steadily lowered to where I put on my warning lights as cars were piling up behind me. I was able to turn off on a side street where the car stopped. My mechanic has read the codes and replaced indicated parts, but the problem happens again often. Below is a web site url where you can see numerous people reporting the same problem. It is dangerous as it happens to people on interstates where they have no where to get out of traffic. There are more than 22 pages of 100S of reports of this reduced power message at: forums.edmunds.com/discussion/13406/Chevrolet/Impala/Chevy-Impala-reduced-engine-power-message/P1

- Iowa City, IA, USA

problem #34

May 082016

Impala

  • 0 miles

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

Takata recall my windows stop working all together my car some time dont go when I push the gas it will jerk real hard and then some times it takes along time to brake and this been a on going thing but when I called the dealer they gave me a hard time about if there where any recalls about

- Norcross, GA, USA

problem #33

Feb 122016

Impala

  • 191,000 miles
Driving at 70 mph on interstate and engine slowed down suddenly, ,,reduced engine power message came

- Dyersburg, TN, USA

problem #32

Aug 062015

Impala

  • 140,000 miles
I was driving my vehicle when it suddenly cut off with an "engine power reduced" sign and the car ultimately shut off completely. The car would not come back on. It had to be towed home and then towed to a Chevy dealership in frankfort, il. The Chevy dealership could not depict the problem and held my car for almost two weeks. The dealership said that it may be something intermittent but failed to fix the issue. The dealership released my car to me and the engine power reduced returned the next day. The car is currently out of commission.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #31

Apr 032015

Impala 6-cyl

  • 134,989 miles
This incident first occurred a few weeks ago while driving on the highway I got the engine power reduced message. My car didn't seem to run different and the engine light went off the very next day. Then about 1 week later it happened again but this time my car was acting funny when I needed to accelerate. I was trying to wait until paid day to take it to be checked but I couldn't wait. On Wednesday, April 1, 2015 whenever I stopped at a light or stop sign when it was time to go my car would not accelerate. I made it work ok, but on my break I needed to go take care of some important business and my car just stopped on me while I was making a right hand turn. It would not start up. I could not turn it or anything. My car stalled and I ended up on the wrong side of the road. I was able to push my car out of the way and I had to walk back to work. After work my car started with no problem and I drove it less than 1 mile to Firestone tire where they did a computer diagnosis and told me the accelerator control was bad. I asked them if they were sure that was the problem and not the throttle body and they said yes. While on my way home tonight Friday, 4/3/15 engine came on and engine power reduced message again. I am very upset and scared from what I have research and read about others this has happened to. This is very dangerous and I feel I should not have to be injured, killed or someone else for this to be fixed. Signed, [xxx] (very unhappy consumers) information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

problem #30

Mar 182015

Impala

  • miles

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

As I was driving on the expressway car slowed down only driving 5 mph... leaving me stranded on the side on the expressway. I just put a engine in the car so I know thats not the problem I always had the transmission worked on in the past.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #29

Feb 172015

Impala 6-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
Upon entering my vehicle and waiting for the engine to warm up as it was around -05 degrees F there were no issues to be had. About 15 seconds after leaving my parking spot at my place of employment and 70 feet later my engine started feeling weird, heard a chime and saw my dashboard with the wording "engine power reduced." Not knowing what it was and knowing I had no other choice continued driving home. 4 days pass no issue then yesterday when it was 27 degrees F outside again had the car warm up and about same time frame and same distance later the same series of events occurred but this time the RPM was bouncing between 700 and 1100 when I was moving in idle. Pulled over and opened the hood to inspect (car was shaking a lot at this point) and the engine is shaking as much as it could while still in its restraints, upon revving the vehicle the engine leveled out but with the foot off the gas again the shaking started again. Until further notice a vehicle that I need for my commute to and from work is parked. I do not feel safe driving not knowing what can happen.

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #28

Jan 012015

Impala

  • 56,000 miles
The contact owned a 2006 Chevrolet Impala. While driving approximately 66 mph with the cruise control activated, the contact heard an abnormal noise as the speedometer decreased. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch, landing 80 feet away. The contact also noticed that the axles were fractured. A police report was filed and there were unknown injuries sustained that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14V355000 (electrical system) but did not disclose if the veihcle was included or repaired under the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 56,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Mountain Home, AR, USA

problem #27

Dec 262014

Impala

  • 183,000 miles
My car will be in drive and going down the road and my service traction control light comes on and then flashes between that an reduce engine power. Causing my car to have reduced power !

- Lyons, MI, USA

problem #26

Apr 032014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 159,000 miles
I've had an ongoing issue since this spring with an issue on traction control and the display reporting 'reduced engine power ". I've now had the throttle body sensor and power train computer module replaced. I'll be driving at a rate of speed on the highway of apx 60mph and then these error messages appear and the cruise kicks off. There's hesitation as I try to accelerate.

- Plattsmouth, NE, USA

problem #25

Nov 062014

Impala

  • 12,150 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Impala. While driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle accelerated independently without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,150.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #24

Jul 062010

Impala 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
I was driving on the freeway in St. Paul, mn. I started up an incline to exit the freeway. I suddenly lost all control of steering and brakes. I traveled uphill until the car rammed into the curb on the other side of the exit ramp. I turned off the car and got out and called the police.

- St. Paul, , MN, USA

problem #23

Feb 142014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 127,000 miles
I was driving on the highway at 60 mph when all of a sudden the message reduced engine power appeared and my speed dropped down to 30 mph. It was rush hour traffic and I panicked. I tried pressing the gas pedal all the way down but my speed would not increase. The car behind me almost plowed into the rear end of my car but luckily there was space in the lane to the right for that car to quickly move over to avoid hitting me. They honked and I maneuvered to the shoulder of the highway and put my car in park. I restarted my car about 10 minutes later and got off the next exit so I could take side streets home since I was frightened my car would again suddenly lose power. I drove to auto zone and had the code ran and it was for the throttle position sensor and throttle body. After researching online I came across the edmunds forum where hundreds of GM owners had the exact same problem ! GM needs to recall and replace these inferior throttle body parts but I guess until there are fatalities it will go ignored "?"

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #22

May 132014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 75,333 miles
I was turning from one street onto another and all of a sudden there was a clanking noise coming from under the car and then the power steering went out along with the brakes and my acceleration. I had to pull over and stop the car. After all this my car would not start and every time I tried to start my car, it sounded like the battery died but I know it wasn't the battery.

- Saugus, CA, USA

problem #21

Mar 292014

Impala 6-cyl

  • 160,000 miles
Well lets see I just bought this 2006 Chevrolet. Impala ls 4dr sedan and it surges like crazy im going from 0 to 35 and my car is trying to go but it almost like if I was pushing the gas pedal of and on and it makes M6 head bob back and forth when it does it I think its the transmission not running right but this is very dangerous and could cause a law suit towards GM plus the steering wheel gets real stiff some times its hard to turn. I have two boys and I hope that this stupid car doesn't get us killed because of this problem that GM wont fix are lives mean nothin. Maybe I should go to channel 4 news and report this problem and how GM wont fix this.

- Quinlan, TX, USA

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