Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2005 Chevrolet Impala, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Chevrolet Impala year.
26.6 mpg average · 20–33 range · EPA says 22
Over 5 years this costs $3,000 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.
NHTSA frontal crash test
Rated configuration: 2005 Chevrolet Impala 4-DR
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: 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.
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
Campaign 14V400000
Issue: DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WELD CONNECTING THE INNER TUBE TO THE OUTER TUBE MAY BE DEFECTIVE.
Risk: IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.
Campaign 08E063000
Issue: DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.
Risk: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-2492 AND PRESS 5.
Campaign 09E005000
Issue: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
Campaign 07E021000
The parts named most often across 609 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
3 crashes · 2 fires
4 crashes · 1 injured
2 crashes · 1 injured
1 crash · 2 fires
6 crashes · 10 injured
1 crash · 1 fire · 1 injured
1 fire
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
On XXX in [XXX], while at a complete stop, without cause or prior warning, airbags violently deployed causing property damage to the entire instrument panel and windshield, and bodily injuries. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel became inoperable. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
When traveling down a steep incline the front driver and passenger side airbags went off. There was no collision with anything, also there's no damage to the car aside from the airbags themselves.
Transmission shifts hard after engine warms up.
The car shuts off while driving. Loose power steering hazardous while turning at higher speeds... dangerous for. Vehicles in front or back . The car also jumps or jolts when driving. And looses power causing severe loss of control especially when icy or snow road conditions.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55-60 MPH, suddenly there was an abnormal wind sound inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the sunroof had detached from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed of a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 10 MPH, TO MERGE INTO ANOTHER INTERSTATE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A POLE. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND THE HOOD WAS DAMAGED FROM THE CRASH. A STATE TROOPER ASSISTED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE TIRE WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED TO THEIR DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT BACK TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE HAD BEEN PROVIDED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000.
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
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE FLUID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE MECHANIC CONTACTED AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,886.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO READ ACCURATELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER PROVIDED INACCURATE SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER PROVIDED SPEEDS EXCEEDING 120 MPH. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE KEY DISLODGED FROM THE IGNITION. ADDITIONALLY, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER DUE TO THE KEY NOT REMAINING IN THE RUN POSITION. THE CONTACT WOULD MANUALLY REMOVE AND REPLACE THE KEY FOR NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO O'RIELLY CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 6160 E BROADWAY BLVD, TUCSON, AZ 85711, WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH BE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Showing 12 of 609 complaints.