2012 Chevrolet IMPALA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Chevrolet IMPALA has 422 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 422. The most common issue is electrical problems (14% of all complaints), specifically: purchased a gm certified vehicle. vehicle stalled several times whenever making a left hand turn. when i would make a left hand turn, the vehicle would die completely in the middle of the turn. i would have to restart the car. one instance when trying to restart the car, the ignition acted "stuc. There are 3 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.
422
Total Complaints
3
Recalls Issued
4/5
Safety Stars
1.0x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
ELECTRICAL
58 complaints- • PURCHASED A GM CERTIFIED VEHICLE. VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHENEVER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. WHEN I WOULD MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD DIE COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR. ONE INSTANCE WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR, THE IGNITION ACTED "STUC
- • 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER SENSOR FAILURE IN VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE ENGINE QUIT, THE FLASHERS WOULD NOT WORK AND HE WAS UNABLE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS, OR LOWER THE WINDOWS USING THE POWER SWITCH. THE ON
- • SAME INCIDENT TWICE. I AM DRIVING EITHER AT LOW SPEEDS (5 TO 10 MPH) OR AT 30 MPH. THE LIGHT SERVICE STABILITRAK AND BRAKES COMES ON. AFTER I TURN OFF THE CAR, THE WARNING LIGHTS AND THE MESSAGE GO OFF. I TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP BECAUSE THE WARNING MESSAGE IS OFF
“PURCHASED A GM CERTIFIED VEHICLE. VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHENEVER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. WHEN I WOULD MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD DIE COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR. ONE INSTANCE WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR, THE IGNITION ACTED "STUC”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2012 Chevrolet IMPALA
Based on 343 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 55K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION
WHEELS
AIR BAGS
SPEED CONTROL
BODY/STRUCTURE
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (3)
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) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and 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. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.
Above-average theft risk
The Chevrolet IMPALA was the #11 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 8,400 thefts reported to law enforcement.
Notes: Older sedan; parts demand
Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.
Charging Cost Calculator for 2012 Chevrolet IMPALA
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2012 Chevrolet IMPALA
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Chevrolet IMPALA Service Intervals
GM Oil Life System dynamically calculates oil change interval. DEXOS-approved oil required.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Chevrolet New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Chevrolet. If you're buying a used 2012 IMPALA, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Chevrolet dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
EV Incentives for 2012 Chevrolet IMPALA
Updated 2026-07Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30
Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.
State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)
Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 422 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRICAL: PURCHASED A GM CERTIFIED VEHICLE. VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHENEVER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. WHEN I WOULD MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD DIE COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR. ONE INSTANCE WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR, THE IGNITION ACTED "STUC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: IM GOING DOWN THE ROAD MASH ON THE GAS DOING 38 AND THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF CONTROL. I LITERALLY HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. IM DOING 45 TO 50 AND THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING ME RIGHT INTO THE SHOULDER OR INTO OTHER TRAFFIC I HAD TO LAY OFF THE GAS TO GAIN CONTROL OF CAR DOING SUCH LOW SPEED. I WAS DRIVIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐STEERING: I WAS ROTATING THE TIRES AT HOME. WHEN REPLACING THE WHEELS I STARTED AND SNAGGED THE LUG NUTS BY HAND. I WENT TO TORQUE THE LUG NUTS TO SPECIFICATIONS (100 FOOT POUNDS) USING A TORQUE WRENCH. ONE OF THE RIGHT FRONT LUG NUTS WOULD NOT STOP TURNING WAY BEFORE REACHING THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. AS I CONTI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: ENGINE MAKES A TICKING NOISE OR KNOCKING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING , I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS BEING THAT THIS NOISE STARTED THE NEXT DAY AFTER I HAD THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP . I'M HOPING THIS ISN'T A SAFETY CONCERN BUT IT SURE IS A CUSTOMER DISSATISFACTION. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO ISOL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 3 recalls have been completed — free at any Chevrolet dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Chevrolet IMPALA — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 422
- Recalls
- 3
- Fire reports
- 5
- Crash reports
- 24
- Injury reports
- 13
- Segment avg
- 422
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Chevrolet IMPALA