INTERMITTENT CHUGGLE OR FISHBITE ON LIGHT ACCELERATION OR A HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH NO DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Chevrolet Impala cruise control problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 13 cruise control complaints filed for the 2005 Chevrolet Impala, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2005 Chevrolet Impalas describe two main problem clusters: uncontrolled acceleration and instrument cluster failures.
Several owners report sudden uncontrolled acceleration while cruise control is set. The vehicle accelerates despite the driver removing their foot from the pedal, with speeds reaching 70–90+ mph. Brakes appear ineffective, forcing drivers to shift to neutral or apply the emergency brake to regain control. One incident resulted in a rear-end collision with another vehicle and impact with a tree. A dealer suspected cruise control as the cause but could not definitively identify the issue.
Owners also report the speedometer needle spinning erratically, sticking at incorrect readings, or stopping entirely. One owner replaced the speed sensor twice without resolution; a dealer identified a failing instrument cluster stepper motor. Owners claim Chevy has recalled the same stepper motor issue on trucks but not on Impalas, with repairs costing $350–$500 out of warranty.
One complaint describes cruise control and windshield wipers that cannot operate simultaneously—toggling one function disables the other. Another reports uncontrolled idle that requires multiple restarts to normalize. A fourth describes sudden uncontrolled acceleration outside of cruise control, with one owner noting a floor mat positioned under the accelerator pedal at the time of the incident.
Same Chevrolet Impala cruise control reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Uncontrolled acceleration with cruise control engaged
Vehicle accelerates on its own while cruise control is set, brakes appear ineffective or insufficient to overcome acceleration, forcing drivers to shift to neutral or apply emergency brake to regain control.
When: Under 92,500 miles; one complaint at 131,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates despite driver removing foot from accelerator; Acts as though stuck in cruise control mode; Engine revving uncontrollably; Brakes do not slow car effectively; Speeds reach 70-90+ mph unexpectedly
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostics unable to identify cause in at least one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevrolet dealer suspected cruise control as cause; manufacturer advised owner to bring vehicle to dealer for diagnosis
Speedometer/instrument cluster stepper motor malfunction
Speedometer needle spins erratically, sticks at incorrect readings, or stops working entirely. Temperature gauge also reports false overheating. Owners report speed sensor replacement does not resolve issue.
When: 50,000 to 131,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Speedometer needle moves erratically (spins 360 degrees, bounces up and down); Speedometer stuck at zero or high speed (120 mph at complete stop); Needle can only be reset by turning car on and off repeatedly; Temperature gauge reading inaccurate; Complete instrument cluster failure reported
Repairs/costs cited: Replaced fuel regulator pump twice; replaced thermostat, temperature sensor, and fan relays; replaced speed sensor twice; dealer identified cluster/stepper motor failure requiring $350–$500 repair; owner claims similar issues recalled on Chevy trucks but not on Impala
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevrolet declined recall; informed owner repair is not covered out of warranty; recalled same issue on trucks but not on cars
Cruise control and windshield wiper mutual disable
Cruise control and windshield wipers cannot be activated simultaneously; toggling one off is required to activate the other.
When: Mileage unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control fails to activate when wipers are on; Windshield wipers fail to activate when cruise control is on; Only one function can operate at a time
Repairs/costs cited: Taken to dealer; failure undetermined and vehicle not repaired
Uncontrolled acceleration without cruise control engaged
Vehicle accelerates suddenly during normal driving or braking without cruise control active, forcing driver to shift to neutral or apply brakes forcefully to regain control.
When: Below 92,500 miles; one incident at 30 mph; one at 35 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Car accelerates without driver input; Occurs while coming to a stop after applying brakes; Engine revs uncontrollably even in park; Car lunges forward and hits another vehicle and tree; Airbags deployed on impact
Repairs/costs cited: One owner noted floor mat was higher than usual and positioned under accelerator pedal; vehicle did not exhibit problem after restart in one case
Idle control malfunction
Engine idles excessively high or becomes uncontrollable; engine does not drop to normal idle without shutting off vehicle and restarting multiple times.
Symptoms owners cite: Car idles out of control; Will not drop idle unless car is shut off and restarted multiple times; Creates feeling of loss of control
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Car idles out of control will not kick down unless u shut car off an then u half to start it two or three times be for it will drop idle too normal.has scared us because there's no control when this happens. *js
Had cruise control trouble with your 2005 Chevrolet Impala?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2005 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 113,786 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Chevrolet/Impala.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.