This Preliminary information communicates that when removing the fuel line jumper hose care should be taken to be sure the line is reinstalled correctly to avoid a no/low fuel pressure situation.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Chevrolet Impala brakes problems
moderate Owners of the 2010 Chevrolet Impala have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 23,000 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Impala | 15 |
| 2007 Impala | 33 |
| 2008 Impala | 28 |
| 2009 Impala | 39 |
| 2010 Impala (this page) | 12 |
| 2011 Impala | 12 |
| 2012 Impala | 6 |
| 2013 Impala | 4 |
| 2014 Impala | 24 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes 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.
This service bulletin provides technicians with updated information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2010 Impala consistently report premature brake rotor warping starting as early as 2,000 miles, with failures recurring within months of dealer replacement. The problem surfaces during downhill braking and highway speeds of 50–65 mph, causing violent front-end shaking and pulsation. Dealers have pointed to thin rotor design as the root cause. One owner experienced the issue at 34,000 miles and saw it return even after the dealer replaced rotors and pads.
A second failure pattern involves brake lines rupturing where they contact the fuel tank seam. The plastic seam gradually wears through the protective coating on the line, eventually creating a hole. This results in complete brake fluid loss and total brake failure with no advance warning—a dangerous situation that happened to one owner at highway speeds. The brake line problem has occurred on vehicles with less than 10,000 miles and as late as nine years in service.
A third complaint mentions StabiliTrak warnings appearing daily and affecting brake pedal and engine response, though details are limited.
GM has not issued recalls for any of these issues. Dealers have blamed owners' driving habits for rotor wear and advised gearing down instead of addressing the underlying problem.
Same Chevrolet Impala brakes reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Warped brake rotors
Rotors warp prematurely, causing severe vibration and pulsation during braking. Problem occurs at low mileage (2,000–34,000 miles reported) and recurs even after replacement. Owners report the issue is particularly acute on downhill grades and at highway speeds (50–65 mph). One dealer attributed the problem to design flaw with thin rotors.
When: 2,000–34,000 miles; recurring within months of repair
Symptoms owners cite: Brake chattering or pulsating; Severe vibration and shaking at front end during braking; Violent shaking when braking downhill; Long stopping distance persisting after rotor replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Rotor and pad replacement performed by dealers; problem recurred in at least one case. One dealer noted thin rotor design as the root cause. Part availability issues mentioned (2-week backorder).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM denied warranty coverage in one case, blaming driver behavior. Dealer advised one owner to gear down instead of addressing rotor issue. No recalls issued.
Brake line rubbing through on fuel tank seam
Brake lines, particularly the driver-side rear line, wear through and rupture where they contact the fuel tank seam. The plastic tank seam wears away along with the brake line protective coating, eventually creating a hole in the line. This results in complete brake fluid loss and total loss of braking.
When: Less than 10,000 miles (first complaint); up to approximately 9 years in service (2010 vehicle, 2019 complaint)
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal suddenly fades or goes to floor; Smoke from under hood; Brake fluid leak visible on engine bay; No warning before complete brake failure
Repairs/costs cited: Brake line replacement required. Dealers reported part on 2-week backorder, indicating this is not an isolated issue. Towing costs cited at $650.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer blamed brake line rubbing on adjacent parts (tank seam) without acknowledging design defect. No recalls or TSBs mentioned.
Service StabiliTrak warning with brake pedal effect
StabiliTrak warning light appears frequently and is reported to affect both brake pedal response and engine power. Owner states this is a common, long-ignored issue among Impala owners.
When: Vehicle less than 2 years old at time of complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Service StabiliTrak warning light comes on daily; Brake pedal affected; Engine power affected
Codes mentioned: Service StabiliTrak
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner indicates GM has ignored this issue for years; no recall or fix mentioned.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2010 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 brakes problem on the 2010 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 8,900 and 35,000 miles, with the median around 23,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,900; a quarter make it past 35,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2010/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.