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The 2012 Chevrolet Impala has 258 NHTSA owner complaints and 2 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2012 Chevrolet Impala has 258 NHTSA owner complaints and 2 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is electrical at 51 complaints, typically surfacing around 57,626 miles (~$850 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Impala | 824 | 1 |
| 2010 Impala | 441 | 2 |
| 2011 Impala | 505 | 0 |
| 2012 Impala (this page) | 258 | 2 |
| 2013 Impala | 270 | 0 |
| 2014 Impala | 630 | 7 |
| 2015 Impala | 298 | 3 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2012 Chevrolet Impala 4 DR FWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: electrical is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 57,626 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 2 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet impala. The contact stated that while driving t 25 MPH and making a right turn, there was an abnormal noise coming from underneath the vehicle without warning. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…
At times, the vehicle jerks while shifting. I have experienced heavy jolting, rough shifting, especially during low speeds. While on highway or during strong acceleration, car shifts great. Mostly the issues are during downshifts or low speed shifts. Took to Chevrolet…
At speeds 15 MPH and above after decelerating then accelerating transmission will make a noise ranging from a clink, clank, clunk to a banging jolt as if the car has been rear ended. The more pressure on acceleration and the lower the gear the louder the noise and the greater…
The front wheel hub assembly fails after numerous replacements. The after-market parts do not resolve the problem. Thw assembly girnds and hesitates on right turns during acceleration. This causes hesitation and an unsafe manner when making turns, suddenly, or moving away…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Power steering fluid could flow onto the catalytic converter, and an engine compartment fire could occur.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 258 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Chevrolet Impala is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
The 2012 Chevrolet Impala is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Electrical system: 51 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 35,000–78,000 mi; Steering: 49 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 33,500–95,312 mi; Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the electrical first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 51 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 57,626 miles. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 258 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is electrical. Typical failure occurs around 57,626 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is electrical, with 51 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 57,626 miles. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop.
The electrical is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 57,626 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 258 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $850, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.