This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Chevrolet Impala engine problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Chevrolet Impala have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 40,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Impala | 60 |
| 2009 Impala | 66 |
| 2010 Impala | 27 |
| 2011 Impala | 32 |
| 2012 Impala (this page) | 16 |
| 2013 Impala | 9 |
| 2014 Impala | 28 |
| 2015 Impala | 14 |
| 2016 Impala | 5 |
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 16 engine complaints filed for the 2012 Chevrolet Impala, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 engine 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 engine 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.
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the technician to flush the cooling system multiple times if oil has been found in the cooling system and replace the parts that may be contaminated due to oil in system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides service information to technicians on guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report multiple distinct engine failures on the 2012 Chevrolet Impala. Unexpected stalling occurs at 30,000 to 76,000 miles, sometimes at highway speeds (35–40 mph), sometimes stopped at lights, sometimes during low-speed turns. Dealers cannot reliably reproduce the problem to diagnose it. When codes do show up, they point to camshaft position sensors, timing issues, and powertrain control relays, but replacing these parts doesn't always stop the stalling from recurring.
Annoying but separate from stalls, multiple owners report a metallic knock or tick under acceleration that shows up immediately after purchase or within the first 6,000 miles. The noise appears consistent across different unit examples at different mileages, suggesting a systemic design issue rather than one bad car. Dealers cannot isolate the source.
Other reported failures include dieseling (engine combustion after ignition off), fuel injector malfunction with raw fuel in the exhaust, misfiring with trouble codes, sudden overheating, and an engine fire. Many owners say dealers could not diagnose the problem, repair costs fell on the owner or went unaddressed, and GM either offered no help or instructed dealers to wait for more complaints before investigating.
Same Chevrolet Impala engine reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stall while driving
Engine shuts off suddenly at normal driving speeds (35-40 mph) without warning, sometimes while stopped or making turns. Vehicle requires restart and towing has occurred. Multiple owners report the failure cannot be reliably duplicated by dealers.
When: 30,000–76,000 miles; some occurring early in ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden engine shutdown at traffic lights or while in motion; Engine stalls during low-speed left turns (under 5 mph); No warning before shutdown; Clicking sound from front driver's tire area during one stall event
Codes mentioned: Camshaft Position Sensor fault, Powertrain Control Relay failure, P0024 (B Camshaft Position Timing Over Advanced or System Performance Bank 2), Multiple unspecified codes (seven codes found in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported replacement of camshaft position sensor and powertrain control relay, but failure recurred. Most cases unrepaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer recommended diagnostic testing in at least one case. Recall NHTSA Campaign 14V355000 (Electrical System) issued for this model year but did not resolve stall issues in reported cases.
Engine knock/ticking noise during acceleration
Metallic knocking or ticking noise under acceleration, present from days after purchase or at low mileage. Multiple owners report the noise occurs across different unit examples, suggesting a design or manufacturing issue rather than isolated defect.
When: Began immediately after purchase or within first 6,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Knocking or ticking noise when accelerating; Noise present on multiple vehicles of the same model year; Noise audible across different unit examples at various mileages (one with 15,000 miles had worse noise)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to isolate or diagnose the source. No repairs completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated they would wait for manufacturer GM to investigate. No fix provided despite multiple complaints.
High idle RPM and excessive engine noise
Engine revs high on takeoff from a standstill and produces loud, harsh noise disproportionate to vehicle type. Owner reports 2002 Impala sounded better despite having 136,000 miles.
When: Early in ownership
Symptoms owners cite: High RPM on takeoff from standstill; Excessive engine noise resembling a V-8 or diesel engine; Loud, harsh quality uncharacteristic of a standard sedan
Engine dieseling and flooding with fuel injector failure
Engine continues combustion after ignition is turned off (dieseling). Engine flooding diagnosed with unburned gasoline smell at tailpipe. Root cause identified as faulty fuel injection pump and O2 sensor unable to control fueling. Fuel injectors 1, 3, and 5 malfunction in separate case, with fuel bypassing into exhaust.
When: Occurred about 2 months into ownership in one case; 58,168 miles in injector case
Symptoms owners cite: Dieseling (engine combustion after ignition off); Engine stall during operation; Unburned gasoline smell at tailpipe; Fuel odor from rear exhaust; No error codes reported in dieseling case despite failure
Repairs/costs cited: Injection pump replacement resolved dieseling issue in one case. Fuel injector replacement needed in separate case but not completed. One case advised not to drive due to fuel in exhaust.
Misfiring and sensor trouble codes
Vehicle develops misfiring after period of normal operation. OBDII diagnosis reveals camshaft position timing and system performance codes. Check engine light illuminates.
When: After previous normal operation; timing unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Engine misfiring; Check engine light illumination; Trouble codes recurring even after service
Codes mentioned: P0024 (B Camshaft Position Timing Over Advanced or System Performance Bank 2)
Engine overheating requiring jump start
Engine overheats suddenly while driving at moderate speed. Vehicle required jump start. Independent mechanic diagnosed failed gaskets.
When: 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden overheating without warning at 35 mph; Vehicle would not start without jump start
Repairs/costs cited: Gasket replacement needed; repair not completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware but offered no further assistance.
Abnormal engine noise (undiagnosed)
Abnormal noise from engine area recurring on numerous occasions. Source unidentified and not repaired.
When: 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from engine
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure.
Timing chain problem with warning light
Engine warning light and diagnostic codes point to timing chain issue. Problem unresolved by dealer or manufacturer.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Engine warning light illumination; Timing chain codes
Codes mentioned: Timing chain-related codes
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Unresolved by dealership and manufacturer.
Engine fire
Smoke entered cabin from engine area while vehicle was stopped in traffic. Engine caught fire and vehicle burned from engine compartment outward.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke entering cabin from engine; Engine fire
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet impala. The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise coming from the engine. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.
Had engine trouble with your 2012 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 engine problem on the 2012 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 30,000 and 76,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 76,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2012/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.