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 dealership, was told a factory reset may help adjust to driving styles. We bought car used with 35000 miles. This did not help.…
2012 Chevrolet Impala powertrain problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 20 powertrain 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 powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
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 jolt. Dealership states transmission is operating properly. *tr
Car was in park at a gas station, ignition off, car not running. Gear shift indicator showed "park". Driver was out of the car and the car rolled away, crashing into parked vehicle and resulting in injury to driver. This was an avis rental car with 7,500 miles on the odometer. *tr
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2012 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 20,150 and 68,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,150; a quarter make it past 68,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.