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. NOT…
2012 chevrolet Impala powertrain problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$2,500
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
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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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