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moderate Owners of the 2012 Chevrolet Impala have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the suspension, typically surfacing around 50,000 miles at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Impala | 105 |
| 2009 Impala | 21 |
| 2010 Impala | 13 |
| 2011 Impala | 13 |
| 2012 Impala (this page) | 14 |
| 2013 Impala | 13 |
| 2014 Impala | 10 |
| 2015 Impala | 3 |
A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension 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 information to dealership personnel on diagnosis and replacement of shock absorber and strut due to fluid leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel on diagnosis and replacement of shock absorber and strut due to fluid leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides technicians with 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 communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer?s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If valid vibration frequency or Road Force Variation data has been collected and a repair attempt does not correct the customer complaint, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support. For any vehicles that remains unrepaired after being at the dealer for three days or more and a related bulletin or PI is not found, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for furthe
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners describe a cascade of suspension failures starting in the 20,000-to-73,000-mile range. The most common complaint centers on front wheel bearing and hub assembly failures paired with faulty speed sensors. When these fail, the dashboard lights up with Service StabiliTrak, Service Brake Assist, and Service Traction Control warnings. Owners report grinding and crunching noises, particularly during left turns or when navigating elevation changes. Some have experienced sudden unintended braking resistance mid-turn—a dangerous condition on dry pavement at normal speeds.
The tech shop and dealer responses are consistent: mechanics replace the hub assembly and check sensor wiring, but the warning lights keep coming back. One technician told an owner this is "a known problem" and wished it would be recalled. Meanwhile, the underlying cause often goes undiagnosed.
Beyond bearing wear, owners cite clunking from the front end at low speeds, persistent alignment drift, broken sway bars, failing spider gears in the differential, and noisy stabilizer bars that return after repair. Multiple owners spent thousands replacing suspension components piecemeal without solving the root problem. Chevrolet has issued no recall for these failures and offers no repair solution, leaving owners stuck with recurring problems.
Same Chevrolet Impala suspension reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014
Speed control sensor in front wheel bearing fails, triggering service messages for StabiliTrak, brake assist, and traction control. Persistent even after hub assembly replacement. Grinding or crunching sounds from front end, especially when turning. Can cause sudden unintended braking resistance during turns.
When: 35,000–73,000 miles; some reports from 2017 onward on older vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Service StabiliTrak, Service Brake Assist, Service Traction Control warning lights; Grinding or crunching noise from front end; Noise worsens during left turns or elevation changes; Sudden hard braking sensation during right turns; Hesitation on acceleration
Codes mentioned: ABS warning, Traction control sensor fault
Repairs/costs cited: Front wheel bearing and hub assembly replacement; sensor wire checks performed but lights persist in some cases. Owners report bills in the thousands for suspension work without resolving the issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued per NHTSA; manufacturer stated no recommended repair solution until vehicle is further tested.
Clunking noise from front end at low speeds over bumps, associated with poor handling and alignment drift. Mechanics unable to diagnose root cause; owners have replaced multiple suspension components without permanent resolution.
When: 30,000–70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise at front end over small bumps (10–15 mph); Vibration felt in wheel and seat at highway speeds (50–60 mph); Poor vehicle handling; Alignment goes out repeatedly
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel balancing performed without resolution. Multiple suspension parts replaced; owners report spending thousands with no lasting fix.
Carriage bolts securing lower control arm fail, affecting suspension stability.
When: 51,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Suspension instability
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Carriage bolts replaced at dealer.
Rear sway bar breaks in half, compromising suspension control.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Broken rear sway bar
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported rear left sway bar broken in half during ownership.
Spider gear fails in rear differential, producing abnormal noise during acceleration and deceleration.
When: 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise during acceleration and deceleration at highway speeds; Intermittent failure
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed failure but vehicle was not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but no action documented.
Stabilizer bar produces loud noise; repair is temporary with same issue recurring.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Loud noise from stabilizer
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: One owner paid $700 for repair at dealer; same problem recurred.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 34,000 and 70,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 34,000; a quarter make it past 70,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension 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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover suspension issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.