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 from emergency vehicles. This is a flaw in the manufacturer with the wheel hub that must be addressed. Thousands of…
2012 Chevrolet Impala wheels problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $400 · see wheels across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$400
1crash
What stands out
Among the 7 model years of Chevrolet Impala in our records for wheels problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA wheels complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2012 Impala has a documented pattern of premature wheel hub failures that trigger chronic ABS and traction control warning lights—often requiring repeated replacement even under warranty. Tire and brake issues add to ownership risk and repair costs that can exceed thousands of dollars.
Owners report the most serious issue is wheel hub assembly failure. Multiple complaints show the same hub, front or rear, failing again within just 2,000 miles of the previous replacement. One owner had five warranty replacements in two years. The failures produce grinding noises during turns, clunking on reversal, and trigger constant ABS, traction control, and StabiliTrak warning lights. After-market replacement parts don't fix the root cause, suggesting a design flaw rather than isolated parts failure.
Brake performance is inconsistent—owners report the vehicle won't stop promptly despite dry conditions, with one rear-end collision resulting. Brakes pulse or grind, and the vehicle behaves as if on ice. These issues correlate with hub and ABS wiring harness faults.
Factory tire failures also appear: all four original Goodyear Eagles failed before 30,000 miles due to belt separation, with one blowout at highway speed.
Wheel rims show surface defects—they don't seal properly against tire beads, causing continuous slow air loss. Tire shops identified the rim, not the tire, as the problem.
ABS and traction control lights flash on and off repeatedly during normal driving, causing owner concern for child safety despite no immediate brake loss. Chevrolet issued recall 14V355000 (Electrical System) but owners report the vehicle was never repaired under it.
Same Chevrolet Impala wheels reports on nearby years: 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Wheel hub assembly failure — recurring defect
Front and rear wheel hub assemblies fail prematurely and repeatedly. Owners report replacing the same hub multiple times within short intervals and mileage spans, sometimes with factory warranty coverage. After-market replacement parts do not resolve the underlying issue.
When: 40,000–70,000 miles; Narrative #2 shows two hub failures within 2,000 miles (at 40,000 and 42,190 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding or hesitation sensation during turns, especially right turns under acceleration; Clunking sound when backing up or during slow maneuvers; Abnormal brake noise; Traction control and ABS warning lights illuminate intermittently or continuously; SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL and SERVICE STABILITRAK warnings
Codes mentioned: ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL WARNING, SERVICE STABILITRAK, ABS wiring harness faults
Repairs/costs cited: Factory warranty replaced hubs 5 times in 2 years per Narrative #1; ABS wiring harness replacement also performed; after-market parts did not resolve failures; owner reports thousands of dollars in repair costs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty coverage (sometimes with deductible); dealer inspections performed; manufacturer notified of failures; no recall issued despite multiple complaints
Tire failure — belt separation
All four original factory-installed Goodyear Eagle tires failed due to belt separation from the tread before the tire's rated 30,000-mile life. One catastrophic failure occurred at highway speed, forcing an emergency exit.
When: First failure before 10,000 miles; all four by 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Belt separation visible on tread; Blowout or loss of tire integrity at highway speed
Repairs/costs cited: Emergency tire replacement during highway travel; all original tires had to be replaced
ABS and traction control sensor malfunction
ABS and traction control warning lights trigger intermittently or continuously during normal driving, sometimes accompanied by grinding brake noise and brake pulsing. Lights flash on and off without corresponding brake or safety issues. Root cause often traced to faulty wheel hub assemblies or ABS wiring harness faults.
When: 12,000–70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminates; Traction control light flashes on and off; SERVICE STABILITRAK warning; Brake pulsing or grinding noise; Vehicle hesitates or acts as if on ice when braking
Codes mentioned: ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRAK, TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR warning
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel hub replacement and ABS wiring harness replacement performed; some repairs covered by warranty; owner notes repeated issues despite repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall Campaign 14V355000 (Electrical System) issued and notifications sent; manufacturer made aware of failures via multiple complaints
Brake system performance degradation
Brake response is unpredictable—brakes may not fully engage, requiring excessive pedal pressure, and produce grinding or pulsing sensations. In one case, brake failure contributed to a rear-end collision at normal speed in clear conditions. Owners report the vehicle acts as if brakes are on ice.
When: Throughout ownership; incident reported at unspecified mileage post-collision
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes do not stop vehicle promptly despite firm application; Grinding or pulsing sensation in brake pedal; Brake noise from rear; Inadequate braking performance despite dry, clear conditions
Codes mentioned: STABILITRAK system fault suspected
Repairs/costs cited: Collision resulted; body shop and dealer repair performed; tire pressure sensor suspected but later ruled out by dealer
Wheel rim corrosion or surface defect
Wheel rims are not smooth enough to maintain an airtight seal with tires, causing continuous slow air loss. Tire shop identified rim condition as the cause rather than the tires themselves. Problem persists beyond the 36-month warranty period.
When: Ongoing throughout ownership; owner adds air every 2 weeks
Symptoms owners cite: Tires continually lose air pressure; Requires air addition every 2 weeks
Repairs/costs cited: Discount Tire diagnosed rim surface inadequacy; dealer initially cited tires as owner expense; no repair performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer declined responsibility, placing cost on owner
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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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 wheels problem on the 2012 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $400.
At what mileage does the wheels typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most wheels failures cluster between 12,000 and 70,000 miles, with the median around 44,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,000; a quarter make it past 70,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $400 for wheels 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 wheels?
No active recalls currently cover wheels 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.