This service bulletin provides information on the proper Reflective High Temperature Heat and/or Insulating Tape to use for certain repairs, such as Wiring Harness Repairs.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Chevrolet Impala electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Chevrolet Impala have filed 44 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 60,000 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
44
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Impala | 194 |
| 2010 Impala | 115 |
| 2011 Impala | 80 |
| 2012 Impala | 51 |
| 2013 Impala (this page) | 44 |
| 2014 Impala | 184 |
| 2015 Impala | 88 |
| 2016 Impala | 25 |
| 2017 Impala | 12 |
3crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 44 electrical complaints filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Impala, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Owners have filed 44 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 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 electrical 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 intent of this service bulletin is to identify aftermarket ALDL or DLC interface devices as potential sources for causing multiple customer concerns that do not have other diagnostic methods to identify them.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 Chevrolet Impala electrical system troubles run deep and wide across the model. Ignition switches stick or fail entirely, trapping keys inside and locking out brake and electrical systems. Some owners report the key becomes too hot to turn and has to be forced out.
The ABS/traction control/stabilitrak system throws multiple warning lights simultaneously and often cuts engine power or reduces it to 20 mph, sometimes mid-highway. Owners describe wheels locking up, needing excessive brake force, or the car decelerating on its own. One owner suffered a broken hip when the engine stalled at a stop sign and another vehicle hit them; airbags on that vehicle failed to deploy.
HVAC actuators click loudly from under the dash—sometimes all day and all night even when the car is off. This ticking drains batteries overnight. One owner replaced the actuator three times in 39 months; it failed again each time. Dealers claim it's not a safety issue despite costing hundreds per repair and rendering A/C and heat inoperable.
Fuel gauges read false, showing fuel when the tank is empty. One owner ran out of gas while the gauge still displayed 88 miles of range. Fuel pump sensors fail, causing stalling on highways.
The official NHTSA Campaign 14V355000 electrical recall was issued but repair parts remained unavailable for extended periods. Some owners never got fixed despite having their vehicles included in the recall. Others report the recall process was so slow they experienced the failures repeatedly while waiting for parts or appointments.
Same Chevrolet Impala electrical reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Ignition Switch Sticks/Fails & Key Trapped
Ignition switch gets stuck or stops functioning, trapping the key inside and locking out electrical systems including brakes and locks. Also involves key being too hot to turn. Owners report inability to turn key past certain positions and manual intervention needed to release it.
When: 3,345 miles to 111,366 miles; can occur early or throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Key locked in ignition, won't turn or release; Key becomes too hot to turn; Electrical systems lock up (brakes, locks); Service air bag light comes on; Vehicle shuts off unexpectedly while driving; Ignition sticks in 'start' position, won't return to 'run'
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 14V355000
Repairs/costs cited: New ignition switch installation required. Recall parts frequently unavailable at dealerships.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V355000 (Electrical System) issued but repair parts repeatedly unavailable; recall expired before many owners could have repairs completed
Actuator Relay Clicking & Climate Control Failure
Loud clicking sound from under the dash (passenger side area), typically from HVAC actuator relays. Clicking occurs intermittently or constantly, especially when locking/unlocking doors or changing climate settings. A/C and heat fail to work during clicking events or work only on one side. Issue persists even with key off and no key in ignition. Multiple repeated failures.
When: Across the ownership period; one owner reports issue started 3 years prior and now occurs daily; 37,000 to 90,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clicking sound from under dash, shifts between driver and passenger side; A/C and heat stop working during clicking; Neither driver nor passenger side climate works simultaneously; Clicking happens when car is off and key is not in ignition; Clicking always occurs when locking/unlocking doors; Battery drains from continuous clicking/ticking noise at night
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple replacements of HVAC actuator/relay assemblies required; repairs cost hundreds of dollars per replacement; problem recurs 1 month after repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claims not a safety issue despite repetitive failures costing owners thousands in repairs
ABS/Traction Control/Stability System Warning Lights & Brake/Acceleration Loss
Multiple warning lights illuminate simultaneously (ABS, stabilitrak, traction control, service brake assist) with accompanying loss of engine power, inability to accelerate or stop properly, and abrupt deceleration. Wheels lock up during highway driving. Brake pedal requires excessive force. Clicking noise from glove compartment during braking.
When: 26,000 miles to 110,000 miles; can recur at 30k, 56k, 86k mile intervals
Symptoms owners cite: ABS, stabilitrak, and traction control warning lights illuminate; Vehicle loses engine power or power is reduced to 20 mph max; Brake pedal requires excessive force to stop vehicle; Vehicle stops without brake pedal being engaged; Wheels lock up abruptly while driving 60-75 mph; Vehicle decelerates on its own while moving; Clicking noise from glove compartment during failure; Engine stalls in middle of road
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 14V355000
Repairs/costs cited: ABS wire harness replacement, hub assembly replacement, speed sensor circuit wire harness repair attempted; issue recurs constantly despite repairs; owners cite TSB exists for this issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V355000 referenced; parts unavailable; repairs attempted multiple times but failures recur
Fuel Pump Sensor Failure & Engine Stalling
Vehicle stalls without warning while driving on highways and local roads. Fuel pump sensor and related components fail. Fuel gauge reads falsely high or inaccurate, showing plenty of fuel when tank is actually empty or near empty.
When: As early as 54,000 miles; occurs at 86,078 miles to 93,586 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle suddenly stops on highway; Vehicle stalls while driving at normal speeds; False fuel gauge reading (shows fuel when empty); Fuel range indicator keeps increasing during last 20 miles of driving despite running low; No low fuel alarm when fuel is actually depleted
Repairs/costs cited: $420.21 out of pocket repair; owner paid for towing and diagnostic ($329.18 EMC charge); multiple towing incidents required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer warranty covers some repairs initially but coverage expires; owner unable to utilize extended warranty purchased with vehicle
Door Lock & Power Window Electrical Malfunction
Driver side power master door lock switch becomes inoperable. Passenger window stuck and can only be rolled up from original door panel. Brake lights stay on continuously after window operation and won't shut off even when car is completely off.
When: As early as 86,078 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Driver side power door lock switch inoperable; Passenger rear window stuck in down position; Brake lights stay on continuously; Cannot turn off brake lights even with car off
Repairs/costs cited: Owner had to unplug battery to turn off brake lights; repairs not detailed
Rear Defrost Harness Burned/Melted
Rear defrost electrical harness burns and melts internally, causing rear defroster to stop working. Multiple owners report this same issue with no recall issued.
When: Unknown mileage; reported as spontaneous failure
Symptoms owners cite: Rear defrost stops working; Electrical harness for rear defrost is burnt and melted
Repairs/costs cited: Harness replacement required; owner states multiple other Impala owners experienced same failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated no recall exists for this issue despite owner identifying it as safety hazard
Wiper Motor & Horn Intermittent Operation
Windshield wipers operate at incorrect speeds (too slow or too fast) or engage independently without user input. Horn engages independently. These components activate on their own during normal driving.
When: 111,366 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield wipers operate at slower speed than needed; Windshield wipers operate faster than needed; Wipers engage independently without user action; Horn engages independently
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 14V355000
Repairs/costs cited: ECM reprogramming prescribed; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: ECM reprogramming needed per NHTSA Campaign 14V355000
HVAC Actuator Malfunction & Battery Drain
HVAC actuator relay fails repeatedly, causing continuous clicking and ticking noise that persists even when car is off and key is not in ignition. Repeated failures drain battery overnight. Issue occurs at random times throughout the night.
When: Multiple occurrences throughout 39-month ownership; 37,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Continuous ticking noise from actuator; Ticking occurs when car is off and key not in ignition; Ticking occurs randomly throughout the night; Battery drains from continuous relay clicking; Battery goes dead from overnight drain
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple actuator replacements attempted (3+ replacements); repeated failures every 1 month after repair; very expensive repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claims not a safety issue despite repeated $300+ failures draining battery
Fuel Gauge Inaccuracy & False Range Display
Fuel range indicator displays inaccurate remaining range, showing greater fuel availability than actually present. Dashboard indicator shows 88 miles of range remaining but vehicle runs out of gas. Fuel range increases during final 20 miles of driving instead of decreasing.
When: Under 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel range indicator shows false high reading; Fuel range increases instead of decreases during final 20 miles; Vehicle runs out of gas while indicator shows fuel remaining; No low fuel alarm sounds when fuel is actually depleted
Passenger Airbag & Seatbelt Warning Light Malfunction
Service airbag warning light illuminates erroneously. Passenger seat belt warning light does not illuminate/extinguish properly.
When: Throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag light comes on; Passenger airbag light does not show on dash; Passenger seat belt indicator fails to turn off
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 14V355000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA Campaign 14V355000
Synthesized from 44 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
"takata recall" my vehicle ignition switch has went out and my " service air bag " light has came on as well. I searched my VIN number on this site and "0 recalls" shows up as a result. However its hard to believe that the exact same problems that was once recalled are both in tact on my vehicle. In addition to, I recently searched "ignition switch recall" on the recall list and "Chevy impala…
Right side no longer gets heat and actuator has gone bad car ticks the passenger airbag light does not show on the seat belt indicator for passenger does not go out
Had electrical trouble with your 2013 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 electrical problem on the 2013 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a meaningful issue. 44 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 28 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 42,000 and 84,255 miles, with the median around 60,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 42,000; a quarter make it past 84,255. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2013/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.