Should I buy a 2015 Chevrolet Impala with documented body problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented body issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2015 Chevrolet Impala body problems

severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$1,500

1crash

1fire

1injury

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 14V489000 August 8, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured May 7, 2014, to July 28, 2014

The storage compartment door may not remain closed in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Fix: Parts to remedy this condition are not currently available. GM will send owners an interim notification in early October 2014, and will send a second letter when parts are available. At that time dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the console storage compartment door inertia latch, free of charge. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14476.

The failure pattern owners describe

Buyer takeaway: Trunk and floor water leaks are the dominant complaint across these 2015 Impalas, with owners reporting persistent moisture issues even after dealer attempts at repair and no recall available. Additional safety concerns raised include a sunroof explosion, spontaneous fire, and paint defects that warrant investigation before purchase.

Water intrusion into the trunk is the primary issue across 11 complaints on the 2015 Impala. Owners describe standing water in the spare tire well (4–6 inches in one case), water filling the wheel well, and persistent leaks around the taillight housing. One owner had the taillight gasket replaced, discovered a 2-inch split weld behind the bumper preventing proper seal, and still experienced leaks. Repairs attempted at dealerships failed—one owner reported water continued entering from a different location after two service attempts.

A front passenger floor mat area shows recurring water pooling that dries and returns. Paint defects appear in one complaint describing imprinting from light contact, suggesting compromised clear coat.

Two catastrophic failures—sunroof explosion outward during highway driving and spontaneous fire with only a StabiliTrak warning—appear unrelated to the water issues but represent serious safety events. Dealerships declined repair without charges for diagnosis or have no recall to offer. Chevrolet referred multiple owners to NHTSA without resolving the water leak root cause.

Same Chevrolet Impala body reports on nearby years: 2014

Failure modes owners describe

Trunk water leaks

Water entering the trunk compartment, including the spare tire well and wheel well areas. Owners report leaks persisting even after dealer repairs, with one owner noting a 2-inch split weld behind the bumper preventing proper taillight and trunk seal. One complaint involved water entering from the driver's side rear taillight housing.

When: 57,000 to 100,000 miles; some after extended rain exposure

Symptoms owners cite: Dampness and standing water in trunk; 4 to 6 inches of water accumulation in spare tire well; Water filling wheel well; Persistent leaks after repair attempts; Fungus growth and odor from moisture

Repairs/costs cited: One owner had taillight gasket replaced outside of warranty; another instructed to seek body shop repair due to split weld behind bumper; repairs attempted at dealership but water continues to enter from different locations

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued; manufacturer referred owners to NHTSA

Front passenger floor water leak

Water pooling under the front passenger floor mat, recurring even after drying.

Symptoms owners cite: Constant water puddle under passenger side floor mat; Recurring puddle after drying

Paint and clear coat defect

Paint holds visible imprints from objects touching the vehicle surface, suggesting compromised clear coat or defective paint application.

Symptoms owners cite: Paint imprinting from light contact; Possible faulty clear coat

Sunroof explosion

Sunroof glass shattered and exploded outward while vehicle was in highway motion, with no identifiable cause or debris impact.

When: Highway driving speed

Symptoms owners cite: Loud boom sound; Sunroof glass shattered outward; No glass debris in vehicle interior

Spontaneous vehicle fire

Vehicle caught fire while in motion on interstate highway. Only warning was StabiliTrak service message appearing as fire was already burning. No recent repairs or known cause identified.

When: Highway driving

Symptoms owners cite: Spontaneous fire during motion; StabiliTrak service warning message

Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 0 most recent

Had body trouble with your 2015 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 body problem on the 2015 Chevrolet Impala?

It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.

At what mileage does the body typically fail?

Based on the 11 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 57,443 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body 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 body?

Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover body 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.

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/2015/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.