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 ↗2016 Chevrolet Impala electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Impala have filed 25 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 48,382 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
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Impala | 51 |
| 2013 Impala | 44 |
| 2014 Impala | 184 |
| 2015 Impala | 88 |
| 2016 Impala (this page) | 25 |
| 2017 Impala | 12 |
| 2018 Impala | 8 |
| 2019 Impala | 7 |
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 25 electrical complaints filed for the 2016 Chevrolet Impala, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 25 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.
Electrical accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 7 categories tracked.
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 Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414, E4423, E4491, E4492, or E6961 and resolution 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
These 25 complaints paint a picture of serious electrical system unreliability in the 2016 Impala. The most alarming cases involve fire risk: one owner's vehicle caught fire during startup with stalling and grey smoke, traced to battery acid corrosion of wiring; another owner reports a pop noise on startup that preceded a prior vehicle fire. Water intrusion through taillights floods the trunk and cabin, submerging the computer and creating fire hazard with reported sparks from the trunk area.
Owners describe random stalling at highway speeds (60-65 mph) and traffic lights with delayed restart, complete loss of interior and exterior power while driving, and a side detection system module failure that cascades into multiple electrical problems—disabled blind spot warning, dashboard malfunction, no-start condition, and ignition failure. Several owners note GM has acknowledged these side detection issues but refuses repair.
Dashboard and warning systems malfunction constantly: the instrument cluster fails without warning, HMI display screens go black, lane departure alerts stop working, and audio systems cut out, disabling safety alerts like seatbelt and door-open warnings. The ignition system falsely instructs drivers to "press button again," requiring dealers to replace multiple parts and rewire body control modules. Trunk fuses blow repeatedly, batteries drain from parasitic draws, and one owner had blinker wiring chewed by rodents twice at $1,000 each repair. Dealerships struggle to diagnose these problems, sometimes misidentifying root causes through multiple failed repair attempts.
Same Chevrolet Impala electrical reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Engine fire and stalling
Vehicle caught fire during normal morning drive with grey smoke from hood. Stalling preceded fire. Owner reports battery acid corroded wiring over time, damaging transmission. Vehicle had no warning systems activated (auto stop, ignition cut-off device) despite fire hazard.
When: 7 minutes into drive; vehicle at approximately 65,000 miles (owned for 1.5 years from 20,022 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle lag and stall; grey smoke from hood; fire; transmission failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosed pre-existing battery acid damage to wiring; transmission blown out
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner reports Chevrolet Sands (dealership) blamed pre-existing damage; no recall or warranty coverage mentioned
Pop noise on startup with fire risk
Intermittent popping sound when starting vehicle, occurring once in morning or evening, sometimes disappearing for week or more. Owner cites prior Buick Park Avenue caught fire with same pop noise. Owner reports coworker with same model experiencing identical problem. Dealership misdiagnosed twice (exhaust hoses, then starter replacement), but pop continues.
When: Started 1-2 weeks after first oil change; 3+ months of complaints; problem present at approximately 2 years ownership
Symptoms owners cite: pop noise on startup; intermittent occurring; more frequent and louder over time
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced exhaust hoses and starter motor; pop noise persisted after both repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None mentioned; dealership failed to diagnose root cause
Ignition system malfunction and grounding fault
Dashboard displayed 'press ignition button again to turn vehicle off' message randomly while driving or parked. Occurred for 2 months. Root cause found to be wire on body control module with insulation sheathing removed, causing wire to ground out on car frame.
When: 2+ months duration
Symptoms owners cite: dashboard message malfunction; random occurrence while driving or stationary
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced ignition and other suspected parts ($1,200 first visit); took 5 visits to diagnose; final repair was rewiring body control module wire
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None mentioned; dealership unable to duplicate issue on first 4 visits
Water intrusion through taillights
During inclement weather, water entered vehicle from rear taillights. Trunk and cabin flooded with water. Confirmed failure at driver and passenger taillights. Computer in trunk completely submerged. Spare tire and jack rusted.
When: Approximately 32,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: water entry from taillights in rain; trunk flooding; cabin water intrusion; mold and abnormal odor; amplifier failure; sparks from trunk area
Repairs/costs cited: Computer completely underwater; amplifier inoperable; tools damaged from water damage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner mentions known recall for this vehicle; Chevrolet refused to repair; manufacturer contacted but no action taken
Trunk electrical and mechanical failures
Trunk spontaneously opens when vehicle not in use. Later, trunk will not open or close. Continuous fuse blowing. Electrical system also shows battery cable erosion, battery drain, and door clicking when vehicle not in use.
When: Multiple occasions of spontaneous opening; later complete open/close failure
Symptoms owners cite: trunk opens on own; trunk won't open or close; fuses blow repeatedly; battery drain; battery cable erosion; door clicking when not in use
Repairs/costs cited: Owner purchased replacement fuses (ineffective) and new battery cable and battery
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevrolet customer care denied any complaints received on models since 2000; owner notes at least 2 other NHTSA complaints about trunk exist
Stalling at highway and traffic light speeds
Engine completely shut off while driving freeway at 60-65 mph. Vehicle lost all power while moving and would not restart immediately. Same issue occurred at traffic lights while braking. Vehicle eventually restarted after multiple attempts.
When: Multiple occasions; one incident at 57,292 miles
Symptoms owners cite: complete engine shutdown while driving; loss of all power; stalling at traffic light; delayed restart
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no repair attempted
Radio and audio system intermittent failure
Radio and sound system intermittently turns on and off; sound sometimes absent for days or weeks. Because radio is tied to vehicle's internal warning systems, loss of audio means no audible notifications for safety conditions including seatbelt, door open, turn signal, low fuel, service engine, and Stabilitrack alerts.
When: Symptoms began 2 months ago during routine highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: radio intermittent on/off; sound cuts out for days/weeks; loss of audible safety warnings
HMI module failure
Display screen went black while driving and using navigation system. Diagnosed as defective HMI module. Loss of display caused concern of accident risk.
When: During routine highway navigation driving
Symptoms owners cite: display screen went black; loss of navigation display
Repairs/costs cited: HMI module replacement cost $1,100 (GM Part #84296482)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner states this should lead to recall and reimbursement; no recall mentioned by manufacturer
Adaptive cruise control hard braking
Adaptive cruise control applies brakes very suddenly and in ABS chattering mode even when no collision danger exists. Causes unexpected jolt to driver and occupants.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: sudden brake application; ABS chattering mode; unexpected jolt to occupants
Instrument cluster and lane departure alert failure
All instruments on dashboard failed simultaneously, then returned after couple of restarts. Lane departure alert stopped working. Owner reports seeing web search results indicating widespread issue with high repair costs.
When: At 50,600 miles; problem intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: complete instrument cluster failure; lane departure alert failure; system failure without warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Owner notes repair cost is staggering and did not pursue dealer diagnosis due to cost
Cruise control power loss and glitch
Vehicle on cruise control at 80 mph on highway glitched and turned on/off. Vehicle slowed while rolling downhill. Glitch turned back on 1 minute later and re-engaged cruise control at 80 mph.
When: While highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: cruise control glitch; power loss; unexpected re-engagement
Interior lighting system electrical glitch
While driving on two-lane road around curve, all interior lights (dashboard, radio, gear shift lights) turned off for approximately three seconds. Vehicle felt completely off but powered back up and continued driving normally.
When: 9:00 p.m. during evening drive
Symptoms owners cite: all interior lights off simultaneously; dashboard lights off; radio lights off; gear shift lights off
Sensor malfunction and no-start condition
Car would not start. All sensors displayed service warnings that would then disappear. Vehicle had no problems previous day; sensors acting up the next day.
When: Intermittent; day-to-day variation
Symptoms owners cite: no-start condition; all sensors requiring service; sensor warnings appearing and disappearing
Wiring damage from rodent chew
Right-hand blinker wiring chewed by squirrels while vehicle stationary in driveway. This occurred twice.
When: Twice during vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: blinker wiring damage from rodent chewing
Repairs/costs cited: $1,000 repair cost each time the wiring was chewed
Auto stop clunk and no-start condition
Vehicle sometimes does not start (key turned to start produces no response). When auto stop feature engages and disengages, vehicle makes clunking noise suggesting bad motor mounts.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: no-start condition; clunking noise on auto stop/off cycle
Complete electrical system power loss while driving
While driving, all power lost to vehicle. Everything went out—no lights, no control, complete darkness. Vehicle was in motion with no power available.
When: While vehicle in motion
Symptoms owners cite: complete loss of power; all systems off; no control; complete darkness
Engine shutdown warning and forced shutdown
Vehicle displays warning to shift into park to stop engine. After 3 notices of this warning, vehicle shuts down completely.
When: While on highway or local roads
Symptoms owners cite: shift to park warning message; repeated warnings; complete shutdown
Side detection system module failure
Side detection system module fails, disabling blind spot detection system. Causes multiple electrical problems including dashboard malfunction, no-start condition, computer issues, and ignition problems. Owner confirms GM acknowledges problem but refuses repair.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: blind spot system failure; dashboard off or flickering; no-start condition; multiple electrical cascading failures
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner states GM acknowledges this is a known problem but refuses to repair under warranty
Airbag warning light malfunction
Airbag warning light keeps coming on repeatedly. Owner took vehicle to dealership for inspection but light continues to activate.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: airbag warning light stays on or recurs
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership inspection did not resolve issue
Electrical glitches and engine power loss
Vehicle experiences electrical glitches and full loss of engine power while driving. Owner reports dealer unable to diagnose or fix issue.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: electrical glitches; complete loss of engine power while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
All instruments failed. After a couple restarts they came back on. Lane departure alert doesn’t work now. From a web search, I’m afraid it’s just the beginning. No, I haven’t taken it to the dealer; they charge for diagnosis. And it hasn’t been inspected. The problem doesn’t act up all the time. There are no warning lights, the system just fails. I have 50,600 miles on it. If you find…
For the past 3 mo. Upon starting the vehicle I hear a "pop" noise. It only happens every once in a while in the morning or the evening when I get off work. Sometimes it will go a week or more without making the sound. The sound will not repeat itself if I immediately turn the car off and restart it. The 1st time I took it to the dealership, they siad nothing was wrong & they didn't hear the…
Radio/sound system malfunctioning; Radio/sound will intermittently turn on and off, at times sound will not work for days/weeks at a time. Radio/sound system is tied in with vehicles internal warning systems. When sound is not working, there is no audible notification of several safety conditions including: Seat belt not fastened; door open; turn signal on/off; Low fuel; service engine;…
side detection fault. this is an acknowledged problem by GM but they will not fix my car.
Had electrical trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a meaningful issue. 25 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 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 32,000 and 76,000 miles, with the median around 48,382. A quarter of owners report trouble before 32,000; a quarter make it past 76,000. 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 $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/2016/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.