When I was driving driving on the 91 freeway going to work at the speed, approximately 65 MPH the transmission started shifting erratically like it was going to stop or it was stuck in the wrong gear. My husband was told to make an appointment to bring the car into GMC weeks later they finally decided that we could bring the car in only to be told that there was no lights on the dash board and…
2016 Chevrolet Impala powertrain problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 15 powertrain complaints filed for the 2016 Chevrolet Impala, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2016 Impala's powertrain shows a clear pattern of transmission failures and unintended acceleration incidents across multiple mileage points. Owners report stalling, erratic shifting, complete loss of power, and in one critical case, uncontrolled acceleration at low mileage—safety concerns that dealers struggle to diagnose or repair despite multiple service attempts.
Fourteen owners of 2016 Chevrolet Impalas describe serious powertrain faults. The most alarming incident involved unintended high-speed acceleration during low-speed parking maneuver at just 3,021 miles; the driver depressed the accelerator lightly but the car accelerated hard, and braking did not stop it before impact. All cabin lights activated afterward, suggesting electrical involvement.
Transmission problems dominate the complaints. Owners report erratic downshifting between 2nd and 3rd gears, hunting for proper engagement, stalling during acceleration or takeoff, and inability to exceed 25–60 mph without harsh jerking or RPM flaring. One owner's transmission fluid showed a gray tinge. Vehicle speeds ranged from 58,000 to 66,000 miles when symptoms appeared; dealerships frequently cannot replicate the fault during diagnostics, though one was confirmed as internal transmission damage. One owner reported a replacement part arrived defective.
Three owners describe complete engine shutdown while driving at various speeds—no warning, no warning lights beforehand. One vehicle stalled at 58,000 miles and wouldn't go faster than 30 mph afterward. Check Engine lights typically illuminate but specific codes aren't detailed in owner narratives.
One owner reports instruments—speedometer, tachometer, and coolant gauge—oscillating wildly during normal driving, making the actual vehicle speed unreadable. Manufacturer responsiveness has been poor; promised callbacks did not materialize and one owner waited two months for parts with no resolution.
Same Chevrolet Impala powertrain reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended High-Speed Acceleration / Loss of Braking Control
Vehicle accelerated to high speed with light throttle input during low-speed maneuvering; driver applied brakes but they did not respond quickly enough to prevent collision. Occurred at 3,021 miles on a nearly new vehicle. All lights and flasher activated after impact, suggesting electrical system disturbance.
When: 3,021 miles; November 2016
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden high-speed acceleration with minimal throttle input; Delayed or unresponsive braking; All cabin lights and flasher illuminated after impact; Smoke in cabin upon impact
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to collision shop; current status unknown
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM took a report; no recall or service bulletin mentioned
Erratic Transmission Shifting and Stalling
Transmission shifts erratically between gears, feels stuck in wrong gear, or fails to shift properly during acceleration. Vehicle stalls frequently during takeoff or when attempting speeds between 25–60 mph. Multiple owners report RPM flaring while transmission hunting for gears or losing engagement entirely. Check Engine light typically illuminates.
When: 58,000–66,000 miles; varies by owner (some early, some later in ownership)
Symptoms owners cite: Erratic downshifting between 2nd and 3rd gears; Transmission hunting or hunting/losing gears during acceleration; Engine stalling at low speeds or during acceleration; RPM flaring or revving without forward motion; Vehicle unable to reach or maintain highway speeds (stuck below 40–60 mph); Loss of reverse engagement; Harsh jerking during acceleration; Transmission fluid gray tinge (one report)
Codes mentioned: P0700 (generic transmission control system fault, implied by Check Engine light)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnostics often unable to replicate failure; one owner had transmission replaced after 9 months; multiple reports of internal transmission damage; one owner reported part was defective upon installation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner received recall notice for defective seat belts; defective airbag part and transmission issues not addressed in manufacturer response; GM representatives promised callbacks but did not follow up
Complete Loss of Motive Power / Engine Shutdown While Driving
Engine stalls or shuts down completely while vehicle is in motion at various speeds with no warning. Vehicle loses all propulsion and comes to a stop. Engine can be restarted but Check Engine light remains illuminated. Occurs even on well-maintained vehicles.
When: Varies; one report at 58,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of engine power while driving; Vehicle stalls without warning; Check Engine light remains illuminated after restart; Vehicle unable to proceed beyond 30 mph after stalling event
Codes mentioned: Check Engine (P-code not specified by owners)
Repairs/costs cited: Initial dealer diagnostics unable to replicate or diagnose; transmission failure eventually diagnosed at different dealership; no permanent repair noted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer promised callback but did not follow through; no recall or TSB mentioned
Instrument Cluster Malfunction / Erratic Gauge Behavior
Speedometer, tachometer, and coolant temperature gauge oscillate or bounce erratically during normal driving, making vehicle speed impossible to read. RPM gauge jumps between high values while attempting to maintain speed.
When: Timing not specified by owners
Symptoms owners cite: Speedometer bouncing or waving erratically; RPM gauge jumping and oscillating; Coolant temperature gauge erratic; Inability to determine actual vehicle speed due to gauge movement; Overall instrument cluster instability
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided by owners
Check Engine Light Illumination (Undiagnosed)
Check Engine light turns on repeatedly or stays illuminated; owner reports dealership stated issue is transmission-related and that multiple owners of the same vehicle type are experiencing the problem. Specific cause not identified by dealer.
When: Within 30 days of dealer purchase (one report)
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light illuminates and remains on; Check Engine light cycles on and off repeatedly; Dealership acknowledges multiple complaints on same vehicle model
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnostic testing inconclusive; no repair performed
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Transmission failure 2nd time in car at 101,000 miles
When you start it the speed and RPM' s start jumping the coolant gadget waves at you then when you put it in reverse or drive it bumps when you driving you don't know how fast you going because of the gadget bouncing up and down to top it off its jumping the whole time you driving it.
On friday, november 18, 2016 at approximately 5:20 a.m. I was parking my car in a center city parking garage. I was approximately 2 car lengths from the parking spot. I was backing my car into the spot. The car was stopped and I removed my safety belt and lowered the window. I put the car in reverse and depressed the accelerator to proceed into the lined parking spot. The car proceeded at a…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 41,000 and 79,000 miles, with the median around 64,240. A quarter of owners report trouble before 41,000; a quarter make it past 79,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.