YearToAvoid

2005 Chevrolet Impala Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2005 Chevrolet Impala has 609 complaints and a Complaint Index of 53, ranking 8th worst out of 16 model years, with a Caution verdict. Electrical System problems dominate at 61% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 77,000.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
53/100
#8 of 16 Impala years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
609
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
39
reported in complaints
Fires
13
Injuries
32
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2017
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
17.5 city / 27 hwy
Injuries / deaths
32 / 0

Top 2005 Chevy Impala problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System369 (61%)
  2. Engine84 (14%)
  3. Steering60 (10%)
  4. Brakes55 (9%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain52 (9%)
  6. Fuel System42 (7%)
  7. Airbags33 (5%)
  8. Other22 (4%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers18 (3%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires15 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners describe vehicles catching fire in the engine compartment or battery area with no prior warning, sometimes while parked overnight.
  • Some report the transmission rolling backward on an incline after releasing the brake pedal, even while the shifter was in drive.
  • Several describe the vehicle unexpectedly staying in gear, revving, or failing to shift into park, leading to collisions.
  • Brake complaints include the anti-lock brakes and airbags failing to activate during rear-end collisions.
  • One owner reported the car jumping out of park and rolling on its own, causing property damage.
2005 Chevrolet Impala complaints: complaints filed per quarter392004 Q42007 Q22009 Q32011 Q42014 Q12016 Q22018 Q32021 Q2
609 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2004 Q4 to 2026 Q2; peak 2014 Q3 (39).

2005 Chevrolet Impala recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V400000Jul 3, 2014Electrical System5,877,718 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition

    This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

    Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

2005 Chevrolet Impala fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,100
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Impala years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Caution53609121
2006Caution67524119.5
2007Avoid87627221.5

All Chevrolet Impala years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
Compared with other Impala model years, 2005 carries a Caution verdict with a Complaint Index of 53, ranking 8th worst of 16 years covered by NHTSA data.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Chevrolet Impala?
Electrical System issues are the top problem area, making up 61% of the 609 complaints, with a median failure mileage of 77,000.
Does the 2005 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall (campaign 14V400000) for the 2005 Impala, involving a key ring/ignition issue that can affect airbag system operation. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2005 Impala compare to other years?
The 2005 model year is better than 2007-2009 and 2014, which are rated Avoid with higher Complaint Index scores, but worse than 2012-2020 model years, several of which earn Good or Best verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Chevrolet Impala?
EPA rates the 2005 Impala at 21 mpg combined (17.5 city / 27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,100.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.