YearToAvoid

2006 Chevrolet Impala Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#6 most-complained of 16 Impala years

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

The 2006 Chevrolet Impala has 524 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 67 out of 100 — #6 highest of 16 Impala model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is steering (135 complaints, 26% of the total). Complaints report 58 crashes, 22 fires, 46 injuries, and 1 death.

Complaints
524
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
58 / 22
Injuries / deaths
46 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19.5
17 city / 25.5 hwy

Top 2006 Chevy Impala problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering135 (26%)
  2. Electrical System131 (25%)
  3. Engine109 (21%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain108 (21%)
  5. Brakes49 (9%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires48 (9%)
  7. Airbags47 (9%)
  8. Structure & Body32 (6%)
  9. Other31 (6%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers24 (5%)
2006 Chevrolet Impala complaints: complaints filed per quarter632006 Q32008 Q42011 Q12013 Q22015 Q32017 Q42020 Q12023 Q4
756 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2006 Q3 to 2026 Q1; peak 2014 Q3 (63).

2006 Chevrolet Impala recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V355000Jun 23, 2014Electrical System3,141,731 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) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and 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. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

    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 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.

2006 Chevrolet Impala fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
25.5 MPG
Combined
19.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,325
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.

2006 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
2008Avoid93810221.5

All Chevrolet Impala years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Chevrolet Impala a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Chevrolet Impala ranks #6 of 16 among Impala model years (Complaint Index 67/100, verdict: Caution). It has 524 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Impala?
The most reported problem areas are steering (135 complaints), electrical system (131 complaints), and engine (109 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 74,900 miles.
Does the 2006 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 Chevrolet Impala, most recently reported 2014, covering electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Chevrolet Impala?
EPA rates the 2006 Chevrolet Impala at 19.5 MPG combined (17 city / 25.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,325. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.