2012 Chevrolet Impala Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
70/100
#4 most-complained of 11 Impala years
The 2012 Chevrolet Impala ranks 4th worst out of 11 model years with a complaint index of 70 and 258 complaints. It sits in the Caution tier, better than 2010, 2011, and 2014 but worse than 2013 and later years. Brakes, at 29% of complaints, are the top problem area.
- Complaints
- 258
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 20 / 5
- Injuries / deaths
- 16 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 18 city / 29 hwy
Top 2012 Chevrolet Impala problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes75 (29%)
- Electrical System64 (25%)
- Engine52 (20%)
- Steering49 (19%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires39 (15%)
- Transmission & Powertrain27 (10%)
- Other23 (9%)
- Airbags20 (8%)
- Fuel System18 (7%)
- Seat Belts9 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners report the steering wheel becoming difficult to maneuver at highway and city speeds, sometimes leading to a crash into a fixed object.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in multiple collisions, including side impacts and rear-end crashes, despite significant vehicle damage.
- One owner reported the engine stalling at 35 mph at the same time the steering became hard to turn, resulting in a crash.
- A vehicle reportedly rolled away after being placed in park with the ignition off, striking a parked car.
- One owner reported smoke and fire coming from the engine area while the car was stopped in traffic, at 93,700 miles.
2012 Chevrolet Impala recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- NHTSA 12V377000Aug 3, 2012Suspension, Wheels & Tires36,413 vehicles
Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Chevrolet Impala police vehicles because the front lower control arms may fracture. This safety recall does not include non-police Chevrolet Impala vehicles.
Risk: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 21, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
- NHTSA 11V398000Aug 5, 2011Steering10,344 vehicles
Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections
Gm is recalling certain model year 2012 chevrolet impala vehicles manufactured from april 19, 2011, through july 29, 2011. The upper power steering hose may have been misrouted so that it can come in close proximity to and/or contact the catalytic converter. With the engine on, heat from the catalytic converter may melt the power steering hose.
Risk: Power steering fluid could flow onto the catalytic converter, and an engine compartment fire could occur.
Remedy: Gm dealers will inspect to ensure that the upper power steering hose is routed correctly and make the necessary repairs free of charge. The safety recall began on september 5, 2011. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.
2012 Chevrolet Impala fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 22 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,950
- 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.
2012 compared with other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
- NHTSA lists 258 complaints for the 2012 Impala and a complaint index of 70, giving it a Caution verdict. It ranks 4th worst among the 11 model years covered, so some other years perform better.
- What is the top problem area for the 2012 Impala?
- Brakes are the top problem area, accounting for 29% of complaints (75 complaints) with a median failure mileage of 70,000 miles.
- Does the 2012 Impala have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 Impala, covering the electrical system (key ring/ignition), suspension (front lower control arms on police vehicles), and steering (misrouted power steering hose).
- How does the 2012 Impala compare to other years?
- The 2012 model, with a complaint index of 70, is better than 2010 (80), 2011 (90), and 2014 (100), which are all rated Avoid, but worse than 2013 (50, Caution) and 2015 (60, Caution).