YearToAvoid

2012 Chevrolet Impala Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2012 Chevrolet Impala ranks 9th out of 16 model years with a complaint index of 47 and earns a Good verdict. It has 258 complaints, 3 recalls, and no reported deaths, with brakes as the top problem area.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
47/100
#9 of 16 Impala years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
258
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
20
reported in complaints
Fires
5
Injuries
16
Top issue
Brakes
Best nearby year
2017
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22
18 city / 29 hwy
Injuries / deaths
16 / 0

Top 2012 Chevy Impala problems

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

  1. Brakes75 (29%)
  2. Electrical System64 (25%)
  3. Engine52 (20%)
  4. Steering49 (19%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires39 (15%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain27 (10%)
  7. Other23 (9%)
  8. Airbags20 (8%)
  9. Fuel System18 (7%)
  10. Seat Belts9 (3%)

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

What owners report

  • Steering became difficult to turn or locked up at low to moderate speeds, sometimes leading to a crash into a fixed object.
  • Airbags failed to deploy in multiple collision scenarios, including side impacts and rear-end crashes with significant injuries reported.
  • Owners connected to the 14V355000 recall reported the steering wheel locking while driving around 20 mph.
  • Engine compartment smoke and fire occurred in at least one case at higher mileage, forcing the driver to stop in traffic.
  • A vehicle reportedly rolled away after being placed in park with the ignition off, striking a parked car.
2012 Chevrolet Impala complaints: complaints filed per quarter212011 Q42013 Q32015 Q22017 Q12018 Q42020 Q32022 Q22024 Q2
258 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q4 to 2026 Q1; peak 2014 Q3 (21).

2012 Chevrolet Impala recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

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
2010Caution60441422
2011Caution73505222
2012Good47258322
2013Good33272122
2014Avoid806361222

All Chevrolet Impala years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
Compared to other Impala model years, the 2012 rates Good, ranking 9th of 16 years with a complaint index of 47, well below the worst year's index of 100.
What is the top problem area for the 2012 Chevrolet Impala?
Brakes is the top problem area, accounting for 75 complaints, or 29% of all complaints, with a median failure mileage of 70,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 Impala, covering the electrical system (ignition key/airbag issue), suspension on police-package vehicles, and a misrouted power steering hose.
How does the 2012 Impala compare to the 2009 Impala?
The 2009 Impala carries a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict, versus the 2012's index of 47 and Good verdict, making 2012 a lower-risk year.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Chevrolet Impala?
EPA rates the 2012 Impala at 22 mpg combined (18 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950.

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.