2012 Chevrolet Impala Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 64 Electrical System complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Impala, 25% of its 258 total complaints that year. A related recall (14V355000) covers ignition key and airbag issues, with a median failure mileage of 56,000 miles.
- Electrical System complaints
- 64
- 25% of 258
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 2
- Injuries reported
- 4
- Median mileage
- 56,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Engine stalls suddenly while driving at low-to-moderate speeds, sometimes causing loss of steering and braking assist.
- Ignition key sticks or fails to turn on the first attempt, requiring multiple tries to start the vehicle.
- Electrical shorts near the dashboard and center console produce smoke or melting of interior components.
- Rear window defroster wiring burns out and stops working, sometimes needing repeated repair.
- Stability control and brake warning lights illuminate intermittently at low speeds, then clear once the car is restarted.
- During heavy rain, multiple electrical systems (wipers, windows, radio, engine) malfunction at once.
When 2012 Chevrolet Impala electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Jun 24, 2013, latest Sep 23, 2025.
Electrical System recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Impala
- 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.
Electrical System complaints by Impala model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical system complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Chevrolet Impala?
- NHTSA lists 64 Electrical System complaints for the 2012 Impala, which is 25% of the 258 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for electrical issues on the 2012 Chevrolet Impala?
- Yes. Recall campaign 14V355000, reported in June 2014, addresses an electrical system defect affecting the airbag system, with a remedy involving key ring inserts and a cover over the key head.
- At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up on the 2012 Impala?
- The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints on the 2012 Impala is 56,000 miles.
- Have electrical issues caused crashes or fires in the 2012 Impala?
- NHTSA data shows 3 crashes, 2 fires, and 4 injuries associated with reported issues on the 2012 Impala, some tied to electrical system complaints.
- How does the 2012 Impala compare to other years for electrical complaints?
- The 2012 Impala's electrical complaints made up 25% of its total complaints, lower than 2014 (40%) and 2015 (37%) but higher than 2017 (17%) and 2011 (20%).