2012 Chevrolet Impala Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 52 engine complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Impala, 20% of that year's 258 total complaints. No related recalls are listed for this engine issue, and the median mileage at failure was 45,545 miles.
- Engine complaints
- 52
- 20% of 258
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 45,545 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Engine makes a ticking or knocking noise while accelerating, reported shortly after purchase and continuing at low mileage.
- Idle RPM surges from around 500 to 1,000 rpm during warm-up stops, sometimes lasting several minutes.
- High RPM and loud engine noise when taking off from a stop, described by owners as sounding like a much larger or diesel engine.
- Engine vibrations felt at low speeds that dealers could not diagnose or repair.
- Engine stalls or backfires unexpectedly while driving at low speeds, including during turns or intersections, sometimes restarting only after the ignition is cycled.
When 2012 Chevrolet Impala engine complaints were filed
First complaint Feb 21, 2012, latest Sep 23, 2025.
Engine recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Impala
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine 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 engine complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Impala have?
- NHTSA lists 52 engine-related complaints for the 2012 Impala, which is 20% of the 258 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Impala engine?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the engine complaints reported on the 2012 Impala.
- At what mileage do 2012 Impala engine problems usually appear?
- The median mileage at failure for engine-related complaints is 45,545 miles, though some owners reported issues at very low mileage.
- What kind of engine problems do 2012 Impala owners report?
- Owners describe knocking or ticking noises, idle RPM surges during warm-up, loud noise when accelerating from a stop, unexplained vibrations, and stalling or backfiring at low speeds.
- How does the 2012 Impala compare to other years for engine complaints?
- The 2012 model's 52 engine complaints and 20% share are lower than 2010 (122 complaints, 28%) and 2011 (174 complaints, 34%), but higher in share than 2013 through 2020.