2013 Chevrolet Impala Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
50/100
#6 most-complained of 11 Impala years
The 2013 Chevrolet Impala ranks 6th worst of 11 model years, with a complaint index of 50 and a Caution verdict. NHTSA logged 272 complaints, led by brakes (132 complaints, 49% share) and electrical system issues (56 complaints), plus 1 recall.
- Complaints
- 272
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 16 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 12 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 18 city / 28.5 hwy
Top 2013 Chevrolet Impala problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes132 (49%)
- Electrical System56 (21%)
- Engine47 (17%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires44 (16%)
- Steering34 (13%)
- Transmission & Powertrain33 (12%)
- Other23 (8%)
- Airbags19 (7%)
- Fuel System10 (4%)
- Structure & Body4 (1%)
What owners report
- Brake pedal engaged at low speed but the vehicle failed to decelerate, leading to a crash into another vehicle.
- Airbags failed to deploy in multiple crashes, including a rollover at highway speed and a low-speed side impact.
- Electronic stability control warning light came on before a front wheel seized during a turn, resulting in a rear-end collision.
- Vehicle lost power and the engine stalled while stopped, then was struck by another car after the driver tried restarting it.
- Engine lost oil and shut off while driving on the highway, with a repair shop reporting a thrown rod.
- Blend door actuator failure caused sudden windshield fogging and loss of visibility while driving, leading to a crash.
2013 Chevrolet Impala recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign 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.
2013 Chevrolet Impala fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 28.5 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.
2013 compared with other Impala years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
- Compared with other Impala years, 2013 is rated Caution, ranking 6th worst out of 11 model years tracked. It has a complaint index of 50, better than 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015, but worse than 2016-2020.
- What is the main problem with the 2013 Chevrolet Impala?
- Brakes are the top complaint area, with 132 complaints (49% of all complaints) and a median failure mileage of 58,000 miles. Electrical system issues follow with 56 complaints.
- Does the 2013 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2013 Impala, covering the electrical system related to the ignition key. It is not a do-not-drive recall; the remedy involves installing key rings and a cover over the key head.
- How does the 2013 Impala compare to the 2014 Impala?
- The 2014 Impala has a higher complaint index of 100 with 636 complaints and 12 recalls, making it an Avoid year, while the 2013 Impala has a lower complaint index of 50 and only 1 recall.