YearToAvoid

2016 Chevrolet Impala Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#7 most-complained of 11 Impala years

The 2016 Chevrolet Impala has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 7th worst out of 11 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other Impala years. It has 111 complaints, 0 recalls, and its top problem area is the Electrical System.

Complaints
111
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
8 / 4
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22
18 city / 28 hwy

Top 2016 Chevrolet Impala problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System35 (32%)
  2. Engine23 (21%)
  3. Other22 (20%)
  4. Airbags16 (14%)
  5. Brakes16 (14%)
  6. Steering16 (14%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain16 (14%)
  8. Structure & Body9 (8%)
  9. Fuel System5 (5%)
  10. Lane Departure4 (4%)

What owners report

  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in moderate-speed collisions around 35 to 40 mph, despite significant frontal damage.
  • Owners describe brake pedals that felt weak or seized, requiring extended distance or extra force to stop, in one case after the vehicle had a documented brake-related recall on another model.
  • Some drivers report the check engine light coming on along with rough or delayed shifting, with a dealer noting the transmission issue affects multiple vehicles of this type.
  • One owner described the engine losing power while turning at low speed, followed by black smoke and flames from the engine compartment.
  • Trunk flooding after rain or car washes was reported, with water pooling enough to damage electronics inside the trunk.
  • A tire-related failure was cited as a contributing factor in one crash, though fault was disputed.
2016 Chevrolet Impala complaints: complaints filed per quarter152016 Q22017 Q32018 Q42020 Q12021 Q22022 Q32024 Q22026 Q3
171 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2020 Q4 (15).

2016 Chevrolet Impala recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2016 Chevrolet Impala fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Gasoline or E85
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.

2016 compared with other Impala years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Avoid1006361222
2015Caution60300322
2016Good40111022
2017Good30116022
2018Best2059122

All Chevrolet Impala years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
Relative to other Impala model years, the 2016 is rated Good, with a Complaint Index of 40 and 111 complaints, ranking 7th worst out of 11 years tracked.
What is the biggest problem with the 2016 Chevrolet Impala?
The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 35 complaints, or 32% of all reported issues, with a median failure mileage of 40,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2016 Impala, including 0 do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2016 Impala compare to other years?
The 2016 model (Complaint Index 40) is far better than the worst years, 2014 (100) and 2011 (90), and is close to the 2017 model year (30, also rated Good).
What fuel economy does the 2016 Chevrolet Impala get?
EPA rates the 2016 Impala at 22 mpg combined (18 city / 28 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.