YearToAvoid

2016 Chevrolet Impala Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 16 transmission and powertrain complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Impala, 14% of all complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure is 64,240 miles. There are no related recalls tied to this problem area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
16
14% of 111
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
64,240 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Transmission fails to shift or shifts erratically at highway speeds, sometimes accompanied by a check engine light.
  • Vehicle stalls or loses power while driving, then refuses to accelerate past low speeds such as 30 mph.
  • Drivers report the transmission engaging reverse when the shifter is placed in drive, or losing reverse gear entirely.
  • Owners describe jerking or forced acceleration between 40 and 60 mph with high RPM readings before the transmission stalls.
  • Some owners report internal transmission damage diagnosed at dealerships with no clear cause identified.
  • Erratic downshifting between 2nd and 3rd gear during acceleration was reported at multiple dealerships.

When 2016 Chevrolet Impala transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 25, 2016, latest Jun 1, 2026.

2016 Chevrolet Impala transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Jun 2016May 2018Dec 2019Mar 2020Jun 2020Nov 2020Nov 2024Jun 2026
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2016 to Jun 2026; peak Jun 2020 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Impala

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Impala model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201067 (15%)
  2. 201164 (13%)
  3. 201227 (10%)
  4. 201333 (12%)
  5. 201439 (6%)
  6. 201516 (5%)
  7. 201616 (14%)
  8. 201712 (10%)
  9. 201811 (19%)
  10. 20195 (18%)
  11. 20202 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems in the 2016 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA lists 16 transmission and powertrain complaints for the 2016 Impala, making up 14% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Chevrolet Impala transmission?
No. The data shows no related recalls linked to the transmission and powertrain complaints for this model year.
At what mileage do 2016 Impala transmission problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure for transmission and powertrain complaints is 64,240 miles.
Are the 2016 Impala's transmission complaints worse than other years?
The 2016 Impala's transmission complaints make up 14% of its total complaints, higher than the 5% share seen in 2015 and the 6% share in 2014, though lower than the 19% share reported for 2018.
Did the transmission problems cause crashes?
NHTSA data links 2 crashes and 1 injury to transmission and powertrain complaints for the 2016 Impala, with no fires reported.

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.