YearToAvoid

2018 Chevrolet Impala Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Best The 2018 Chevrolet Impala ranks 14th out of 16 model years for complaints, with a complaint index of 13 and only 59 complaints logged. It carries a Best verdict, with electrical system issues (24% of complaints) being the top reported concern.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
13/100
#14 of 16 Impala years
Verdict
Best
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
59
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
6
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2019
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 28 hwy
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Top 2018 Chevy Impala problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other16 (27%)
  2. Electrical System14 (24%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain11 (19%)
  4. Brakes9 (15%)
  5. Engine9 (15%)
  6. Steering7 (12%)
  7. Airbags6 (10%)
  8. Structure & Body4 (7%)
  9. Fuel System3 (5%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (5%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Brakes reportedly fail to stop the car promptly, leading to low-speed rear-end collisions.
  • Owners describe the AC evaporator failing under the dash and releasing refrigerant into the cabin, disabling defrost function.
  • Side detection sensors are reported to corrode and stop working.
  • Some owners report the vehicle stalling or acting erratically at startup, with dashboard lights flashing and a clicking sound before restart.
  • One owner reported the airbags did not deploy during a front-end collision with a deer.
  • The rearview camera image was reported to be unclear during inclement weather.
2018 Chevrolet Impala complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2017May 2019May 2020Feb 2021Mar 2022Sep 2023Nov 2024Mar 2026
59 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2017 to Jun 2026; peak Sep 2019 (3).

2018 Chevrolet Impala recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V576000Aug 30, 2018Brakes210,628 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

    Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

2018 Chevrolet Impala fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
28 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.

2018 compared with other Impala years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Good27111022
2017Best20116022
2018Best1359122
2019Best728122
2020Best015022

All Chevrolet Impala years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 Impala ranks 14th out of 16 model years for complaint volume, with a complaint index of 13, one of the lowest in the lineup, earning it a Best verdict relative to other Impala years.
What problems does the 2018 Chevrolet Impala have?
NHTSA complaints point to the electrical system as the top problem area (24% of complaints), followed by transmission and powertrain (19%) and brakes (15%). Brake complaints were tied to 5 crashes.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Impala have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall for the 2018 Impala, covering the brake system, where GM had dealers bleed the brakes free of charge. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2018 Impala compare to other Impala years?
The 2018 model has far fewer complaints than earlier years like 2009 (824 complaints, index 100, Avoid) or 2014 (636 complaints, index 80, Avoid), placing it among the better Impala years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Chevrolet Impala?
The EPA rates the 2018 Impala at 22 mpg combined (19 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.