AI Damage2018 Chevrolet Impala: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Chevrolet Impala filed 59 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and powertrain. The maker issued 571 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 59
- involving a crash
- 6
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 571
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 19% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 19% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 12% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 12% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 10% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 7% of all complaints
- 8 Seats 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 11 complaints (19% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 98.
- Powertrain: 11 complaints (19% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 50.
- Service brakes: 8 complaints (14% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 15.
- Engine: 7 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 63.
- Steering: 7 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 59 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 11 | 0 | 98 |
| Powertrain | 11 | 0 | 50 |
| Service brakes | 8 | 5 | 15 |
| Engine | 7 | 0 | 63 |
| Steering | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Air bags | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 1 | 8 |
| Seats | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 36 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 15 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 23 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 19 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The center of the front bumper was dented, the center of the grill was cracked, and the hood was dented. The contact was not injured.
The car was stopped on a parking lot exit ramp. When the car ahead of me moved forward I took my foot of of the brake so I could move forward. When I applied the break to stop, the breaks did not work and I hit the car in front of me.
The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was damaged and towed to an independent body shop. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified. The driver sustained injuries that required medical attention. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.
The transmission failed, shifting is no longer smooth. It hesitates and shakes the entire car, and the car slows down to almost a crawl uphill. I understand this is an issue with Chevrolet Impalas. So now I have an $8200 bill for a problem I was never told about, and that GM knew that it existed.
The contact stated that while the A/C was activated during the summer of 2025, the A/C failed to function as intended. The contact stated that hot air was blowing through the vents. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with an EVAP leak.
We are fearing that if there were any accident or need, that his life would be in danger if the airbag didn't deploy. This shouldn't be at the consumers expense as this is a safety issue. This has been ongoing for over 6 months.
Prior to the failure, the air bag warning light had illuminated while driving. The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.
The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated or jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal, with an abnormal humming sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 801 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 38% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Impala has 66 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 59, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This Preliminary information communicates direction to find information at www.gmupfitter.com for Police…
This Preliminary information communicates direction to find information at www.gmupfitter.com for Police and Special Service Vehicles.
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced…
This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle…
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may…
NHTSA lists 571 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Impala?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, powertrain, service brakes. Total complaints: 59. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (29%), A/C or heater (15%), steering or power steering problems (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Chevrolet Impala?
NHTSA lists 571 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Chevrolet Impala from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.