2012 Chevrolet Impala reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Impala — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 422
- 36 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 56 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 40 reported crashes · 29 injuries · 6 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,239
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Chevrolet median
+114
median 308 across 473 Chevrolet records
Vs 2010-2014
+130
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
13%
Electrical System: 56 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Chevrolet Impala
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 56
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 54
- STEERING 48
- ENGINE 40
- SERVICE BRAKES 32
3 recalls on record for the 2012 Chevrolet Impala
- NHTSA 14V355000 · 2014 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION 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
- NHTSA 12V377000 · 2012 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 11V398000 · 2011 · STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PI POWER STEERING FLUID COULD FLOW ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Chevrolet Impala
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Chevrolet Impala units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
NHTSA has 422 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Chevrolet Impala and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (56 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Chevrolet Impala units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Impala?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (56), electronic stability control (esc) (54), steering (48), engine (40). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Chevrolet Impala?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.