1996 Chevrolet IMPALA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
51 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
40,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 51 complaints (15.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 8 | 15.7% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 13.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 11.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 7.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 8 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 5 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 3 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front | 2 |
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 8; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 5; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 3; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 2; Power Train: 2; Seat Belts:Front: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 42 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 21 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
1995: 1; 1996: 4; 2000: 21; 2001: 4; 2002: 6; 2003: 5; 2004: 6; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2014: 2
Pattern summary
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10053111 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)
STEERING ASSIST STOPS WHEN TURNING. NOT ALL THE TIME BUT IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES.ITS VERY SCARY WHEN IN TRAFFIC.SO FAR NO ACCIDENTS, BUT ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME WHEN .
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060216 · 2004-03-02 (March 2, 2004)
POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY LOCKS UP DURING TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED 3 YEARS AGO. CHEVROLET DEALERS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE BOTH DENY ANY EVIDENCE OF A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH IMPALAS ALTHOUGH THE NHTSA WEB SITE AND AN IMPALA OWNERS' WEB SITE BOTH LIST NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES OF THIS MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT RENDERS THE CAR TEMPORARILY OUT OF CONTROL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060216 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071789 · 2004-04-28 (April 28, 2004)
INABILITY TO CONTROL THE STEERING ON ROUGH ROADS. STEERING IS VERY LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. ALSO, VEHICLE DARTS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS WHILE BRAKING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720355 · 2000-03-20 (March 20, 2000)
MY WIFE HAD COMPLAINED OF THE STEERING GOING OUT ON HER FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. I COULD NEVER GET THE STEERING FAILURE TO MANIFEST ITSELF FOR ME, SO I FIGURED IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN ANOMALIE. LAST MONTH, THE STEERING PROBLEM OCCURRED FOR ME AT VERY POOR TIMES. I WAS TURNING INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND LOST ALL CONTROL OF STEERING AND ALMOST RAN INTO MY SUBDIVISION'S SIGN. THE SECOND TIME WAS WHEN I WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT IN NASHVILLE, AND THE STEERING FROZE. I REV'D THE ENGINE UP TO SEE IF THE INCREASE IN PUMP PRESSURE WOULD HELP, BUT TO NO A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720355 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079043 · 2004-06-30 (June 30, 2004)
(1) WHILE TRAVELING THRU LAUGHLIN, NV TRAVELING WEST ON HWY 163, CAR ABRUPTLY QUITS. FUEL PUMP FUSE BLOWN. SUSPECT DYING FUEL PUMP. INSTALL NEW FUSE, TRAVEL ANOTHER 30 MILES UP HWY 95...CAR DIES AGAIN. THIS TIME, NO BLOWN FUSE. FUEL PUMP WILL NOT RUN. TOW VEHICLE TO FINAL DESTINATION (LAS VEGAS). (2) PULLED THE TANK, REMOVED THE SENDING UNIT FOR PUMP REPLACEMENT. QUICKLY NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THE FUEL PUMP WIRING INSIDE THE TANK HAD SHORTED OUT. INSULATION BURNT COMPLETELY OFF OF THE PRIMARY PUMP POWER WIRE AND SHORTED INTO THE FUEL …
Owner-reported narrative. 92,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079043 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170692 · 2006-10-12 (October 12, 2006)
FUEL PUMP FUSE BLOW OUT. THE CAR CUTS OFF AND STOPS WHILE DRIVING, BLOWING OUT THE FUSE. WHEN A NEW FUSE IS INSTALLED AND THE ENGINE IS STARTED, IT BLOWS OUT AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS TO THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. THE WIRING ON THE FUEL PUMP SENDER UNIT MELTS AND PEELS BACK THE INSULATION, CAUSING THE BARE WIRES TO TOUCH AND SHORT AGAINST THEMSELVES OR GROUND OUT AGAINST THE CAR. THIS OCCURS RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP TANK ON THE SENDER ASSEMBLY OR JUST INSIDE THE TANK. THE FUEL PUMP WIRING HARNESSES ON T…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,439 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10628184 · 2014-08-25 (August 25, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10628184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 550406 · 2000-01-13 (January 13, 2000)
VEHICLE STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY AND DOES NOT RESTART CAUSING SAFETY CONCERN TO THE DRIVER. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550406 at NHTSA ↗