2010 Chevrolet IMPALA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
441 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
74,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 351 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 126 of 441 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 74 | 16.8% |
| Steering behavior | 57 | 12.9% |
| Engine operation | 48 | 10.9% |
| Braking behavior | 47 | 10.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 38 | 8.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 126 |
| Air Bags | 100 |
| Engine | 88 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 74 |
| Power Train | 62 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 46 |
| Steering | 41 |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 |
Electrical System: 126; Air Bags: 100; Engine: 88; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 74; Power Train: 62; Vehicle Speed Control: 46; Steering: 41; Unknown Or Other: 23
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 26 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 67 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 87 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 63 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 74 |
| 150,000 and above | 34 |
Under 25,000: 26; 25,000 to 49,999: 67; 50,000 to 74,999: 87; 75,000 to 99,999: 63; 100,000 to 149,999: 74; 150,000 and above: 34
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (87). 90 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 47 |
| 2014 | 122 |
| 2015 | 57 |
| 2016 | 48 |
| 2017 | 43 |
| 2018 | 24 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2009: 1; 2010: 5; 2011: 11; 2012: 14; 2013: 47; 2014: 122; 2015: 57; 2016: 48; 2017: 43; 2018: 24; 2019: 26; 2020: 17; 2021: 13; 2022: 5; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 74 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 57 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 48 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 10494789 · 2013-01-26 (January 26, 2013)
WHILE TRAVELING AWAY FROM HOME I PARKED MY CAR AND THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO I HAD TO LEAVE THE KEYS IN THE CAR. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING DRAINED BECAUSE THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE OFF POSITION. THEREFORE I HAD TO BE TROUBLED WITH FINDING JUMPER CABLES WHILE AWAY FROM HOME OR BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALER (WHOM I MIGHT ADD DID NOT HAVE A TECHNICIAN THAT COULD FIX IT ON A SATURDAY MORNING). I CALLED ANOTHER CHEVROLET DEALER IN ANOTHER COUNTY CLOSE BY AND T…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,173 miles reported. Look up ODI 10494789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10496515 · 2013-02-05 (February 5, 2013)
I OWN A 2010 IMPALA WITH WHAT SEEMS TO BE A WIRING PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I GOOGLE THE PROBLEM TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG IT SEEMS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE IMPALA. THE PROBLEM CAUSES THE CAR TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE IT SHUTS OFF, IT JUST DIES RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FIRST THE TRACTION LIGHT WILL COME ON A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN YOUR CAR WILL SAY SOMETHIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369300 · 2010-12-06 (December 6, 2010)
THE 2010 IMPALA WAS AT HWY SPEEDS AND IN CRUISE CONTROL AT APPROX 65MPH. THE CAR GOT A FRONT TWITCH THAT TURNED INTO A VIBRATION. THE CRUISE STARTED TO SURGE APPROX ONE HOUR INTO THE TRIP. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT A COUPLE SECONDS LATER AND THE MESSAGE DISPLAY WAS FLASHING TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE, DRIVE AT REDUCED SPEEDS AND IGNITION FAILURE. THE TRACTION CONTROL FAILED AT HWY SPEEDS LEAVING THE DRIVER COASTING TO REDUCED SPEEDS AND THEN THE CAR SHUT OFF AT 20 MPH WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKING. THI…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,014 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10378597 · 2011-01-25 (January 25, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOWLY AND ABNORMALLY DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO ABRUPTLY HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL AND PULL TO THE LEFT IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A FRONT ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME AND THE TIRES WERE ROTATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TIRES WERE REPLA…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465560 · 2012-07-13 (July 13, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE TRAC STABILITY AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER TWENTY MINUTES AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES WHEN DRIVING EXTENDED DISTANCES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10475475 · 2012-09-14 (September 14, 2012)
THE VEHICLE SERVICE STABILITY TRACK LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT REASON ALL THE TIME. THE CAR REDUCES SPEED AND STALL WHEN I STOP. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOSES SPEED AND SHUT DOWN. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR AND CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 59,738 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10299644 · 2010-01-13 (January 13, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITHOUT THE PARING BRAKE ENGAGED. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS NOT PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION AND UNEXPECTEDLY, THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A RETAINING POND. THERE WERE NO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO A MALFUNCTION WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH RELEASING THE KEY WHENEVER THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS NOT IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERM…
Owner-reported narrative. 120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10299644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10367170 · 2010-11-22 (November 22, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE BELIEVED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL WERE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND SHE DEPRESSED THEM BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE PARKING BRAKE RELEASE WAS TOO HIGH UP. THE CONTACT SENT A LETTER TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,500. UPDATED 01/24/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ON THREE OCCASIONS SHE ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. UPDATED EVOQ 01/27/11 …
Owner-reported narrative. 37,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10402427 · 2011-05-23 (May 23, 2011)
MAY 9TH, I PARKED MY CAR IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT . UPON TRYING TO MOVE THE CAR TO GO HOME I COULD NOT GET IT TO GO IN TO GEAR. I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK, WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW A FRIEND OF MINE HELPED ME REMOVE THE CENTER CONSOLE TO SEE IF WE COULD LOCATE THE ISSUE. WE ENDED UP HAVING TO MANUALLY DEPRESS A BUTTON ON THE SIDE OF THE SHIFTING SYSTEM TO GET THE CAR TO GO INTO GEAR. ONCE OUT OF PARK THE SHIFTER MOVED FREELY BETWEEN R/N/D. ON 5-22-2010, WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 15-20MPH ON MY HOME STREET IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THE LEFT FRONT (DRIV…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,778 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472566 · 2012-08-27 (August 27, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSMISSION SLIP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE FRONT STRUTS WERE FAULTY AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10643486 · 2014-10-09 (October 9, 2014)
PULLED INTO THE GAS STATION TO PUMP GAS, AFTER PUMPING GAS, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH IS CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. I CAN NOT GET THE OTHER ISSUES CORRECTED UNLESS GM FIXES THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH FOR RECALL #14299. I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA, AND NONE OF THEM HAVE THE PART NEEDED TO FIX MY CAR. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 2010, AND HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEM WITH IT SINCE 2011. THE FUEL PUMP WAS CHANGED 2 TIMES AND T…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10643486 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10650307 · 2014-10-27 (October 27, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE FROM AN EMPTY FUEL TANK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 199,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650307 at NHTSA ↗