2018 Chevrolet IMPALA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
59 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
40,400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 59 complaints (27.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 20.3% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 18.6% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 13.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 8.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
Unknown Or Other: 16; Electrical System: 11; Power Train: 11; Engine: 7; Service Brakes: 7; Steering: 7; Air Bags: 6; Exterior Lighting: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 28 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2017: 1; 2018: 5; 2019: 10; 2020: 12; 2021: 6; 2022: 6; 2023: 5; 2024: 6; 2025: 5; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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 11048462 · 2017-11-26 (November 26, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, WENT TO TOUCH THE HAZARD BUTTON BUT PUSHED THE ENGINE START/ STOP BUTTON INSTEAD. ENGINE SHUT OFF. HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, ENGAGE BRAKE, PUT TRANSMISSION INTO PARK TO BE ABLE TO START CAR. THE HAZARD LIGHTS BUTTON IS WAAAYYY TO CLOSE TO THE START STOP BUTTON. ESPECIALLY WHILE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE ROAD. THIS IS A NEW RENTAL CAR BELONGING TO EAN HOLDINGS LLC.
Owner-reported narrative. 319 miles reported. Look up ODI 11048462 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11176113 · 2019-02-10 (February 10, 2019)
FROM DECEMBER 22 THRU 27, 2018 I RENTED THIS 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA (CALIFORNIA PLATE 8DVE598) FROM HERTZ AT THE HOTEL DEL CORONADO, CORONADO, CA. FOR THE FIRST 4 OR 5 BACKUPS THE REVERSE CAMERA DISPLAY WORKED PROPERLY. THAT IS IT CAME ON WHEN I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND WENT OFF WHEN I SHIFTED FORWARD. THEN SUDDENLY IT STAYED ON FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. WE COULD NEITHER GET IT TO GO TO THE NORMAL ICON DISPLAY NOR TURN IT OFF. IT WOULD NOT REBOOT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. SAFETY CONSEQUENCE--AT NIGHT THE DISPLAY IS SO BRIGHT THAT I…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,843 miles reported. Look up ODI 11176113 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11152232 · 2018-11-17 (November 17, 2018)
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) ISSUES SCENARIO 1 FIRST DAY I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. AS I WOULD IN ANY OF MY OTHER 100 + CARS I'VE OWNED, I HELD THE CRUISE CONTROL 'SET' BUTTON EXPECTING THE SPEED TO GRADUALLY DECREASE. THE IMPALA MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME, WENT FROM 70 MPH TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WITHIN 7 SECS. THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME WAS SWERVING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ME. IT CLEARLY STATES ON PAGE 182 OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL 'REDUCING SPEED WHILE ACC IS AT A SET SPEED. 'PRESS AND HOLD SETUNTIL THE DESIRED LOW…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11152232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11363290 · 2020-10-07 (October 7, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REVERSING THE VEHICLE AND PLACING THE GEAR SHIFTER IN DRIVE, THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENED AS THE "POWER STEERING, DRIVE WITH CARE" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MCELVEEN BUICK GMC (117 FARMINGTON RD, SUMMERVILLE, SC 29483) WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11363290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11440900 · 2021-11-18 (November 18, 2021)
the vehicle had a sudden loss of power steering. No warnings or indications of any isues just immediate loss of the ability to steer
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11440900 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11266617 · 2019-10-06 (October 6, 2019)
TIRES-TIRES KEEP LOSING AIR PRESSURE, THEY APPEARED NEW BUT WHEN TESTED PROBLEMS WAS FOUND, THEY WERE WORE TO THE OUTSIDE AS IF ALIMENT WAS NEEDED, NEW TIRES WAS PURCHASED ELECTRICAL/BATTERY-THERE IS A FREQUENT SHUT DOWN OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON, FROM THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER (DIC) THE WAS 14.7, THE BATTERY WAS CHECKED TWICE WITHIN A PERIOD OF TWO DAYS FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE FIRST DAY THE BATTERY WAS GOOD THEN ON THE SECOND DAY THEY SAID I HAD A BATTERY PROBLEMS, PURCHASED NEW BATTERY, NO WARNING …
Owner-reported narrative. 52,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11266617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11363063 · 2020-10-06 (October 6, 2020)
IF THE CAR HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR LONG PERIOD OF TIME AN HOUR OR MORE WHEN THE AUTO STOP KICKS ON THE WHOLE CAR TURNS OFF. USUALLY AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT. IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE TO LET IT SIT OFF FOR A COUPLE MINUTES AND RESTART AND JERKS HARD INTO GEAR. . WAS TOLD IT'S THE BATTERY FUSE BLOCK AND ISN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11363063 at NHTSA ↗