1996 Chevrolet IMPALA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000133 · 2002-12-16 (December 16, 2002)
FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR AND MOTION LOOK-UP DEVICE FAILLED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON REPLACEMENT FOUND THAT THE RETRACTION SPRING HAD WORN THROUGH THE PLASTIC SIDE COVER. FALURE OCCURRED WHEN I LEANED FORWARD AND APPLIED FORCE TO THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS. IF IT HAD OCCURRED IN AN ACCIDENT, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RESTRAINED.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000159 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)
I BOUGHT MY 1996 IMPALA SS BRAND NEW, AND EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN IN THE WINTER TIME I LOOSE THE HEAT. THE DEALER, WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, WOULD FLUSH THE HEATER CORE AND SOMETIMES REPLACE IT YEARLY. THE PROBLEM STILL IS NOT FIXED, AND I HAVE LOST THE HEAT IN THE CAR AGAIN AND THE DEALER WILL NO LONGER FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ALL OF THE SERVICE RECORDS SHOWING THE HISTORY OF THE PROBLEM. I THINK THIS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR TO THE OWNER, AND I HAVE TALKED TO MANY CAPRICE/IMPALA SS O…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000159 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008456 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
HEATER CORE IN MY 1996 IMPALA IS CONSTANTLY CLOGGING, THEREFORE NO HEAT AND NO DEFROSTERS. COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED 2 TIMES BY CHEVROLET GARAGE. THEY HAVE NO WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS NATION WIDE AND NOT A LOCAL ISSUE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008456 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008963 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014793 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)
WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM A STOP,THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE'S UNDER BODY. CONSUMER BELIEVED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017366 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
THE LOWER BALL JOINT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AS STATED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051906 · 2003-12-22 (December 22, 2003)
1996 CHEVROLET IMPALA CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IN MOTION.*MR *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051906 at NHTSA ↗
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 ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.