2018 Chevrolet IMPALA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 11123238 · 2018-08-29 (August 29, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH A DEER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11123238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11131040 · 2018-09-24 (September 24, 2018)
I OWNED A NEW 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE 2014 IMPALA HAD A BACKUP CAMERA SYSTEM WHICH WAS OUTSTANDING. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH WHAT I SAW ON THE REAR VIEW MONITOR SCREEN WHICH WAS ON THE DASH OF THE IMPALA. I TRADED IN THE 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA FOR A 2018 AND NOW THERE ARE TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE 2018 IMPALA BACK UP CAMERA SYSTEM. FIRST, IF THERE IS A LIGHT RAIN TO A HEAVY RAIN YOU LOSE 80% TO 90% OF THE CLEAR VISION ON THE MONITOR SCREEN. NOT ONCE DID I EVER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY 2014 IMPALA. SECOND, I HAVE LOST 20% OF MY REAR VIEW V…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11139433 · 2018-10-10 (October 10, 2018)
THE FORWARD COLLISION ALERT SYSTEM WHICH IS STATED TO WORK OVER 40 MPH DOES NOT GIVE ADEQUATE WARNING AT ANY SETTING. THE SYSTEM SHOWS A GREEN ICON WHEN FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE ICON CHANGES TO AMBER WHEN FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE EXTREMELY CLOSE (WAY TOO CLOSE) AS A TAILGATING ALERT. IT IS MEANT TO GIVE A HEADS UPS FLASHING RED DISPLAY ON THE WINDSHIELD WHEN OVERTAKING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A SPEED THAT MAY CAUSE A COLLISION. THIS SYSTEM HAS A NEAR. A MEDIUM AND A FAR SETTING WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION WITHIN 194 FT. AT NO SETTING APPR…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11139433 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 11152371 · 2018-11-19 (November 19, 2018)
STABILITRACK AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME WITH A MESSAGE THAT SAID, 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED'. THIS OCCURRED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY SLOWED, BUT I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN A SPEED OF 55 MPH. I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,820 miles reported. Look up ODI 11152371 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 11206711 · 2019-05-10 (May 10, 2019)
2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO PROBLEMS WITH IMAGE CONCERNING THE REARVIEW CAMERA DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AS *JS *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11206711 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V576000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
Reported: 2018-08-30 (August 30, 2018)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
NHTSA campaign record ↗