2006 Chevrolet Impala (gmx 211)

Routine

Owners filed 20 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System4
000
Unknown or Other2
000
Structure2
000
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls1
000
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear1
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Rear Window1
000
Structure › Frame and Members1
000
Structure › Body › Door1
001
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Floor Shift1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Seats06V215000
Filed Jun 15, 20062,023 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL PASSENGER SEAT ADJUSTER FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." THE LEFT FLOOR MOUNTING BRACKET MAY BE MISLOCATED.

Risk. IN A SEVERE VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT ADJUSTER MAY SEPARATE FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET, INCREASING THE RISK OF OCCUPANT INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT ADJUSTER AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL ON JULY 2, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 15, 2020200,000 milesVA

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT COMING TO A SUDDEN FALL OUT OF NOWHERE IT WAS THICK PUT MY BRAKES ON THE SLOWDOWN NEXT THING YOU KNOW I'M COMING UP ON THE TREE I LOOKED AT THE SPEEDOMETER 45 MILES AN HOUR BEST TO TRY TO HIT IT HEAD-ON BUT IT'S GOING UP INTO A HILL SO. TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUMPER PASSENGER SIDE PUT A CHAIN ON THE BUMPER TO THE TREE SO I CAN PULL THE BUMPER OUT OF MY TIRE AND PULL MY TRUCK TO SAFETY AND PARKING LOT CROSS STREET AND CALL TOW TRUCK THE TRUCK FRAME WAS BENT 2 IN OUT OF FRAME I HAD A COUPLE BODY SHOPS LOOK AT IT I'LL GET THAT ESTIMATES BUT A LOT OF DAMAGE SWITCH ON FIXING UNLESS YOU FIND SOMETHING WRONG MY BRAKES WHICH I THINK THERE IS KNOWING MY LUCK I GOT ONE OF THOSE BRAKE SENSORS YOU RECALLED

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 18, 201814,000 milesTX

DASH HAS COME UP FROM WINDSHIELD

Power Train
Filed Aug 8, 2012105,000 milesCA

TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR FROM A START. TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP WHILE STOPPED THEN JERK INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATE ROUGHLY. DEALER WILL NOT COVER AS IT IS INTERMITTENT. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Aug 14, 2006MD

I PURCHASED A 2006 IMPALA GT IN JANUARY. AROUND AUGUST 3, 2006, MY FOB KEY STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED THE DEALER AND SET AN APPOINTMENT FOR SAT. AUG 5. THEY FIXED MY KEY AND AS I WAS LEAVING AN EMPLOYEE INFORMED ME THAT SHE HAD TO GET HER KEY FIXED APPROX. 6 TIMES. MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 2006 AS I WAS WALKING TO MY CAR I TRIED TO UNLOCK MY DOORS AND I COULDN'T; MY KEYS FAILED ONLY 2 DAYS AFTER HAVING IT FIXED. I CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF I COULD BRING IT IN. I WAS INFORMED I HAD TO MAKE AN APPT. I MADE ONE FOR SATURDAY BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO LET ME BRING MY CAR IN AFTER I CAME HOME FROM WORK EVEN THOUGH THEY CLOSED AT 7:00 PM. I TOOK MY CAR IN SATURDAY AND A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TRIED TO FIX IT HIMSELF. HE COULDN'T, SO THEY TOOK IT TO THE BACK. AS I AM WAITING FOR MY CAR, A MAN BOUGHT IN HIS CHEVY COBALT FOR THE SAME REASON, HIS KEYS WOULD NOT WORK. ONCE MY CAR WAS READY THE REP GAVE ME A RECEIPT AND TOLD ME THAT THEY USUALLY DIDN'T FIX KEYS ON THE WEEKENDS...I HAD THEM FIXED THE WEEK BEFORE AND NO ONE SAID ANYTHING, PLUS I HAD AN APPOINTMENT.*JB

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Jul 10, 2006500 milesNJ

A WEEK AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S WINDOW WAS MAKING SCREECHING SOUND WHEN LOWERED. I TOOK IT BACK ON JULY 3, 2006. THE INSIDE DOOR PANEL WAS REMOVED AND THE ACTUATOR WAS LUBRICATED. LESS THAN A WEEK LATER THE SCREECHING NOISE CAME BACK. I THEN TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT CHEVROLET WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING NEW WINDOW SEALS BUT THEY WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. I WAS TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL MY FIRST OIL CHANGE AND BY THAT TIME THE NEW GASKETS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling1 injured
Filed Jul 5, 200616,416 milesDC

THE VEHICLE RAN HOT, WHEN I WENT TO CHECK ON IT, I SUFFERED SEVERE BURNS ON THE UPPER PORTION OF MY BODY SENDING ME TO THE HOSPITAL. A WEEK LATER THE VEHICLE DID IT AGAIN AFTER THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. *JB

Structure
Filed Jun 19, 2006NC

THE 2006 IMPALA SINCE THE DAY WE PURCHASED IT HAS A HIGH PITCH EAR PIERCING LOUD NOISE THAT COMES MAINLY FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE SPEAKER AND LAST ABOUT 23 MINUTES. TURNING THE DIRECTIONAL ON EITHER WAY WILL MAKE THE NOISE CUT OFF. OUR VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES NOW AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO REMEDY OR KNOW WHAT IT IS??? WE HAVE ASKED SINCE DAY ONE FOR GM TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL ITEMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON OUR NEW VEHICLE AND WE FEEL WE HAVE A "LEMON". GM REFUSES TO ANSWER US AND DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT KIT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND UPDATED SOFTWARE TO THE RADIO AS WELL. THERE IS RUST UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AS WELL. ALL THESE ISSUES WERE SEEN BY US AND THE SERVICE DEPT 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. WE NEED HELP!!!!! WE FEEL THE SOUND WE ARE HEARING IS SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL WARNING OR DEFECT. THE TURN SIGNAL BEING CONNECTED TO THE PROBLEM INDICATES SUCH. WE HAVE THE NOISE ON TAPE AND GOT A GM SERVICE SUPERVISOR TO WITNESS THE TECHNICAL ISSUE HAPPENING (6-10-06), THE VEHICLE THEN WENT IN FOR THE 5 TIME AND THEY REPLACED THE AMPLIFIER. THE NOISE CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY 6-18-06, THAT WE DROVE IT. IT HAS BEEN IN 5 TIMES NOW SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT 4-15-06 AND WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. *NM

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear
Filed May 31, 200679 milesWY

SIDE WINDOWS ARE SCRATCHING WHEN WINDOWS LOWERED AND RAISED. *JB

Structure › Body › Door1 injured
Filed May 25, 200654 milesPA

MY EIGHT YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER HAD CUT HER LEFT LEG JUST ABOVE THE KNEE WHEN ENTERING THE RIGHT REAR DOOR OF THE NEW CHEVROLET IMPALA THAT WE HAD JUST BOUGHT THAT SAME DAY, APRIL 29, 2006. THERE IS A "LATCH PLATE" LOCATED ON THE LOWER DOOR JAMS OF BOTH REAR DOORS AND THEY ARE OPENLY EXPOSED AND HAVE VERY SHARP EDGES. AS SHE WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE, HER LEFT LEG BRUSHED ACROSS THE "LATCH PLATE" CAUSING HER INJURY. SHE REQUIRED EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT AND THREE STITCHES IN HER LEFT LEG. THE DESIGN AND LOCATION OF THIS "LATCH PLATE" MAKE IT DANGEROUS FOR PERSONS ENTERING AND EXITING THE THROUGH THE REAR DOORS OF THIS VEHICLE. *JB

Electrical System
Filed May 10, 20065,547 milesMI

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ON THREE OCCASIONS WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A STOP THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED TO READ. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEARS AND THE ENGINE STALLED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT AND THE FUSE BOX PANEL WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT THE FUSE BOX CONNECTORS WERE TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AFTER THE THIRD INCIDENT AND WAS AWAITING INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 28, 2006PA

NEW 2006 CHEVY IMPALA TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE UPON ACCELERATION AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN TRANSMISSION IS COLD. THIS CAUSES HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AFTER STOP SIGNS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS. *JB

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Trunk Lid › Lock
Filed Feb 28, 2006280 milesNJ

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRUNK WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE WITH A KEY. THE ONLY ENTRY AVAILABLE WAS BY THE KEY FOB. ALSO, THE RELEASE INSIDE THE TRUNK WOULD NOT BE VISIBLE IF LOCKED IN THE TRUNK. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AND NO REPAIR WAS AVAILABLE. UPDATED 3/17/2006 - *NM

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 15, 20068,145 milesFL

SUNSHADE WARPED. *JB

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Feb 15, 20069,945 milesFL

WATER LEAK TO REAR OF VEHICLE. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Floor Shift
Filed Feb 15, 20068,145 milesFL

CENTER CONSOLE SHIFT BUTTON STICKING, MAKING DIFFICULT TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. *JB

Structure
Filed Jan 7, 2006478 milesWI

VIBRATION FELT AT SPEEDS OF 60 PLUS MILES PER HOUR. WIND NOISE FROM BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Jan 3, 2006382 milesTN

REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON, THEN CAR STOPPED. I WAS NOT FAR FROM HOME ON THE FIRST FAILURE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND A BAD GROUND WIRE AND REPLACED IT. THE SECOND FAILURE , THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STOPPED. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE THIS TIME AND WAS TOWED. THEY FOUND A BRAKE SWITCH SHORTED AND WIRE SHORTED TO THE BCM THIS OCCURRED ON 10-12-05. NOW WHEN THE WIPERS ARE ON HIGH THE CAR ROCKS FROM FRONT TO BACK ! *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 27, 20052,000 milesTN

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWICE. AFTER THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY REPLACED A RELAY SWITCH. THE SECOND TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS INDICATED THE ENGINE DROPPED TO THREE CYLINDERS. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS GOING INTO LIMP MOD DUE TO COMPUTER AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.*AK

Electrical System
Filed Dec 26, 20056,500 milesFL

TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM FAILED KEY FOBS BECAME INOPERATIVE INCLUDING REMOTE START, ISSUES ARE RELATED GM HAS PLACED TSB. *NM

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Rear Window
Filed Dec 26, 20057,500 milesFL

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER NOT OPERATING DUE TO LOOSE WIRE, CAUSING TO SPARK WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS DID NOT KNOW THIS TILL RECENTLY VEHICLE MAY HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE IF I DID NOT SEE IT WAS DETACHED FROM THE WINDSHEILD. *NM

20 of 20 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jun 15, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.