Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 Chevrolet Impala. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Ignition Switch may Turn Off
- Summary
- This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
- Consequence
- If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.
Lower Control Arms
- Summary
- General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Chevrolet Impala police vehicles because the front lower control arms may fracture. This safety recall does not include non-police Chevrolet Impala vehicles.
- Consequence
- A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 21, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
POWER STEERING HOSE
- Summary
- GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 19, 2011, THROUGH JULY 29, 2011. THE UPPER POWER STEERING HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED SO THAT IT CAN COME IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO AND/OR CONTACT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WITH THE ENGINE ON, HEAT FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY MELT THE POWER STEERING HOSE.
- Consequence
- POWER STEERING FLUID COULD FLOW ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.
- Remedy
- GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO ENSURE THAT THE UPPER POWER STEERING HOSE IS ROUTED CORRECTLY AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (258)
258 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 258 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 58 | 22.5% |
| Electronic stability control | 54 | 20.9% |
| Steering | 49 | 19% |
| Engine | 40 | 15.5% |
| Service brakes | 33 | 12.8% |
| Power train | 27 | 10.5% |
| Unknown or other | 23 | 8.9% |
| Suspension | 22 | 8.5% |
| Air bags | 20 | 7.8% |
| Wheels | 19 | 7.4% |
How 2012 compares with other Impala years
Best and worst Impala years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 810 | 2 |
| 2009 | 824 | 5 |
| 2010 | 441 | 4 |
| 2011 | 505 | 2 |
| 2012 | 258 | 3 |
| 2013 | 272 | 1 |
| 2014 | 636 | 12 |
| 2015 | 300 | 3 |
| 2016 | 111 | 0 |
| 2017 | 116 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 4 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2012 Chevrolet Impala 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 22 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,050
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 404 g/mi
- EPA class
- Large Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 22 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 29 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 29 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2012 Impala for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2012 Chevrolet Impala FAQ
How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Impala have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 14V355000 (electrical), 12V377000 (suspension), 11V398000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2012 Chevrolet Impala problems?
Owners filed 258 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (58), Electronic stability control (54), Steering (49) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2012 Chevrolet Impala get?
EPA rates the 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 18 city, 29 highway and 22 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2012 Chevrolet Impala get?
NHTSA rated the 2012 Chevrolet Impala 4 dr fwd 4 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 4 stars side and 4 stars rollover (11.3% rollover risk).
How does the 2012 Impala compare with other years?
Among the 2008–2017 Chevrolet Impala model years at least five years old, the 2016 drew the fewest complaints (111) and the 2009 the most (824). The 2012 drew 258. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.