Here Are The Chevy Impala Years To Avoid
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Introduced in 1958 as a prestige vehicle, The Chevrolet Impala was a long-running icon of the automotive world. There was a time when driving the Impala gave good summer feelings and hot muscle car action. After ten generations, the Chevy Impala became a husk of its former self as it evolved into a standard full-size sedan.
Sadly, GM announced the demise of the Impala in 2019, making the 2020 model the last production year for this former prestige American car. If you’re looking for a used Impala, you’ve got some great options to choose from.
However, not all Impala years are remarkable. There are many Chevy Impala years to avoid because of mechanical issues and reliability woes. And today, we’re going to highlight the worst Chevy Impala years that are best avoided if you’re buying used.
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE CHEVY IMPALA
If you’re looking to purchase a used Chevrolet Impala, however, you need to know which vehicle years are most suitable. The most reliable Chevrolet Impala years are those made most recently.
Which Chevy Impala Years To Avoid?
The Impala has a rich and storied history and has many great years under its belt. However, some years are not-so-great because of reliability concerns.
- 2000 Chevrolet Impala
- 2001 Chevrolet Impala
- 2002 Chevrolet Impala
- 2003 Chevrolet Impala
- 2004 Chevrolet Impala
- 2005 Chevrolet Impala
- 2006 Chevrolet Impala
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2000 Chevrolet Impala
The 2000 variant is a troubled year with some serious mechanical issues. According to CarComplaints, the 2000 Chevy Impala has over 1,000 NHTSA complaints and 10 recalls with a “Beware of the Clunker” seal of disapproval.
At the forefront of issues is the dreaded transmission problem. Many people who have bought this as a used car have experienced transmission issues like hard shifting and slippage. Averaging at 90,000+ miles, owners had to replace or rebuild the transmission to the tune of $2,400.
Another issue that received many complaints is that the car stalls or shuts down while driving. According to RepairPal, this may have to do with mass airflow or crankshaft position sensor failure, among many other potential causes.
2001 Chevrolet Impala
The 2001 model isn’t better at all. The 2001 variant is undoubtedly one of the worst Chevy Impala years to avoid with severe mechanical issues. CarComplaints logged over 1,000 complaints and 10 recalls for the 2001 Impala, earning another “Beware of the Clunker” badge.
Transmission woes have once again plagued the Impala. Owners reported erratic and hard shifting while driving, and this was attributed to a faulty transmission pressure control solenoid. The potential fix is to rebuild the transmission and replace the failed solenoid.
Another issue you may expect from this model year is the intake manifold gasket leaks. The intake manifold gasket was prone to leaking engine oil or coolant. If left unchecked, the leaks may cause a catastrophic engine failure.
2002 Chevrolet Impala
The 2002 Chevy Impala was somehow worse with persistent mechanical issues concerning the transmission and intake manifold gasket. As per CarComplaints, the 2002 Impala received over 1,000 complaints, and 7 recalls, but this time received the “Avoid Like the Plague” award.
A mind-blowing number of complaints were about the vehicle’s passlock system. As a result, the car won’t start, and the security light stays on. According to frustrated owners, they had to wait for several minutes, not knowing if the Impala would start or not. There have been several crowd-sourced fixes for this issue, but that shouldn’t be the case.
Also, the transmission failure and intake manifold gasket were back for another round and garnered hundreds of complaints.
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2003 Chevrolet Impala
The 2003 Impala is one of the worst Chevy Impala years to avoid because it tells the same awful story of reliability or lack thereof. According to CarComplaints, the 2003 Impala received over a thousand complaints, 8 recalls, and yet another “Avoid Like the Plague” seal.
Like deja vu, the 2003 Impala also struggled with a defective passlock system that illuminates the security light and prevents the car from starting. Reports claimed that people had to wait for a minimum of 10 minutes for the passlock to reset and drive their vehicle. If you’re running late and encounter this issue, you’ll be in a tough spot.
Other issues include the dreaded transmission slippage and intake manifold gasket failure. These issues were part of GM’s massive recall, which is expected considering their prevalence.
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2004 Chevrolet Impala
Somehow, the 2004 Chevy Impala has upped the ante in unreliability. With over 2,000 complaints, 7 recalls, and the “Avoid Like the Plague” badge, the 2004 Impala is an easy pass for us.
The top problem with this model year is the erratic speedometer and the instrument panel gauge. Frustrated owners had to deal with inaccurate and intermittent readings for gas, temperature, and even turn signals. The most common fix is to replace the instrument panel cluster, which may cost around $450.
Another significant issue is, you guessed it: a faulty transmission system. From hard shifting to transmission slippage to shuddering, it’s a familiar Impala experience at this point.
2005 Chevrolet Impala
The 2005 Chevy Impala was better, but it still had way too many complaints and recalls. Plus, CarComplaints also gave it the “Clunker” award, which is never a good thing.
At the top of the problem list, the 2005 Impala also suffers from rough shifting. As detailed earlier, this was likely due to a defective transmission pressure control solenoid. Unfortunately, this fix requires rebuilding the transmission and replacing the solenoid and may cost as much as $1,880.
The faulty instrument cluster has also returned for another round of headaches. At $400-$450, the repair cost isn’t exactly the most expensive, but it’s still good money for something that should function correctly anyway.
2006 Chevrolet Impala
For seven straight years, the Impala was released with another problematic model. Earning another “Beware of the Clunker” award, the 2006 Impala received 980+ complaints, and 2 recalls. Not as bad as the other model years listed here, but it’s still worth avoiding.
The problematic transmission returns to the dismay of Impala owners. The transmission slips make whining noises and hard shifts – not a pleasant driving experience. Not to mention, it’s a massive safety risk as well. With over $2,000 in repair costs to rebuild or replace the transmission, this model year isn’t just worth the frustration.
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