2006 Chevrolet Impala Problems, Recalls & Reliability
803 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Chevrolet Impala, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 69/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Steering leads the reports, typically around 59,402 miles.
Below average
Where 2006 sits among all Impala years
What owners report
“1) car is hard to turn stationary & while turning, steering knuckles--2) power steering whining & just started losing fluid,--3) drivers seat stopped being able to adjust to different positions--4) oil leak on engine--5) paint on trunk & surrounding area is is flaking off.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Impala
“Headlights flicker, driving down the road and parked. Also battery drains every year.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Impala
“Driving at 70 mph on interstate and engine slowed down suddenly ,,,reduced engine power message came on”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Impala
“Car fired a message stating "engine power reduced" car would not accelerate. The vehicle was stationary and being moved from street into driveway when message was prompted”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Impala
“Last thing i have not received anything in the mail regarding the recalls on my car the 2006 chevrolet impala but i did get one for my 2005 chevrolet impala but i have neva received anything on my 2006”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Impala
“Airbag lights comes on and stays then it goes out then back on and now telling me tighting gas cap but tight and now eeplace it still stays tighting tired of this think should be recalled”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Impala
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 607 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 79,950 miles. Half of those reports fall between 43,500 and 125,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
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.…
Fix: 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.…
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL…
Fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT…
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
803 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2006 Chevrolet Impala. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2006 Impala TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2006 Chevrolet Impala reliable?
The 2006 Chevrolet Impala drew 803 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 69/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).
What are the most common 2006 Chevrolet Impala problems?
The top reported problems for the 2006 Chevrolet Impala are steering (138 complaints), electrical (136), and transmission & drivetrain (109).
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Impala problems show up?
Owners most often report 2006 Chevrolet Impala problems around 79,950 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 43,500 and 125,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Chevrolet Impala have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2006 Chevrolet Impala. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.