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2012 Chevrolet Impala Engine Problems

16 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data

16
Complaints
1
Fires
Feb 2012Dec 2014
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (16)

highENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: May 2024

Your car is showing trouble codes and experiencing engine misfires even after recent service. A diagnostic scan found a problem with the B camshaft position timing being over-advanced (code P0024), which your mechanic suspects is related to engine sensors. The check engine light comes on when this happens, and you're concerned the misfiring could cause a safety issue if not fixed.

NHTSA #: 11588160
mediumENGINE
Filed: Mar 2020

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND CODES FOR TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM WHILE I WAS DRIVING. UNRESOLVED BY DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER; BBB AUTOLINE SAID I SHOULD TURN TO NHTSA.

NHTSA #: 11318170
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jul 2019

ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO THE ENGINE STARTING DIESELING (THE ENGINE WILL STILL HAVE COMBUSTION AFTER THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF). DURING A TRIP ON CITY STREETS THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED WHEN DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE STOPPED AGAIN THIS TIME WHILE STOPPED ON A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE AUTOLAB IN PLYMOUTH MI WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED IT WITH ENGINE FLOODING. YOU COULD SMELL THE UNBURNED GASOLINE ON THE TAIL PIPE. HOWEVER NO ERROR CODES WERE REPORTED. AFTER A FEW DAYS IN THE FACILITY AND WITHOUT THE EVEN DUPLICATED I HAD THE CAR BACK. COUPLE WEEKS LATER IT STARTED DIESELING AGAIN SO I WENT BACK TO THE AUTOLAB. THIS TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE INJECTION PUMP AS BEING FAULTY AND THE O2 SENSOR NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE FUELING. THEY REPLACED THE INJECTION PUMP AND SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING WITHOUT PROBLEM. THE LACK OF ERROR REPORTING BY THE OBD AND THE SUDDEN ENGINE STOP WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION MAKES ME FEEL I WAS LUCKY. I USUALLY DRIVE 30 MILE EACH WAY TO MY WORK PLACE. IF THE ENGINE STOPS ON THE HIGHWAY IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS I AM NOT ABLE TO USE THE BRAKES (POWER BRAKES!) OR THE STEERING WHEEL (POWER STEERING) PROPERLY TO TRY TO GET AWAY FROM THE TRAFFIC BEHIND BY GOING TO THE SHOULDER.

NHTSA #: 11232229
mediumENGINE
Filed: Nov 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PREMIER NISSAN OF METAIRIE (504-455-5800, LOCATED AT 6636 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD, METAIRIE, LA 70003) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE SEVEN DIFFERENT FAILURE CODES WERE LOCATED, INCLUDING THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL RELAY. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE PARTS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA #: 11154271
mediumENGINE
Filed: Mar 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA #: 11081351
mediumENGINE
Filed: Oct 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE LEFT TURNS AT LESS THAN 5 MPH, IT WOULD SOMETIMES STALL AND DECELERATE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE IF THERE WERE ANY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 01/11/2017*CT *TR

NHTSA #: 10914021
mediumENGINE
FireFiled: May 2016

I WAS STANDING IN TRAFFIC AND SMOKE START COMING INSIDE THE CAR FROM ENGINE AND THE ENGINE START ON FIRE THE CAR BURN FROM THE ENGINE OUT ??? AND I FOUND THIS INFORMATION ABOUT SAFETY PROBLEMS AND RECALLS ON THIS CAR MODEL ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS CAR MODEL AND YEAR HAVE FIRE HAZARD PROBLEMS PLEASE REVIEW AND HELP ME TO FOUND ANY ANSWER THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA #: 10865454
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL INJECTORS 1, 3, AND 5 MALFUNCTIONED AND FUEL TRAVELED STRAIGHT THROUGH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE REAR EXHAUST. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT INJECTOR PORTS 1, 3, AND 5 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,168.

NHTSA #: 10837671
mediumENGINE
Filed: Nov 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE REVVED AND STALLED. AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA #: 10787695
mediumENGINE
Filed: Dec 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA #: 10664331
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,300.

NHTSA #: 10637579
mediumENGINE
Filed: Aug 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND A CLICKING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA #: 10628571
mediumENGINE
Filed: Aug 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM).THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA #: 10627541
mediumENGINE
Filed: Oct 2012

I HAVE NOTICED WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STAND STILL THE RPM ARE HIGH AND THE ENGINE IS VERY LOUD AND NOISY. IT SEEMS AS I AM DRIVING WITH A V-8 OR EVEN A DIESEL ENGINE. I AM SURE GM HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE REVIEWED HAS STATED THE SAME THING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THE IDLING OF THE RPMS WHEN YOUR JUST TAKING OFF AT A NORMAL SPEED AND THE REDUCTION OF THE ENGINE NOISE AS WELL. MY 2002 IMPALA WITH 136K MILES ON IT SOUNDED BETTER THAN THIS AND IT NEEDED SOME WORK DONE TO IT. I THOUGHT I WOULD AT LEAST GET THE BEST QUALITY FROM UPGRADING TO SOMETHING MORE UP TO DATE BUT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED. IF YOUR GOING TO PAY GOOD MONEY FOR A VEHICLE YOU SHOULD HAVE A DECENT CAR THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A PIECE OF CRAP. CAN GM GET IT TO WHERE IT IS RUNNING AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS? *TR

NHTSA #: 10482086
mediumENGINE
Filed: Mar 2012

ENGINE MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING. I DROVE ANOTHER ONE AND THE NOISE WAS EVEN WORSE, THAT ONE HAD 15000 MILES ON IT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEM ALL. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS CAR. I DON'T ENJOY HEARING ALL THIS NOISE FROM A NEW CAR. (NOW HAS 6000 MILES ON IT) IF I CAN'T RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM IT WILL BE THE LAST GM CAR I EVER BUY. THE DEALER HAD ME DRIVE ANOTHER NEW 2012 IMPALA WHEN I MENTIONED THE NOISE, IT ALSO SOUNDED THE SAME. GM DEFINITELY DIDN'T ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE PRODUCTION. *JS

NHTSA #: 10453664
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Feb 2012

ENGINE MAKES A TICKING NOISE OR KNOCKING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING , I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS BEING THAT THIS NOISE STARTED THE NEXT DAY AFTER I HAD THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP . I'M HOPING THIS ISN'T A SAFETY CONCERN BUT IT SURE IS A CUSTOMER DISSATISFACTION. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO ISOLATE THE NOISE AND COULD NOT AND SAID I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE MANUFACTURER GM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. I'M VERY DEPRESSED ABOUT THIS HAVING SPENT GOOD MONEY ON A NEW CAR JUST TO HAVE IT MAKE MORE NOISE THAT A 40 YEAR OLD CAR , AND THEN BEING TOLD I HAVE TO WAIT TILL SOMEONE COMPLAINS ENOUGH TO SEE IF IT CAN BE FIXED. I BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A NEW ENGINE IN THE IMPALA AND NOW AM WONDERING IF THIS ENGINE IS GOING TO BECOME A PROBLEM FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF. I HAVE READ SOME MAJOR CONCERNS FROM PEOPLE ABOUT THE 06 IMPALA AND HOPE THIS ISN'T WHERE MY CAR IS HEADED. ANY HELP THAT I COULD GET WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATED, THANK YOU.

NHTSA #: 10449788

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