NHTSA vehicle safety data

2006 Chevrolet Impala Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2006 Chevrolet Impala has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 522 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Chevrolet dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2006 Chevrolet Impala, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2006 Chevrolet Impala owner complaints

Owners have filed 522 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Chevrolet Impala, describing incidents dated December 23, 2005 to May 15, 2025.

Most-cited components

  • Steering 134 complaints
  • Electrical System 124 complaints
  • Power Train 107 complaints
  • Engine 86 complaints
  • Air Bags 47 complaints
  • Vehicle Speed Control 40 complaints

Of the 522 complaints on file, 58 report a crash and 22 a fire; across all 522 complaints, owners report 46 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11721945 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal burning odor in the interior of the vehicle. In addition, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the…

  • ODI #11661665 · Filed

    Filed one complaint already about my car malfunctioning now on May 15 2025 I was.involved in a car accident and my airbags DID NOT DEPLOY!!!it was a front crash hit the front right side of the car and no airbag deployment

  • ODI #11660121 · Filed

    First battery needed replaced every year then few weeks ago with no warning light or messages that battery was dieing the battery died again it was replaced then it started reving up and down on its own while driving so it goes faster then slower on its own when it feels like it.. TPS wont show tire…

Read all 522 complaints

Owner-reported

2006 Chevrolet Impala mileage at failure

398 of the 522 complaints on file for the 2006 Chevrolet Impala give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
SteeringMedian 60,000 milesMiddle half 35,000–95,000 milesBased on 111 complaints
Electrical SystemMedian 85,000 milesMiddle half 55,000–100,000 milesBased on 76 complaints
Power TrainMedian 80,000 milesMiddle half 60,000–125,000 milesBased on 91 complaints
EngineMedian 85,000 milesMiddle half 55,000–135,000 milesBased on 66 complaints
Air BagsMedian 75,000 milesMiddle half 35,000–140,000 milesBased on 31 complaints
Vehicle Speed ControlMedian 95,000 milesMiddle half 60,000–140,000 milesBased on 35 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2006 Chevrolet Impala in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Ignition Switch may Turn Off

NHTSA #14V355000 · Electrical System — Ignition · NHTSA notice

Reported June 23, 2014 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 3,141,731 vehicles

Repair completion: 67.7% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 14299 · Owners notified September 23, 2014 · Vehicles built February 25, 2005 – June 20, 2006 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING/LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL

NHTSA #09E005000 · Steering · NHTSA notice

Reported February 17, 2009 · DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC.

Potentially affected: 979 vehicles

Owners notified February 23, 2009

Defect description

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 MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.

Safety consequence

A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

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 DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-2492 AND PRESS 5.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET DORMAN STEERING KNUCKLES AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Other Chevrolet Impala model years

Check your 2006 Chevrolet Impala VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chevrolet Impala at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Chevrolet VIN