CHEVROLET IMPALA · model year

1994 CHEVROLET IMPALA

19 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994CHEVROLETIMPALA carries 19 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1994 IMPALA is fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump with 4 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (1) and vehicle speed control:cruise control (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1994 IMPALA, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

19
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

19 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES1
AIR BAGS1
WHEELS1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL1

Recent Complaints

20090309ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INSTRUMENT PANEL KEEPS GOING OUT (SPEEDOMETER,TACH,GAS,HEAT) READS 150 MPH WHILE I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP. I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND TURN THE KEY ON AND OFF TILL IT COMES BACK DOWN. AND EVEN THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. NOW THE GAUGE FOR THE TEMP. OF THE CAR IS READING THAT IT IS OVERHEATING AS SOON AS I START DRIVING. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT IN TO GET IT CHECKED FOR SEVERAL THINGS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 42,000 MILES ON IT. THIS HAS BE GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND IS GETTING WORSE!! *TR

Mileage: 22,000

20081006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER ACT ERRATICALLY AT TIMES WITH NO WARNING NOR SYMPTOMS. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

20040601FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CONNECTOR FOR THE FUEL PUMP. VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A HARNESS TO THE FUEL PUMP WHICH BURNT. THE WIRES BECAME HOT AND MELTED THE PLASTIC INSULATION, CAUSING THE PUMP NOT TO WORK. *AK

Mileage: 129,500

20020710CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY, CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20010306FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

WINDSHIELD WIRES INSIDE FUEL TANK THAT MAKES PUMP WORK, HAS SOME WIRES IN IT THAT BURN OUT WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. CHEVROLET HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

20000623SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

DRIVERS SIDE SEATBACK FAILURE ON ACCELERATION FROM STOP NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. PARTS THAT FAILED WERE TWO SMALL VERY INADEQUATE BOLTS USED TO ATTACH SEATBACK TO SEAT BASE.

20000229ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

COMPONENT 1 - EXHAUST MANIFOLD THE BOLTS THAT SECURE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BREAK FROM THE HEAT CYCLING ONF THE MANIFOLD. THE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THEM WITH STRONGER BOLTS THAT WERE SUPPLIED BY GM. THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT THERE IS AN EXTREME DANGER OF EXHAUST GASES LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF POOR FITTING MANIFOLDS. A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND PRESENTLY NOT COVERED BY GM WARRANTIES. COMPONENT 2 - STEERING WHEEL HORN. THIS HORN HAS A NICKNAME OF THE "SLEDGEHAMMER HORN" SINCE IT TAKES CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO SOUND THE HORN. ONCE AGAIN, GM RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND HAS A NEW HORN ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR CURRENT OWNERS, UNLESS AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION SINCE DEPRESSING THE HORN SWITCH MAY NOT SOUND THE HORN QUICK ENOUGH, IF AT ALL, IN CAS OF AN EMERGENCY. IT SIMPLY TAKES TOO LONG TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE HORN IS NOT SOUNDED

20000229ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

COMPONENT 1 - EXHAUST MANIFOLD THE BOLTS THAT SECURE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BREAK FROM THE HEAT CYCLING ONF THE MANIFOLD. THE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THEM WITH STRONGER BOLTS THAT WERE SUPPLIED BY GM. THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT THERE IS AN EXTREME DANGER OF EXHAUST GASES LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF POOR FITTING MANIFOLDS. A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND PRESENTLY NOT COVERED BY GM WARRANTIES. COMPONENT 2 - STEERING WHEEL HORN. THIS HORN HAS A NICKNAME OF THE "SLEDGEHAMMER HORN" SINCE IT TAKES CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO SOUND THE HORN. ONCE AGAIN, GM RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND HAS A NEW HORN ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR CURRENT OWNERS, UNLESS AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION SINCE DEPRESSING THE HORN SWITCH MAY NOT SOUND THE HORN QUICK ENOUGH, IF AT ALL, IN CAS OF AN EMERGENCY. IT SIMPLY TAKES TOO LONG TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE HORN IS NOT SOUNDED

20000229ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

COMPONENT 1 - EXHAUST MANIFOLD THE BOLTS THAT SECURE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BREAK FROM THE HEAT CYCLING ONF THE MANIFOLD. THE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THEM WITH STRONGER BOLTS THAT WERE SUPPLIED BY GM. THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT THERE IS AN EXTREME DANGER OF EXHAUST GASES LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF POOR FITTING MANIFOLDS. A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND PRESENTLY NOT COVERED BY GM WARRANTIES. COMPONENT 2 - STEERING WHEEL HORN. THIS HORN HAS A NICKNAME OF THE "SLEDGEHAMMER HORN" SINCE IT TAKES CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO SOUND THE HORN. ONCE AGAIN, GM RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND HAS A NEW HORN ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR CURRENT OWNERS, UNLESS AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION SINCE DEPRESSING THE HORN SWITCH MAY NOT SOUND THE HORN QUICK ENOUGH, IF AT ALL, IN CAS OF AN EMERGENCY. IT SIMPLY TAKES TOO LONG TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE HORN IS NOT SOUNDED

20000202ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT INDICATION. GAS CAP WAS REPLACED. THEN FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACE. ALSO, NOTICED WIRES WERE BURNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

20000202ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT INDICATION. GAS CAP WAS REPLACED. THEN FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACE. ALSO, NOTICED WIRES WERE BURNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

20000202FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT INDICATION. GAS CAP WAS REPLACED. THEN FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACE. ALSO, NOTICED WIRES WERE BURNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

20000202FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

MY HUSBAND DISASSEMBLED THE GAS TANK TO GET TO THE FUEL PUMP SO HE COULD REPLACE IT. THE FUEL PUMP IS LOCATED INSIDE THE TANK AND WHEN HE LOOKED AND THE WIRING HARNESS THE WIRES HAD MELTED THE EXTERIOR COATING AND THE PLASTIC FITTING THAT ALSO SIT IN THE GAS TANK. WE FEEL THAT THIS COULD HAVE ENDED VERY TRAGIC WITH THE GAS TANK CATCHING ON FIRE. I AM 5 MONTHS PREGNANT AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST AND IF THERE IS SOME SORT OF ACTION WE CAN TAKE TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

20000112UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THIS PART COVERED UNDER GM RECALL 94-C-59 BUT ONLY IF IT WAS INSTALLED ON A VEH INTENTED TO BE USED AS A POLICE CAR OR TAXI CAB PER DEALER. IMPALA SS IS 9C1 OPTION CODE. SAME MECHANICALY AS POLICE CAR. SEEMS LIKE GM SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED IT IN THE RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

19990222WHEELS

WHEELS LEAK AT COLD TEMPERATURE CAUSING THE TIRES TO GO FLAT.

19990127AIR BAGS

AIR BAG INDICATION LIGHT STAYS ON WHICH MEANS A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, TRYING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. AIR BAGS HAVE NOT YET DEPLOYED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19970226ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

LOOSENED NUT ON BATTERY CABLE INTERFERED WITH HIGH AMPERAGE EQUIPMENT OF VEHICLE. ALLOWING ENGINE TO STALL.

19960905VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

WHEN AT A STOP THE CAR IDLES, STARTS/ SURGES UP AND DOWN.*AK

19960514VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL, WILL NOT COME ON PROPERLY, HAVE TO TURN ENGINE OFF AND ON. *AK

Compare 1994CHEVROLETIMPALA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 CHEVROLET IMPALA have?
The 1994 CHEVROLET IMPALA has 19 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 CHEVROLET IMPALA?
The most-complained component for the 1994 CHEVROLET IMPALA is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL.
Is the 1994 CHEVROLET IMPALA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.