CHEVROLET IMPALA · model year

2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA

86 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2018CHEVROLETIMPALA carries 86 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 5/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2018 IMPALA is unknown or other with 16 filings, followed by electrical system (11) and power train (10). 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. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2018 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.

86
Complaints
7
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 5.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

86 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 — Top NCAP rating · Front: 5/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
UNKNOWN OR OTHER16
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11
POWER TRAIN10
ENGINE7
SERVICE BRAKES7
STEERING7
AIR BAGS6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING3
SEATS3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
VISIBILITY/WIPER2
WHEELS2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA1

Recalls (1)

18V57600030/08/2018

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insuf

Recent Complaints

20260208STEERING

I was driving and parked the car at the store. After checking out I went to the car got ready to leave and started backing out and the car would not turn to the left at all. I took it to the shop and was told they do not see anything wrong with my car but a steering message is coming up.

20250916AIR BAGS

Passenger side front seat. When occupied, airbag sensor located inside the seat is malfunctioning. My husbands safety is at risk when he's in the car. He tries moving the seat up, back, etc. Sometimes works and the airbag sensor works. We are fearing that if there were any accident or need, that his life would be in danger if the airbag didn't deploy. This shouldn't be at the consumers expense as this is a safety issue. This has been ongoing for over 6 months.

20250916SEATS

Passenger side front seat. When occupied, airbag sensor located inside the seat is malfunctioning. My husbands safety is at risk when he's in the car. He tries moving the seat up, back, etc. Sometimes works and the airbag sensor works. We are fearing that if there were any accident or need, that his life would be in danger if the airbag didn't deploy. This shouldn't be at the consumers expense as this is a safety issue. This has been ongoing for over 6 months.

20250807AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that recently, the driver’s side air bag deployed while the vehicle was parked and unattended overnight. Prior to the failure, the air bag warning light had illuminated while driving. The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.

Mileage: 116,000

20250804CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while reversing slowly, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed and continued rolling backwards. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to depress the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact stopped and shifted to drive(D), and with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle started to roll forward. The contact was not able to stop the vehicle. The contact steered the vehicle to the right to avoid crashing into the building. The contact stated that the vehicle jumped a curb and crashed into a signpost, preventing the vehicle from driving into the restaurant. The contact stated that the vehicle was driving very slowly during the failure. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The center of the front bumper was dented, the center of the grill was cracked, and the hood was dented. The contact was not injured. The contact stated that the Police arrived at th

Mileage: 122,690

20250224POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated or jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal, with an abnormal humming sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while in reverse(R), the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle remained with the independent mechanic unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.

Mileage: 128,000

20250129STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while attempting to straighten the wheels while in the driveway, the contact discovered that the steering wheel was inoperable. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the power steering electrical motor and steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 26,473.

Mileage: 26,473

20250129STEERING

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while attempting to straighten the wheels while in the driveway, the contact discovered that the steering wheel was inoperable. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the power steering electrical motor and steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 26,473.

Mileage: 26,473

20241116AIR BAGS

I was sold a used car w/ undisclosed accidents. Had many issues within first few weeks. Had transmission cooler lines replaced after they burst. Radiator, compressor, condenser, and much more. Then the Airbag light came on. Dealership said connectors were bad. Fixed it. Light came on again.took it in to dealership. They had it for over two weeks. The GM for all the dealerships Told me the vehicle was not unsafe and told me lies. But the service girl confessed she no longer had access to my vehicle or my file and her boss and the Gm had taken over working on it. She then told me they pulled Ford model air bags from my Chevy Impala. Now the light has come on again. I do not feel safe or rust the dealership to fix it properly.

20241116ENGINE

I was sold a used car w/ undisclosed accidents. Had many issues within first few weeks. Had transmission cooler lines replaced after they burst. Radiator, compressor, condenser, and much more. Then the Airbag light came on. Dealership said connectors were bad. Fixed it. Light came on again.took it in to dealership. They had it for over two weeks. The GM for all the dealerships Told me the vehicle was not unsafe and told me lies. But the service girl confessed she no longer had access to my vehicle or my file and her boss and the Gm had taken over working on it. She then told me they pulled Ford model air bags from my Chevy Impala. Now the light has come on again. I do not feel safe or rust the dealership to fix it properly.

20241116POWER TRAIN

I was sold a used car w/ undisclosed accidents. Had many issues within first few weeks. Had transmission cooler lines replaced after they burst. Radiator, compressor, condenser, and much more. Then the Airbag light came on. Dealership said connectors were bad. Fixed it. Light came on again.took it in to dealership. They had it for over two weeks. The GM for all the dealerships Told me the vehicle was not unsafe and told me lies. But the service girl confessed she no longer had access to my vehicle or my file and her boss and the Gm had taken over working on it. She then told me they pulled Ford model air bags from my Chevy Impala. Now the light has come on again. I do not feel safe or rust the dealership to fix it properly.

20241001POWER TRAIN

Since vehicle purchase in 2018 there is a shifting problem with the transmission. I have paid for shifter repairs and still the problem exist. While driving the car gets stuck in gear and hard to accelerate. The issue happens at various times without warning. There has been two instances that could have led to potential accidents. Upon spraking with and researching other impala owners, this is a common problem in the 3.6 engine Chevrolet Impalas but nothing has been done. The dealer has a plan to determine but it has always cost $1500+ to the customer.

20240828VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but was inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and a dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.

Mileage: 98,000

20240828POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but was inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and a dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.

Mileage: 98,000

20240827TIRES

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Impala equipped with Goodyear Tires, Tire Line: Assurance, Tire Size: 235/50/R18, DOT Number: MT1PJBUR2920. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for routine service, it was discovered that all four tires had severe tread separation and piling. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The tires were not yet replaced. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

20240706STEERING

Power steering suddenly went out when driving without any indication as to why. Took to dealership and very expensive to fix. Only had the car for 6 months

20240415UNKNOWN OR OTHER

answers to Questions from above 1. EVAPORATOR KIT 84409864 2. Not a safety issue to my knowledge. 3. Yes, issue was diagnosed and repaired at dealership. (Receipt for work - including part numbers will be attached with supporting documents) 4. No, no one outside of the dealership. 5. No warning lights but there was the smell of coolant in the cab of the car. Due to an issue with my 2018 Chevy Impala - V6 engine, I had to have the AC evaporator core replaced due to a leak (faulty part). Searching the NHTSA website, I found the below special coverage which seems to match my vehicle perfectly including the issue for which the special coverage was issued. I filed a claim with GM but continue to be told that my vehicle is not covered by this but no reason as to why it isn't covered. *Special Coverage N182186881 - Evaporator Core Icing, Leak *Quantity Part Name Part No. *1 EVAPORATOR KIT 84409864 This is concerning as a consumer as the issue and vehicle description matches the s

20231030UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The Evaporator core is leaking and a/c system is not operative. There is an outstanding report from your office, DCS4922, that outlines this condition perfectly. This report talks about a Special Coverage Adjustment #N182186881 Evaporator Core Icing, Leak, and an estimated number of vehicles involved. Since it is an estimated number of vehicles it means that GM doesn't know exactly how many vehicles are involved. It is my position that my vehicle should be included in the Service Adjustment. General Motors will not consider repair based on my VIN. This Special coverage addresses the exact issue I am experiencing. I have visited a Chevy Impala public forum and found there are others experiencing the same issue. Any help will be appreciated.

20230914WHEELS

Tire pressure sensor system receiver (part of keyless entry system) will not collect info from individual tire pressure sensors in tires. Failure of this safety system would not provide and advance warning of low tire pressure.

20230914ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Tire pressure sensor system receiver (part of keyless entry system) will not collect info from individual tire pressure sensors in tires. Failure of this safety system would not provide and advance warning of low tire pressure.

Compare 2018CHEVROLETIMPALA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA have?
The 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA has 86 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA?
The 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 5/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA?
Yes, the 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA?
The most-complained component for the 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 16 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2018 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. The 2018 CHEVROLET IMPALA has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. 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.