2006 Chevrolet Impala Problems: 10 Known Issues

On the 2006-2016 Chevrolet Impala, impalas frequently throw a cluster of warnings at once — 'Engine Power Reduced,' 'Service StabiliTrak,' and 'Service Traction Control' — that are usually one underlying drive-by-wire fault rather than three separate failures. The most common root cause is the electronic throttle body actuator (or the dual throttle-position sensors inside it) going out of range; the accelerator pedal position sensors can also disagree. Because the ECM cross-checks these dual sensors, any disagreement forces the car into limp-home mode with drastically reduced power. Carbon buildup on the throttle plate aggravates it, especially in cold weather.

On the 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, the Impala has the widest year span of any vehicle in GM recall 14V355000 - 2006 through 2014. The problem is not the key turning itself off on its own; it is the load hanging from it. NHTSA's record states that the weight on the key ring, combined with road conditions or some other jarring event, may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position. Two things follow from that. First, the air bag system: with the key out of run the air bags may not deploy in a crash. Second, the driver loses engine power and, with it, power steering and power braking. GM's interim instruction to Impala owners was to drive with only the ignition key on the ring and the fob removed.

On the 2006-2013 Chevrolet Impala, these Impala gauge clusters use small stepper motors to drive each needle, and GM's era-wide stepper-motor defect makes them fail prematurely. Typically one gauge sticks or reads wildly wrong first (speedometer stuck at 60 while parked, fuel pegged on full, temperature slammed to the red on a cold engine, or a stuck tachometer), then others follow over time. It starts intermittent and progressively worsens, and can be a safety concern when the speedometer is inaccurate.

On the 2006-2020 Chevrolet Impala, the power window regulators in the 2006-2020 Impala fail frequently, causing windows to fall into the door, move slowly, or stop working entirely. The cable-style regulator uses thin steel cables that fray and break, or the motor gears strip. The driver window is the most commonly affected due to highest usage. In cold weather, ice can bind the window in the channel and burn out the motor when the switch is pressed. Some owners report windows falling into the door with a loud clunk.

On the 2000-2011 Chevrolet Impala, the 4T65-E automatic transmission used in the 2000-2011 Impala is one of the most failure-prone GM transmissions. Common failures include the 1-2 accumulator piston cracking (causing harsh 1-2 shift), pressure control solenoid failure (erratic shifts and slipping), and the forward clutch hub cracking (complete loss of forward gears). The 3.8L supercharged models are especially hard on the 4T65-E due to higher torque output. Many 4T65-E transmissions fail between 80,000-120,000 miles.

On the 2006-2013 Chevrolet Impala, the 2006-2013 Impala is notorious for internal breaks in the front ABS wheel-speed-sensor wiring harness. The factory routes and clamps the harness such that steering movement repeatedly flexes the wire; the copper conductors fracture inside the insulation while the outer jacket looks perfectly intact, making it hard to spot. The result is intermittent ABS, traction control, and StabiliTrak warnings — often appearing or clearing when the wheel is turned. Left front (C0035) is the most common, but both sides fail.

On the 2006-2010 Chevrolet Impala, gM bulletin 07-06-02-006E describes coolant crossover gasket leakage on specified 2006-2010 Impala 3.5L/3.9L applications. Crossover designs differ and require matching gaskets. Water-pump leakage is a separate possible cause of coolant loss; residue location alone does not distinguish them.

On the 2006-2013 Chevrolet Impala, the in-tank fuel level sensor (part of the sending unit on the fuel pump module) is a common failure on the Impala. The sensor's small metal contact 'teeth' wear against the resistor card as the float arm moves, and the arm itself can stick or bind. The result is a gauge that reads inaccurately or swings erratically between full and empty, often unrelated to actual fuel level. This can leave owners stranded by a gauge that shows fuel remaining when the tank is near empty.

On the 2006-2016 Chevrolet Impala, a repetitive clicking or knocking sound from behind the dash — often constant, sometimes only when the car is running or turned off — is a classic Impala blend door actuator failure. The plastic gears inside the small actuator motor strip out, so the actuator can no longer position the blend door. On dual-zone systems there are separate left and right actuators; a stuck door means one side blows hot while the other blows cold, or the temperature won't respond to the setting.

On the 2006-2020 Chevrolet Impala, the intermediate steering shaft on the 2006-2020 Impala develops a clunk or pop felt through the steering wheel when turning, especially at low speeds and when going over bumps. The intermediate shaft connects the steering column to the steering gear and uses a slip joint that loses its lubrication over time, causing a binding and releasing action that creates the clunk. The noise is most noticeable when turning while going over speed bumps or entering driveways. GM issued TSB 01-02-32-001 for this issue.