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Chevrolet Impala battery drain problems

49 of the 10,418 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Impala describe battery drain or dead battery, most of them for the 2006 model year.

owner complaints
49
worst model year
2006
typical repair cost reported
$950
typical mileage
78,250
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2018
    1
  • 2016
    1
  • 2015
    2
  • 2014
    3
  • 2009
    6
  • 2008
    4
  • 2007
    4
  • 2006
    12
  • 2005
    1
  • 2004
    1
  • 2003
    3
  • 2002
    6
  • 2001
    4
  • 2000
    1

Often reported together

Won't start 10Headlights 6Door locks 6Loss of power 3ABS 3Transmission failure 2Jerking 2Knocking 2

Trouble codes mentioned

C0755 1B3060 1B3031 1B1325 1B1000 1B0223 1B0074 1B0021 1

What owners say

Filed Jun 17, 2026 · NJ

I can pull my key out the ignition while the car is started and when I shut off the car , you don't know if it's off because the key come out the ignition, and it drains my battery dead.

Filed May 10, 2025 · Lights, Transmission · CA

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 pressure cant relearn tire positions now dash lights works usually then don't bright lights don't work now if automatic light control is on car shakes bad while breaking idles hard uses ALOT of gas now massive amount of heat coming off engine now with no dash light or guage saying temp is going up engine smells kind of bad after driving the car replaced transmission once couple years ago transmission maybe going out again the gear shift locks don't work it slips out of gear and into another gear effortlessly while driving and while parked without pressing the button to move the gear shift clicking or tapping noise started coming from front end only when turning left now does it while.turning and sometimes while.going straight and it's all still happening... theres more but not going into all of it now. DTC code listed 2days ago was listed as: B1000-00 Electronic Control Unit. Searched Google for code and got posts saying ECU needs replaced..updated or reprogrammed and some say BCU needs replaced..upgraded or reprogrammed. Each time I search the code I get a different reason for the code and different meaning. I have a 2006 Chevy Impala SS 5.3L V8 with police package. Car is available for inspection anytime.

Filed Dec 16, 2024 · Driver assistance, Electrical · WA

GM has a know issue with the side detection system and refuses to do anything about it even after there service bulletin expired. When this fail it can cause other issues with the dashboard system failure and more. In this case the system would never shutdown draining the battery.

Filed Jul 18, 2024 · Electrical, Steering · CA

The key gets stuck and I can't remove the key; I can't take the key out and then the battery drains and car is dead.

Filed Apr 23, 2024 · Driver assistance, Electrical · IL

My blind spot detectors went out, now as a result most of the electrical stuff no longer works. The car powers on and drains the battery randomly and the speedometer doesn’t work. Every light comes on from front camera, abs, and even power steering. I didn’t feel safe taking my kids to school and now I don’t feel I should pay $1,300 out of pocket.

Filed Jun 6, 2021 · Electrical · CA

The linx radio stopped working. The onstar system stopped working awhile after the linx radio stopped working when the car started to operate off of battery reserve (or what I think is battery reserve --- the light on the dashboard changed to blue). I've had to change the batter twice in 2.5 years. I'm told the battery Duralast is a good battery and that its an electrical fuse problem and it would be difficult to find which wire is the problem. The vehicle has been inspected by three different dealers in three different states. I was also told to uninstall onstar for resolution of the electrical problem of the battery draining and needing to draw energy from another source taking up more energy than it's suppose to in the vehicle. Yes, in 2017-18, the problem was confirmed by the dealership where I purchased the car brand new in 2014, Criswell Chevrolet in Gaithersburg, MD.

Filed May 17, 2021 · Electrical, Visibility · 75,812 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2014 chevrolet impala. The contact stated while his son was stopped at a red light, the blind spot alert warning light illuminated on the passenger's side-view mirror and on the instrument panel. The vehicle then stalled. The contact's son restarted the vehicle to drive home. The blind spot alert light on the passenger's side remained illuminated after the vehicle was turned off and drained the battery. The contact stated that he saw online that there was a technical service bulletin: n172097060 related to the failure. The vehicle was taken to trecek automotive of portage inc. (1350 e wisconsin st, portage, wi 53901) and diagnosed as a blind spot alert system failure. The dealer confirmed that the failure was related to the technical service bulletin. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the repair was not covered under the technical service bulletin. The failure mileage was 75,812. The consumer stated the repairs would cost $950, but the consumer feel as though repairs should be paid by the manufacturer.

Filed Feb 2, 2021 · Electrical · AZ

2018 chevrolet impala. Consumer writes in regards to issues with door locks and tires. *ld the consumer stated the vehicle was sold with 3 worn tires and a key with a dead battery. The consumer was driving the vehicle on a mountain side and extremely heavy fog, the lights (inside and out) went out. The dealer was informed of the failure. The consumer could not replicate the problem, but was unable to start the vehicle. The dealer was unable to repair the vehicle and suggested trading it in. The consumer traded the vehicle in after owning the vehicle for only 8 months.

Filed Feb 19, 2020 · Electrical · 78,250 miles · WI

Service side detection sensors. I own a chevy cruse,chevy impala,and a gmc acadia and all 3 of these cars have the same problem. Water,salt and dirt get inside of these sensors and they short out. On the impala they shorted out and I could not start the car the next day. The battery died.went to the dealership and they disconnected them till the parts came in. Still waiting for the parts. I was told that this will only happen again there is no permanent fix. This is a $1400 repair. Not happy!

Filed Dec 29, 2018 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 85,000 miles · NJ

Abs and traction control lights intermittently come on causing car to jerk with acceleration, or occasionally, to slip during braking. Wheel hub assemblies have been replaced multiple times and the same faulty issue keeps reoccurring. Low quality wiring and position and tautness going into the harness are a recipe for disaster. Sensors can be set off with as little effort as gently rocking the car, definitely going off if there are any bumps or potholes in the road. Also had other annoying although less dangerous issues: door lock actuators and heating/AC actuator, causing door locks to not respond and causing a horrible clicking noise in the car, respectively. I have walked away from the car thinking I had locked it only to find one or more of the doors did not lock. Actually had items taken from the car. The clicking noise from under the dash was sporadic, usually upon starting the car, but occasionally while driving with no notice. This ear splitting, headache inducing noise would for the most part stop after several minutes of driving, but would sometimes continue after the car was shut off and would drain the battery. The electrical system throughout the car is horrible.

Related recalls

Electrical systemReported October 1, 2014 · 106,307 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
Risk
If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1‑800‑222‑1020 (Chevrolet), and 1‑800‑462‑8782 (GMC). GM’s number for this recall is 14515.

Recall number 14V614000 · Recall details

Electrical system: ignitionReported July 3, 2014 · 5,877,718 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Risk
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.
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 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

Recall number 14V400000 · Recall details

Electrical system: ignitionReported June 23, 2014 · 3,141,731 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.
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.

Recall number 14V355000 · Recall details

Questions about the Chevrolet Impala battery drain

Which Chevrolet Impala years have battery drain or dead battery problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2006 (12 complaints), 2002 (6 complaints) and 2009 (6 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix battery drain or dead battery on the Chevrolet Impala?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $950 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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