On 27 april 2021 my son in his 2016 impala was involved in a collision when the vehicle failed to stop at an intersection. While attempting to stop the brake pedal seized and failed to stop the car before hitting another vehicle. I am concerned with this issue because I also have a 2016 tahoe that was recall (n192261050) for a brake issue. Accounts of the vehicles actions at time of incident are exactly the same as what was happening with 2016 tahoe. While the 2016 tahoe has underwent recall repair, its still not braking normally but it does stop although roughly. The driver of 2016 impala was a passenger in tahoe this past weekend and during a rough stop the passenger indicated "that's what my car sounded like when brakes didn't work." I've reported the issue to insurance copy asking they thoroughly inspect the vehicle and also reported to manufacturer.
Chevrolet Impala brake failure problems
69 of the 10,418 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Impala describe brake failure, most of them for the 2000 model year.
- owner complaints
- 69
- worst model year
- 2000
- typical mileage
- 55,000
By model year
Often reported together
No deployment 9Power steering loss 8Loss of power 7ABS 7Stalling 6Steering lock-up 2Premature wear 2Overheating 2
What owners say
While driving at any speed the car shuts off. It completely loses power. No power steering or brakes. I was going 60 on a highway and it stalled thank god it wasn't rush hour and there weren't many cars around me. This happens at 10mph 30, 40, 50. No matter how fast or slow you are going the car shuts off and leaves you with no brakes or power steering. This is a huge safety issue and should be a recall. It has been diagnosed as a faulty ignition switch. I have had it looked at by 3 different mechanics and they all say that is what it is. Now I have to pay to get a new ignition put in. I have had the car 18 months and new problems occur constantly with it. Chevy should be paying for a new ignition switch to be installed.
Left rear brake caliper fell off after 38329 miles. I was driving down a street and applied the brakes. Pedal went to the floor. I was able to get stopped by pumping the brakes!!
My vehicle was inspected and and marked "good" for brakes by fairway chevrolet dealer in las vegas, nv. The braking system didn't seem to work as did before. I was driving about 30 MPH approaching an intersection when the vehicle in front of me suddenly stopped on the yellow light. I hit the brakes and held it so hard I got a foot injury. With plenty of room to stop the brakes failed to stop my vehicle before I collided into the vehicle in front of me. The airbags didn't deploy. The damage to my front end is estimated over $6000 to repair. The other vehicle only got a scratch on the bumper. I had to go to an urgentcare facility to receive emergency care. Something is wrong with the braking system. The same symptoms are in our 2014 equinox but the dealer says theres nothing wrong. Please call me for any needed information. I can send more pictures.
There was no accident the driver side rear brake line developed a leak because it was rubbing against the seam on the side of the gas tank. The line is in great shape otherwise. Still has a black coating on it other than the area that was rubbing the plastic gas tank seam. The gas tank seam is also worn away. We purchased this vehicle used in the fall of 2010 and these are the same brake lines as were on it at time of my purchase. Very dangerous experience for my wife who was driving the vehicle when the brake pedal went to the floor. Luckily she got it into a parking lot and parked. This happened 3-15-2019. I took pictures then gently pulled the brake line away from the gas tank and took a picture of the hole worn in the line and wear on the gas tank
While driving 60 MPH, go a service stabilatrak, reduced engine power, then engine turned itself off. Fortunately, I was on a straight road as power steering and brakes did not work. After rolling to a stop, I put it in park and tried to restart. Nothing! No clicking at all. After 5 minutes and multiple attempts, car started and drove normally??? Car only has 36,000 miles on it.
Takata recall: shuts off on it's own while driving with loss of control. Loss of steering. Loss of brakes, car shakes. Headlights dim when signaling for turns. Car began shaking with loss of control, battery, ab, and other sensor lights remain on. Odometer became exempt 2016, but seller, cache valley auto sales, lewiston, ut has odometer at 142,221 miles. The seller refuses to fix, or exchange for this vehicle for another vehicle.
Wife and daughter were driving in car when all of a sudden warning lights came on and the vehicle lost all power in the middle of traffic.no brakes, brakes or steering,thanks god there was no accident
On 10/10/2017 my 2015 impala 2ltz had sudden acceleration, full throttle. No brakes, no emergency brake, the only way I could stop the car was to put it into neutral ( over 90 MPH by then). Then again on 1/25/2018 the same thing happened again, sudden acceleration, by then I knew I had to put it in neutral to stop. My wife and I were lucky I could maneuver the car around several other vehicles and avoided an accident. Both times I was on the freeway at freeway speeds with the adaptive cruise control engaged.
I have been having problems with the traction control system on my 2002 chevy impala for the last five years. On december 16th I was involved in a collision with another vehicle when I could not stop st a red light. Traction light kept coming on and off all day. Abs pump would run for no reason. As I approached the traffic light the reaction light came on again and my brakes failed. Causing me to ho through the red light and hit car passing through intersection.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
- What is wrong
- 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 insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
- Risk
- A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300, Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
Recall number 18V576000 · Recall details
Parking brake
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured March 22, 2013, to May 22, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Systems (FMVSS) No. 135 "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
- Risk
- Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire.
- Remedy
- GM has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the electronic parking brake control module with new software, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is 15259. Note: The vehicles covered by this campaign were previously remedied incorrectly under campaigns 14V541 or 15V085.
Recall number 15V202000 · Recall details
Parking brake
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured November 15, 2012, to May 30, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Systems (FMVSS) No. 135 "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
- Risk
- Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the electronic parking brake control module with new software, free of charge. The recall began March 5, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 15100. Note: This recall covers a limited population of vehicles that were remedied incorrectly under recall 14V‑541.
Recall number 15V085000 · Recall details
Parking brake
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 22, 2014, and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to September 2, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged.
- Risk
- Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic parking brake software, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is 14471.
Recall number 14V541000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic
- What is wrong
- Certain passenger vehicles were produced with lower than specified torque on both front brake caliper to steering knuckle attachment bolts. With improper torque, the clamp load at the joint may not be adequate to prevent movement between the caliper bracket and knuckle.
- Risk
- Depending on whether one or both bolts backs out or fractures, the result can be locking of the affected wheel during braking and an abrupt steering input in the direction of the locked wheel, reduced braking and noise from the affected wheel, or severing of a brake hose, increased brake pedal travel, and reduced steering control. Reduced braking or steering control could cause a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers are to tighten both bolts to the specified torque. Owner notification began on june 28, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet 1‑800‑630‑2438 or pontiac 1‑800‑620‑7668.
Recall number 04V287000 · Recall details
Questions about the Chevrolet Impala brake failure
Which Chevrolet Impala years have brake failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2000 (8 complaints), 2003 (8 complaints) and 2001 (7 complaints).
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Chevrolet Impala?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history