Is the 2001 Chevrolet Impala a bad year?
740 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 160, 7.6× a quiet Impala year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 7.6× the complaints of a quiet Impala year, spread over 59k–156k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2001 Impala owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 100,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 225 (30%) | 63k–132k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 143 (19%) | 68k–159k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 73 (10%) | 52k–119k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 47 (6%) | 41k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 39 (5%) | 79k–158k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Equipment | 27 (4%) | 52k–111k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exhaust | 27 (4%) | 66k–115k miles · around this mileage | Exhaust leak repair $200–$1,500 · Catalytic converter replacement $500–$4,000 |
| Visibility and wipers | 18 (2%) | 60k–106k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Traction control | 14 (2%) | 77k–125k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 12 (2%) | 30k–115k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 10 (1%) | 45k–130k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 9 (1%) | 99k–148k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 76 (10%) | 31k–73k miles · mostly behind | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Brakes | 69 (9%) | 25k–90k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 100,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 740 complaints: 33 mention a crash · 67 mention a fire · 27 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jun 2023.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While driving the car the engine simply shuts off whether on the highway at 70 MPH, on city streets at 40 MPH or backing out of my driveway.
While driving, the transmission stopped pulling. The vehicle would not move, but the engine was still running.
Fathers day I was driving my impala about 9 miles to my house everything was fine the engine wasn't hot no warning that somthing was wrong.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 100,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2001 Chevrolet Impala: 10
The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold. Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. 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. 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.
Some of these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking. If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.
A potential material or design defect could result in the steering knuckle breaking in the hub area. A broken steering knuckle could result in loss of steering control and a possible crash without warning.
These replacement steering shafts can be used on the vehicles listed above. The weld connecting the inner tube to the outer tube may be defective. If the weld fails, loss of steering could result, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, and FP10027-11B1, sold after january 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The universal pressure regulators (Upr) were produced without an o'ring and retainer. Fuel may leak, possibly resulting in a fire.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a 3.4L engine and non-antilock braking system (ABS). These vehicles fail to comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 301, "Fuel system integrity." A fuel return line can become severed in a frontal collision, resulting in fuel spillage. If an ignition source was present, a fire could occur.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the driver side impact air bag inflator separates from the air bag module during deployment. If the inflator separates, the air bag will not deploy properly during a crash and occupant protection would be reduced.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The air bag sensing and diagnostic modules (SDM) could experience a memory error resulting in the air bags not deploying in a crash situation. In a crash, a front seat occupant may receive more serious injuries.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and Mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 101
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2001 Chevrolet Impala. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Alleged headlight failure
Engine compartment fires
Neighbouring years
2000 Impala: 817 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2002 Impala: 792 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Chevrolet Impala year
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Questions
Is the 2001 Chevrolet Impala a bad year?
740 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 160, 7.6× a quiet Impala year. At 100,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 7.6× the complaints of a quiet Impala year, spread over 59k–156k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Chevrolet Impala?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (225), engine (143), exterior lighting (73), air bags (47), fuel system (39). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 59k–156k miles.
How many recalls does the 2001 Chevrolet Impala have?
10 recall campaigns list this model year: Exhaust (NHTSA 15V-701), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-400), Engine (NHTSA 09V-116), Steering (NHTSA 09E005000) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.